They woke us up in the morning. They talked us to sleep at night. They entertained us in the middle of the day when nothing else was on. We find out where some of the more memorable TV talk show hosts are today and remember those we’ve lost.
Ricki Lake
Then: Lake starred in a John Waters movie before getting her own talk show in 1993. It went on to run for 11 seasons and inspired a recurring “Saturday Night Live” character.
Now: She produced a documentary about childbirth and was part of a recent talk-show host reunion.
Montel Williams
Then: The former Marine and Navy officer’s daytime talk show ran for 17 years and aired its final episode on May 16, 2008. One of his most popular guests was a controversial psychic.
Now: He was diagnosed with this disease in 1999 and started a healthy lifestyle program and is an advocate for medical marijuana.
Phil Donahue
Then: His daytime show still holds this record and was parodied on “Saturday Night Live.” A former presidential candidate and a famous atheist were two of his most frequent guests.
Now: Donahue has been married to this actress for 30 years. He is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and produced a documentary about a paralyzed veteran.
Geraldo Rivera
Then: Instances such as an infamous brawl and a Satanism special led to this nickname during Rivera’s 11 seasons on the air
Now: He has been knocked over by hurricanes, wrote a book about immigration and hosts his own show on Fox News.
Sally Jessy Raphael
Then: Raphael – known for her big red glasses – was the first female syndicated daytime talk-show host. Her final episode aired in 2002.
Now: She spends time on her New York farm and appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s talk-show host reunion show.
Morton Downey Jr.
Then: His fans were known by this nickname, and his shows were known for their shocking content. Some accused him of lying about an incident in San Francisco.
Now: The longtime smoker became an anti-smoking advocate before dying of lung cancer in 2001.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Then: The diminutive therapist gave her candid sex advice on her own shows after becoming famous for her visits on another late-night talk show.
Now: She plays a recurring character on a PBS children’s show and was named on an influential list in 2009.
Craig Kilborn
Then: The former “SportsCenter“ anchor was the original host of a long-running Comedy Central show, then moved on to the CBS late-night lineup.
Now: He showed up in a small part in a Will Ferrell comedy and had a short-lived talk show earlier this year.
Art Linkletter
Then: His daytime variety show was known for a popular segment involving kids and inspired a TV series 30 years later.
Now: He received a lifetime achievement award in 2003 and died earlier this year at the age of 97.
Dinah Shore
Then: The Emmy Award-winning singer/actress hosted several talk shows from the 1950s to the early 1990s and was linked to several famous men.
Now: An annual lesbian-themed event is named after the longtime supporter of women’s golf. She died of ovarian cancer in 1994.
Gary Collins
Then: Collins was a television and film actor before going on to host “Hour Magazine” and “The Home Show.” He also hosted a famous beauty pageant.
Now: He is still married to a former Miss America and has been in the news for his run-ins with the police.
Joan Rivers
Then: The comedian hosted a late-night talk show opposite her longtime mentor before moving on to daytime in 1989.
Now: After several years on the red carpet, Rivers is the host of her own show again on the E! network.
Jane Pauley
Then: She co-anchored “Today” with a future NBC Nightly News anchor and a former sportscaster and went on to host a prime-time news program.
Now: She went public with her mental health issues and has been married to a famous political cartoonist since 1980.
Tom Snyder
Then: Snyder was known for his chain-smoking and interesting interviews on his first talk show. He welcomed guests with his signature catchphrase as the first host of a CBS late-night show.
Now: He helped host a special tribute to longtime friend David Letterman in 2000 and died of leukemia in 2007.
Dick Cavett
Then: He started out as a writer on this show and went on to host several talk shows over the next three decades.
Now: He has a new book about his talk-show experiences and writes a column for the New York Times.
Joan Lunden
Then: She was a co-host of “Good Morning America” – alongside its original host and a future nightly news anchor for nearly 20 years.
Now: She is a healthy lifestyle advocate, mom of two sets of twins and an inventor.
Arsenio Hall
Then: The stand-up comedian made TV history with his late-night show. A future president was one of his more memorable guests.
Now: He’s a regular on another late-night talk show and keeps fans updated on Twitter.
Johnny Carson
Then: He earned the nickname “The King of Late Night” as the host of this show for 30 years. He retired in 1992.
Now: Carson made few public appearances in his retirement and died of emphysema in 2005.
Dennis Miller
Then: The former “Saturday Night Live” cast member (and “Weekend Update” anchor) moved on to his own talk show on HBO.
Now: After a short-lived stint on “Monday Night Football,” he got his own radio show and is a frequent guest on “The O’Reilly Factor.”
Leeza Gibbons
Then: Her daytime show started out with two hosts, but she went on to snag several Emmy nominations as the solo host.
Now: She is the face of a makeup line, hosts a syndicated radio show and founded a life-coaching business and even competed on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Steve Allen
Then: He was the creator and first host of the “The Tonight Show” and went on to host several shows over the next few decades.
Now: He showed up a couple times on a prime-time animated show and was married to his longtime wife until his death in 2000.
Merv Griffin
Then: His guest-hosting spots on a late-night talk show led to “The Merv Griffin Show,” which aired for 25 years.
Now: Griffin created a famous quiz show, a hugely popular word puzzle show and a media empire. He died in 2007.
Rosie O’Donnell
Then: The stand-up comedian was known for her nickname and her crush on a famous actor when she hosted “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”
Now: After a controversial stint on “The View,” she began hosting a radio show from her house and is reportedly getting another TV talk show next year.
