Robin Leach, the celebrity journalist who made a career of ogling lavish living on TV's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," died early Friday in Las Vegas, where he had been working for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He was 76. His death was reported by the Review-Journal Friday. The cause of death was not disclosed but Leach had suffered two strokes in recent months, including one on Monday, according to the paper. The Review-Journal quoted a family statement that said Leach died "peacefully at 1:50 a.m." “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. Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow,” said the statement from Leach’s sons Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach. Leach had been hospitalized since Nov. 21 after suffering a mini-stroke while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the Review-Journal said. After learning his father was unable to eat or walk without assistance, his son Steve arranged for a private flight to bring his father to Las Vegas the next day. He spent months recovering, much of that time at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio before returning to Las Vegas in June. The Review-Journal reported he suffered another stroke Monday. Leach moved to Las Vegas in 1999, and spent most of the last two decades chronicling star-studded events around town as a celebrity columnist, most recently for the Review-Journal but also for the Las Vegas Sun. On Friday, Clark County, Nevada, which includes Vegas, tweeted farewell to Leach. "Remembering #RobinLeach, he was British but adopted Las #Vegas. He loved it here, made his home here and was one of the biggest promoters of #LasVegas and the #LasVegasStrip. #RIP Robin and thank you," the tweet read. The London-born Leach began his career as an entertainment and celebrity reporter at age 18 at The Daily Mail, one of Britain's rowdiest tabloids keen on celebrity gossip. He was made Page One editor, the youngest ever at 18. In 1963, he moved to the U.S. where he worked for multiple publications, including the New York Daily News and just launching People magazine, where he wrote the first 11 cover stories for what has become the powerhouse celeb publication. He also worked in the U.S. as the show business editor of another British tabloid, The Star, and later joined CNN in 1980 on the network's "People Tonight” show. He also helped start the syndicated TV show “Entertainment Tonight.” But he really made his mark in 1984 with “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” which he co-created. His memorable sign-off after each episode: "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams." The syndicated show, which ran from 1984 to 1995, focused on celebrities’ lavish homes and favorite destinations, demonstrating there was widespread audience interest in celebrity-centric shows. In 1984, Leach was nominated for an Emmy, for Outstanding Information Special, for producing the show. In a 2007 interview with AskMen.com, Leach described his approach to picking the celebrity lifestyles he wanted to showcase. "It had to be very visual, as we were on TV. The more eye-popping and outrageous, the better, and the longer the subject matter would be," Leach said then. "We wanted to make your mouth drop. That was the main effect. One picture was worth a thousand words, so if you had more pictures, the less you would have to say." It was an approach that worked, for TV and for Leach himself, who became a multimillionaire from "Lifestyles" and later donated generously to charities. He received the ultimate compliment – being impersonated in a skit on "Saturday Night Live" – and appeared in several movies, including “She-Devil” in 1989. His name popped up in the late Notorious B.I.G.’s song “Juicy” and Britney Spears mentioned "Lifestyles" in her song "Piece of Me." Leach was a famous foodie who helped introduce the Food Network in 1993; promoting Las Vegas as a restaurant destination became one of his passions later in life – and got him a prime table anywhere he liked, according to a New York Times report in 2014 under the headline, "Robin Leach Rolls on in Las Vegas." “The support that Robin has given to the food scene here is immeasurable,” chef Rick Moonen, whose restaurants include RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, told the paper. But he was down-to-earth and normal, he told The Times in 1990. “The cartoon character, that’s not who Robin Leach is,” he said. “And when I wake up in the morning, I wink at myself because I like me — I know who I am. And when it’s time to send the cartoon character off, I just send him on his way.”<doc-sep>Entertainment journalist Robin Leach died on Thursday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The host of the popular Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous series was 76 years old. Leach's friend and colleague at the Review-Journal John Katsilometes confirmed the columnist's death in a statement on Twitter. "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, [August 29]. He suffered a second stroke Monday," Katsilometes wrote. Leach was hospitalized in November after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas. He was under hospice care at the time of his death. Leach's family also issued a statement announcing his death, noting the "beautiful life he had" despite his ailing health over the last 10 months. "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," the statement read. The English writer and reporter started out working for the London press dating back to his days in high school where he edited his school's magazine. He went on to land a position at the Daily Mail before he came across the pond in 1963. Although he contributed to a number of American publications like the New York Daily News and People magazine and appeared on news outlets like Entertainment Tonight and CNN, Leach was most recognized for his own show, Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous, which aired from 1984 to 1995. Leach narrated the profile series, which described the luxuries that came with being a Hollywood A-lister, including the type of cars, homes, designer goods and other lavish amenities their careers and wealth afforded them. Leach was known for ending each episode with his signature catchphrase, "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams."<doc-sep>
VideoVideo related to robin leach cause of death: how did he die? 2018-08-24T12:48:16-04:00 Celebrity columnist Robin Leach, best known for hosting “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” has died. According to a statement released by his family, Leach died on August 23rd at a hospital in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cause of death was a stroke. 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 — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach was hospitalized on August 21st, when the stroke first occurred while he was vacationing in Mexico. He was placed in hospice care soon after. According to his family, his health has been poor for the past 10 months, since he first suffered a stroke. 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. — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach had a mini stroke last year in November, also while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. He spent weeks recovering in a hospital in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Leach’s son arranged for a private plane to take his father to Saint Rose Dominican Hospital when he realized his dad couldn’t eat or walk. “I started rehabilitation on my right side,” Leach told Daily Mail. “I need my right hand to type!” Leach was hospitalized for weeks as his lungs kept filling with blood following procedures. “My two brothers and I are extremely encouraged by Robin’s strength and determination to get back to journalism,” Leach’s son Steve said. 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." — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 24, 2018 Leach was born in London during World War II. Journalism became his passion at a young age. By 18, he was working for Daily Mail. He moved to the United States in the 60s and started writing for the New York Daily News, People magazine and Ladies Home Journal. He solely covered entertainment news and worked as a top tabloid editor for the Star. Leach’s television career started in the late 70s. He reported on air for KABC-TV Los Angeles, WABC-TV New York and CNN’s “People Tonight.” Leach was a part of the editorial team that launched “Entertainment Tonight,” which lead to the birth of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” He moved to Las Vegas in the 90s where he worked as an entertainment columnist at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. They were first to report his death.