Larry King: A life in interviews

From former US President Bill Clinton to former President George H.W. Bush (seen here in 1992), Larry King managed to show the human faces behind the names that made the headlines. His interviewees respected his balanced, tactful approach. After being hospitalized for complications related to COVID-19, he died in Los Angeles on January 23, 2021 at the age of 87.

At the height of his career, King interviewed Hugh Grant at a pivotal moment in the actor's life. In 1995, Grant was caught in a sex act with a sex worker known as Divine Brown. His arrest attracted global attention. Grant did what Brits do best to avert attention: he simply apologized. Within a few minutes of airtime, Grant's career was restored and the whole affair practically forgotten.

Gennifer Flowers, former mistress of ex-President Bill Clinton, flirted heavily with King during an interview in 1998. The tell-all interview became one of the better-known episodes of the show. With his signature composure, King asked Flowers questions and listened to what she had to say. And the former nightclub singer certainly had lots to say as Clinton's impeachment hearings intensified.

Despite his stage name, Larry King did not consider himself a kingmaker. However, his non-combative interview style helped many celebrities recalibrate their careers. When Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to run as governor of California in 2003, an interview with King helped him shed some of his "Terminator" reputation.

Larry King managed to create intimate moments with politicians and celebrities alike. In 2003, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne opened up to the TV host about their marriage and its challenges over the years. Sharon Osbourne shared her experience with colon cancer, while also talking openly about some of the cosmetic surgery she had undergone. Even for a woman known for such candor, King broke new ground.

King allowed his guests to speak for themselves. Before it was customary to televise every last primary in the US, King would speak with various candidates running for the presidential candidate nomination. In 2004, he interviewed John Kerry (right), who would go on to clinch the Democratic nomination, alongside his challengers (from left) Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton and Senator John Edwards.

King finished his show on CNN at the end of 2010, but explored broadcasting opportunities on other networks and digital platforms. One of his last interviewees on CNN was with Lady Gaga, whose career was skyrocketing at the time. The young pop star opened up about all kinds of issues to King, from her feminist views to her journey of quitting cocaine.

Not many people can claim to have met the Dalai Lama. King, however, spoke to the spiritual leader on numerous occasions. To say that the pair had a good rapport would be an understatement. The Dalai Lama even made fun of King once during an interview in 2014, saying that King's wife, Shawn — then in her mid 50s — looked too young for him. “She looks like your daughter," the Dalai Lama quipped.

King was married eight times, averaging one marriage per decade of his life. But in the end, he seems to never have found true love. He married his last wife, Shawn, in 1997, but the pair separated in 2019. King had five children from all his marriages; in this image, his sons Chance (left) and Cannon can be seen alongside Shawn at the set of the Larry King Show in 2010.

King revolutionized the art of conducting an interview. Many journalists to this day continue to follow his style, asking intimate questions with an open mind and reserving judgment for the audience. He always stressed the importance of relating to his guests. "You realize, they all put their pants on one leg at a time," King said about the people who have been on his show over the decades.