Legendary radio and television talk show host, Larry King, died at the age of 87 on Saturday morning, weeks after battling COVID-19.
Media magnate Ryan Seacrest and broadcaster Piers Morgan led the stars in mourning the loss of the beloved interviewer who passed away in Los Angeles.
‘I lost a dear friend and mentor,’ Seacrest wrote. ‘Truly an American treasure. Rest in peace, Larry King.
Saying goodbye: ‘I lost a dear friend and mentor,’ Seacrest wrote of Larry King, who died Saturday at age 87. ‘Truly an American treasure. Rest in peace, Larry King.
Mixed feelings: Piers Morgan had a saltier take on the man he took over for at CNN. ‘Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was ‘like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.’ (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert) But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer’
Morgan was saltier in his conditional tribute to King.
‘Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was “like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.” (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert) But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer,’ he wrote.
No cause of death was given, however, it comes three weeks after King was revealed to have been hospitalized with coronavirus 10 days earlier.
‘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 company said in a statement.
‘Ora Media sends our condolences to his surviving children Larry, Jr., Chance, Cannon and the entire King family.’
Bravo patriarch Andy Cohen was among the stars bidding the famous interviewer farewell.
‘RIP Larry King!!!!,’ Cohen tweeted shortly after news broke. ‘I loved the easy breezy format of his CNN show, and his amazing voice.’
Honoring a King: ‘RIP Larry King!!!!,’ Cohen tweeted shortly after news broke. ‘I loved the easy breezy format of his CNN show, and his amazing voice.’
‘Loss of a legend’: ‘Celebrating the life of @larrykingnow – and all the conversations he had,’ Cindy Crawford wrote on Instagram
Old pals: Kelly Osbourne and Martha Stewart shared heartfelt memories after being interviewed by King
Icon: Viola Davis shared a picture of King and wrote: ‘Oh no!!!! RIP Larry King…what a Titan you were! One of our true icons. You are no longer in pain. Rest well’
Grateful: ‘Rest In Peace Larry King. What a wonderful life and an iconic career,’ Mariah Carey wrote. ‘I’m grateful to have known him. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and family’
‘Celebrating the life of @larrykingnow – and all the conversations he had,’ Cindy Crawford wrote on Instagram. ‘A loss of a legend. #restinpeace’
Viola Davis shared a picture of King and wrote: ‘Oh no!!!! RIP Larry King…what a Titan you were! On of our true icons. You are no longer in pain. Rest well.’
‘R.i.P To the legend Larry King God bless him,’ 50 Cent wrote across a tweet alongside a picture of the famed host.
King was reportedly transferred out of the ICU on Jan. 4, but had remained in hospital for treatment.
A source told NBC that King may have contracted coronavirus through a healthcare worker at his home. One of his sons, who has not been named, has also tested positive, they said.
Celine Dion wrote: I’m so sad to learn about Larry King’s passing. He was such a kind gentleman, and he made all of us feel as though we were speaking with a lifelong friend. There will never be anyone like him, and he will be missed by many. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.’
Having a laugh: ‘Always loved Larry King and will miss him. The ‘canceled’ bit was just me having fun with his little mistake. Nothing more. Or less,’ Jerry Seinfeld tweeted
Legendary: ‘R.i.P To the legend Larry King God bless him,’ 50 Cent wrote across a tweet alongside a picture of the famed host.
Kind words: Celine Dion shared a somber tribute to King in both English and French
Proud: Director and actor Kevin Smith reminisced on talking about Larry King with his own later father, and Smith’s visit to the show ‘would’ve blown his mind’
Condolences: William Shatner shared, ‘I’m saddened to hear about the passing of Larry King. Condolences to his family.’
Director and actor Kevin Smith shared: ‘RIP to radio/TV/digital news legend @kingsthings. It was an honor to watch you do your thing, both on @CNN and in person. My Dad always asked me “Did you see who Larry King talked to last night?” Would’ve blown his mind to know that, one day, it would be his son. Thanks for that.’
King suffered numerous health issues in the past, including a heart attack, prostate and lung cancer, a stroke and type two diabetes.
William Shatner shared: ‘I’m saddened to hear about the passing of Larry King. Condolences to his family.’
Reese Witherspoon wrote: ‘So sad to hear the news about Larry King today. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by him and see his unique interview style first hand. He was a deeply thoughtful, intelligent, kind man… Sending love to his family & all of his many fans.’
Joe Manganiello paid his respects to ‘an absolute legend’ on Twitter with a shot of the pair post interview.
In the room: Reese Witherspoon wrote, ‘So sad to hear the news about Larry King today. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by him and see his unique interview style first hand. He was a deeply thoughtful, intelligent, kind man… Sending love to his family & all of his many fans’
‘An absolute legend’: Joe Manganiello paid his respects on Twitter with a shot of the pair post interview
Michael Douglas remembered King as ‘A great and unique talent who will be deeply missed.’
He shared a photo of the two men in black suits with their arms wrapped around each other.
Legendary singer and recent Twitter sensation Dionne Warwick said the journalist would ‘definitely be missed.’
‘He was a dear friend of mine and my family,’ she continued. ‘There will never be another that can do what he was able to do. Condolences to his family. Rest in Peace my dear friend.’
Ben Stiller’s connection to King was also personal and connected to his actor parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
‘Loved listening to Larry King on the radio growing up, late at night,’ he tweeted. ‘Remember being so excited when he interviewed my parents. A real institution.’
He’ll be missed: Michael Douglas remembered King as ‘A great and unique talent who will be deeply missed’; the two pictured together in 2010 in Washington, DC
Close friends: Legendary singer and recent Twitter sensation Dionne Warwick said the journalist would ‘definitely be missed’ and called him a ‘dear friend’ to her and her family
Family: Ben Stiller remembered how he ‘loved listening to Larry King on the radio growing up,’ especially when he interview his parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara
Alex Rodriguez shared a black-and-white photo of King and another of himself posing with him.
‘Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of broadcasting legend Larry King. He was one of the greatest interviewers of all time.’
Sharon Stone kept her tribute short, offering her ‘condolences’ and hoping that the late host would ‘Go w God.’
Alyssa Milano beamed in a photo she posted of herself with King.
‘Always the gracious host,’ she wrote. ‘Rest in Peace, Larry King. My condolences to all who loved him.
YouTuber Tana Mongeau was beside herself after news of King’s death, writing, ‘throw the whole day away rip larry king :(.’
Kathie Lee Gifford sounded somber after ‘another sad goodbye,’ this time to the ‘pioneering legend’ and her ‘good friend.’
‘He was always prepared, always respectful and always very king to me and to Frank. He will be greatly missed. Love and comfort to his family.’
One of the greatest: Alex Rodriguez shared a black-and-white photo of King and another of himself posing with him
Farewell: Sharon Stone kept her tribute short, offering her ‘condolences’ and hoping that the late host would ‘Go w God’
Host with the most: Alyssa Milano beamed in a photo she posted of herself with King. ‘Always the gracious host,’ she wrote
Bad news: YouTuber Tana Mongeau was beside herself after news of King’s death, writing, ‘throw the whole day away rip larry king :(.’
Blue mood: Kathie Lee Gifford sounded somber after ‘another sad goodbye,’ this time to the ‘pioneering legend’ and her ‘good friend,’ who was ‘always prepared’ and ‘always respectful’
King’s former CNN colleague Don Lemon wrote ‘So Long to the legend,’ while sharing a photo of the broadcaster.
Dr. Phil was also among those sharing their appreciation for King.
‘Larry King was a pioneer. We all lost an icon and I lost a friend,’ he wrote. ‘His support over the last 25 years went so far beyond on air. I’ll miss our private talks, his great sense of humor, and his never ending curiosity. Rest well my friend. We have you and your family in our prayers.’
Ming-Na Wen called it ‘the greatest honor’ to be interviewed by King early in her career.
‘I was nervous as hell. He made me feel so at home. We chatted & laughed as if we’d been friends for years. He was a gem.’
Comedian Paul F. Tompkins joked that ‘it was an honor to be awkward in your presence.’
‘I will miss seeing you in your Brooklyn hat behind home plate at Dodger games.’
Legend: King’s former CNN colleague Don Lemon wrote ‘So Long to the legend,’ while sharing a photo of the broadcaster
‘Rest well my friend’: Dr. Phil was also among those sharing their appreciation for King, whom he called a ‘pioneer’ and an ‘icon’
Honored: Ming-Na Wen called it ‘the greatest honor’ to be interviewed by King early in her career. ‘He made me feel so at home’
Better than nothing: Comedian Paul F. Tompkins joked that ‘it was an honor to be awkward in your presence’
Madonna remembered one of her interviews with King with a funny photo of the two leaning over his desk and gaping at each other.
‘So Sorry to hear of your passing! RIP Larry King,’ she wrote.
Caitlyn Jenner shared a photo of an interview on King’s latter-day program and captioned it: ‘Mourning the loss of a true legend in media.’
Brigitte Nielsen towered over the interviewer in a behind-the-scenes photo she shared to Instagram.
‘Was always a pleasure seeing you #larryking. A gentleman, intelligent, funny and a very good listener. You’ll be missed,’ she wrote.
Good times: Madonna remembered one of her interviews with King with a funny photo of the two leaning over his desk and gaping at each other. ‘So Sorry to hear of your passing!’ she wrote
A giant: Caitlyn Jenner shared a photo of an interview on King’s latter-day program and captioned it: ‘Mourning the loss of a true legend in media’
Remembering the best: Brigitte Nielsen towered over the interviewer, whom she called a ‘gentleman, intelligent, funny and a very good listener’
Claws star Niecy Nash shared a photo from a joint interview with Cedric the Entertainer as she called King ‘One of the best to ever do it.
Ashlee Simpson simply shared a photo of herself and her husband Evan Ross with King while adding a broken-hearted emoji.
Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown called King a ‘legend’ in a photo of the two from an interview.
‘The things I learned from him I will hold right to me forever,’ he captioned a follow-up snap of the two chatting.
Top of the pack: Claws star Niecy Nash shared a photo from a joint interview with Cedric the Entertainer as she called King ‘One of the best to ever do it
Heartbroken: Ashlee Simpson simply shared a photo of herself and her husband Evan Ross with King while adding a broken-hearted emoji
Major interview: Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown called King a ‘legend’ in a photo of the two from an interview
Inspiring: ‘The things I learned from him I will hold right to me forever,’ he captioned a follow-up snap of the two chatting