Larry King's Eight Marriages: The Talk Show Legend Who Could Not Stop Saying 'I Do'
Eight marriages, seven wives, and a handwritten will that started one last fight from beyond the grave
Key Facts
What Happened
Larry King was an American television and radio icon — the host of CNN's 'Larry King Live' for 25 years and one of the most recognized interviewers in broadcasting history. He was also married eight times to seven different women, with a matrimonial track record that rivaled his interview count. His romantic life was as restless as his professional curiosity, and each marriage revealed a different chapter of his personality.
King's first marriage to high school sweetheart Freda Miller in 1952 was annulled after less than a year because their parents did not approve. Annette Kaye was brief. His third wife, Alene Akins, was a former Playboy bunny whom he married twice — first in 1961-1963, then again in 1968-1971 — adopting her son Andy and having a daughter, Chaia. Mickey Sutphin and Sharon Lepore followed. Julie Alexander, a businesswoman, lasted barely a year in 1989-1990. Each marriage ended in divorce; each divorce extracted financial and emotional costs.
His seventh and final wife, Shawn Southwick, was a singer and actress 26 years his junior. They married in 1997 and had two sons. But by 2019, the marriage had deteriorated. King filed for divorce in August 2019. The proceedings were still ongoing when he died on January 23, 2021, at age 87. Because the divorce was not finalized, the legal consequences were enormous — as a spouse, Shawn had rights to King's estate that a divorced ex-wife would not have had.
The final drama played out after his death. King had written a handwritten (holographic) will in 2019 that left his $2 million estate equally to his five surviving children, explicitly excluding Shawn. Shawn contested the will, alleging that King's son Larry King Jr. had exerted undue influence over his father, that King was of diminished mental capacity when he wrote it, and that a 2015 will naming her as executor should be honored instead. She also alleged that Larry Jr. had secretly transferred $266,000 of community property to himself. The dispute was eventually settled confidentially — but it stands as a cautionary tale about the intersection of serial marriage, estate planning, and the dangers of dying with unfinished legal business.
Legal Breakdown: Prenuptial Agreements
Dying During Pending Divorce
King's death during pending divorce proceedings created legal chaos. In most states, if a spouse dies before the divorce is finalized, the surviving spouse retains full spousal inheritance rights — as if the divorce was never filed. This is why timing matters enormously. A pending divorce filing provides no protection against spousal inheritance claims. To protect your wishes during a lengthy divorce, update your will and beneficiary designations immediately — though state laws vary on how much you can disinherit a spouse before the divorce is final.
Holographic (Handwritten) Wills
King's 2019 handwritten will was a holographic will — one written entirely in the testator's own handwriting, without witnesses. Holographic wills are valid in California and about 25 other states, but they are frequently contested because they lack the formality and witnesses of properly executed wills. The lack of witnesses makes it easier to allege forgery, undue influence, or diminished capacity. King's case illustrates why holographic wills, while legally valid, are dangerous — especially when they contradict a previous professionally drafted will.
Community Property and Pending Divorce
Shawn's allegation that Larry Jr. secretly transferred $266,000 of community property raises serious legal issues. In community property states like California, both spouses own community assets equally. Transferring community property to a third party without the other spouse's knowledge or consent is a breach of fiduciary duty. Courts take this extremely seriously and can order the return of the assets, impose penalties, and consider the transfer as evidence of bad faith in the divorce or estate proceedings.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you die before your divorce is finalized, your spouse may inherit everything — regardless of your wishes. Update your estate plan immediately when you file for divorce.
- →Handwritten wills are legally valid in many states but are easily contested. Use a properly drafted will with witnesses, especially during divorce.
- →Never transfer community property to third parties during a pending divorce without your spouse's consent. Courts will find out and punish it.
- →Serial marriage without robust estate planning creates chaos for surviving family members. Each new marriage should trigger a complete estate plan review.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.