Celebrities, journalists, and political figures react to Larry King's death and the loss of an American TV legend

• Larry King died at the age of 87 in Los Angeles on Saturday, his company said in a statement.
• People who were interviewed on "Larry King Live" shared memories of the famous TV journalist.
• His former colleagues, political figures, journalists, and celebrities also paid tribute to King.

Larry King has died at the age of 87, his company Ora Media said in a statement.

The Emmy-winning political host died on Saturday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the statement said.

The statement did not state the cause of death.

A source close to King's family stated in early January that King had been hospitalized with COVID-19 for 10 days.

For 25 years, King hosted his CNN show "Larry King Live." Throughout his career, he interviewed some 50,000 people - according to CNN - including political figures, world leaders, business moguls, and pop culture icons, ultimately shaping the network and making cable news history.

King's former CNN colleagues, fellow journalists, political figures, interview subjects, and celebrities paid tribute to the late host on social media

In a statement, CNN president Jeff Zucker acknowledged King's long-spanning career in media, saying: "His curiosity about the world propelled his award-winning career in broadcasting, but it was his generosity of spirit that drew the world to him. We are so proud of the 25 years he spent with CNN, where his newsmaker interviews truly put the network on the international stage."

CNN founder Ted Turner, who hired King in 1985 when the network in its fifth year, released a statement on Saturday shared by The Hollywood Reporter journalist Alex Weprin.

"If anyone asked me what are my greatest career achievements in life, one is the creation of CNN, and the other is hiring Larry King," Turner's statement read.

—Alex Weprin (@alexweprin) January 23, 2021

Turner added in a tweet: "The world has lost a true broadcasting legend."

—Ted Turner (@TedTurnerIII) January 23, 2021

Journalist and longtime news anchor Dan Rather paid tribute to King, calling him "a friend through thick and thin" and "a masterful interviewer and storyteller."

—Dan Rather (@DanRather) January 23, 2021

Oprah Winfrey wrote of King: "It was always a treat to sit at your table. And hear your stories."

—Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) January 23, 2021

Winfrey was interviewed by King in 2007 and famously endorsed then-Sen. Barack Obama on-air, which experts predicted had a significant influence on Obama's success in the Democratic primary election.

Piers Morgan, whose namesake CNN show replaced "Larry King Live" before ending in 2014, shared a tweet in memory of the late journalist. However, Morgan's message sparked criticism among some Twitter users who thought it was a "jab" against 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," Morgan wrote.

—Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 23, 2021

Former President Bill Clinton shared a message in remembrance of King and recalled being interviewed by him on numerous occasions.

"He had a great sense of humor and a genuine interest in people," Clinton wrote in a tweet. "He gave a direct line to the American people and worked hard to get the truth for them, with questions that were direct but fair. Farewell, my friend."

—Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 23, 2021

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised King, a Brooklyn native, and his famous interviewing style and concise questions.

—Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 23, 2021

In memory of King, Katie Couric recirculated a video clip from his last episode of "Larry King Live," where she recited a poem about his remarkable career.

A post shared by Katie Couric (@katiecouric)

Jimmy Kimmel remembered listening to King's radio show in Baltimore, Maryland, on his way to work early in his career.

—Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 23, 2021

Bette Midler wrote of King: "He always made me feel as though I were the only person in the room."

—bettemidler (@BetteMidler) January 23, 2021

Celebrity columnist and online personality Perez Hilton wrote about the longtime anchor's love for TV broadcasting. In 2009, King interviewed Hilton about his moment as a Miss USA judge, when he asked Miss California Carrie Prejean about her thoughts on legalizing same-sex marriage - to which she responded with her opinion that America shouldn't make it legal.

—Perez (@ThePerezHilton) January 23, 2021

In a series of tweets, Magic Johnson praised King's contributions to cable TV. The basketball star said he often spotted King at local spots in Los Angeles, including "his favorite booth" at Nate 'n Al's, a famous deli in Beverly Hills, or at the bagel shop that he owned.

—Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 23, 2021

As many can likely agree, actor Josh Gad said that King was a "nightly presence" when he was growing up.

—Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 23, 2021

Ryan Seacrest remembers King as a "dear friend and mentor."

—Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) January 23, 2021

Fashion designer Kenneth Cole wrote that King "unapologetically spoke about important issues at times when others wouldn't and couldn't." Cole included a clip from a 2007 interview on "Larry King Live," where he spoke about his involvement in HIV/AIDS research.

—Kenneth Cole (@kennethcolereal) January 23, 2021

Rapper Akon shared a video from his "Larry King Now" interview in 2014, in which the journalist asked him to describe himself in three words. The artist wrote: "he was the real deal and it didn't matter where you came from, who you were or the colour of your skin, he welcomed everyone with open arms."

—AKON (@Akon) January 23, 2021

The official Twitter account for Kermit the Frog also shared a tribute to King, calling him a "great friend of 'The Muppets' and the world."

—Kermit the Frog (@KermitTheFrog) January 23, 2021

A clip from "Larry King Live" in 1993 shows the host interviewing Kermit and Miss Piggy from "The Muppets" on his show.

• Read more:
• 18 celebrities and icons we lost in 2020
• From Vladimir Putin to Paris Hilton: 10 of Larry King's most iconic interviews
• Larry King was known for interviewing celebrities and politicians, but he also had some unforgettable interviews with business leaders. Here's a roundup.
• Celebrities and entertainers who have died from complications related to the coronavirus and COVID-19