Marlo Thomas surprised her husband, Phil Donahue, with a one-of-a-kind birthday gift this year. Throughout their 44 years of marriage, Thomas has presented Donahue with numerous birthday surprises, but this particular gift stands out as the most unique.
The actress and director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital hosted a glamorous dinner party in New York City on Thursday to celebrate Donahue’s 88th birthday. In a heartfelt gesture, she raised a toast to him with a special cocktail that she personally crafted as a tribute.
“When you’ve been with someone as long as I have with Phil, you have to think outside the box. I mean, how many watches can you keep buying for your husband?” Thomas, 86, shares exclusively with PEOPLE at the celebration, which took place at the lively and historic Pete’s Tavern in Gramercy. “What else can I possibly get him? I’ve already gifted him money clips and everything cashmere – he practically has cashmere underwear by now, don’t you think? So, I had to get creative.”
Thomas reached out to Jameson for assistance after her initial success with her drink creation. She contacted Jameson, praising their reputation as the greatest Irish whiskey. Thomas emphasized the prominence of Phil, a well-known Irish figure, whose name is even featured in bar names. In her conversation with Jameson, Thomas proposed a unique arrangement; she didn’t want to exchange any money but simply requested their expertise in crafting a drink for her. Generously, Jameson agreed to lend their support.
Jameson gave Thomas three choices to pick from. Thomas recalls, “We had a gathering at my place and sampled the three beverages. One of them was too spicy, another had a lemony flavor that I think will be great for summer. However, this particular one was just perfect.”
Thomas poured “The Donahue” drink for her guests on Thursday evening, using her own collection of tortoise shell double old-fashioned glasses from William Sonoma. The purpose was to raise a toast in celebration of Donahue’s significant achievement.
The crowd was filled with well-known personalities, including Al Roker, the longtime weatherman of the Today show, and George Stephanopoulos, the anchor of Good Morning America, along with his comedian wife, Ali Wentworth. Thomas, Phil’s friend, shares, “These are some of our closest friends, and I knew Phil would love spending the holidays with them.”
Donahue’s birthday is just around the corner on December 21. Unfortunately, he had to miss the party at the last minute due to a health issue. However, his friends made sure to express their love for him and make him feel present in spirit through their heartfelt remarks.
Fans can join the celebration by creating their own version of ‘The Donahue.’ To make this delicious cocktail, simply mix 1 ½ parts of Jameson Black Barrel, ½ parts of Demerara Syrup, 1 dash of Angostura Bitters, and ½ pint of Imperial Stout.
Thomas exclaimed, “This is absolutely delicious! I have no idea what I’m going to gift him next year, but this present is perfect for this year.”
Thomas and Donahue crossed paths for the first time in 1977 during her appearance on his talk show. Their connection grew stronger, leading to a romantic relationship, and they eventually tied the knot in 1980.
Four decades later, they collaborated on their first joint project, a book titled “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life.” Published in 2020, this book showcases interviews with other renowned couples who share their experiences and insights into maintaining long and successful marriages.
According to Thomas and Donahue, the key to their long-lasting relationship is realizing that not everything is a major issue. They believe that no matter what challenges they face, it won’t break them up. As Donahue mentioned in an interview with AARP, they have learned to communicate and resolve their problems by talking them out.
According to Donahue, the key to effective communication is sometimes screaming. In a lighthearted manner, he suggests that screaming can be a way to gauge whether the other person is actually listening. After a brief moment of release, he recommends taking a step back and giving yourself some time to calm down.
He also mentioned that a touch of humor can greatly benefit a marriage.
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