Larry King’s Cause of Death, Net Worth, and Legacy

Very few TV hosts have sat across from as many presidents, celebrities, and newsmakers as Larry King. When he died at 87 in 2021, his cause of death — sepsis from COVID-19 — was only part of the story. His legacy stretches from 50,000 interviews to a contested will and even a cameo in Shrek. Here’s what you need to know about the man who made suspenders iconic and kept asking the simple question: “Why?”

Full name: Lawrence Harvey Zeiger · Born: November 19, 1933 · Died: January 23, 2021 · Notable show: Larry King Live (1985–2010) · Net worth at death: Approx. $50 million

Six key facts, one frame: Larry King’s life mirrored the contradictions of fame — massive reach, tangled personal finances, and a legacy debated even in death.

What Did Larry King Pass Away From?

Larry King’s death certificate listed the immediate cause as sepsis, brought on by a COVID-19 infection he contracted in late 2020 (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)). The document also cited acute hypoxic respiratory failure and end-stage renal disease as underlying conditions (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).

Cause of death: sepsis from COVID-19

• King was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in December 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19 (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).
• His underlying health issues — including diabetes and heart disease — contributed to the severity of the infection.

Hospitalization at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

• He was admitted in late December 2020 and remained in intensive care until his death on January 23, 2021 (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).
• Family members were unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Final days and public announcements

• His son Larry King Jr. confirmed the death in a statement, and tributes poured in from across the media world.
• Donald Trump called King a “legend” (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).

The pattern: King’s underlying conditions and the pandemic’s toll converged to cut short a life defined by resilience.

Why Was Larry King So Famous?

King was not a journalist in the conventional sense. He was a talker — and a listener. Over 50,000 interviews (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)), a Peabody Award, and multiple CableACE Awards cemented his place as America’s nightly interlocutor.

Pioneering talk format on CNN

• Larry King Live debuted on CNN in 1985 and ran until 2010, drawing millions of viewers each night.
• His trademark: short questions and quiet pauses. He let guests fill the silence.

Signature suspenders and relaxed style

• King’s suspenders and informal demeanor made him approachable — a man in a suit who never came off as stiff.
• He interviewed every U.S. president from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).

Interviews with every U.S. president from Nixon to Obama

• His ability to land exclusive sit-downs with world leaders, celebrities, and criminals made Larry King Live a nightly must-watch.
• He won a Peabody Award in 1984 for his radio work.

What this means: King’s approach created trust; that trust gave him access, and access built his legend.

What Was the Age Difference Between Larry King and His Wives?

King married seven times to six women. The age gaps grew wider with each marriage, peaking at 26 years with his last wife, Shawn Southwick. The pattern: young wives, short unions, and expensive divorces.

Seven marriages and multiple divorces

• First wife: Freda Miller (1952–1953) — no age gap.
• Second wife: Annette Kaye (1960–1961) — 0 years.
• Third wife: Mary Sutcliffe (1963–1967) — 0 years.
• Fourth wife: Mickey Sutphin (1967–1970) — 0 years.
• Fifth wife: Sharon Lepore (1976–1982) — 10 years older.
• Sixth wife: Julie Alexander (1989–1992) — 6 years younger.
• Seventh wife: Shawn Southwick (1997–2021, separated 2019) — 26 years younger.

Last wife: Shawn Southwick (26 years younger)

• King acknowledged the gap strained the marriage. He said in an interview: “The 26-year age difference, plus religious differences, took its toll.”
• He filed for divorce in August 2019 (Brennan, Manna & Diamond Law (law firm)).

King’s own comment on age gaps affecting marriage

• In a 2019 interview, King admitted the age difference contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Southwick.

The implication: even a man who listened for a living couldn’t reconcile the distance between generations.

Were Larry King and Donald Trump Friends? Did He Support Trump?

King interviewed Trump multiple times on Larry King Live and considered him a “good guest.” But the nature of their relationship has been oversimplified.

Longstanding friendship and mutual appearances

• King and Trump were acquaintances, not close friends (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).
• Trump appeared on Larry King Live at least 30 times, often calling in.

King’s political views and endorsement history

• King said he voted for both Democrats and Republicans at different times. He never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate.
• Some media portrayed him as pro-Trump because of their friendly interactions, but King’s voting record shows independence.

Interviews with Trump on Larry King Live

• Trump called King a “legend” after his death (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).
• King once said: “He’s a good guest. He’s always interesting.”

The catch: King’s neutrality allowed him to sit with anyone, but it also left his own politics shrouded.

Was Larry King in Shrek? And Other Pop Culture Trivia

King’s distinctive voice and face made him a natural for parody and cameo. His most famous film appearance: a brief voice role in Shrek 2 (2004) where he interviewed the Fairy Godmother.

Voice cameo as himself in Shrek 2

• King voiced himself in Shrek 2 (2004), interviewing the Fairy Godmother in a talk-show parody (Entertainment Tonight (media outlet)).

Appearances in films and TV shows

• He appeared in Ghostbusters (1984) as himself, reporting on the paranormal activity.
• He had a cameo in Contact (1997) and in dozens of TV shows.

Memorable guest spots and parodies

• Saturday Night Live parodied King multiple times, with Norm Macdonald famously impersonating his fast-talking style.
• King also appeared on The Simpsons and 30 Rock.

What this means: King’s voice became a shorthand for earnest curiosity, even in animation.

Larry King’s death exposed the messy intersection of fame, family, and finances. For the public, his legacy is clear: a man who asked questions with genuine curiosity and never let his own ego get in the way of a good story. For his children, the battle over his handwritten will is a stark reminder that estate planning must be updated after divorce and after the death of beneficiaries — or the courts will decide. For anyone navigating a similar public-private life, the lesson is simple: plan ahead, or leave a costly mess behind.