TV icon and legendary presenter Larry King has died aged 87.
An official statement posted to King’s Twitter account said he had passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“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,” the statement said.
No further details were shared in regard to the cause of his death but CNN reported earlier this month that King was fighting coronavirus, citing a source close to his family.
— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 23, 2021
King survived a major heart attack in 1987. In 2017, he revealed he had been treated for lung cancer; two years later he had an angioplasty and suffered a stroke.
Last year, he suffered the loss of two of his adult children – son Andy and daughter Chaia – within weeks of each other.
The legendary host is one of the most recognizable figures on US television, known for his signature rolled-up shirtsleeves, multi-coloured ties, suspenders and big glasses.
His list of interviewees has ranged from every US president since 1974 to world leaders Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin, and celebrities Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Barbra Streisand.
Born in New York City in 1933, King began his career in journalism as a local reporter in Miami, Florida.
He rose to national fame with the launch of The Larry King Show in 1978, before moving over to CNN for Larry King Live between 1985 to 2010, when he was famously usurped by Piers Morgan. The chat show was cancelled in 2014, after a fall in ratings.
Funeral arrangements for King and a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
His family has requested privacy at this time.
