Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas met in 1977 when she appeared as a guest on his talk show. They fell in love at first sight, with instant chemistry evident in a clip of them exchanging smiles and warm glances on the show. Despite both being hesitant about getting married again, they began dating and got married in 1980 after a period of long-distance dating. The couple kept their marriage relatively private initially but became more public about it in recent years, even hosting a podcast about marriage success titled, “Double Date with Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue.”
The age difference between Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas was two years, with Donahue being born in December 1935 and Thomas in November 1937. Despite the age gap, the couple’s marriage lasted 44 years, with Thomas attributing their success to the three L’s: love, listening, and lust. She emphasized the importance of listening to one another to truly understand each other’s thoughts and emotions, as well as maintaining love and passion in the relationship. The couple refrains from critiquing each other’s projects, which they have found to be another secret to their long-lasting relationship.
In 2020, Donahue and Thomas collaborated on a book titled, “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life.” This marked the first time they worked on a project together, breaking an “ironclad rule” of their marriage. The idea for the book came after they were shocked to learn that a friend was divorcing her husband after 28 years of marriage. Seeking to understand where they went right in their own marriage, they interviewed famous couples who had been married for 15 years or more, including Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, and Joanna and Chip Gaines. The couples shared advice on gratitude, trust, and the occasional need for therapy as keys to long-term marriage success.
Despite initial hesitations about getting married again, Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas trusted their hearts and made the effort to make their relationship work. Thomas had reflected that love can often be better the second time around for some, but for her, the first time was just fine. The couple’s commitment to love, listening, and lust helped them maintain a strong and enduring marriage for over four decades. Their story serves as an inspiration and example of how successful relationships require effort, communication, and a willingness to understand and support one another through life’s challenges.
