Marge Cooney, also known as Margaret Cooney, is best known as the first wife of famous American talk show host Phil Donahue. She was part of his life before he became one of the biggest names in daytime television.
Unlike Phil Donahue, Marge lived a private life. Most public information about her comes from her marriage, divorce, children, and her link to the Donahue family.
Quick Answer
Marge Cooney was Phil Donahue’s first wife. People reports that Phil Donahue and Margaret Cooney married in 1958, had five children, and divorced in 1975.
- Known for: Phil Donahue’s first wife
- Full name used in sources: Margaret Cooney
- Children: Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James
- Marriage years: 1958 to 1975
- Public life: Private after divorce
Marge Cooney Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Margaret Cooney |
| Popular Name | Marge Cooney |
| Also Known As | Margaret “Marge” Cooney |
| Known For | Phil Donahue’s first wife |
| Ex-Husband | Phil Donahue |
| Marriage Year | 1958 |
| Divorce Year | 1975 |
| Children | Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James |
| Daughter | Mary Rose Donahue |
| Sons | Michael, Kevin, Daniel, and James |
| Profession | Not publicly confirmed |
| Movies / TV Shows | No verified acting or TV career found |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
| New Mexico Connection | Public sources say she returned to New Mexico after divorce |
| Current Public Life | Private and low-profile |
| Verified Public Photos | Limited |
Name Variations
| Name Used | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Marge Cooney | Common short name used in searches |
| Margaret Cooney | Name used in public family sources |
| Margaret “Marge” Cooney | Helpful full-name style for readers |
| Marge Cooney Donahue | Search variation linked to Phil Donahue |
This article uses Marge Cooney naturally, but Margaret Cooney is also used where sources use her full name.
Who Was Marge Cooney?
Marge Cooney was a private woman who became publicly known because of her marriage to Phil Donahue. Phil later became famous as the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show.
The Guardian describes Marge as Donahue’s college sweetheart. It also notes that after he graduated, he married her in 1958 and worked for a short time in a bank in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Marge did not build a public career in television. Her name is mostly searched because of Phil Donahue’s family history.
Marge Cooney and Phil Donahue Marriage
Marge Cooney and Phil Donahue married in 1958. At that time, Donahue was still early in his working life and had not yet become a national television star.
Their marriage lasted during the years when Donahue was building his broadcasting career. He later became one of the most important daytime talk show hosts in American TV history.
People reports that Marge and Phil had five children before their divorce in 1975.
Marriage Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Marge Cooney married Phil Donahue |
| 1959 | Their oldest child, Michael, was born |
| 1960s | Their family grew while Donahue built his TV career |
| 1975 | Marge and Phil divorced |
| 1980 | Phil Donahue married Marlo Thomas |
This timeline keeps the facts simple and avoids gossip.
Why Did Phil Donahue and Marge Cooney Divorce?
Phil Donahue and Marge Cooney divorced in 1975. Public sources confirm the divorce, but the exact private reason is not clearly explained in strong public records.
A good biography should not add fake details about arguments, affairs, or divorce settlements. Those claims are often repeated online without proof.
What can be said safely is that the divorce happened after 17 years of marriage, during the period when Donahue’s television career was growing.
Marge Cooney Children
Marge Cooney and Phil Donahue had five children together: Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James.
| Child | Public Detail |
|---|---|
| Michael Phillip Donahue | Oldest child; worked in broadcast media |
| Kevin John Donahue | Lived a more private life; known through family profiles |
| Daniel Timothy Donahue | Private public profile |
| Mary Rose Donahue | Marge’s daughter; moved with her after the divorce |
| James “Jim” Patrick Donahue | Worked in investigative research and law; died in 2014 |
People reports that after the divorce, Phil retained custody of the four sons, while Marge kept custody of their daughter, Mary Rose.
Michael Donahue
Michael Phillip Donahue is the oldest child of Phil Donahue and Marge Cooney. People reports that he was born in 1959.
He later worked in broadcast media. His career stayed connected to media, but he did not become a public TV personality like his father.
Kevin, Daniel and Mary Rose Donahue
Kevin John Donahue and Daniel Timothy Donahue have lived more private lives compared with Phil Donahue. People includes both in its family profile, but does not present them as public celebrities.
Mary Rose Donahue is the daughter of Marge and Phil. People reports that after the divorce, Mary Rose lived with Marge and moved to New Mexico, where Marge had grown up.
James “Jim” Donahue
James “Jim” Patrick Donahue was the youngest son of Phil Donahue and Marge Cooney. People reports that he worked for many years as an investigative researcher and writer.
Jim died in August 2014 at age 51. Because this is a family matter, it should be written with respect and without extra emotional wording.
Marge Cooney and New Mexico
New Mexico is part of Marge Cooney’s public story. The Guardian says Phil Donahue worked briefly in a bank in Marge’s hometown of Albuquerque after they married.
People also reports that after the divorce, Marge and Mary Rose moved to New Mexico, where Marge had grown up.
Her exact later address or private location should not be guessed. Public sources only support the general New Mexico connection.
Did Marge Cooney Remarry?
Some public profiles say Marge Cooney remarried after her divorce from Phil Donahue. Strong public details about her later spouse are limited.
Because of that, this article does not add a second husband’s name or a remarriage story without stronger proof.
This is the safer way to write about her private life.
Marge Cooney Career
Marge Cooney’s professional career is not widely confirmed by reliable public sources.
She is not known as an actress, TV host, author, singer, or producer. No verified movie or TV credits are connected to her.
Her public identity is mainly tied to her marriage to Phil Donahue and their family.
Movies, TV Shows and Books
Marge Cooney did not appear to have a public entertainment career.
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Movies | No verified acting credits found |
| TV shows | No verified public TV career found |
| Books | No verified books found |
| Public interviews | Not widely available |
| Awards | Not publicly confirmed |
This matters because some readers search celebrity-style questions. For Marge, the answer is simple: she was not a media celebrity like Phil Donahue.
Marge Cooney Age and Background
Marge Cooney’s exact age is not clearly confirmed by strong public sources.
Some websites may publish age or birth-year estimates, but those should not be treated as facts unless they cite a reliable record.
Her parents, siblings, education, religion, and early family background are also not widely documented in major public sources.
Marge Cooney Today
Marge Cooney kept a private life after her divorce from Phil Donahue.
Public sources say she returned to New Mexico and moved away from public attention. Beyond that, her later life is not widely covered by reliable news or biography sources.
That low-profile life is one reason many people search “Marge Cooney today” or “what happened to Marge Cooney.”
Is Marge Cooney Still Alive?
A widely verified obituary for Marge Cooney as Phil Donahue’s first wife is not easy to confirm from major public sources.
Because Margaret Cooney is a common name, obituary results should be checked carefully before being treated as her record.
This article does not claim a death date or cause of death without a clearly matched reliable source.
Marge Cooney Net Worth
Marge Cooney’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed.
Online estimates should be treated carefully because they often do not show real financial sources.
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Personal net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Divorce settlement | Not publicly confirmed |
| House or property value | Not publicly confirmed |
| Cars or luxury assets | Not publicly confirmed |
| Phil Donahue’s wealth | Should not be counted as Marge’s personal net worth |
Her life should not be judged by money claims. Her public importance comes from her family connection with Phil Donahue and their children.
Marge Cooney Photos and Pictures
Verified public photos of Marge Cooney are limited.
Readers may search for “Marge Cooney picture,” “Phil Donahue first wife photo,” or “Marge Cooney wedding picture.” But many images online come from repost pages, Pinterest, or gossip-style websites.
A photo should only be trusted if it comes from a reliable archive, credited publication, or strong public source.
Marge Cooney, Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas
Phil Donahue later married actress Marlo Thomas on May 21, 1980. People notes that Marlo became stepmother to Phil’s five children from his first marriage.
This detail belongs in the biography because it explains the wider Donahue family story.
Still, Marge Cooney and Marlo Thomas should not be compared in a disrespectful way. Marge was Phil’s first wife and mother of his children. Marlo was his second wife and longtime partner until his death in 2024.
Phil Donahue’s Death and Family Context
Phil Donahue died on August 18, 2024, at age 88. The Guardian reported that he was survived by Marlo Thomas, three sons, and daughter Mary Rose from his first marriage; his son James had died in 2014.
His death brought new attention to his family, including Marge Cooney, because many readers wanted to understand his first marriage and children.
Marge Cooney Wikipedia and Social Media
Marge Cooney does not appear to have a widely verified dedicated Wikipedia page.
She is mainly mentioned in public profiles about Phil Donahue and his family.
No verified official Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, or personal website was found for Marge Cooney. Random accounts should not be treated as official.
Lesser-Known Facts About Marge Cooney
- Marge Cooney is also known as Margaret Cooney.
- She was Phil Donahue’s first wife.
- She married Donahue in 1958.
- She and Donahue had five children.
- Their marriage ended in divorce in 1975.
- Public sources connect her with New Mexico.
- She lived a private life after the divorce.
- Verified public photos of her are limited.
Final Thoughts
Marge Cooney is best known as Phil Donahue’s first wife and the mother of his five children.
Her story is not about movies, fame, or public drama. It is mostly about family, marriage, divorce, motherhood, and a private life away from television.
The strongest public facts are her marriage to Phil Donahue, their five children, their 1975 divorce, and her New Mexico connection. Other details, such as exact age, career, net worth, current status, and obituary claims, should only be trusted when they come from strong public sources.
