Television host Larry King (Larry King Live) has been reportedly diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19, according to CNN. A source close to the family has reported that King has been hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for more than a week with no visits from his family due to hospital protocols.
Having Type 2 diabetes and tackling several heart attacks along with quintuple bypass surgery in 1987 and a lung cancer diagnoses in 2017, King is no stranger to medical issues. After successfully undergoing surgery to treat his cancer, he had yet another procedure done in 2019 in relation to angina. These complicated medical issues resulted in King launching the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, described as “non-profit aimed at helping those without health insurance afford medical care,” by CNN. His two children underwent medical struggles of their own last year, having died within weeks of each other. 52-year-old Chaia King died of lung cancer in August, following the death of her 65-year-old brother, Andy King, of a heart attack in July.
After retiring in 2010 and having hosted CNN’s Larry King Live for 25 years, King had taped over 6,000 episodes. However, it wasn’t until 2012 that he became the host of Larry King Now where he interviewed celebrities, internet stars, and politicians.
News of King’s COVID-19 diagnosis was revealed on January 1 while he is still unable to receive visits from family.