Mike Douglas , born Michael Delaney Dowd , Jr. ( August 11 , 1925 -- August 11 , 2006 ) was an American entertainer . Mike Douglas ( August 11 , 1925 -- August 11 , 2006 ) was an American `` Big Band '' era singer , entertainer , and television talk show host . Douglas was born Michael Delaney Dowd , Jr. in Chicago , Illinois , and began singing as a choirboy .