Larry King
World famous TV show host. Has interviewed almost everybody.
Having celebrated his 45th year in broadcasting in 2002, Larry King is the hard-hitting host of CNNs "Larry King Live," the first worldwide phone-in television talk show and the networks highest-rated program.
Thanks to the mic, the glasses, the suspenders and the hyperbole, King has become a broadcasting icon, and one of the most recognizable faces in the world. The Emmy Award-winning King, author of multiple books, has been dubbed "The Most Remarkable Talk-Show Host On TV Ever" by "TV Guide" and "Master of the Mike" by "Time" magazine.
Larry King Live debuted in 1985, famous for its mix of celebrity interviews, political debates and topical discussions, it has become a staple of nightly television viewing. CNNs "Larry King Weekend" offers in-depth profiles and career retrospectives of news and entertainment figures. In 1994, King created the first daily radio/TV talk show by simulcasting "Larry King Live" on radio stations nationwide.
King has been asking famous people questions throughout his career, having accumulated more than 40,000 interviews, including every US President since the Ford administration. Kings famed NAFTA debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot in 1993 broke cable industry ratings and obtained the highest rating in CNN history--reaching more than 16.3 million viewers.
After the attacks on 9/11, King interviewed more than 700 guests, including more than 35 world leaders and dignitaries. In 2000, Kings 37 consecutive days of political coverage during the election recount in Florida featured 348 guests, including George W. and Laura Bush and Al and Tipper Gore with both respective vice presidential candidates giving, King their first interviews after being selected as running mates.
King has been inducted into five of the nations leading broadcasting halls of fame and is the recipient of the prestigious Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism. Both his radio and television shows have won the George Foster Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. King has also won a News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Interview/Interviewer along with ten CableACE awards for Best Interviewer and for Best Talk Show Series. In 2003, King won the prestigious Gracie Allen Award by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television for his interview with former first lady of Texas Nellie Connally. In 2002, King was nominated for an Emmy Award for his interview with Sir Paul McCartney in addition to receiving two New York Festival Awards for his 9/11 coverage and again for his interview with McCartney. In addition to his professional acclaim King was also selected to be an Olympic Torch bearer for the 2002 Winter Games.