Larry King's ex says that he and wife Shawn have slept in separate bedrooms for YEARS
Larry King's ex-wife has revealed that the aging TV star's marriage to Shawn King is a shambolic 'charade' kept alive for the sake of the couple's two teenage sons.
Julia Alexander King - who is still close friends with Larry - tells how the 82-year-old admitted to her that he has been living separate from his wife since 2010.
Julia claims that Larry - who has been married eight times - confessed that his marriage to Shawn was beyond repair and if it wasn't for their sons Chance, 17, and Cannon, 16, still living at home, they would have divorced already.
This comes just 24 hours after the veteran broadcaster's personal life was thrust into the public eye following accusations that his wife Shawn, 56, had enjoyed 'steamy afternoon sex sessions' with another man.
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Larry King's ex-wife, Julia Alexander King (pictured left, and right with King), claims that her ex-husband's marriage with Shawn King is beyond repair
Julia's comments come after accusations that Shawn (pictured with Larry earlier this month), 56, had enjoyed 'steamy afternoon sex sessions' public-speaking guru Richard Greene
It has since been claimed that the mystery lover is a handsome public-speaking guru named Richard Greene, whose clients have included US senators, Arianna Huffington, Princess Diana, Naomi Campbell and Will Smith.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Julia - who was Larry's seventh wife - reveals how Larry and Shawn's scandalous marriage slowly crumbled thanks to multiple affairs, wild partying and out of control drug use.
She also says that the pair, who live in a $13.6million mansion in Beverly Hills, California, even have separate bedrooms and the atmosphere between them has been 'tense' for a long while.
Julia, 68, who spoke to Larry just last week, revealed: 'As far as Larry is concerned, him and Shawn are not together anymore, so they are both free to sleep with whoever they choose.
'Their marriage is just a charade for the sake of their two sons.
'Larry lives in one part of the house and Shawn lives in another and they have agreed to do that until the boys leave home.'
Julia says Larry and Shawn are as bad as each other for cheating.
'Larry has had multiple girlfriends and once told me he'd even bought a condo for one of them on Wilshire Blvd in LA and it seems Shawn is no better.
Julia said that it wasn't for their sons Chance, 17, and Cannon, 16, still living at home, Larry and Shawn King would have divorced already
'The pair never recovered after she had an affair with the kids' baseball coach and Larry fell in love with Shawn's sister.
'Anything really is possible with those two, they both seem to thrive on drama.
'Larry has told me their marriage is over and the situation at home is tense to say the least.
'He tells me she has had problems with drugs and I know more than anyone that he is incapable of being faithful.'
DailyMail.com has also learned from a separate source that Shawn uses prescription drugs on a daily basis.
'She claims to be a Mormon and refuses to take a drop of alcohol yet she pops pills every day, all day. She takes painkillers and anxiety pills and as a result is very thin and wired,' the source claims.
'Sometimes she doesn't get out of bed until 2 or 3pm. When she does get up she constantly needles at Larry, they are constantly fighting.
'Larry's blood pressure is up because of it, this is a guy who has battled prostate cancer, had heart surgery.
'They have a terrible marriage, they live totally separate lives.'
The source says the couple are meeting today to discuss their future but no decision on a divorce has been made.
The source said: 'After Shawn had an affair they were close to divorce in 2010 but they stayed together because of the kids. But now the boys are older and one is away at school they aren't necessarily going to be the glue that keeps them together.'
Daily Mail Online reached to to Larry's people but a spokesperson declined to comment.
Shawn's representatives could not be reached.
Julia, who lives in Philadelphia, was married to award-winning TV personality Larry for three years until he left her for Shawn in 1992.
Although she never witnessed it, Julia always suspected Larry had been cheating on her.
But despite their divorce, the pair remained close and she says that Larry continues to confide in his ex about the most personal details of his marriage.
The star turned to Julia in 2010 when he filed for divorce from Shawn after lurid claims about their tangled love life were made public.
While Larry was accused of cheating on Shawn with her younger sister Shannon Engemann, his wife was exposed as having an affair with their sons' former baseball coach, Hector Penate.
Larry later came clean and admitted having a 'flirtation' with his sister-in-law in a 2010 interview.
Shawn, 56, has allegedly been seeing public speaking guru Richard Greene for the past year (left in 2010, right in 2011)
He said: 'It was just a flirtation,' adding, 'I never made love to her.'
While Shawn's secret lover Hector, now 37, told In Touch magazine that he started sleeping with Larry's wife after they met in 2007 when he was coaching the couple's young sons.
'We had sex in bed – a lot,' he was quoted as saying. 'I had sex with Shawn while Larry was on TV. Our sex life was real good.'
Despite their alleged indiscretions the couple reconciled, but two weeks later a police report revealed Shawn had suffered an apparent drug overdose at her father Karl's home in Utah.
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ShareKarl called for an ambulance after he found his daughter unconscious and paramedics later found 'multiple pill bottles all of which were empty' on the bed.
Just two years previously in 2008 it was also revealed Shawn had checked into rehab for addiction to prescription painkillers she had been using to cope with chronic migraines.
Talking about that time in her ex husband's life, Julia said: 'After all of that their marriage was over.
'Larry blamed her for having an affair with the baseball coach, but I know he had other women too.
Larry and Shawn at Spago in 1997 on their wedding day (above). Julia says that Larry and Shawn, live in a $13.6million mansion in Beverly Hills, California, even have separate bedrooms and the atmosphere between them has been 'tense' for a long while
'Publicly they said they had reconciled, but Larry told me they never did.
'At first Shawn made him move into the bath house, next to the swimming pool.
'But then they agreed the best thing for the kids was for them to be sleeping under the same roof.
'They don't sleep together though, Larry has his quarters and she has hers.'
Worryingly, Julia claims Larry confided in her that he is still concerned about Shawn's use of prescription drugs.
'Several times over the years he has told me he is fed-up with her drug use,' she said. 'He told me that she would throw these wild parties for her female friends and they would all get wasted.
'He even said there was one time she was out of it and tried to drive her car but hit a tree in front of the children.
'He was very upset about that.
'It's a very tumultuous relationship and they are constantly creating drama between them.
'So much so I wonder how the kids are going to come out at the end of it.'
This week The National Enquirer claimed Shawn was having an affair after 19 years of marriage.
Julia was Larry's seventh wife, and the couple (pictured together in 1990) divorced in 1992. They still, however, remain close friends
Her paramour was not named in the story but was described as a 'Hollywood Don Juan' who was at one time a 'top confidante to Princess Diana'.
Gossip column Page Six spoke to a source close to Larry who said: 'He's heartbroken. He's embarrassed and furious.'
The media site also claimed Shawn's secret lover is a public speaking guru called Richard Greene, who met Shawn when he was a guest on a podcast she co-hosts with her husband, Back and Forth With Shawn and Larry.
Greene is a former lawyer who left the legal profession to become a self-described communications strategist and public speaking trainer.
He is the author of the book Words That Shook the World:100 Years of Unforgettable Speeches and Event, which was released in 2001 and according to his website is 'used in high schools and universities around the world.'
It is being reported that Shawn wants to mold her new lover into the next Larry King.
According to Page 6, attorneys representing Shawn and Larry, and a rep for Greene, have called the story of the tryst 'inaccurate'.
For Julia, she finds it hard to believe that Larry even cares his wife has cheated.
'I highly doubt Larry loves Shawn anymore, he just loves that initial flush of love and then he gets bored and moves on,' she said. 'As far as being embarrassed, I doubt it.
'Larry thrives on drama like this and he loves reading anything about himself in the press, good or bad.
'I honestly think we would still be married if we'd had cameras in our bedroom. He will always be unfaithful and the moment the boys leave home, I'm sure he will move on.'
Shawn's elderly father Karl Engemann, 86, also moved in with the couple adding to the strain in the relationship.
Her mother Gerri, 82, spends most of her time in Utah at the family home but comes to LA to visit.
The source said: 'Larry has supported Shawn and her entire family for years, why he puts up with it is anyone's guess.'
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