The 87-year-old has been hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for more than a week, a family source told CNN. His three sons have been unable to visit him because of protocols in place at the hospital.
King, who hosted Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years, has suffered from numerous medical issues over the years, including a number of heart attacks and a diabetes diagnosis. He revealed he had been treated for lung cancer in 2017 and underwent a angioplasty in April last year.
Following reports of his COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization, many famous names posted messages on social media, sharing their hopes that King would recover soon.
“Hang tough, Larry. May the Force be with you. @kingsthings,” Nancy Sinatra wrote on Twitter.
“Get well Larry, I’m pulling for The King,” CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour tweeted.
Keith Olbermann said: “A report that @kingsthings has Covid-19 breaks my heart. It’s been easy to kid him but Larry is a loyal friend and his skill at, and knowledge of broadcasting, is limitless. He also treats every small kindness as if it’s the most generous act ever. Prayers.”
“Wishing Larry King a speedy recovery,” added actor George Takei.
Actress Lynda Carter tweeted: “Thinking of my dear friend Larry King and rooting for him.”
In the same tweet, she urged people to do their part to stop the spread of the virus. “PLEASE wear a mask and do your best to help stop the spread. We can protect one another if we all do our part here,” Carter wrote.
Actress Daryl Hannah tweeted she was praying for a “swift recovery.”
“Sending love to Larry King,” actress and director Lydia Cornell wrote alongside heart and prayer emojis.
Fox News hosts Howard Kurtz added: “Sorry to see reports that Larry King is hospitalized and battling Covid. My old friend is 87 and changed the television talk show game. Hoping he beats this dastardly disease as we all await greater availability of vaccines.”
Reports of King’s hospitalization come after he lost two of his five children within weeks of each other last summer.
His son Andy King died suddenly of a heart attack aged 65 in August, after his daughter Chaia King died from lung cancer at 51 in July, he said in a statement at the time.
His most recent tweet wished his followers a happy Thanksgiving. “I’m thankful for my boys and dinner from Craig’s!” King said alongside a photo of himself with two of his sons.
