Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas co-authored a book on marriage titled “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets,” providing insights into their own enduring relationship. Despite Marlo’s initial aversion to marriage, considering it akin to a vacuum cleaner sucking out energy and ambition, meeting Phil changed her perspective.
The couple, who found each other after Phil’s first marriage, shares a bond that has stood the test of time. Phil gained fame with “The Phil Donahue Show,” where Marlo appeared as a guest, altering the course of both their lives. They met in 1977, and after three years of dating, they married in an intimate ceremony in 1980, defying Marlo’s previous stance on marriage.
The book recounts humorous anecdotes about friends and family expressing shock at Marlo’s decision to wed, given her past criticisms of marriage. Despite the initial surprise, Marlo and Phil’s marriage thrived, with the couple addressing challenges as learning experiences that strengthened their bond.
Throughout their lengthy marriage, the couple faced periods of separation due to work commitments, with Marlo gaining insight into the diverse definitions of marriage. Despite the distance, they made their relationship work, and Marlo became a friend and supporter to Phil’s children from his first marriage.
Reflecting on raising Phil’s children, Marlo acknowledges her role as more of a friend than a traditional mother, mirroring her own mother’s approach. In the book, Phil and Marlo attribute the longevity of their marriage to trust, emphasizing the importance of supporting each other.
Phil, a virgin before his first marriage that resulted in five kids, and Marlo believe that a lasting marriage requires mutual commitment and the desire to make it work. They express gratitude for each other’s support and insist that, even after more than 40 years of marriage, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Marlo acknowledges Phil’s unwavering support, emphasizing that he has been there for her in every possible way.