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Larry King Quotes

American Television and Radio Host
Born On
1933-11-19
Died On
2021-01-23
Birth Place
Brooklyn
Death Place
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
Birth Sign
scorpio
Father
Immigrant Edward Jonaton Zeiger
Mother
Jennie
Spouse
Shawn Southwick (m. 1997), Alene Akins, Annette Kaye, Freda Miller, Julie Alexander, Mickey Sutphin, Sharon Lepore
Nationality
American
Education
Lafayette High School

Larry King, then a mere 23-years-old, had worked as a radio host for just about two weeks, when the station manager unexpectedly called him and said, "The all-night guy is sick. Would you like to fill in tonight?" The young King readily agreed to host the night show and played a few records back to back when the phone rang. As soon as the host received the call, the lady on the other side said, "I want you." After confirming that he'd indeed heard her right, he instinctively replied, "I get off at six!"

The lady, now all the more persistent, demanded, "Naw, that won’t do. I’ve got to go to work. You gotta come now" and she pleaded for him to come. About what happened next, King himself says, "I got her address. I’m the only one in station. So here’s what the audience heard: 'Ah folks, I’m only sitting in tonight, so I’ve got a real treat for you. You’re going to hear the entire Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall album uninterrupted.' I had 33 minutes, which is all the time I needed."

However, when Larry did reach the woman's house and the two were in the middle of a romantic adventure, singer Harry Belafonte’s famous track 'Jamaica Farewell' went, “Down the way where the nights—where the nights—where the nights—”. That's right, the record was stuck, and King narrates, "I push her back. I jump in the car. I drive to the station….I come back. All the phones are ringing. I’m apologizing to people. And the last call I never forgot. An old Jewish guy. “WAHR” and I hear this guy go, “Where the nights—where the nights.  I’m going crazy. I’m going crazy.” I said, “Sir, I apologize. Why didn’t you change the station?” He says, “I’m an invalid. They set the station for me on top of the bureau and I can’t reach it."

I'm the worst person to be stuck with in a traffic jam.

Larry King

Basically, what it comes down to is I love what I do. I don't do it for fame. I don't do it for money. I just love it.

Larry King

My father died when I was nine and a half. We were on relief for two years. They call it welfare now, but it was relief then... I never forgot the generosity of New York.

Larry King

I like getting to the meat of things. You can't get it in a five-minute interview. I like to hone a person. I like to make eye contact.

Larry King

I'm 80 years old, and I don't know what I'm going to be when I grow up.

Larry King

Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves.

Larry King

Getting your house in order and reducing the confusion gives you more control over your life. Personal organization some how releases or frees you to operate more effectively.

Larry King

I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.

Larry King

My biggest fear is death because I don't think I'm going anywhere. And since I don't think that, and I don't have a belief... I'm married to someone who has the belief, so she knows she's going somewhere.

Larry King

Les Miserables is one of my favorite stories.

Larry King

If they asked me, I did two shifts. I did sports, I did news, because I loved it.

Larry King

I never think of access or good will. I just want a good interview. I want guests to be informative and entertaining. I've never been concerned about someone's liking me tomorrow.

Larry King

I have lifelong friends. My oldest friend, Herbie, has been a friend since I was 9. I've had bonds for over 50 years with people.

Larry King

People would pay money to work at CNN.

Larry King

I've taken my boys to the house I grew up in. Taken them to the site of Ebbets Field, where the Dodgers used to play. They go to all the Dodger games, and they play Little League ball. I have infused them with New York spirit.

Larry King

If you do something, expect consequences.

Larry King

Sports are my favorite. It's the first thing I turn to every day.

Larry King

I have never understood the Iowa caucus.

Larry King

I never forgot being poor, and I never stopped thinking how fortunate I am.

Larry King

I've had a great ride. I've got no complaints.

Larry King

I was always telling everyone, I want to be a broadcaster. They'd say, What, are you crazy? What, you're going to be Arthur Godfrey?

Larry King

I like to put a stake in people, because I know people helped me.

Larry King

When you reach a certain age, and people see you on television, they look at you and think, 'Wow! Everything must be great!' Well, everything isn't always great. You can be hailed on the street corner, but you still have to go home and take out the garbage.

Larry King

When I was 5 years old I would lie in bed, look at the radio, and I wanted to be on the radio. I don't know why.

Larry King

I'm sort of the comic relief after a hard day at work. My message is that it's OK to relax.

Larry King

An NBA game in L.A., the Lakers - I'm a Clipper fan - it's to be seen as much as seeing the game.

Larry King

I fantasized being a broadcaster.

Larry King

Communications is the number one major in America today. CNN had 25,000 applicants for five intern jobs this summer.

Larry King

I've got a nice car. I love my job. I've got a bagel store, and I have breakfast every morning with friends I grew up with. I've been in movies, I've written books - I don't know how that all happened.

Larry King

I love doing what I do. I love asking questions. I love being in the mix.

Larry King

It's joyful to give. But for people who want to take advantage of you, you're kind of an easy mark.

Larry King

I worked on the United Parcel Service truck, I sold home delivery of milk. But always, in the back of my mind, I wanted to get into radio.

Larry King

I'm having as much fun today as I did when I made $55 a week, because it is as much fun.

Larry King

Good writers are in the business of leaving signposts saying, Tour my world, see and feel it through my eyes; I am your guide.

Larry King

With 500 channels and the Internet available, you'd think a candidate could get the word out.

Larry King

The names are bigger, the show is worldwide, but I get a royal pass into life in the broadcasting business.

Larry King

Gleason became like a mentor of mine. I had Gleason helping me on television, Godfrey on radio.

Larry King

When I broke in, in 1957, it was wide open. Now you're up against strong competition.

Larry King

If I do something caring for a friend, I have no doubt in my mind they would do it for me.

Larry King

I've made a lot of mistakes. I've bonded with some people who use you, and some people that take advantage of you.

Larry King

I never use the word 'I' when I interview someone. I think it's irrelevant.

Larry King

I want to be frozen on the hope that they'll find whatever I died of and bring me back.

Larry King

I had no trouble going from radio to TV - I just thought of TV as radio with pictures.

Larry King

I'm from Brooklyn. In Brooklyn, if you say, 'I'm dangerous', you'd better be dangerous.

Larry King

People sometimes think I'm sort of all-knowing.

Larry King

You gotta ask 'why' questions. 'Why did you do this?' A 'why' question you can't answer with one word.

Larry King

I did everything when I started. In Miami I did news, I did weather, I did sports, I did disk-jockeying. And I did a sports talk show every week - every Saturday night.

Larry King

I worked at CNN for almost 26 years. I worked in Mutual Radio for 20 years. I've been in the business 57 years. I have never seen a bias off the air or on.

Larry King

Who wouldn't want to be Frank Sinatra's son?

Larry King

Sandy Koufax went to the same school as me. I graduated two years ahead of Sandy.

Larry King

They don't have a lot of appointment viewing. What television depends on, one thing 'Larry King Live' was - whether you liked it, didn't like it - it was appointment viewing.

Larry King

Anything can happen when people run for office.

Larry King

I have never seen anyone at CNN ever say, 'Boy, here's how we're going to deal with this today to put this guy down and elevate this guy up.' I've never seen it.

Larry King

The rich don't win elections. They support the money, but what percentage of America are rich? What is it, 2 percent? But they all have one vote.

Larry King

I just love asking questions. I love people. It's in my DNA. I'm cursed - and blessed.

Larry King

I've done hundreds of interviews on guns. I'm against people who use guns. I don't like guns, but I've never yelled at anyone.

Larry King

I thought I would be a sports announcer. All I was was a curious kid who wanted to be on the radio.

Larry King

The Kardashians can be famous for being famous. What do they do? I can't figure it out.

Larry King

I've never seen anyone say, 'Let's go get this person today; let's really ram it into him.' I've never seen it. If a Democrat or Republican commits some horrendous story, the story will run. The networks will cover it.

Larry King

I don't wish anybody ill, I really don't. I've got a lot of faults, but I was never jealous or envious or... it's a waste of time.

Larry King

I don't know what a softball question is. All I know is I have no agenda. I ask short questions, and I listen to the answer.

Larry King

The guest to me was always paramount.

Larry King