Legendary talk show host Larry King dead at 87

LOS ANGELES — Larry King, the legendary talk show host known for his distinct interview style and who captivated audiences for decades with his discussions with dignitaries, celebrities and the everyday person, has died. He was 87.

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His death was confirmed by Ora Media, a company King helped found.

“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,” the company said in a statement. “Larry’s interviews from his 25-year run on CNN’s ‘Larry King Live,’ his Ora Media programs ‘Larry King Now,’ and ‘Politicking with Larry King,’ are consistently referenced by media outlets around the world and remain part of the historical record of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.”

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No cause of death was given, but earlier this year King was hospitalized with the coronavirus. He had suffered various ailments in recent years.

In 2019, King, who hosted “Larry King Live” on CNN for 25 years, had an angioplasty and also suffered a stroke. King revealed in 2017 he had been treated for lung cancer. He suffered a major heart attack in 1987 and a tumor was discovered during an annual checkup.

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King became a household name in the 1970s with the radio program “The Larry King Show,” which ran from 1978 to 1994. He had conducted an estimated 50,000 interviews.

“I don’t pretend to know it all,” he said in a 1995 Associated Press interview. “Not, `What about Geneva or Cuba?′ I ask, `Mr. President, what don’t you like about this job?′ Or `What’s the biggest mistake you made?′ That’s fascinating.”

Funeral arrangements and a memorial service will be announced at a later time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group