The media industry has lost a pioneer.
CNN founder Ted Turner died on May 6, according to a release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87 years old.
“Ted was an engaged and dedicated leader, courageous and fearless, always willing to support his instincts and trust his own judgment,” Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “He has been, and always will be, the head of CNN. Ted is a giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we would like to take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”
Turner is survived by five children: Laura Turner Seidel, Teddy Turner, Rhett Turner, Beau Turner, and Jenny Turner Garlington.
Turner revealed in 2018 that he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the Mayo Clinic, protein deposits called Lewy bodies develop in nerve cells in the brain, affecting thinking, memory, and movement.
“This is a mild case of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s similar to Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s not as serious. Alzheimer’s disease is deadly,” Turner told CBS News at the time. “Thankfully, I don’t have that.”
