Larry King, who quizzed thousands of world leaders, politicians and entertainers for CNN and other news outlets in a career spanning more than six decades, has died aged 87, his media company said in a statement on Saturday.

King had been hospitalised in Los Angeles with a Covid-19 infection, according to several media reports.

Millions watched King interview world leaders, entertainers and other celebrities on Larry King Live, which ran from 1985 to 2010. Hunched over his desk in rolled-up shirt sleeves and owlish glasses, he made his show one of the CNN’s prime attractions with a mix of interviews, political discussions, current event debates and phone calls from viewers.