Page 50 - People (February 2020)

A Difficult
mother, Jennie, was born in Russia; his father, Split
Eddie, was from Austria-Hungary), King took an “I’m sorry about
early interest in radio, which in his youth was in its the marriage,”
says King of his
pretelevision golden age. After landing his first gig divorce from
in 1957 as a deejay for a local Miami station, King Shawn Southwick.
launched a national show in 1978. Seven years later “But we’re very
different, and we
he made the leap to TV with Larry King Live, his became like ships
famed interview show, which ran on CNN for 25 passing in the
years. “I’ve always enjoyed what I do,” says King, night.” Below: King
with their sons
who estimates he’s conducted more than 60,000 Cannon and Chance
interviews in his career, including with seven U.S. in November 2019.
Presidents and scores of foreign leaders

and religious figures. “I love asking ques-
tions, and I love listening.”

But as his career skyrocketed, King’s rela-
tionships sputtered. By the time he began
Live King had been divorced six times. He
had one son, Larry King Jr., 58, with his sec-
ond wife, Annette Kaye, and two children,
Andy, 64, and Chaia, 52, with third wife
Alene Akins. “I got married a lot,” King says.
“But in my head, I’m not a marrying guy.
When I grew up, if you fell in love, you got
married. And I married the ones that I loved.
But what I loved at 20 was not what I loved at
30 or what I loved at 40.” He also says that his ity, which both have denied. “I’ve really tried over
dogged work ethic was rough on his marriages. “I the years to not let [rumors] bother me,” says King.
never cheated on my wives,” he says. “But the sad ‘I feel “I have read so much about myself. You spend 62
thing is my career always came first. I used to say, content years on the air, not everyone is going to like you.

If CNN called with an emergency, or my wife called with my All I can do is be honest.”
with an emergency, I’d call CNN back first. ” life, and Ultimately, King says, several factors contrib-
That pattern appeared to evolve in 1997 when uted to the collapse of his marriage to Southwick.
King met Southwick, a singer 26 years his junior. I’m proud “The age difference eventually takes its toll,” says
They welcomed Chance and Cannon and weath- of what King. “Also my wife is a very religious Mormon,
ered several painful tests of their marriage, in- I’ve done’ and I’m an agnostic atheist, so that causes lit-
cluding Southwick’s reported 2008 trip to rehab — L A R R Y K I N G tle problems. We overcame a lot, but it just hit a
for an addiction to painkillers, a divorce filing and point where we didn’t get along.” (In September
reconciliation in 2010, and allegations of infidel- Southwick told DailyMailTV she “was crushed” by

Sitting Down with the Stars

a
L
a
Michael ordan Marlon Brando Bill Clinton nd Al Gore George nd aura Bush
J
The NBA great sat down with The reclusive actor ended his “I’ve learned something from every “George has great character,” says
King in 1993 after announcing 1994 interview with King with an interview,” says King, with the King (in 2000), who was also close
his first retirement. impromptu song and kiss on the lips. former President and VP in 1995. with President George H.W. Bush.
52 February 17, 2020