'Facts About Larry King In Memoriam

Born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger on November 19, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, Larry King was the son of Jewish immigrants—his father, Edward Zeiger, ran a bar, and his mother, Jennie Gitlitz, worked in the garment industry. At the age of 9, King experienced a profound loss when his father passed away from heart disease at just 44 years old.

Larry King got his first break at Miami radio station WAHR (now WMBM) in Miami Beach. At first, he was hired to clean the station and do odd jobs. But when one of the announcers quit in May 1957, King was given the opportunity to replace him. His manager must have been impressed because King was quickly assigned the 9:00 AM to noon shift, along with two afternoon newscasts and a sportscast. Despite earning only $55 a week, the young King felt like he was finally living his dream.

A chance meeting with a CBS television announcer pointed Larry King toward a career in radio. The announcer suggested he go to Florida, where the growing media market was hiring new broadcasters without much experience

In 1960, Larry King launched his first program on Miami television, quickly building a loyal local audience. Alongside his radio and TV work, he also began writing an entertainment column for the 'Miami Herald' and 'Miami News'. During this time, he met television icon Jackie Gleason, who was producing a national variety show in 'Miami Beach'. King later credited Gleason as a mentor, saying he learned a great deal about television production from him.

In December 1971, Larry King was accused of grand larceny by a former business partner, which led to him losing his broadcast and newspaper jobs. He was cleared of the charges in 1972, but the situation left him in debt and embarrassed. Over the next few years, he worked hard to rebuild his career by writing magazine articles and working in radio on the West Coast. By the late 1970s, the trouble had passed, and he was able to return to Miami broadcasting.

In 1978, Larry King was rehired by 'WIOD', where he launched a nightly coast-to-coast talk show, 'The Larry King Show', on the Mutual Radio Network. The program, which included guest interviews and listener call-ins, became a huge success, eventually airing on over 500 affiliate stations. This success caught the eye of media mogul Ted Turner, who brought King to CNN in 1985 to host his own talk show on the growing cable news network.

Larry King's straightforward and non-confrontational interview style resonated with both audiences and guests. A reflection of the show's influence came in 1992 when Ross Perot announced his presidential bid on 'Larry King Live'. King also used the platform for important causes, hosting fundraising events for disaster relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

King was known for marrying eight times, including twice to the same woman. His first marriage was to his high-school sweetheart, Freda Miller, when he was 19. Over the next seven marriages, he had four children. In 1997, he married his seventh wife, Shawn Southwick, a former singer and TV host 26 years younger than him, just before heart surgery. They had two kids together, Chance and Cannon, and Southwick had a son, Danny, from a previous marriage. They separated in 2010 but stopped the divorce for the sake of their children.

'Larry King Live' became the first international TV call-in show. Over the next 25 years, King built a dedicated following as viewers tuned in to see him interview presidents, athletes, actors, national heroes, foreign dignitaries, and everyday people who found themselves in the spotlight. The show quickly rose to become the highest-rated talk show on television and became a must-visit platform for celebrities promoting new projects.

Outside of his career as a talk show host, Larry King made numerous appearances as himself in movies and TV shows. He also lent his voice to animated films like 'Shrek 2' (2004), 'Shrek the Third' (2007), and 'Bee Movie' (2007). Following a heart attack in 1987, King became an advocate for heart health, writing several books on the subject. In 2009, he published his autobiography, My Remarkable Journey, sharing insights from his extraordinary life and career.