Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas' Sweetest Photos from Their Decades-Long Love Story

The legendary talk-show host died on August 18 after 44 years of marriage to the 'That Girl' actress

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas' love story is one for the ages.

After first meeting on The Phil Donahue Show in 1977, the That Girl actress and talk show host, who died on Aug. 18, 2024 at 88, "clicked" and in 1980 they were married. Over the course of their 44-year marriage, the two have been by each other's sides for some of life's biggest moments from winning awards to becoming grandparents. Dating back to the start of their courtship in the late 1970s, here's a look at some of the iconic couple's sweetest photos together.

How It All Began

The couple first met back in 1977 when Thomas was a guest on Donahue's eponymous talk show and by 1980 they were married.

"We just clicked ... I just loved his confidence," Thomas said in 2021 during an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Sealed with a Kiss

Thomas gave Donahue a kiss on the head as they stepped out for the Iris Awards Banquet in 1978 in L.A.

Back in the Day

A few months after first meeting in Chicago, Donahue visited Thomas at her home in Beverly Hill, she explained in an Instagram post.

"Here we are in my backyard. Sparks continued to fly! They still do! How lucky are we?!," she said.

Eyes for You

Thomas sweetly looked up at her soon-to-be husband in 1979 when the pair attended the Special Olympics at SUNY Brockport Campus in New York.

Love Birds

Here, the two are seen together the year they tied the knot while out in New York City.

Wedding Bells

Thomas paid tribute to the couple's 44th anniversary with a sweet post to Instagram in May 2024.

"I can't believe it," she wrote, alongside a photo from their wedding day. "It seems more like 20 years. It was a happy day in May and it's happy still! We are blessed and so grateful we found each other. Here we are May 21, 1980. Happy anniversary my darling ??"

Birthday Guests

In 1984, the power couple was all dressed up to celebrate Thomas' dear friend Gloria Steinem's 50th birthday in New York City.

Vacation Bliss

Thomas celebrated National Spouse Day earlier this year with a photo of the longtime couple on vacation in Italy.

"We’ve been married 43 years and it's so good to know that I picked the perfect spouse for me," she wrote.

Favorite Plus One

Over the years the couple has been huge supporters of St. Jude Children's Hospital as it was founded by Marlo's father, Danny Thomas. In 1992, the pair attended the hospital's charity gala in Century City, California.

Boat Days

In July, Thomas took a walk down memory lane and shared a photo of the longtime loves on their boat, the Mugsy, from 2009.

"It’s hard to believe this was 15 years ago, it feels like yesterday," she wrote. "We still love to watch the sunset whether on land or water!"

Feeling the Love

The two were coordinated in black for a friend's wedding. Thomas shared the photo to her Instagram in February: "Love those beach weddings," she wrote in part.

Special Honor — For Two!

Another moment to bond over? The two both received the Presidential Medal of Freedom — Thomas in 2014, followed by Donahue in 2024.

“We don’t have a trophy room even though we could probably use one for Phil — the man won 20 Emmys,” Thomas told PEOPLE earlier this year. ”But we keep our awards in our own studies. The medals, however, are different. I had mine framed, and I can’t wait to frame Phil’s and hang it right next to it.”

“His and hers medals, side by side,” Donahue added. “In a way, it’s kinda romantic.”

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