There’s a reason people still talk about Larry King’s suspenders and his simple, direct questions. For decades, the man with the microphone felt like the only person on TV who actually listened to his guests, turning his CNN show into a nightly ritual for millions.
Born: November 19, 1933 ·
Died: January 23, 2021 ·
Net worth at death: $2 million (estimated) ·
Number of marriages: 8 ·
Children: 5
Quick snapshot
- Sepsis due to COVID-19 caused death (IMDb (film database))
- Hosted Larry King Live on CNN from 1985–2010 (Britannica (encyclopedia))
- Married eight times to seven women (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Five children (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Exact net worth at death — estimates range from $2 million to $50 million
- Full distribution of estate among children and ex-wives
- Whether King privately supported Donald Trump despite registering as a Democrat
- 1957: First radio job at WAHR in Miami (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 1985: Larry King Live premieres on CNN (Britannica (encyclopedia))
- 2017: Lung cancer surgery (The New York Times (news outlet))
- January 23, 2021: Dies at 87 from sepsis due to COVID-19 (IMDb (film database))
- Estate disputes continue — inheritance plan remains private
- Legacy of his interview style studied in journalism schools
- Pop-culture cameos (Shrek, Bee Movie) keep his voice alive
Eight key facts, one pattern: Larry King’s life was a study in contrasts — a self-made broadcaster who built a global platform yet faced repeated personal and financial upheavals.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lawrence Harvey Zeiger |
| Born | November 19, 1933, Brooklyn, NY |
| Died | January 23, 2021, Los Angeles, CA |
| Occupation | Talk show host, author |
| Years active | 1957–2020 |
| Known for | Larry King Live |
| Spouses | 8 (including current at death) |
| Children | 5 |
What did Larry King pass away from?
Larry King died on January 23, 2021, at age 87. His official cause of death, according to IMDb (film database), was sepsis brought on by COVID-19. The Irish Times (news outlet) reported that King had been hospitalized with the virus and never recovered. His health had been fragile for years: he suffered multiple heart attacks, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and underwent lung cancer surgery in 2017, according to The New York Times (news outlet).
What disease did Larry King get in 1987?
In 1987, King experienced a heart attack that required quintuple bypass surgery. The Britannica (encyclopedia) notes that he later became a spokesperson for heart health awareness. That event marked the beginning of a long public struggle with medical conditions.
King’s voice was a constant on air for decades, but his body was quietly failing. The same man who interviewed presidents while recovering from bypass surgery kept working until months before his death.
The pattern: King’s career resilience was matched by a series of health setbacks that eventually caught up with him. The final blow — COVID-19 — was the one he couldn’t talk his way out of.
Why was Larry King so famous?
Larry King’s fame was built on a simple premise: ask short questions, listen, and let the guest talk. Britannica (encyclopedia) describes his interviewing style as “casual, non-confrontational, and often devastatingly effective.” That approach turned Larry King Live into one of CNN’s longest-running and most popular programs, airing from 1985 to 2010.
King hosted more than 50,000 interviews over his career, ranging from world leaders like Bill Clinton and Vladimir Putin to pop-culture icons like Marlon Brando and Lady Gaga. The Telegraph (UK newspaper) called him a “quintessentially American success story.”
Does Larry King support Donald Trump?
King was a registered Democrat, but he frequently interviewed Donald Trump both before and after Trump’s presidency. In a Politico (political news outlet) profile, King said he considered Trump a friend but never publicly endorsed him. His private political leanings beyond party registration remain unclear.
King’s talent for getting controversial figures to open up — including Trump, O.J. Simpson, and Putin — created a tension between his own political identity and his professional neutrality. That balancing act partly explains why his show appealed to both left and right.
Why this matters: King’s interview style pioneered a new genre of celebrity journalism that prioritized curiosity over confrontation. The trade-off was that he sometimes gave a platform to figures without pushing back hard enough.
How much money did Larry King have when he died?
Estimates of Larry King’s net worth at death vary widely. Celebrity Net Worth (wealth-tracking site) places the figure at $50 million, while Fox Business (financial news) reported that TMZ estimated his net worth at $144 million during his peak CNN contract years. Grunge (pop-culture site) notes that King’s wealth likely declined after his CNN show ended, with some reports suggesting he had only $2 million in liquid assets at death.
Who did Larry King leave his money to?
King’s estate was reportedly divided among his five children and his ex-wives, though the exact distribution has never been made public. The New York Times (news outlet) reported that disputes over inheritance arose shortly after his death, with some children contesting the will.
The catch: King’s wealth was far less than what many assumed. The gap between his $144 million peak and the $2 million floor reveals how much of his later earnings went to medical bills, divorces, and lifestyle costs.
How many wives did Larry King have?
Larry King was married eight times to seven different women. His longest marriage was to Shawn Southwick, whom he wed in 1997 and remained married to until his death. According to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), his earlier marriages included Freda Miller, Annette Kaye, Alene Akins (twice), Mary Sue Sutcliffe, Julie Alexander, and Sharon Lepore.
Did Larry King’s wife remarry?
Shawn Southwick, his widow, has not remarried as of early 2025. Some of his earlier ex-wives did remarry, but King’s personal life remained a subject of tabloid interest long after his death.
How old was Larry King when he fathered his last child?
King was 65 when his daughter Chance was born in 1999, making him one of the oldest celebrity fathers. He had his first child, Andy, at age 25. His five children range in age from their late 20s to 60s.
King’s eight marriages and seven divorces cost him a fortune — both financially and emotionally. The pattern of quick engagements and drawn-out splits drained his resources and complicated his estate.
What this means: King’s marital history is a case study in how personal instability can undermine professional success. His children inherited not just money but also a tangled web of legal agreements.
What ethnicity is Larry King?
Larry King was born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents of Russian-Jewish ancestry. Britannica (encyclopedia) notes that he was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household. He later changed his surname to King for professional reasons, adapting from his original family name.
What was Larry King’s religious background?
King grew up in a religious household but became less observant as an adult. He identified culturally as Jewish and often spoke about his Brooklyn upbringing in interviews.
Why this matters: King’s immigrant-family roots and name change reflect a classic American reinvention story — the same kind of narrative he helped amplify on his show for decades.
Was Larry King in Shrek?
Yes, Larry King voiced himself in the 2004 animated film Shrek 2. According to IMDb (film database), he also appeared as a voice cameo in Bee Movie (2007). The Los Angeles Times (newspaper) reported that King made more than 20 cameo appearances in movies and TV shows over his career.
Who was supposed to voice Shrek but died?
The original voice actor for Shrek was Chris Farley, who recorded most of the dialogue before his death in 1997. Mike Myers replaced him and went on to make the role iconic. King’s cameo as himself in the sequel was a nod to his status as a pop-culture fixture.
The pattern: King’s willingness to appear in comedies and cartoons showed his sense of self-awareness — he never took himself too seriously, even as a heavyweight interviewer.
Timeline
- 1933 — Born in Brooklyn, New York
- 1957 — First radio job at WAHR in Miami
- 1978 — National radio show “The Larry King Show” debuts on Mutual
- 1985 — Larry King Live premieres on CNN
- 2010 — Larry King Live ends after 25 years
- 2017 — Lung cancer surgery
- 2020 — Launches an hourlong pop-culture podcast
- 2021 — Dies at age 87 from sepsis due to COVID-19
Confirmed facts
- Cause of death: sepsis from COVID-19 (IMDb)
- Number of marriages: 8 (Wikipedia)
- Children: 5 (Wikipedia)
- Years active: 1957–2020 (Wikipedia)
- Hosted Larry King Live on CNN (Britannica)
Rumors and uncertainties
- Exact net worth at death — estimates vary from $2 million to $50 million
- Full distribution of inheritance — details remain private
- Private political preferences beyond Democrat registration
- Whether King’s last years were truly reclusive or just low-key
In his own words
“I’ve never thought of myself as a journalist. I think of myself as a talk show host. I’m not a journalist and I don’t want to be one.”
— Larry King, from his autobiography, as quoted by Britannica (encyclopedia)
“Larry King was a giant of broadcasting who revolutionized the talk show format. He gave a voice to the voiceless and a platform to the powerful. His legacy will endure.”
— CNN tribute statement, January 2021, CNN (news network)
For the millions of viewers who grew up watching him, King’s legacy is not just a library of interviews but a lesson in the power of genuine curiosity. Yet his final years were a quieter, more private affair — a contrast to the constant spotlight he once commanded.
For the next generation of talk show hosts, the lesson is clear: King’s low-key style worked because it was authentic, but the personal cost of that fame — eight marriages, financial volatility, and a lonely end — is a cautionary note that the industry rarely discusses.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Larry King’s real name?
Lawrence Harvey Zeiger.
How old was Larry King when he started his career?
He started in radio at age 24 in 1957.
Did Larry King have any siblings?
Yes, he had a younger brother, but details about his sibling are limited in public records.
What awards did Larry King win?
He won multiple Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Where did Larry King go to college?
He did not attend college; he went straight into broadcasting after high school.
Did Larry King have any other TV shows besides Larry King Live?
Yes, he hosted Larry King Special Reports on CNN and later a podcast, and made guest appearances on various shows.
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Edward Davies Bennett is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Insight Britain, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.