Larry King was an American television and radio host, who passed away on January 23, 2021. He was known for his work on CNN’s Larry King Live and had interviewed some of the most important figures in the world. However, he was also known for his personal life, particularly his multiple marriages.
King was married a total of eight times to seven different women. His first marriage was to Freda Miller in 1952, which ended in divorce the following year. He then married Annette Kaye in 1961, but the couple divorced in 1961. King then went on to marry Alene Akins twice, first in 1961 and then again in 1967. They had two children together.
In 1976, King married his fourth wife, Sharon Lepore, and the couple divorced in 1983. He then married Julie Alexander in 1989, but they divorced in 1992. King’s sixth marriage was to his production assistant, Deanna Lund, which lasted from 1997 to 1997. His seventh and final marriage was to Shawn Southwick in 1997, with whom he had two children. However, the couple separated in 2019 and their divorce was never finalized before King’s death.
Despite his numerous marriages, King remained a beloved figure in the media world, known for his engaging interviews and charismatic personality.
Larry King was married a total of eight times, to seven different women. Here is a breakdown of each of his marriages:
- Freda Miller: King’s first marriage was to high school sweetheart Freda Miller in 1952. They had two children together, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1953.
- Annette Kaye: King’s second marriage was to Annette Kaye in 1961. They had a son together, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1961.
- Alene Akins: King’s third marriage was to Alene Akins, a former Playboy bunny, in 1961. They had a daughter together and adopted a son, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1963. They remarried in 1967 and had another child together, but the marriage ended in divorce again in 1972.
- Mickey Sutphin: King’s fourth marriage was to Mickey Sutphin in 1963. They had a daughter together, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1967.
- Sharon Lepore: King’s fifth marriage was to Sharon Lepore in 1976. They had a son together, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1983.
- Julie Alexander: King’s sixth marriage was to Julie Alexander in 1989. They had two children together, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1992.
- Shawn Southwick: King’s seventh marriage was to Shawn Southwick in 1997. They had two children together and remained married until King’s death in 2021, although they did file for divorce in 2010 before reconciling.
Throughout his life, King was known for his multiple marriages and divorces, often joking about them in interviews. Despite the ups and downs of his personal life, he remained a highly respected and influential figure in the world of broadcast journalism.
Despite his multiple marriages, Larry King remained optimistic about love and marriage throughout his life. He once said in an interview, “I believe in marriage. I believe in monogamy. I’m a romanticist. I’m a great believer in falling in love.” Despite the challenges and struggles in his past relationships, he continued to seek out love and companionship.
