Born in 1935 in Ohio, Mr. Phil Donahue went into broadcasting after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1957. Ten years later he began hosting The Phil Donahue Show, which established a new mold for daytime talk programs with its audience participation and exploration of controversial issues which divided liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues. He also briefly hosted a talk show on MSNBC from July 2002 to March 2003. In 1996, Mr. Donahue was ranked #42 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. He has won numerous Emmy Awards, and also directed the 2007 documentary Body of War, which explored the homecoming of a wounded Iraq War veteran.