Jim Donahue: What happened to Phil Donahue’s son?

Jim Donahue is the son of Phil Donahue. Jim Donahue’s father is an American media personality, widely known as “King of Daytime Talk”. He is credited with pioneering the daytime television talk show format. The American an American media personality, writer, and film producer is the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show which was later known simply as Donahue. The programs introduced viewers to sensitive and intelligent discussions of topics and issues that had never before been seen on the small screen such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights, and war issues.

Jim Donahue: Bio Summary

How old was Phil Donahue’s son Jim?

Jim Donahue was born in 1963 in The United States of America. He was the son of  Phil Donahue and his ex-wife Marge Cooney. Unfortunately, Jim passed away at the age of 51 in 2014. Jim was the only child of the couple. Phil and Marge had five children including Jim- They are  Mary Rose Donahue, Kevin Donahue, Michael Donahue, and Daniel Donahue. Jim is the youngest son of the couple. How did Phil Donahue die? Keep reading to learn more.

ALSO, READ; Marge Cooney: Inside the Life of Phil Donahue’s Ex-wife

Jim Donahue and his siblings spent their childhood in Dayton when their father was at the start of his broadcast career and developing his history-making talk show. A neighbor who was also a family friend- Maddi Breslin of Centervile- told daytondailynews, -“Their kids played with my kids everyday from the time they were in kindergarten to the time they were freshmen in high school,”.

She also describes “Jimmy” as a thoughtful little boy who had lots of friends. “I dearly loved him and thought of him as one of my own kids.” Jim’s parents ended their marriage in 1975 after being together for almost 2 decades. The divorce settlement gave his mother custody of his sister Mary Rose and the four boys to their father. His father got married to actress Marlo Thomas.

ALSO, READ; Phil Donahue Children- Michael Donahue, Jim Donahue, Daniel Donahue, Kevin Donahue, Mary Rose Donahue

The actress revealed her stepsons did not resist her arrival on their family scene, and all the children are “very loving,” which is one of her highest accolades. From the onset, Marlo had her own tactics to help her bond with Jim Donahue and her siblings- She says:

“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.”

Phil Donahue’s son lived and practiced law in Honolulu.

According to daytondailynews, Jim Donahue lived and practiced law in Honolulu. He worked for more than 20 years for the Ralph Nader group, Essential Information, as an investigative researcher and writer. “The Center has lost a human being of iron integrity and fundamental values regarding a just society,” Ralph Nader said in a statement per daytondailynews. “Jim was a first-rate researcher who set a standard for accuracy in his work that was unsurpassed, especially about endemic corporate abuses. His generation needs the example of what he stood for.”

What was the cause of Phil Donahue’s son Jim’s death?

Jim Donahue died suddenly from a burst aortic aneurysm. He was 51 years old at the time of his death. In a message to friends, Jim’s stepmother, Marlo Thomas described her stepson as “a great light in our family, a funny character and an independent spirit.”

ALSO, READ; Mary Rose Donahue: Who is Phil Donahue’s daughter?

Jim Donahue is survived by his father, Phil Donahue; his mother, Margaret Cooney; his step-mother, Marlo Thomas; three brothers, Michael, Kevin, and Daniel and sister, Mary Rose. Jim Donahue was cremated and his ashes “were scattered by his family in the beautiful, warm and tranquil waters of Honolulu that he loved, and where he will forever be at peace.” according to an official statement,