Roger Ailes founded the Fox News Channel in 1996. (Photo by Wesley Mann/FOX News via Getty Images)
Roger Ailes, the man who transformed the Fox News Channel into the powerhouse it is today, has died at age 77, his family announced Thursday, May 18.
“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning,” Ailes’ wife, Elizabeth, said in a statement. “Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many. He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise and to give back.”
Ailes laid the ground work for Fox News in 1996 and shaped the cable news network to become a ratings leader in the world of right-wing politics.
Ailes fell from grace as one of the most powerful men in media following allegations of sexual harassment by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. He resigned as CEO of the conservative news network in the summer of 2016.
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