Radio broadcaster John Laws has died aged 90.
Regarded as one of Australia’s most powerful talkback hosts, his career spanned seven decades and he rose to become of the country’s most well known and highest paid media personalities.
He is understood to have been in end-of-life care in recent months and he leaves behind five children. His wife Caroline, to whom he was married for more than four decades, died in 2020.
The broadcaster’s death is one year on, almost to the day, from his retirement.
Laws made his announcement announcement live on-air on November 8 last year, after reading a letter from a listener who was keen to thank him for years of entertainment.
‘You’re not going to be hearing it for long, mate, I think it’s time for a rest, is what I think,’ he said.
‘I’ve done it for a very, very, very, very long time. 70 years, is it long enough? It’s long enough.’
Legendary Australian radio broadcaster John Laws has died aged 90
‘I would have done it for 71 years. The first week of November will be 71 years since I started on radio,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to be greedy, I had a fantastic 71 years. Loved almost every minute of it’.
Laws began his career in AM radio back in 1853 at 3BO in Bendigo and his unique style earned the broadcaster the nickname ‘The Golden Tonsils’.
After four years at 3BO, he moved to metro broadcaster, 2UE, where he became one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll music.
Laws stepped away from radio for four years in 2007 and returned to the air on 2SM in 2011.
In September, he returned to his S2M Super Network show after spending an extended stint in hospital.
After seeking medical care for a blocked ear, his health rapidly deteriorated and he was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney for three weeks.
He had contracted pneumonia, but later revealed he was luckily on the mend.
‘I’m alive, I’m well, I’m happy,’ he told The Saturday Telegraph.
In 2022, he took bouts of leave from his radio gig after suffering from respiratory infections.
More to follow.
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