Phillip John "Phil" Donahue (born December 21, 1935) is an American media personality, writer, and film producer best known as the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, also known as Donahue, was the first to use a talk show format. The show had a 26-year run on U.S. national TV, preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, before ending in 1996.

Phil Donahue and the DONAHUE show have been honored with 20 Daytime Emmy Awards, including nine for Outstanding Host and a George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Journalism Award.

Phil Donahue used the television talk show format he pioneered in 1967 to interview world leaders, celebrities, newsmakers and people from all walks of life. For over 29 years, DONAHUE examined human behavior, focused national debates on political and social issues and has provided a democratic forum for presidential candidates.

The format he introduced on November 6, 1967, as The Phil Donahue Show on WLWD-TV in Dayton, Ohio, launched the first audience participation television talk show and changed the face of American daytime television.

His shows have often focused on issues that often divide liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues. His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom Donahue campaigned in 2000. Donahue also hosted a talk show on MSNBC from 2002–2003.

As host of DONAHUE, Mr. Donahue has presided over nearly 7,000 one-hour daily shows, many on-location broadcasts and several historic broadcasts from Russia.

For his outstanding contribution to television and American culture, Mr. Donahue was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame on November 20, 1993.

In 1996, Donahue was ranked #42 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.