31 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 6
Family spokesman Phillip Evans said Turner died on Wednesday at his home near Tallahassee, Florida, after disclosing in 2018 that he had Lewy body dementia.
He transformed television news by launching CNN in 1980, creating the 24-hour news cycle, then expanded it with CNN Headline News and CNN International.
Turner also built TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network, merged Turner Broadcasting with Time Warner in 1996, and owned the Atlanta Braves.
As Netflix acquires TCM, can Ted Turner's vision for a commercial-free classic film sanctuary survive the streaming wars?
He pioneered the 24-hour news cycle, but has constant information made society more connected or more fractured?
Turner's public dementia battle raised awareness, but can medicine overcome the challenge of misdiagnosing this complex brain disease?
Ted Turner’s Legacy: Media Revolution, $1 Billion Philanthropy, and Battle with Lewy Body Dementia
Overview
Ted Turner, the visionary founder of CNN, passed away on May 6, 2026, due to complications from Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder he was diagnosed with in 2018. This disease caused a steady decline in his cognitive and physical abilities, leading to symptoms like memory loss, movement difficulties, and mood changes, which gradually limited his public life. Despite these challenges, Turner remained committed to his philanthropic work and found comfort in nature. His groundbreaking creation of 24-hour news transformed global media, while his extensive environmental and humanitarian efforts continue through foundations and land conservation, leaving a lasting and multifaceted legacy.