Roger Ailes, former chief executive of Fox News, has died at the age of 77, the network has said.
Mr Ailes, who had been a consultant to Republican presidents, was ousted from the network last July following a series of sexual harassment allegations.
His resignation marked an abrupt end to his 20-year reign over America's most lucrative and powerful cable news channel for conservatives.
Ailes worked as a media strategist for Republican Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush before launching Fox News in 1996.
The network was integral to US President Donald Trump's successful run for the White House in 2016.
Ailes' widow, Elizabeth Ailes, confirmed his death in a statement on the Fox News website.
"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."
In July 2016, Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America who appeared on the popular "Fox and Friends" morning programme before being given her own show, sued him.
She said he had made sexual advances toward her and then hurt her career in retaliationafter she rejected him.
Two weeks later, Ailes was ousted from the network with a $40 million severance package.
His departure came during the Republican National Convention and at a time when the network was scoring record ratings.
Shortly afterward, he began advising the Trump campaign.
