Former Fox News chief Roger Ailes dies at 77

Former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, shown on the Fox News set, died on Thursday. He was 77.

(Jim Cooper / Associated Press)

May 18, 2017 6:31 AM PT

Former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes died this morning at 77, the news channel reported.

The former Fox News chairman was credited with making the channel a ratings powerhouse over his 20 years at the helm.

(Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Roger Ailes speaks at a Jan. 30, 1996, news conference with Rupert Murdoch after it was announced that Ailes would be chairman and CEO of Fox News. Ailes was hired to create the channel as an alternative to the established TV news networks, targeting an audience outside the New York-Washington media nexus.

(Richard Dre / Associated Press)

At a 2003 news conference, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, right, speaks with, from left, Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), and Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes after announcing that the Congressional Black Caucus would partner with the channel to host two presidential debates.

(Gail Burton / Associated Press)