Marlo Thomas surprised many when she finally embraced marriage after years of skepticism—especially because it also meant becoming a stepmother to Phil Donahue’s five children. Over the course of their 44-year marriage, she built lasting, meaningful bonds with them, creating a blended family that became central to her life.
Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue shared an extraordinary love story that lasted more than four decades. That chapter closed when Phil—the celebrated television host—died on August 18, 2024, at the age of 88.
His death marked the end of an era, leaving behind a major legacy in broadcasting and a deep impact on the people who knew him. As Marlo moves through this painful period, she has been reflecting on the life they built together—both their partnership and the blended family that became such an important part of her world.
Marlo, the well-known actress and advocate, once believed marriage simply was not for her. She even compared it to imprisonment, joking that it was like “living with a jailer you have to please.”
In her 2020 book, What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life—which she co-wrote with Phil—the Reunion actress looked back on how strongly she once felt.
“Marriage didn’t seem like a roomy enough place for me,” Marlo admitted. She also joked that marriage could drain a person’s energy and ambition like a vacuum cleaner. Despite all of that, everything changed after she met Phil.
Phil—creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show—was already a father of five when he married Marlo on May 21, 1980. Marlo was 42 at the time and had never had children of her own, so marrying Phil instantly made her a stepmother.
It was a major shift, challenging her long-held views on marriage and placing her in a role she never expected to have.
From the beginning, Marlo decided she would not try to be a traditional mother figure to Phil’s children. In a May 2011 interview, she explained: “From the very first day, I decided that I was not going to try to be a ‘mother’ to Phil’s children in the traditional sense — they already had a mom — but, instead, to be their friend.”
Marlo said she aimed to model that approach after her own mother—someone who was not only a parent, but also a trusted friend.
“When I was growing up, my mother was always a friend to my siblings and me (in addition to being all the other things a mom is), and I was always grateful for that because I knew she was someone I could talk to and joke with, and argue with and that nothing would ever harm that friendship,” Marlo said.
Speaking about her stepchildren, she added: “So I used that model with Phil’s kids, and I’m proud to say that the friendships I established with them are as strong today as they were 30 years ago — even stronger.”
What Do Phil Donahue’s Five Kids Look Like?
Phil was often called the “King of Daytime Talk.” He married his college sweetheart, Margaret Cooney, soon after they graduated in 1958. They had five children before divorcing in 1975. Today, Phil’s children—Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James—each have their own distinct lives and stories.
In a social media post shared in June 2021, Marlo posted a heartfelt Father’s Day tribute to Phil that included a photo featuring Phil, his sons, and one of his grandsons.
The post quickly drew attention, with commenters praising the Donahue men. One person called it a great photo of “handsome Irishmen.” Others echoed the same sentiment, remarking on how great they looked and describing them as handsome.
Here is a closer look at Phil’s five children and what they look like today.
Michael Donahue
Phil’s eldest son, Michael Donahue, built a strong career in television while also creating a fulfilling family life. In January 1991, The New York Times reported his engagement to Martha Reed von Gal, a youth counselor at Communities for People in Medford, Massachusetts.
Reed—known simply as Reed—graduated from Greenwich Academy and St. Michael’s College. At the time of the engagement, Michael was 31 and working as a marketing consultant for WTNH-TV in New Haven. He had graduated from New Trier East High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
They married in April 1991 and later had two children: a son, Connor, and a daughter, Kenzie. Michael’s career continued to develop, beginning as an account executive at Katz American TV in 1986. He worked at several television stations from 1990 to 1997, then joined Fox Station Sales as a sales manager. He later became a sales manager at Petry Television, before returning to Katz in 2004 as a sales manager for Continental in Boston.
Beyond his professional life, Michael has remained close with Marlo, and their bond often appears in candid family moments.
Marlo has also formed a close relationship with Michael’s children. Her affection for her step-grandchildren has been clear in her public posts.
In August 2019, Marlo posted warmly about Connor, calling him her “soulmate,” and shared a candid photo of them enjoying a happy moment together.
The post also included a second photo showing Reed smiling alongside her father-in-law, Phil.
Marlo’s bond with Kenzie has been just as strong. In a March 2015 Facebook post celebrating Kenzie’s 18th birthday, Marlo wrote about how much Kenzie had grown since the day Marlo first held her as a baby.
“Kenzie is not my [biological] grandchild. But I love her as I do all my biological nieces and nephews,” Marlo wrote, underscoring the depth of her relationship with both Kenzie and Connor.
A photo alongside the post showed Marlo holding a plate of birthday cupcakes as Kenzie and Connor smiled beside her.
Kevin Donahue
Phil’s second son, Kevin, has shared many memorable moments with Phil and Marlo over the years. An avid runner, Kevin has completed multiple marathons, including the well-known New York City Marathon.
In a November 2013 Facebook post, Marlo proudly highlighted Kevin’s marathon achievements, noting his time in that year’s ING New York City Marathon was 4:12. She also pointed out that Kevin has run the race in his 30s, 40s, and 50s, with a best time of 3:32 in Stockholm in 1996.
The family has also enjoyed plenty of time together outside athletics. In 2011, Marlo, Phil, and Kevin spent a day on their boat in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Marlo later joked in a Facebook post that “all the Donahues have white hair!”
Another outing came in August 2013, when Marlo, Phil, and Kevin visited the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Marlo posted a candid photo of the three of them with the New York City skyline behind them, noting they climbed 350 steps and paused afterward to catch their breath.
Daniel Donahue
Phil’s third son, Daniel, has remained closely connected to family life and often appears in photos with his father, brothers, and Marlo. In a November 2012 Facebook post, Marlo shared a Thanksgiving celebration at their home featuring Phil, Kevin, and Daniel.
“Thanksgiving at our house. Phil, two of his sons Kevin & Dan, me and a gorgeous brown turkey! Hope you had a Happy Turkey Day, too!” she wrote.
Daniel also appears in other family photos shared by Marlo, including a 2021 Instagram post showing the gray-haired Donahue men—except for grandson Connor, whose dark hair stood out in the group.
Mary Rose Donahue
Phil’s only daughter, Mary Rose, had a different experience growing up than her brothers. After Phil and Margaret’s divorce, custody arrangements meant Mary Rose lived with her mother, while Phil retained custody of their four sons.
Even so, Mary Rose stayed close to her father and stepmother, and Marlo has frequently expressed affection for her through social media.
In August 2011, Marlo shared a proud Facebook post about Mary Rose’s growing interest in the culinary world. She described a weekend visit to Toppers in Nantucket, where Mary Rose received guidance from the restaurant’s chef, Tom Pearson.
The accompanying photo showed Mary Rose smiling beside Chef Tom, capturing her excitement about her culinary path.
As with Phil’s other children, Marlo’s relationship with Mary Rose is visible through many shared family moments—from holiday celebrations to candid snapshots. The 86-year-old star’s bond with her stepdaughter has consistently been portrayed as warm and respectful.
These glimpses reflect a strong, loving connection between Mary Rose and the larger family, and the clear joy they find in one another’s company.
James “Jim” Donahue
Jim—Phil’s youngest child—died on August 11, 2014, at 51, due to an aortic aneurysm. He built his life and career in Honolulu, where he worked as a practicing lawyer. Much of his professional life was dedicated to a Ralph Nader group company, where he served as an investigative researcher and writer for more than 20 years.
Jim and his siblings spent their early years in Dayton, Ohio, at the time Phil was launching his broadcast career and developing the talk show that would become groundbreaking.
Despite growing up in a public family, Jim was widely known for his independence and strong character—qualities that made him deeply loved within the Donahue family.
In a message to friends after Jim’s death, Marlo described him as “a great light in our family, a funny character, and an independent spirit.”
Afterward, Jim was cremated, and his family scattered his ashes in the calm, warm waters of Honolulu—a place he loved and where he now rests.
Marlo Thomas’s path from marriage skeptic to devoted wife and stepmother highlights how love and family can transform a life. As she grieves the loss of her husband, Phil Donahue, she has also found comfort in the deep relationships she built with his children.
Those bonds—formed and strengthened over decades—stand as a lasting testament to the power of their blended family, offering unity and support during a profoundly difficult time.
