Marlo Thomas pays tribute to her 'sweetheart' husband and talk show legend Phil Donahue after his tragic death

Marlo Thomas has paid tribute to her late husband, talk show legend Phil Donahue.  

The host of The Phil Donahue Show passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, while surrounded by relatives, including his actress wife, at his home. 

She wrote on Instagram, along with a sweet photo of the pair riding a motorbike together on vacation: 'I'm sure by now you've heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night.

'I know you understand that I'll be stepping away from this page for a while to take care of myself and the many people who took care of Phil, and held him close to their hearts.

Marlo Thomas, 86, has paid tribute to her late husband, talk show legend Phil Donahue (pictured together, in happier times, during a European vacation)

'But I didn't want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day,' the 86-year-old actress disclaimed.

'[A]nd for the wonderful and generous way that you've let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years.'

She continued:  'As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community [on social media], and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you've been sharing.

'Until I return, I wish you good health and happy days in the company of family and friends, and I hope that you will continue to hold close those you cherish most, just as I was blessed to do with my beloved Phillip,' Donahue's second wife said.

'Love, Marlo,' she went on to sign, while sharing a vintage photo of the pair on a European holiday.

'P.S. This is one of my favorite photos of Phil and me,' she wrote. '[T]aken on vacation.'

Countless comments offering words of consolation ensued, for a woman who had been married to Donahue for the past 44 years.

The pair actually met on the set of his program back in 1977 - with Donahue the host and Thomas his guest.

Donahue was married to Thomas for the past 44 years, after he had already fathered five children. His youngest, Honolulu lawyer James Donahue, died from an unexpected aneurysm almost ten years ago to the day, at age 51

The pair (seen here on the set of the Phil Donahue show) actually met on the program back in 1977 - with Donahue the host and Thomas his guest

The two would go on to wed just three years later, following 'instant chemistry' felt by Thomas with the TV talker, she revealed in a 2015 post to Gacebook.

'Phil and I met on his talk show, 'Donahue,' in 1977,' Thomas, who continues to act and produce to this day, wrote at the time. 

'He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.'

The couple would then marry in 1980, having five children.

Meanwhile, the show went on, with Donahue hosting big names such as Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Johnny Carson, Ayn Rand, and Nelson Mandela over the course of 16 more years on his seminal show.

He would also go on to win 20 Emmys - 10 for outstanding host, and 10 for the overall show.  

Just last month, Marlo posted a more recent photo of the icon on Instagram, showing him on a farm in Canada feeding a horse.

Unlike when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden back in May, he stood on his own accord with the aid of a cane, looking health and happy in the idyllic setting.

The shot was snapped at least a year-and-half ago, during filming for Hallmark's A Magical Christmas Village, which featured Thomas as a star,

HGis show featured spots with famous figures like Bill Clinton, not to mention Muhammad Ali, Johnny Carson, Ayn Rand, and Nelson Mandela

Ali, and fellow boxers Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, and Ken Norton are seen during a particularly memorable segment aired in November 1989, called Champions Forever

Oprah Winfrey - who is worth more than $3billion after following in the footsteps of Donahue - famously said in 2002: 'If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey'

Over the course of his career, Donahue won 20 Emmys - 10 for outstanding host and 10 for the overall show

'Phil and I met on his talk show, 'Donahue,' in 1977,' Thomas wrote in 2015, recalling 'the instant chemistry. She added: 'He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.' The pair would go on to marry in 1980, and had been married ever since

The actress remembered the occasion with a loving caption, writing to her 145,000 followers, 'Here's a favorite shot of Phil in the morning feeding the horses near the house where we were staying in Canada.

'A lovely way to start the day!'

Tributes have since poured in for the fondly remembered TV personality, who set an example for figures as far-ranging Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, and Sally Jesse Raphael with his approach to daytime TV.

Winfrey - who is worth more than $3billion - famously said in 2002: 'If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey', and shared her own statement reiterating those sentiments on Monday.

'There wouldn't have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously,' she wrote. 

'He was a pioneer. I'm glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil.'

Donahue is survived by his wife sister, children, and grandchildren, all of whom were by his side when he passed.