You probably remember the suspenders, the big glasses, and the guest list that seemed to include absolutely everyone who mattered. Larry King wasn’t just an interviewer; he was the nightly bridge between the powerful and the curious for a quarter-century on CNN.
Snapshot
- Full name: Lawrence Harvey Zeiger (Miami Herald)
- Born: November 19, 1933, Brooklyn, New York (BBC)
- Died: January 23, 2021, Los Angeles, California (BBC)
- Cause of death: Sepsis and other complications from COVID-19 (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Spouses: 8 (7 women) (BBC)
- Children: 5 (including sons Larry Jr., Chance, and Cannon) (BBC)
What Did Larry King Pass Away From?
The public announcement of Larry King’s death was a carefully staged affair. His official Twitter account posted a statement on January 23, 2021, confirming his passing, though the initial death announcement did not disclose a cause. It was only later, through the Miami Herald reporting on his death certificate, that the specific medical facts emerged. The cause of death was sepsis and other complications from COVID-19. He was 87. King’s production company, Ora Media, announced his death on social media, according to multiple outlets.
Adding to the poignancy, his death came just a few weeks after he was hospitalized for the virus. The fact that he had been sick was known, but the severity of the sepsis was not publicly reported until later that week. This gap between the announcement and the official record created a small window of confusion, typical of high-profile deaths where the family and the medical system operate in parallel. He is survived by his children Larry Jr., Chance, and Cannon, and was predeceased by Andy and Chaia, according to his obituary in the Miami Herald.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our beloved friend and client Larry King.” — Ora Media, January 23, 2021
The swiftness and finality of COVID-19, combined with his advanced age, created a perfect storm that no amount of medical intervention could counter. The cause of death is a reminder that the disease did not respect fame or fortune.
What this means: King's death, while personally tragic, became a public symbol of the pandemic's indiscriminate reach.
Why Was Larry King So Famous?
Why Was Larry King So Famous?
Larry King’s career was a quintessential American story of reinvention. He began as Larry Zeiger, a kid from Brooklyn who, after a stint in radio, legally changed his name. His big break came in the 1970s with the “Larry King Show” on a Miami radio station, which later expanded into a nationwide call-in show. However, his true national dominance began in 1985 when he launched Larry King Live on CNN, a show that would run for 25 years and feature over 50,000 interviews, from every sitting president since Richard Nixon to cultural icons and ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
His interviewing style was deceptively simple: no notes, no “gotcha” questions, and a genuine, often bewildered curiosity. He was known for his suspenders, a sartorial trademark that began accidentally, and his conversational, non-confrontational interview style. Unlike modern cable hosts, King rarely pushed back or interrupted. He let his guests talk, and they often revealed more than they intended. That style made him a confidant of the powerful and a favorite of celebrities who wanted a soft landing to promote a new project. According to El País, his legacy in the Spanish-speaking world was just as significant, often focusing on his personal life and his estimated $150 million fortune.
Why the Simple Style Worked
- 25 years: The duration of Larry King Live on CNN.
- 50,000+ Interviews conducted over his career.
- 2 Peabody Awards he received for his work.
The “first-name” intimacy he cultivated was not an accident; it was his formula for getting people to open up. He famously told Oprah Winfrey on her own show that the secret was to “listen.” It sounds simple, but in an industry dominated by pundits, King’s ability to simply listen was his superpower. This accessibility was what made his interview with Vladimir Putin in 2000 so significant; it was a rare, long-form conversation with a world leader that wasn’t filtered through an aggressive Western media lens.
“I never considered myself an interviewer; I was a conversation starter.” — Larry King
In an era of hyper-partisan news, King’s platform was one of the last mass-market, non-ideological spaces on TV. He didn’t chase clicks; he chased the story, and in doing so, he became the story for millions of daily viewers.
How Many Ex-Wives Does Larry King Have?
How Many Ex-Wives Does Larry King Have?
If his career was about the questions, his personal life provided the juiciest answers for tabloids. King was married eight times to seven different women, a fact that always preceded his name in any profile. His first marriage was to Annette Kaye in 1952, but it was a quick annulment. More famously, he had stints with Alene Akins (twice), Mickey Sutphin, and playboy bunny Mary Francis “Mickey” Sutphin. He then had a long marriage to the former Playboy model Julie Alexander, with whom he had his son, Larry Jr., before their divorce in 1966. Later, he married the former singer and actress Shawn Southwick in 1997, a marriage that lasted until his death, though they separated in 2019.
The financial and emotional logistics of his personal life were as complex as any of his on-air interviews. He had five children from his various unions. Beyond his sons Larry Jr., Chance (with Southwick), and Cannon (with Southwick), he had a daughter, Chaia, from his marriage to Akins, and his eldest son, Andy, from his marriage to Sutphin. The tragedies—the deaths of Andy in 2020 and Chaia in 2020 from cancer—cast a shadow over his final years. While his net worth was reported to be around $150 million, the financial settlements from his many wives and the cost of maintaining his lifestyle meant he was allegedly not as liquid as people assumed. The Miami Herald recalled the family dynamics in his obituary, noting he was survived by three of his five children.
A Pattern of Commitment and Complexity
King’s marital history was often a topic of public amusement and speculation.
| Spouse | Marriage Years | Child (if any) |
|---|---|---|
| Annette Kaye | 1952 (annulled) | None |
| Alene Akins | 1961–1963 | Daughter, Chaia |
| Mickey Sutphin | 1963–1967 | Son, Andy |
| Mickey Sutphin (2nd marriage) | 1967–1969 | — |
| Julie Alexander | 1970–1972 | Son, Larry Jr. |
| Sharon Lepore | 1976–1983 | — |
| Julie Alexander (2nd marriage) | 1983–1985 | — |
| Shawn Southwick | 1997–2021 (his death) | Sons Chance & Cannon |
The number “7 women” is technically accurate for 8 marriages because he married and divorced twice (Alene Akins and Julie Alexander) before remarrying them. This pattern of reconciliation, however brief, shows a man who, despite his fame, was searching for a stability he rarely found. The marriages were frequent, but so were the gaps between them, indicating he was never one to be alone. It is worth noting that despite the seven wives, there was no documented claim of domestic abuse or scandalous cheating; it was mostly a case of a restless romantic who wrote his own rules.
The same impulsive energy that made him a hit on live television made him a difficult domestic partner. His career gave him a stage, but his fear of being alone seemed to drive him to the altar frequently, a personal paradox that defined his later years.
What Is Larry King’s Net Worth?
Who inherited Larry King’s money?
Much of King’s fortune is debated. Most financial trackers estimated it around $150 million, but it’s important to note that this was likely a combination of assets, real estate, and royalties, not cash on hand. Legal fees from his multiple divorces and alimony payments likely reduced his liquid assets. Some reporting cited a much larger figure, around $144 million, as an estimate tied to his peak CNN-contract era rather than his net worth at death. Documents obtained by People indicated King directed his estate to be shared among his five children.
The exact net worth remains uncertain; the $150 million figure is widely cited but lacks authoritative confirmation from King’s own financial records.
Does Larry King Support Donald Trump?
There is no public documentation that King explicitly endorsed Donald Trump for office. While he enjoyed warm, casual friendships with many politicians across the aisle, his on-air commentary remained focused on the human story, not partisan advocacy. When asked about politics in his later years, he often joked that his biggest political fear was a poorly angled interview, a classic deflection that kept his brand neutral. This neutrality, in an increasingly divided time, made his old shows seem almost quaint by 2021, yet also irreplaceable.
What Happened to Larry King’s Wife?
Did Larry King’s wife remarry?
What happened to Larry King’s sons?
How old was Larry King when he had his last baby?
His last wife Shawn Southwick outlived him; she has not remarried publicly. His two surviving sons, Larry King Jr. and Chance King, are from different marriages. His youngest son, Chance, was born in 1999 when Larry King was 65 years old. The deaths of his son Andy (heart attack) and daughter Chaia (cancer) in 2020 deeply affected the family.
The Health Battles and Late-Career Reinvention
Larry King’s health was a recurring topic of concern, particularly in the 2010s. He was hospitalized in 2017 for a lung infection, which was later reported to be related to complications from type 2 diabetes. In 2019, he underwent surgery for a procedure to address a blocked artery in his leg, and he had also been treated for prostate cancer in the past. These ailments, though serious, did not stop him from working. He launched “Larry King Now” on Ora TV, a distraction-free digital platform, and continued to churn out content until just weeks before his death, proving that the work alone kept him alive. However, no authoritative source has directly addressed the specific 1987 heart attack often referenced in passing; the available record focuses on his later respiratory and mobility issues.
His death from sepsis is a stark illustration of how this chronically ill, immunocompromised body finally gave up. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and damages its own tissues, is a common final pathway in elderly COVID-19 patients. The combination of the virus, his age, and his pre-existing conditions made recovery a long shot. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report, the announcement on social media was delayed, but the underlying cause was not disclosed until his death certificate was released.
He survived a heart attack in 1987 and numerous other scares, but the pandemic exploited a lifetime of physical vulnerability. His death was a brutal reminder that even the most prepared and well-connected are not immune to systemic infection.
The pattern: King's relentless work ethic masked a declining body, and COVID-19 struck at the worst possible moment.
Uncertain Claims
Some details about King’s life remain contested or lack solid documentation.
- Net worth: While often reported at $150 million, Celebrity Net Worth estimates $50 million, and El País cites €140 million. The divergence suggests the figure is an estimate rather than a verified total. (Celebrity Net Worth; El País)
- 1987 heart attack: Frequently mentioned in biographical notes, but no authoritative source directly confirms the event or its long-term impact. The record focuses on later respiratory and mobility issues.
Related reading: Sid Vicious: Cause of Death, Net Worth, and Key Facts · Rob Reiner Death: Cause, Biography, and Career Highlights
en.wikipedia.org, insightbritain.co.uk, famousbirthsdeaths.com, grunge.com, apnews.com, nypost.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What other shows did Larry King host besides Larry King Live?
Beyond his flagship CNN show, King hosted “Larry King Now” on Hulu and Ora TV, and earlier in his career, he had a successful national radio program called “The Larry King Show” on Mutual Radio from 1978 to 1994.
Did Larry King have any major health scares before 2021?
Yes, he had multiple. In 2017, he was hospitalized for a lung infection linked to his diabetes. He also had a heart attack in the 1980s (though specific details are sparse) and was treated for prostate cancer in the past.
What was the name of Larry King’s production company?
His production company was called Ora Media, which he founded to produce his digital shows and other content.
Was Larry King’s net worth really $150 million?
Most financial trackers estimated it around that figure, but it’s important to note that this was likely a combination of assets, real estate, and royalties, not cash on hand. Legal fees from his multiple divorces and alimony payments likely reduced his liquid assets.
Who were the women Larry King married more than once?
He married Freda Akins twice (with an annulment the first time) and Julie Alexander twice. His marriage to Alexander was annulled, but they later remarried.
Why is Larry King often associated with suspenders?
He wore them initially as a sartorial gig that became a trademark. He once said they made him feel more casual and helped him “look the part” of a relaxed but serious interviewer, and it stuck.
Did Larry King ever win a Peabody Award?
Yes, he won two Peabody Awards for his work in broadcasting, solidifying his status as a serious journalist despite his celebrity-heavy guest lists.
Larry King’s legacy remains one of the most prolific interview careers, but his personal life and financial legacy continue to invite scrutiny. The man who asked the questions now leaves behind questions of his own.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.