Larry King: One Man, 50 Thousands Interviews

fot. Norwegian University of Science and Technology/CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia

On November 19, 1933, a baby boy was born in New York to a family of Orthodox Jews from the Russian Empire. Jennie and Aaron Zeiger, who had buried their firstborn son Irvin just a year earlier, gave their new son a significant name, "Leibel," meaning "lion" in Yiddish. But the Americanized name recorded on his birth certificate was Lawrence Harvey.

The Zeigers’ little lion grew up healthy, studied hard, and adored his father as a hero. But family happiness lasted only nine years. His beloved hero didn’t survive a heart attack and passed away at 43. Young Leibel was shattered, losing a piece of himself and feeling forever distant from his God. With his father’s death, the Zeigers’ financial situation worsened (Leibel had a younger brother, Martin). They had to leave New York and rely on government aid. Difficult times arrived for the entire family.

Despite these hardships, young Zeiger never gave up on his dreams. He wanted to be in radio, to broadcast and host his own show. From a young age, “playing radio” was his favorite pastime. Friends teased him, and adults shook their heads, saying, “He’ll grow out of it.” But he didn’t.



After high school, while his peers went to college, he worked as a milkman, deliveryman, and postal worker, each job somehow bringing him closer to radio. His last post office job was on the ground floor of the WOR radio station building. Known now as Larry, he often sneaked a peek into the studio, observing the announcers and asking for broadcast tips.

A New Name Borrowed from a Warehouse Ad

In 1955, he decided it was his time. He packed his essentials and set out without looking back, knocking on any radio station doors he could find until he reached WAHR in Florida. He passed the voice test and was hired... to mop floors, though he was promised an opportunity at the microphone if one came. Station owner Marshall Simmonds kept his word but added one condition: a name change. “Zeiger sounded too ethnic.”

The future broadcaster was stumped. Five minutes before his first broadcast, his boss, a newspaper, and an ad for King’s Wholesale Liquor came to the rescue. “Larry King,” suggested his boss, and the young recruit agreed. Although years later he admitted, “King was an exterior. In my heart, I will always be Zeiger.”

Larry’s first broadcast experience led to a memorable story. Finally sitting in front of the microphone—a moment he had imagined hundreds of times and always knew what to say—he froze when the “ON AIR” light turned on. Beautiful, pure, and unforgettable… silence. Larry couldn’t make a sound or even breathe. Then Marshall Simmonds stormed into the studio, shouting, “This is the communication business, so communicate, damn it!” And so, he spoke…

“Good morning, this is my first day on the radio... My name is Larry King. I’m saying that name for the first time and I’m scared to death. But the general manager just kicked the door open and told me this is the communication business. So bear with me, I’ll try to communicate.”

Thus, on May 1, 1957, at 9:00 AM, the career of 24-year-old Larry King, the American radio and TV presenter, began on WAHR radio in Miami Beach, Florida. He wouldn’t stop talking for the next 64 years.

A Friendly Radio Personality

Larry first gained experience as a disc jockey. His show, The Larry King Show, aired from 9 AM until noon. He was also given the chance to read the afternoon news. He excelled and won listeners over with his sports commentary, earning a $55 salary. His morning show quickly became popular, and he himself became a radio personality with a friendly, unthreatening style.

Other stations noticed the young presenter. He appeared on WKAT radio, and at WIOD, he was offered a talk show set in Pumpernik’s restaurant in Miami Beach. Here, King conducted his first interviews, engaging everyone who walked in. His first guest was a waiter, but two days later, singer Bobby Darin came specifically to meet the young host after listening to his morning show.

In the following years, King interviewed fascinating people not only at Pumpernik’s but also on ABC’s yacht and on the air of friendly radio stations. His unobtrusive curiosity and straightforward, non-aggressive questions won favor not only among listeners but also among his interviewees. Perhaps with the exception of a Catholic priest whom Larry unwisely asked… how many children he had. “I still see his face in my nightmares,” the journalist recalled with a laugh years later.

A Radio Star on the TV Screen

In May 1960, King made it to television studios. Newspapers reported, “On Sunday evening at 11:30 PM on Channel 10, a young radio star will debut with ‘Miami Undercover’.” The program was serious, featuring a debate on whether to admit China to the UN. Two guests sat on each side of King. Nervous for the second time in his life, the situation was made worse by a revolving chair. King remembered his TV debut like this:

“They gave me a revolving chair with no backrest; it was meant to look stylish. But I spun left and just kept turning. I couldn’t stop it, so I had to grab my guest to stop spinning. I turned the whole show. Back then, people smoked on set and on air, and I smoked too.”“Afterward, the reviews said: ‘A spinning smoker! This could start a whole new concept!’ But it was just the wrong chair.”

For the next decade, Larry King’s star shone brightly across Florida media—radio, TV, newspapers—he was everywhere. He also became a color commentator for the Miami Dolphins football team, worked with radio legend Arthur Godfrey, and teamed up with TV icon Jackie Gleason, both of whom were mentors to him.

Before his microphone, both the great and small of the world sat (including John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon). King hosted debates, discussed assassinations of presidents, and covered political scandals. Always polite and respectful, he got his guests to reveal what the public wanted to know.

Starting in 1965, he wrote for regional newspapers. His first column appeared in The Miami Herald, and he had a weekly column in The Miami Beach Sun. His career blossomed, and his financial situation improved significantly. He brought his mother and brother to Florida, married five times (twice to the same woman), and had three children. However, success went to his head. He lived beyond his means, borrowing money he didn’t always repay. Years later, in his autobiography, he recalled that time:

“In my most selfish moments, of which there were many, I felt like I owned Miami—and I lived that way. I felt that whatever Larry King wanted, he should have. And I wanted as much as possible.”

From Hero to Zero… and Back to Hero

This led to his downfall. In 1971, one of his creditors, notorious scam artist Louis Wolfson, filed a police complaint, accusing Larry of… theft and grand larceny with forged checks. King, once a star, became an unemployed criminal overnight, abandoned by his family, employers, and friends. Although he was acquitted in court, the stain remained, and for three years, he couldn’t find work. He moved to Louisiana, where he wrote articles for local papers as a freelance journalist. Finally, in 1975, he returned to Florida and WIOD, hosting Sports-a-la-King and writing columns for Miami News.

The following years were calm. Having learned a life lesson, Larry adjusted his worldview. In private, he continued searching for happiness, marrying for the sixth time—this marriage lasted seven years. Despite the setbacks, he never stopped dreaming. He returned to local radio, but at night, he dreamed of a nationwide broadcast. Perhaps he was a favorite of someone up above, for his dreams came true in 1978.

In 1975, Mutual Broadcasting System launched a national satellite program hosted by Herb Jepko, with Long John Nebel taking over in 1977. But Nebel’s tenure lasted only a year; he passed away after a long illness, and the station offered Larry King the airtime. Starting on January 30, 1978, his nationwide talk show, King-aholics, aired.



King’s first guest on the show was Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. The program caught on, and listeners quickly accepted the friendly host. The talk show aired Monday through Friday in the nighttime slot from 12:00 to 5:30 AM Eastern Time, featuring three segments:

• An hour-long interview with a guest
• Two hours of listener questions and answers
• Open Phone America began at 3:00 AM, with phone conversations on any topic

King conducted his interviews with a unique style that won over listeners and network executives alike. His relaxed, humorous, and unpretentious approach helped make him popular. Nine weeks after the show’s debut, it moved to Mutual Broadcasting’s headquarters in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. It was broadcast on a barter system (a trade exchange) that allowed participating stations to air the program at a convenient time. Initially, 28 stations were interested; soon, that number grew to 118 across the country. The show was soon renamed The Larry King Show and hailed as a national town hall, with its host rising to stardom.

A Hit with The Larry King Show

Not only was King conducting interviews, but he was also giving them. The Larry King Show became a success for both King and the network. A 1980 study showed a 45% increase in adult listeners and that 67% of women tuned in to radio programs, a major boost in radio’s popularity at the time. However, television wasn’t to be outdone. In 1982, The Larry King Show joined the cable network C-SPAN, with simulated radio broadcasts, making Larry King’s face even more recognizable. That same year, King won the prestigious Peabody Award for radio and television.

Big-name guests from the front pages came to the studio. Larry never prepared questions or read a book when interviewing its author, focusing instead on natural and sincere dialogue. During that period, his guests included President Gerald Ford, the first American hostage freed from Iran, Congressman Danny Kaye, Walter Mondale, and actors Demon Wilson and Robert Mitchum. His favorite guest was Frank Sinatra, and one of his toughest was Mitchum, who answered yes or no until a desperate Larry finally asked him, “What did you have for dinner?”

King, who shared a lot of jokes and anecdotes about his life on-air, also had favorite regular listeners, whom he gave nicknames. The Portland Laugher only laughed loudly, while The Syracuse Chair claimed to be the voice of the empty chair that stood on stage during the Reagan-Anderson debate.

King’s radio show continued until 1994. During this period, he wrote columns for USA Today. Launched in 1982, King was among the paper’s first columnists and remained there until 2001. He mainly wrote about television, with a distinctive style of short sentences interspersed with ellipses. It sometimes looked strange, like headlines of articles, but that was his style. In 1993, he expressed his opinion on a new series with this style:

My spies tell me Barry Levinson’s new TV series Homicide is a winner. Hell hath no fury like a critic criticized. Whatever Ross Perot has can’t be bottled, but the public loves it. When I was a kid, I was always excited by the mailman’s arrival, and I wonder now if kids get turned on when the fax machine has an incoming missive. Whatever Dick Clark takes every day, please send me some.

His popularity grew month by month, and then Ted Turner himself—owner of Turner Broadcasting System—came calling, catapulting Larry King’s fame even further.

The CNN Transfer and the Body’s Rebellion

In 1985, Turner, who had been trying to get King on the CNN television network for a long time, finally succeeded. Larry agreed to host a show on his channel. The talk show, titled Larry King Live, debuted on June 3, 1985, with the first guest being Mario Cuomo, the 52nd Governor of New York, known as the Hamlet of the Hudson River.



A new show was born, along with a new image for Larry, who wasn’t a fan of suits. His signature look became suspenders… a shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a tie, and suspenders, regardless of whether he was speaking with the President of the United States, a sports star, a criminal, or a music icon. His guests always felt at ease, and it seems they really did.

Another defining feature of the show was its set design: the backdrop was always a world map with colorful lights, and an old RCA microphone stood before each guest. The microphone, however, was merely a prop; everyone used clip mics. Not all interviews took place in CNN’s studio—heads of state preferred the White House, while politicians felt more comfortable in their own surroundings.

The show gained immense popularity. It aired not only in the USA but also worldwide on CNN International. Larry began his CNN show at 9:00 PM and, by 11:00 PM, was greeting radio listeners at Mutual Broadcasting’s studio (the commute took just 10 minutes)… and so it went for the next two years.

On February 24, 1987, the king of the microphone had a heart attack. Bypass surgery, recovery, and a break from radio and television didn’t stop the 54-year-old journalist. During his recovery, he wrote two books on heart disease:

• Mr. King, You’re Having a Heart Attack: How a Heart Attack and Bypass Surgery Changed My Life
• Taking on Heart Disease: Famous Personalities Recall How They Triumphed over the Nation’s No. 1 Killer and How You Can Too

A year after his heart attack, King founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, a non-profit helping those who couldn’t afford heart surgeries. Then he returned to his programs with renewed energy, although he now had stand-ins for his TV show.

The Muppets and Paranormal Phenomena

The April 1, 1994, April Fool’s show was hosted by none other than Kermit the Frog. Of course, Kermit wore a tie and suspenders, much to the bewilderment of his guest, radio presenter Ted Koppel, who commented, “If you think I’ll risk my 35-year professional reputation by being interviewed by a frog, you’re mistaken… where’s Larry?”

There was no disappointment, though. The Muppets first appeared as guests in December 1993, and the April Fools’ joke was repeated in 2002. While King often took calls from listeners, he never asked their names, only where they were calling from. Some callers were notable figures, such as governors, celebrities, and even royals, recognizable by their voices.

Paranormal phenomena often featured on the show, with regular guests like self-proclaimed psychic medium John Edward. There were also people claiming parapsychic abilities (Sylvia Browne) and UFO enthusiasts. One episode even debated the afterlife across different religions. King enjoyed such topics as a break from politics and celebrity chats, though reviewers and audiences preferred the latter. Notable interviews included:

• An interview with author Stephen King (April 10, 1986)
• A discussion with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam and an advocate of black supremacy (March 29, 1990)
• A conversation with President Richard Nixon (January 8, 1992)
• A debate on the North American Free Trade Agreement between businessmen Ross Perot and Al Gore, watched by 11.17 million viewers (November 9, 1993)
• A Peace Summit in 1995 where King spoke with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, Jordan’s King Hussein, and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
• An interview with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (June 26, 1995)
• A discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin (September 8, 2000)
• A conversation with Oprah Winfrey, during which she endorsed Barack Obama’s candidacy for the U.S. presidency (September 25, 2006)
• An interview with former President Bill Clinton responding to former President Jimmy Carter’s comments on Obama criticism (September 22, 2009)

Each of Larry’s conversations drew millions of viewers. He interviewed every U.S. president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, along with First Ladies. His guests included the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King, Lady Gaga, LeBron James, and Prince. He considered Mikhail Gorbachev a particularly memorable guest.



Not all show guests were celebrities. On January 14, 1998, King interviewed Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman to be executed in Texas since the Civil War. The sentence was carried out a month later (February 3), and King won an Emmy for that interview in 1999.

America’s Favorite Presenter

The coverage of the 2000 election went down in history. For 37 consecutive days, King reported on political events with 348 guests, including George W. and Laura Bush. After the September 11 attacks, his guests included people directly involved: rescuers, firefighters, direct witnesses—nearly 700 individuals. On March 23, 2003, he held discussions with Iraq correspondents amidst live coverage of the Iraqi Freedom operation. The sounds of explosions and views of soldiers in combat accompanied the segment. Retired Colonel David Hackworth was one of the commentators.

In his years at CNN, King conducted nearly 40,000 interviews over 6,000 broadcasts, becoming America’s most popular presenter. In 1994, he bid farewell to his radio audience. The show had been moved to an afternoon slot a year earlier (when the most regional stations aired), but this move proved unwise, as stations broadcasting exclusively at night withdrew. The final The Larry King Show aired on May 27, 1994, and his last column for USA Today was published on September 24, 2001.

With more time on his hands, a seventh wife (Shawn Southwick), and now aged 70, he published his novel Moon over Manhattan: Mystery & Mayhem in April 2003, co-written with Thomas H. Cook. In 2007, he celebrated his 50th career anniversary with great fanfare.

Larry King wasn’t only a presenter, journalist, or columnist. He was a big-hearted person, running his own foundation and working for the disadvantaged. He opposed wars, terror, and senseless school shootings in America. On September 3, 2005, he broadcast a special program, How You Can Help, informing viewers about the devastation after Hurricane Katrina and how they could assist those affected.

Journalist, Philanthropist, Actor

Larry King was also an actor, usually playing himself or lending his voice. His television debut came in the crime series Miami Undercover (like his show) in 1961. He later appeared on The Simpsons, Law & Order, and Sesame Street. Up to 2016, he appeared in 24 series and sitcoms. He appeared in 21 feature films (Ghostbusters 1985, The Exorcist III 1990, The Kid 2000), with his last role being himself in 2017’s American Satan. He also enjoyed voice acting in films like Shrek 2 and 3, We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story, and Bee Movie.

His work in both media and charity was widely recognized, earning him prestigious awards. After winning the Peabody Award in 1982, he won it again a decade later.

• In 1995-1997, he won 10 CableACE awards for best host and best talk show
• In 1989, he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame
• In 1994, he received the Scopus Award from American Friends of Hebrew University
• In 1996, he joined the Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and was awarded the Golden Plate by the American Academy of Achievement
• In 2002, Talkers Magazine named him the fourth greatest radio talk show host of all time and the best TV talk show host of all time
• On April 11, 2007, he became the first recipient of the Hugh Downs Award, presented by Downs himself
• In January 2008, he received the Golden Mike award for lifetime achievement from the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California

These are just some of the honors bestowed upon King. Several universities awarded him honorary degrees, and on July 11, 2008, the intersection of Sunset and Cahuenga Boulevards in Los Angeles was renamed Larry King Square. In May 2009, he published his biography, My Remarkable Journey. Some people speculated he would soon retire, but the journalist had other plans.



On June 29, 2010, King announced to his viewers, “I never thought it would last this long or come to this… it’s time to hang up my nighttime suspenders,” and declared his departure. Wearing his red suspenders and a polka-dot tie, he officially bid farewell to his 2-million-strong audience and his record-breaking show, which was listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-running program with the same host in the same time slot, on December 16. He returned briefly on December 18 to host a special on cancer, and a few times afterward for special programs. He formally left CNN on February 17, 2012.

Though he left the network he’d worked with for 25 years, he didn’t leave the media. He took a break, during which he “sometimes hosted something here and there”, but he mostly became very active on social media. He created accounts on Facebook and Twitter, saying, “I love tweeting. I think we’ve entered a different world. When people used to call, they’d call the program. But now on Twitter, I can share thoughts and opinions. The whole concept has changed.”

Larry King the Comedian

At 77, with a pending divorce, two teenage sons, and a head full of ideas, he rested for a year, then:

• On April 14, 2011, he launched a one-man comedy show, Larry King: Stand Up
• He created advertising programs promoting healthy eating
• In March 2012, he co-founded the digital TV network Ora TV with Shawn Southwick (his then-current wife) and Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim
• In October 2012, he appeared on the WWE Raw wrestling program
• On October 23, 2012, he moderated presidential debates in Chicago

Ora TV, streaming on the Hulu platform, debuted on July 17, 2012, with the talk show Larry King Now. The talk show followed a format similar to King’s previous programs. Although the set changed, the vintage microphone still sat in front of guests. The 30-minute conversations aired Monday through Friday, featuring celebrities, journalists, politicians, and internet stars. The first guest on Larry’s new show was actor, screenwriter, and producer Seth MacFarlane.

King said, “I’ve always strived for innovation, from my radio days, through the first nationwide TV show with phone-ins, to being an early user of online columns and Twitter. I’m excited about our partnership with Hulu—I love having the ability to interact directly with viewers, and digital television allows me to do this in new and effective ways.”

On January 17, 2013, they celebrated the show’s 100th episode, with a total of 1,000 episodes aired. In the first season alone, in addition to one-on-one guest interviews, Larry hosted:

• Shows with entire casts of popular series (Dallas, The Walking Dead, Duck Dynasty)
• Debates (2012 Election, Marijuana)
• Talks on intriguing questions (Why We Lie, The Truth About Suicide)
• Health discussions (Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Preventing Heart Disease)

After the first season, the show had 2 million viewers per month. The show had a generally light and pleasant feel, so they decided to launch a second, more serious program, Politicking with Larry King, which aired on June 13, 2013.



However, this program sparked controversy when Larry’s Ora TV partnered with RT America, an English-language channel run by Russia Today (RT). The partnership upset many viewers and critics, but King defended it, saying, “I don’t work for RT. This is a company-to-company deal. They’re simply licensing our programs. It would be wrong if they tried to edit things. I wouldn’t tolerate that…”

Vladimir Putin occasionally appeared on King’s show, but now the host was accused of taking a salary from the “Kremlin’s czar.” PR expert Kevin McCauley attacked him, saying, “Does King really want to end a 56-year career by shilling for a news outlet that intentionally feeds disinformation and distorts its viewers, to increase support for the illegal occupation of Crimea and potentially eastern Ukraine?”

Nevertheless, the show aired because business is business. It was possible, like RT America presenter Liz Wahl, to leave the studio and never return, but that was a choice each person (including Larry King) had to make for themselves.

RT broadcast Politicking with Larry King worldwide, in Russian, Spanish, and Arabic on channels RT Rusiya Al-Yaum, RT en Español, RT.com, and YouTube RT. As Variety reported in July 2013, “the show will be available to about 600 million television viewers worldwide, or about 30% of all pay-TV subscribers.”

King joked, “I’m trying to take over the world. I thought I could retire, but in fact, I work in both internet and television. I love working. I love doing what I do.”

Interviews with Controversy

In the first episode of Politicking, guests included politician Aaron Shock, political strategist Peter Fenn, and CNN journalist Rachel Smolkin, who discussed NSA leaks and immigration reform. Each episode aired weekly at 5:00 PM Eastern Time and was filmed at Ora TV studios in Los Angeles and RT’s studios in Washington, New York, and other locations worldwide.

Despite criticism, guests eagerly appeared on the show. King knew whom not to invite. He regretted never speaking with Prince Charles, Osama bin Laden, and the Pope, whom he wanted to ask a few simple questions, mainly about Jews.

One interview that caused a stir was with Donald Trump on September 8, 2016. The conversation was conducted online, with Trump—then campaigning—criticizing Obama’s administration and praising Putin. But when King asked about Trump’s stance on Mexican immigrants, Trump fell silent, and the connection was cut. Later, Trump claimed he didn’t know it was for RT, saying it was supposed to be just a podcast (King also hosted one), even though the format had been agreed upon beforehand.

The two had known each other for years, with Trump often appearing on King’s shows, and all of America was familiar with Trump’s views. Although the interview was interrupted, Russian propaganda had already seized upon Trump’s remarks, and the two never met again. Some criticized the programs, while others praised them. Laura Bennett, a journalist for The New Republic, is a fan of online interviews. On August 15, 2013, she wrote:

“There is still no trace of antagonism in King’s interviews, but in this new context, unrelated to professionalism, King’s minimalist straightforwardness suddenly feels like a refreshing antidote to the ping-pong ego in cable news. His style is patient and doesn’t seem to suck up the way it did at CNN. He uses his personal history and relationships with guests to open them up in a way that can even seem clever at times.”



Notable Politicking with Larry King guests included: former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (May 21, 2013), former Vice President Dick Cheney (November 14, 2013), the Dalai Lama (March 6, 2014, and July 16, 2015), the first African-American mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown (May 27, 2015), Watergate prosecutor Richard Ben-Veniste (March 24, 2017), and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (July 3, 2018).

A Gifted Year and a Farewell to a Legend

The year 2017 was filled with discussions about Donald Trump’s presidency. For King, it was a gifted year after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In July, he successfully underwent surgery, announcing it publicly in September.

“The reason I’m making this public is to tell people: ‘Get a chest X-ray. If I hadn’t had an X-ray, the cancer would have grown.’ Now I feel fine, I’m healthy, and I love working. I’m doing Ora TV, Politicking, still giving speeches, staying active. I’ll probably die on air.”

King continued working as usual for the next two years, though signs of fatigue and health issues became increasingly visible. He tried to stay active, but younger colleagues often substituted for him.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help anyone. The positive aspect was that the format of both programs could be conducted online. However, 2019 proved to be another difficult year for King’s health. In March, he suffered a stroke and was in a coma for several weeks. He returned to work in August, but a year later, he faced yet another tragedy. In August, within weeks of each other, he lost his two eldest children, son Andy and daughter Chaia.

In late 2020, King was hospitalized with COVID-19. Though he survived the virus, complications from sepsis proved fatal. He passed away on January 23, 2021, due to post-COVID complications. He was 87.

Americans from all walks of life mourned him, from presidents and politicians to celebrities, stars, and minor entertainers. Television stations replayed his shows and interviews, while newspapers published extensive obituaries. Private forums were filled with memories and farewells. Former President Bill Clinton said:

“He had a great sense of humor and genuinely cared about people. He provided Americans with a direct line and worked hard to get them the truth by asking questions that were direct yet fair.”

CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour remembered him:

“King was a broadcasting giant and a master of the television interview. His name is synonymous with CNN, and he was instrumental in the network’s development. EVERYONE wanted to be on Larry King Live.”

When Larry King started working at WAHR, a sign hung on one wall: “When in doubt, leave it out.” For his entire 64-year career, the journalist broke this rule and was proud of it. “If I wanted to say something, I said it. If I was curious, I asked. I was never afraid to admit I didn’t know. And I hope my father forgives me for talking to so many strangers despite his warnings.”

Larry King Timeline:

• 1933, November 19 – Leibel Zeiger, a.k.a. Larry King, is born
• 1957 – First job at WAHR (floor cleaning)
• 1957, May 1 – King sits in front of a microphone for the first time
• 1958-1961 – Interviews at Pumpernik’s restaurant on WIOD
• 1960, May – First television show, “Miami Undercover”
• 1961 – Acting debut in the TV series “Miami Undercover”
• 1965 – King becomes a columnist for Miami Herald
• 1971, December 20 – Larry King is arrested, losing his job, family, and friends
• 1972-1975 – Works various jobs in Louisiana
• 1975 – Returns to WIOD in Florida, hosts “Sports-a-la-King”
• 1978, January 30 – First episode of “King-aholics,” later renamed “Larry King Show”
• 1982 – “Larry King Show” goes to cable television
• 1982 – King wins the Peabody Award (again in 1992)
• 1982-2001 – King writes for USA Today
• 1985, June 3 – Premiere of “Larry King Live” on CNN
• 1987, February 24 – King suffers a major heart attack
• 1988 – Larry King Cardiac Foundation is established
• 1994 – Wins the Scopus Award
• 1994, April 1 and 2002 – The show is hosted by the Muppet character Kermit the Frog
• 1994, May 27 – Last episode of “Larry King Show” on radio
• 1995-1997 – Wins 10 CableACE Awards
• 2001, September 24 – Last column in “USA Today”
• 2003, April – Publishes “Moon Over Manhattan: Mystery & Mayhem”
• 2005, September 3 – Airs special program “How You Can Help” for Hurricane Katrina relief
• 2007, April 11 – First recipient of the Hugh Downs Award
• 2007, May – Celebrates 50 years in the profession
• 2008 – Wins the Golden Mike Award for lifetime achievement
• 2009, May – Publishes autobiography “My Remarkable Journey”
• 2010, June 29 – King announces his departure from CNN
• 2010, December 16 – Last episode of “Larry King Live”
• 2011, April 14 – Launches “Larry King: Stand Up”
• 2012, March – Co-founds Ora TV network
• 2012, July 17 – Launches talk show “Larry King Now”
• 2013, June 13 – First episode of “Politicking with Larry King” airs
• 2021, January 23 – Larry King passes away

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• https://www.gq.com/story/larry-king-bernie-madoff-little-league-son
• https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2021-01-23/larry-king-dead-at-87
• https://bestclassicbands.com/larry-king-obituary-cnn-1-23-2111/
• https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=see&p=117&item=B:64358
• https://iucat.iu.edu/iub/1089016
• https://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/03/21/larry.king.tucker/
• https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2003-03-21/segment/00
• https://www.kbzk.com/cnn-national/2018/12/06/larry-king-fast-facts/
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Larry-King
• https://www.thedailybeast.com/larry-kings-russian-tv-dilemma-it-would-be-bad-if-they-tried-to-edit-out-things-i-wouldnt-put-up-with-it
• https://newrepublic.com/article/114301/larry-king-now-and-politicking-his-post-cnn-career-surprising