Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue were regarded as one of the most enduring couples in Hollywood, married for 44 years until Donahue’s death in August 2024 at 88. Their love story started in 1977 when Donahue, the host of the Phil Donahue show, interviewed Thomas, a then highly regarded actress and activist. Over their time together, the couple became a symbol of lasting love in a profession too frequently defined by short-lived relationships.
After her husband passed away, the 87-year-old decided to grieve in secret, away from public view, among close friends and family. However, the 87-year-old was recently seen in a rare public outing marking the first since her husband’s death.
Marlo Thomas stuns on the red carpet in a new public appearance
Marla Thomas still looks like That Girl in her first public appearance since Phil Donahue’s death. In pink at the “Family Equality Night at the Pier” gala last night. pic.twitter.com/beH4JfvbfV
— 𝔻𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕙 🥃🖊️ (@DADiClementi) May 13, 2025
The actress was spotted on the red carpet at Family Equality’s Night at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on Monday, May 12, alongside colleagues, Demi Moore and Debbie Harry, to present entertainment industry powerhouses Jason Weinberg and Merritt Johnson with the Luigi Caiola Luminary Award.
Thomas gracefully stepped onto the red carpet, looking effortlessly young, with subtle, bright makeup accentuating her natural beauty. For the occasion, she rocked a long pale pink gown, paired with a lovely heart-shaped pendant that softly enhanced her outfit around her neck. She flaunted her gold wedding rings while posing for a shot with Moore.
Marlo Thomas’ recent public sighting might not be a return to the spotlight
Although Thomas’s recent appearance at Family Equality Night sparked excitement among fans, who might interpret it as a potential return to the public eye, there are still doubts whether this signals a full-fledged comeback, especially in light of her absence from high-profile engagements in the past.
Notably, the That Girl star skipped her annual Thanksgiving Day appearance on the Today show, a tradition closely tied to her family’s legacy as it is a yearly event used to promote the charitable work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the renowned pediatric treatment center founded by her late father, Danny Thomas.