Popular television talk show host Mike Douglas passed away on this date in 2006, his 81st birthday.

“In the old days, I was often confused with Merv Griffin,” he said. “We were the same height, the same weight and we were both Irish tenors.”

Born Michael Delaney Dowd Jr. in Chicago, Douglas served in the Navy during World War II, then became a featured singer on Kay Kyser's radio show. His voice brought Prince Charming to life in Disney’s Cinderella (1950).

He launched his daytime show in 1961. Warm and relatable, Douglas quickly became a favorite in American living rooms. By 1967, the show aired in 171 markets, reaching more than 6 million daily viewers.

For 21 memorable years—about 6,000 shows—he welcomed the biggest names in music, comedy, sports, and politics. His guests included seven presidents, John and Yoko, and a toddler prodigy named Tiger Woods. Roger Ailes, who produced the show, would go on to launch Fox News.

“It was really a music show, with a whole lot of talk and laughter in between,” Douglas explained. Each week featured a new guest co-host.

“It’s going to sound corny, but I couldn’t wait to go to work,” he said, opening doors for a new generation of talk show hosts from Phil Donahue to Oprah by showing that conversation could be both entertaining and meaningful.

Mike Douglas gave people a reason to smile each day—proof that kindness, joy, and a good song could bring us all a little closer together.