[ad_1]
Larry King, the legendary American television and radio host, has died at the age of 87.
He passed away on Saturday morning (local time) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, after receiving treatment for coronavirus, The Sun reports.
The tragic news was announced on Larry’s official Twitter page.
King was hospitalised shortly before Christmas after testing positive for coronavirus.
His iconic career spanned more than six decades – but the host suffered with Type 2 diabetes and from lung cancer, angina and heart attacks in recent years.
A statement from his representatives 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.”
Piers Morgan was among the star names leading tributes to the iconic broadcaster after his death was announced this afternoon.
He wrote: “Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was ‘like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.’ (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert.
“But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer.”
CNN anchor Jim Acosta wrote: “Broadcasting legend and longtime CNN host Larry King has passed away.
“He will be missed by so many CNN employees past and present. #RIPLarryKing.”
Sports journalist Keith Olbermann wrote: “My friend Larry King has died. It is literally true that thousands of us can make that sad statement this morning.
“While he was easily caricatured, I’ve never known anybody who made a bigger deal out of the slightest kindness afforded him.”
Boy George called King a “media legend” while others shared their favourite interviews from the broadcaster’s illustrious career.
HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTES
King was married eight times and had five children.
He was last pictured last month at home with two of his sons during Thanksgiving last November.
The broadcaster was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 shortly before Christmas but passed away after four weeks of treatment.
King was born in New York and started his career as a local journalist in Florida in the 1950s.
He gained global prominence after the launch of The Larry King Show in 1978 and went on to host Larry King Live on CNN from 1985 to 2010.
King interviewed a staggering number of celebrities, political leaders and public figures, including every US president from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump.
Among the celebrities he interviewed over the years were Marlon Brando, Snoop Dogg, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Sir Paul McCartney.
The statement announcing his death concluded: “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.
“Larry’s interviews from his 25-year run on CNN’s ‘Larry King Live,’ and 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.”
Funeral arrangements for King and a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
His family has requested privacy at this time.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
[ad_2]
Source link