David Gest with then wife, Liza Minelli in 2003
“Police were called at 10:17 on Tuesday 12 April to the Four Seasons hotel, in Westferry Circus to reports of an unexplained death of a man in his 60s. London Ambulance Service were called to the scene. Life was pronounced extinct at the hotel. A post-mortem will be held in due course. Next of kin are in the process of being informed.”
Gest rose to fame after his marriage to Liza Minnelli and his friendship with Michael Jackson – and had appeared on shows including I’m A Celebrity and Celebrity Big Brother. Gest’s friend Imad Handi also confirmed the news.
“It is with great sadness that I can confirm that David Gest has died today. David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon. I know he will be missed by millions of fans around the world, and particularly in Britain, who came to love his charm and blistering one-liners.
If I may steal the words of one eminent critic, David was a natural star and a genuine celebrity. I will miss him desperately.”
At this point police are not treating the death as suspicious.
Gest was Minnelli ‘s fourth husband, here at their wedding with Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor in 2002. Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging she had repeatedly beat him while she was drunk. Minnelli denied the accusation, and the case was later dismissed. They were divorced in 2007.
(via Pink News)
