Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 29, 2025 · Entertainment

Sally Jessy Raphael: The Unstoppable Icon Living Her Best Life in Retirement

Fans of ¿90s talk shows were thrilled to catch a glimpse of one of the era¿s most legendary hosts enjoying life to the fullest in recent Instagram posts

SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL: THE DAYTIME LEGEND WHO'S STILL GOT IT

Get ready for a dose of nostalgia, folks! The one and only Sally Jessy Raphael is living her best life, and we're not just talking about any ordinary life – we're talking about the life of a daytime TV icon!

The 90-year-old trailblazer, who made history in 1983 as the first woman to host an audience-participation, issue-driven talk show, is still going strong. And by strong, we mean she's sipping oysters on a stunning boat in New England and slaying the game like it's 1999!

The daytime legend, who made history in 1983 as the first woman to host an audience-participation, issue-driven talk show, looked radiant as she cruised on a stunning boat and slurped oysters in New England

But don't let her age fool you – Sally is still the queen of daytime TV, and she knows it! In a recent Instagram post, she captioned a pic of herself enjoying some oysters with a saucy remark: "In New England enjoying some oysters... aren't these supposed to be an aphrodisiac?!" We're not sure what's more impressive – her wit or her oyster-slurping skills!

But Sally's life isn't all about indulging in oysters and looking fabulous (although, let's be real, she's a pro at that too!). The Pennsylvania native and Columbia grad has been on the go, jetting off to Paris for a girls' trip with some of her closest friends. We're talking champagne toasts, haute couture shopping sprees, and probably even a few dodgy cabaret performances (just kidding, Sally!).

Of course, no discussion about Sally Jessy Raphael would be complete without mentioning her legendary talk show, which was on the air from 1983 to 2002. The show tackled tough topics like infidelity, abortion, and gay rights, but it also had its fair share of sensational moments – including those infamous paternity test reveals and tabloid-style topics.

The host of The Sally Jessy Raphael Show ¿ later known as Sally ¿ has been sharing glimpses of her vibrant post-career life on social media, including a recent peaceful photo lounging by a quiet lake

But Sally's not one to dwell on the past (or so we thought!). In a candid interview with Oprah: Where Are They Now? in 2016, she confessed that she was "betrayed" by some of her producers into doing more sensational content. "I should have fought harder for what I knew was right," she said.

Fast-forward to today, and Sally is still going strong – albeit at a slower pace. She's been documenting her fabulous post-career life on Instagram, where fans can catch glimpses of her lounging by the lake, sporting those iconic red frames that made her a style icon in the '90s.

But there's more to Sally than meets the eye! In addition to her daytime TV roots, she's also had a successful radio show and even returned to television with a Logo series called Sally Jessy Rides in 2014. And let's not forget her surprise cameo on the animated comedy Everybody Still Hates Chris in 2024 – because who wouldn't want to see Sally Jessy Raphael as a cartoon character?!

She¿s still going strong ¿ the Pennsylvania-born Columbia graduate recently flew to Paris for a girls¿ getaway to mark her milestone birthday

As for love, Sally has had her fair share of romance over the years. She was first married to Andrew Vladimir, with whom she had two daughters (including the sadly deceased Allison, who died at age 33 from an accidental overdose). After that, she met Karl Soderlund, who became both her manager and husband – a match made in heaven, indeed! The couple stayed together for an impressive 57 years until his passing in 2020.

So there you have it, folks – the story of Sally Jessy Raphael: daytime legend, trailblazer, oyster connoisseur, and still going strong at 90. Long may she reign!

Sources:

If you guessed Sally Jessy Raphael¿ you¿re absolutely right!; (seen in 1990)

  • TheScholarlyNote.com

In 1989, she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host; (seen in 1999)

'The last years of doing those Maury Povich/Jerry Springer shows? I hated them,' Raphael admitted during a 2016 episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now?; (Raphael with Joan Rivers in 1992)