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Ted Turner recuperating from a bout of pneumonia

He was recently hospitalized but a representative said the Atlanta business legend ‘expects a full recovery.’
July 10, 2021 Plains - Ted Turner arrives for 75th wedding anniversary celebration of Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at Plains High School in Plains on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
July 10, 2021 Plains - Ted Turner arrives for 75th wedding anniversary celebration of Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at Plains High School in Plains on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
Jan 7, 2025

Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner was recently hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia.

His spokesperson Phillip Evans, in a statement on Tuesday, said Turner “is recuperating at a rehab facility and expects a full recovery. While he was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia in 2018 and despite health challenges it presents, Ted continues to remain resilient and engaged in his professional and personal endeavors.”

Lewy body dementia impacts more than 1 million Americans, the second most common type of degenerative dementia behind only Alzheimer’s disease. Abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain affect chemicals in the brain, leading to problems with thinking, movement, behavior and mood, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Turner, 86, who created CNN and multiple cable networks in Atlanta before selling Turner Broadcasting in 1996, splits his time between Atlanta and Montana and makes few public appearances.

He was recently featured in a four-part documentary called “Call Me Ted” that is now available on the Max streaming service.

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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