Television legends are honoring the remarkable Phil Donahue, a revered broadcaster.

Following the confirmation of Donahue’s death by a family representative on Monday, Oprah Winfrey celebrated his role in facilitating her own achievements.

“The Oprah Show wouldn’t exist if Phil Donahue hadn’t been the first to show that daytime talk and the female audience deserve serious attention,” Winfrey shared on Instagram alongside a photo of them together. “He was a true innovator. I’m thankful I had the chance to express my gratitude to him. Rest in peace, Phil.”

Donahue hosted his significant talk show, which featured audience involvement, from 1967 until 1996.

Winfrey has previously stated that while Donahue “may not have invented the concept of conversing with people on TV, he certainly did it better than anyone before him,” and that “all of us who followed Phil Donahue have a great deal to thank him for.”

Television personalities Katie Couric, Ricki Lake, and Montel Williams celebrate Phil Donahue

Journalist Katie Couric expressed her sadness on Instagram upon hearing the news of Donahue’s passing, while longtime Fox News host Geraldo Rivera mentioned on X that the news “deeply saddens me.”

“He was a hero and a pioneer of talk shows who motivated me to venture into the genre he created,” Rivera wrote. “A true historical figure.”

He continued, “He was the most significant talk show host in history. He acknowledged that the daytime TV audience was overlooked. He cared about homemakers and provided them a connection to the broader world. A giant has left us.”

TV host Ricki Lake also took to Instagram to “raise a glass in tribute” to Donahue.

“Phil was an absolute icon and a pioneer in the talk show realm,” she wrote, adding, “I was privileged to stand alongside him during the 2010 Oprah show celebrating talk show legends. He was a genuinely warm, supportive, and brilliant person. I am thankful for the path he created and the lasting impact he leaves behind. May he rest in peace.”

Montel Williams, a fellow talk show host, hailed Donahue as the “godfather of the genre,” noting that he “broke new ground in audience participation on crucial topics, establishing a benchmark many of us aspire to meet.”

Kelly Ripa, co-host of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” shared a photo of herself with her husband Mark Consuelos, Donahue, and his wife, Marlo Thomas.

“True friends are rare and even harder to lose. To a life well-lived. We love you, Marlo, and will forever miss Phil 💔,” she wrote in her caption.

Sally Jessy Raphael, host of “Sally,” credited Donahue with providing the groundwork for her talk show that ran for 12 seasons.

“He was among the finest broadcasters in American television,” she said on social media. “His show transformed how we talked, what we discussed, and gave a voice to many. Without Phil Donahue, there would never have been a Sally Jessy Raphael.”

A family spokesperson informed YSL News that Donahue passed away after a prolonged illness, surrounded by family and “his beloved Golden retriever, Charlie.”

Contributing: Bryan Alexander