Marlo Thomas Is Her Mother's Revenge
Publisher |
WNYC Studios
Media Type |
audio
Publication Date |
Jan 20, 2021
Episode Duration |
00:34:04

As a young woman, actor and activist Marlo Thomas thought marriage was not a good idea. After watching her mother abandon her own successful singing career to support her father's career in acting, "I thought [marriage] really was a place for one and a half persons," she told me. One person, a man or woman, could live their lives fully, "and the other person would be the half person that would support the other person in their dream." Marlo's views on marriage were well known, too. "Marriage is like a vacuum cleaner," she famously said. "You stick it to your ear and it sucks out all your energy and ambition." 

So it came as a surprise to some that, at age 42, Marlo married TV host Phil Donahue after dating for several years. "I had to understand that I could define my own marriage," she told me. "I didn't have to have somebody else's model." And her own model worked: she and Phil have now been married for 40 years. I talked with Marlo about how her beliefs about marriage shifted, and about how her own marriage has continued to evolve as she and Phil have entered their 80s. 

Marlo Thomas thought marriage was "nothing that I wanted to be a part of" after watching her mother give up her singing career for her father's acting dreams. But then, at 42 years old, she changed her mind.

All this month, we're sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60. If you missed it, check out our last episode, featuring guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners about unexpected health challenges and financial instability; feelings of isolation, invisibility and freedom; and shifting relationships with friends and loved ones. Find it at deathsexmoney.org/aging, as well as some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes featuring older guests. 

Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.

And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today.

Marlo Thomas thought marriage was "nothing that I wanted to be a part of" after watching her mother give up her singing career for her father's acting dreams. But then, at 42 years old, she changed her mind.

All this month, we're sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60. If you missed it, check out our last episode, featuring guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners about unexpected health challenges and financial instability; feelings of isolation, invisibility and freedom; and shifting relationships with friends and loved ones. Find it at deathsexmoney.org/aging, as well as some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes featuring older guests. 

Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.

And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today.

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