Getty
Famed celebrity journalist Robin Leach has died at 76.
Leach, who is best known for his work as a TV host on the show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke in November while on vacation Cabo San Lucas, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Leach had worked at the publication since 2016 and had returned to Vegas in May to continue his ongoing recovery.
Getty
Madonna Defends Her Rambling, Self-Serving Aretha Franklin Tribute at the VMAs
View StoryFellow Review-Journal columnist John Katsilometes reported the news of Leach's passing Friday morning, saying that his "friend and collegue" had suffered a second stroke last Monday. Katsilometes also tweeted a statement from his family.
"Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had," the statement read. "Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m. Everyone's support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow."
Sad to report the death of famed celeb reporter, friend and colleague #RobinLeach @ 1:50 a.m. in #LasVegas. He would have been 77 Wednesday. He suffered a second stroke Monday. He in hospice care. He'd been hospitalized since Nov. 21, after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas.
@johnnykats
Statement from #RobinLeach family: "Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m." 1/2
@johnnykats
More from #RobinLeach family: "Everyone's support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow. With love, Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach."
@johnnykats
Before joining the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Leach had written for almost every entertainment website under the sun, including The Daily Mail, PEOPLE and The New York Daily News. He also had his own site, VegasDeLuxe.com, and wrote for Greenspun Media Group. He was recruited to join the Review-Journal in 2016 to help boost its celebrity overage.
"I look at it as a challenge," he told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. "It's another [opportunity] to make something out of thin air. I'll work as many hours as necessary. I've never shied away from hard work," Leach told The Hollywood Reporter at the time of his hopes about making an impact on new media. "When there is opportunity to do better at what you've been doing with new tools at your disposal, that becomes really exciting."
The journalist also launched the show "Food Quest" in 2017 on the Food Network, with co-host Kim Alexis and appeared on episodes of "Shark Tank," "Holly's World," "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" and "Roseanne," among many other shows.
He'll be remembered for his famous sign-off: "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams."
