American talk show host Larry King dies

In this file photo taken on September 21, 2016 Larry King attends the Friars Club Honors Martin Scorsese With Entertainment Icon Award at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. /CFP

Former CNN talk show host Larry King has died aged 87, according to a statement published on his Twitter page on Saturday.

"With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the death of our co-founder, host, and friend Larry King, who passed away this morning at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles."

The statement did not say the exact cause of this death.

Larry has had medical issues in recent decades, including diabetes, heart attacks and lung cancer. Earlier this month, several U.S. media revealed that

Larry was hospitalized with COVID-19.

The Peabody Award-winning broadcaster was among America's most prominent interviewers of celebrities, presidents and other newsmakers during a half-century career that included 25 years with a nightly show on CNN.