Marlo Thomas was absent from St. Jude’s Thanks & Giving phase on Immediately this 12 months, marking the primary time she missed the custom in additional than 20 years.
“For the primary time within the 21 years of our sequence, Marlo just isn’t with us this morning,” Savannah Guthrie defined to viewers throughout a Monday, November 25, episode of the present. “She’s taking a while off after the loss of her beloved husband, Phil Donahue.”
As a substitute, Marlo’s brother, Tony Thomas, appeared on the present for the annual phase honoring the kids’s analysis hospital, which was based by their father, Danny Thomas, in 1962.
Phil died on August 18 at age 88 following an extended sickness, his household mentioned in an announcement on the time.
Through the phase on Monday, Hoda Kotb requested Tony how Marlo, 87, was doing in her time of grief.
“She liked her man, that was a 44-year marriage that was a real love affair,” he defined.
“All people that referred to as me mentioned, ‘I can’t consider their marriage was such a love affair and the chemistry.’ It was … they have been very, very shut and I consider it’s going [to be] awhile earlier than she will deal with this.”
Marlo and Phil got married in 1980. On the time of their union, he was already a father to 5 youngsters, Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose and James, from his first marriage to Margaret Cooney.
“From the very first day, I made a decision that I used to be not going to attempt to be a ‘mom’ to Phil’s kids within the conventional sense — they already had a mother — however, as a substitute, to be their good friend,” Marlo informed AARP in Might 2011 of their household dynamic. “After I was rising up, my mom was all the time a good friend to my siblings and me (along with being all the opposite issues a mother is), and I used to be all the time grateful for that as a result of I knew she was somebody I may speak to and joke with, and argue with and that nothing would ever hurt that friendship. So I used that mannequin with Phil’s youngsters, and I’m proud to say that the friendships I established with them are as sturdy right now as they have been 30 years in the past — even stronger.”
The That Lady alum released a statement on Instagram after her husband’s loss of life earlier this 12 months.
“Howdy, Associates. I’m certain by now you’ve heard the very unhappy information that I misplaced my sweetheart final evening, so I do know you perceive that I’ll be stepping away from this web page for some time to maintain myself and the many individuals who took care of Phil, and held him near their hearts,” she wrote on August 19.
“However I didn’t wish to disappear with out saying thanks for the gorgeous messages of affection and help which have been coming in all day, and for the great and beneficiant approach that you just’ve let Phil and me share our life journey with you through the years,” she wrote. “As a person who spent his profession loving his audiences, Phil received such a kick out of our cozy little group right here, and I do know he can be very touched by the heartwarming ideas and recollections you’ve been sharing.”
“Till I return, I want you good well being and completely happy days within the firm of household and mates, and I hope that you’ll proceed to carry shut these you cherish most, simply as I used to be blessed to do with my beloved Phillip,” Marlo concluded. “Love, Marlo. P.S. That is one in all my favourite images of Phil and me, taken on trip.”
