Celebrities, broadcasters and politicians are remembering Larry King’s radio and television personality as a “talk show legend and cultural iconafter waking up to the news of his death, Saturday morning.
The transmission icon was recently hospitalized with Covid-19 and faced health problems for many years, including a near-fatal stroke in 2019 and diabetes, but its cause of death was not immediately revealed, according to a statement from your TV production company, Ora Media. He was 87 years old.
“RiP For the legend Larry King, God bless him,” tweeted rapper 50 Cent.
Radio and television talk show host and producer Andy Cohen was one of many people who remembers King’s relaxed delivery, even when conducting conversation interviews with celebrities and world leaders.
“RIP Larry King !!!! I loved the light and airy format of his show on CNN and his incredible voice,” Cohen tweeted.
King’s improvised style, along with his hoarse baritone voice and trademark suspenders, made his CNN program “Larry King Live” a popular prime time network attraction between 1985 and 2010.
The other talk show host Craig Ferguson hailed King as a model to be followed by the microphone after he “heard the terrible news about Larry King”.
“He taught me a lot. He was a real mensch. He probably even taught me that word. Goodbye, buddy, thanks for all the laughs.” Ferguson tweeted.
“I lost a dear friend and mentor. Truly an American treasure. Rest in peace, Larry King, ”tweeted radio and TV presenter Ryan Seacrest.
For countless celebrities, politicians, lawyers, activists and many others, an appearance on “Larry King Live” was a sign that you had arrived on the national scene.
Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, remembered King as “a consummate professional and a great interviewer”.
“My times with Larry King were some of my fondest memories of a difficult but totally fair host,” Huckabee tweeted.
Actor Eric Stonestreet, best known for playing Cameron Tucker on the ABC documentary series “Modern Family”, said “being interviewed by Larry was one of the most surreal and proudest moments of my career”.
“Watching @Dodgers the games with him were an unbelievable treat and a real lesson in baseball and life. Rest in peace, Larry, “tweeted Stonestreet.
King was also known for his love of baseball. Ben Sherwood, former head of Disney and ABC TV who now runs the digital youth sports service Mojo, highlighted King’s regular presence at Little League games “as a father dedicated to sports”In the Los Angeles area in recent years.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, King’s favorite team, shared “their deepest condolences to family and friends” on Twitter, while sharing a photo of King launching in one of his games.
King’s program on CNN was a great source of breaking news during the saga of the OJ Simpson murder trial in the mid-1990s. King worked with the writers and producers of “The People VOJ Simpson: American Crime Story ”From FX to help them capture that era. Scribe Larry Karaszewski praised him for his insights, calling him “a true legend”.
“We were honored to work with Larry King on our miniseries OJ. Larry graciously agreed to play himself and was so full of stories about how his show became the nighttime epicenter for all the personalities involved in that case,” tweeted Karaszewski.
King, a Brooklyn native, estimated that he conducted more than 50,000 interviews – none of which he prepared in advance – over a nearly 60-year career spanning radio, cable television and the internet.
“Thanks for the countless interviews and insights, Larry King. You understood human triumph and fragility equally well, and that is not an easy task,” actor George Takei tweeted. “There was no one like you, and you will be missed. Rest with the heavens now.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described King as “a boy from Brooklyn who became a journalist who interviewed journalists”.
“He conducted more than 50,000 interviews that informed Americans clearly and simply. New York sends condolences to his family and many friends.” Cuomo tweeted.
Former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura said King “really was the king of the conversation”.
“I had the honor of being interviewed by Larry King several times in my life. It has always been a joy and a pleasure,” tweeted Ventura. “On a personal level, I will miss him. Professionally, we will all miss him. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Actor Edward James Olmos echoed Ventura’s sentiment, saying that “King’s voice and presence were truly king!”
“Rest in peace my dear friend, you have given us a place to understand who and what we are as people. Truly, you have given each moment you have spent in your office,” Olmos tweeted.
Author Anne Rice remembered King warmly, although she only knew him from appearances on her show. “He was always interesting, graceful and fun,” she tweeted.
The organizers of the Tribeca Film Festival said that “the thoughts are with the family and friends of broadcaster legend Larry King, who unfortunately passed away this morning.”
“Farewell to an icon whose curiosity and unique style of interviewing has changed an industry and inspired many to follow in his footsteps,” the organization tweeted.
King’s 65-year-old son, Andy, died of a heart attack and his 51-year-old daughter, Chaia, died of lung cancer last year. He leaves three other biological children.
Funeral announcements will be made in due course, the statement said.
“A talk show legend and cultural icon has passed. Larry King’s platform was the world stage that he graced with openness, professionalism and pragmatism! Condolences to the King family,” Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street tweeted.