Roger Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox News, has died at age 77, his family announced on Thursday.
Ailes' wife, Elizabeth, confirmed the news in a statement.
"I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning," she wrote. "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."
"During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life," she added.
Ailes, who founded Fox News in 1996 and built it into a media powerhouse, was ousted from the network in July 2016 amid of a string sexual harassment complaints.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.