Legendary US talk show host Larry King has died at the age of 87.
Ora Media broke the news in a statement tweeted from his account.
The statement said: “With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the death of our co-founder, host, and friend Larry King, who passed away this morning at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry’s many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster.
“Additionally, while it was his name appearing in the shows’ titles, Larry always viewed his interview subjects as the true stars of his programs, and himself as merely an unbiased conduit between the guest and audience.
“Whether he was interviewing a US president, foreign leader, celebrity, scandal-ridden personage, or an everyman, Larry liked to ask short, direct, and uncomplicated questions. He believed concise questions usually provided the best answers, and he was not wrong in that belief.”
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
King’s death comes after years of health problems that included battles with both lung and prostate cancer.
He also survived a heart attack in 1987 and a near-fatal stroke in 2019, that had left him in a coma for weeks.
Star Trek actor George Takei was among the people paying tribute to Larry King.
He tweeted: “Thanks for the countless interviews and insights, Larry King. You understood human triumph and frailty equally well, and that is no easy feat. There was no one else like you, and you shall be missed. Rest with the heavens now”.
Thanks for the countless interviews and insights, Larry King. You understood human triumph and frailty equally well, and that is no easy feat. There was no one else like you, and you shall be missed. Rest with the heavens now.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 23, 2021
King was born Lawrence Zeiger in the New York borough of Brooklyn, and began his career as a journalist after he moved to Florida.
He started off in radio, landing his first on air presenting gig in 1957 and going on to adopt his new name of Larry King on the advice of his station manager.
He legally changed his name to Larry King two years later.
King moved into TV in 1960, working on a local news show called Miami Undercover and got the chance to work with comedian Jackie Gleason who became a mentor to the young reporter.
His career suffered a blip in 1971 when he was arrested after being accused of riping off a business associate. He lost his radio and TV job and ended up working as a racing announcer.
— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 23, 2021
King pleaded no contest to one count of passing a bad cheque and managed to get back into TV four years later. By 1978 he’d begun hosting his own national radio show.
During his years hosting his nightly programme for Mutual Broadcasting System, King interviewed guests and taking phone calls from listeners in a format that would become his trademark.
He kept the radio show going while also working in TV, starting Larry King Live on CNN in 1985. The show covered a broad range of topics from current affairs to conspiracy theories and celebrity guests, and became a US TV staple.
King continued hosting the show for 25 years until he stepped down in 2010 and handed over to British broadcaster Piers Morgan.
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
He signed off his final show, saying: “I don’t know what to say except to you, my audience, thank you. And instead of goodbye, how about so long.”
The telly veteran continued making appearances for CNN in later years, and also hosting a web series, Larry King Now, and a politics show, Politicking with Larry King.
King led a colourful life and was married eight times, to seven women. He married and divorced former Playboy bunny Alene Akins twice.
His final marriage was to Shawn Southwick in 1997, and the pair wed in a Los Angeles hospital shortly before he was due to undergo heart surgery.
Their relationship collapsed in 2010. They later reconciled but filed for divorce again in 2019.