Michael King Dead: TV Exec Who Helped Launch ‘Oprah’ Show Was 66

Michael King, who with his brother Roger was behind the syndication of the mega-successful Oprah, Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray shows, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 66.

King had been in intensive care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and was taken off life support after being admitted with pneumonia nearly three weeks ago, according to media reports.

“Michael King is a friend that will be sorely missed,” Dr. Phil McGraw said today. “Anyone that knew Michael knows what a passion he brought to everything he touched. He and Roger certainly had a profound impact on my life personally and professionally. Robin and I are praying for the entire King family in this time of loss.”

Michael and Roger King were among six siblings who inherited King World Productions from their father, Charles King. They were responsible for bringing The Oprah Winfrey Show to syndication, launching Winfrey into worldwide stardom and forever changing the daytime TV landscape in the 1980s.

King World, along with Harpo Productions, followed that success with Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray. Michael and Roger King also syndicated successful game shows Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy.

CBS acquired King World in 2000. Roger King died in 2007.

Born in New Jersey, Michael King was a one-time part-owner of the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils, according to the New York Daily News.

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