In August 2024, Marlo Thomas lost her husband of 44 years, former talk show host Phil Donahue. Marlo, who starred alongside Alison Sweeney in the Hallmark film “A Magical Christmas Village,” posted a lengthy tribute to her “sweetheart” on Instagram. Then, she informed fans that she would be taking a social media break. True to her word, she hasn’t posted anything on her page since then.
On November 24, she made her first TV appearance in 15 months to promote the annual Thanks and Giving series. The actress, whose father, Danny Thomas, founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, appeared on the show to highlight the hospital’s new expansion. The following day, she gave a brief update on how she’s been coping since her husband’s death.
‘I Miss Him A Lot’: Marlo Thomas Candidly Says About Late Husband
On November 25, Marlo sat down with the “Today” hosts to discuss the research and care that St. Jude provides to patients and their families. Craig Melvin asked the question on everyone’s minds: “How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, I’m like Sheinelle,” she replied, gesturing to Sheinelle Jones. Sheinelle’s husband died in May after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Sheinelle called Marlo her “earth angel,” which made he smile. “Thank you,” Marlo responded, “I miss him a lot.”
Sheinelle returned to her job at “Today” on September 5. That day, Savannah Guthrie asked Sheinelle the same question that Craig had asked Marlo: “How are you doing?”
After explaining to her that it was “the hardest question,” she attempted to answer it. “I don’t know. In this moment, I’m okay. Day to day, I’m okay,” she said. “From a macro picture, ‘How am I doing?’ my heart is shattered. My heart is shattered in a million pieces.”
Marlo Thomas Unveils New St. Jude Play Space
Marlo, who turned 88 on November 21, is the national outreach director at St. Jude. One thing that has kept her very busy is the creation of the new Family Commons area at the hospital. Free of doctors, the space lets the kids do what they do best: play.
“It was actually thought of by the parents of the children, ‘What are they missing?'” Marlo told “Today” during a tour. “A place to play, a place to do art, a place to play music. And even, we have a beauty salon, because hair is very important to kids.”
“Our main goal is to save a child’s life, and after that give them back a quality of life,” she added. “We are trying to give them back their childhood.”
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15 Months After Phil Donahue’s Passing, Marlo Thomas Gives Poignant Update: ‘I Miss Him a Lot’