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| Picture of David Gest a few weeks before he died. |
David Gest death.David Gest has died in a London hotel aged 62, a statement from his friend says.
Gest, who is a former husband of singer Liza Minnelli, died at the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf.
His friend and ex-bodyguard Imad Handi confirmed the news in a statement.
American Gest was best known in the UK for his appearances on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother.
He had planned to tour the UK in July with his latest show, called the David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul Tour!
Several singers were due to appear on the tour, including Dina Carroll and Freda Payne.
It was named after the mix-up on this year's Celebrity Big Brother, when Angie Bowie informed Tiffany Pollard that David - meaning her ex-husband Bowie - had died during their time on the reality show. Pollard broke down in tears believing Gest, who was ill in bed at the time, had died.
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| A young David Gest with Michael Jackson. |
One of the biggest successes during his career was producing the highest-rated special in US music history - 2001's Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration.
He was perhaps best known for his marriage to Minnelli. They were married in 2002 and officially divorced in 2007. He was also a childhood friend of Jackson and his brother Tito.
Gest's name-dropping anecdotes and raucous tales of showbiz friendships during his appearances on reality TV shows won him legions of fans in the UK.
He finished fourth in ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2006, and later became a judge on talent show Grease Is The Word.
In 2011, Sir Cliff Richard worked with Gest on his album Soulicious.
Gest helped develop the concept of the album, which saw Sir Cliff collaborate with soul singers including Roberta Flack and Candi Staton. He later produced and directed the Soulicious tour.
Mr Handi, who confirmed the news of Gest's death, described him as a "huge talent".
"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."
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| David on Celebrity big brother. |
A Metropolitan Police statement said: "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."
Police have said there appear to be no suspicious circumstances.
REACTIONS
Liz Cundy,Tv presenter and close friend told the Mirror: “He hadn’t been very well.
“He had a cough he couldn’t get rid of and he said to me: ‘Nobody believes that I’m ill.’
“We joked about him not getting rid of the cough. He always does wind-ups. When I got the call, I thought it was a joke.
“He had a doctor to see him a few weeks back, but he said he was starting to get better.
Staff and guests at the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf have been left in shock.
A guest, who wished not to be named, told the Mirror: “We heard this morning and couldn’t believe it. Everyone is very shocked.”
Another added: “We all thought it was a hoax. It’s unbelievable.”
Another added: “We all thought it was a hoax. It’s unbelievable.”
Guests were still able to access every floor on Tuesday night.
Speaking on BBC Radio London, Vanessa Feltz said: “He was so funny and we loved him and he liked being loved.
“He loved it when he walked down the street and people called out his name, he really enjoyed it so much. And so that’s why he never went home really. He stayed here.”
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| David Gest and ex wife Liza Minnelli. |
However,David Gest’s former wife Liza Minnelli will not be releasing a statement after learning of her ex’s death.
Gest married Minnelli in March 2002 in a star-studded ceremony with Michael Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honour.
Before filing for divorce, Gest sued Minnelli for assault, claiming that she had beaten him so badly during alcoholic rages that she caused him nerve damage and caused him to be treated in hospital for five days.
Minnelli also sued Gest, claiming her estranged husband had stolen at least two million dollars she earned while performing in shows he produced.
The pair ended their dispute in 2007 when their lawyers filed court papers saying they had settled their differences and agreed to get divorced without fault.
Minnelli also sued Gest, claiming her estranged husband had stolen at least two million dollars she earned while performing in shows he produced.
The pair ended their dispute in 2007 when their lawyers filed court papers saying they had settled their differences and agreed to get divorced without fault.
Just weeks before his sudden death, David Gest revealed that he wanted to be buried in York.
In an interview the 62-year-old stated that he considered the UK to be his home and vowed never to return to the razzle dazzle of Los Angeles after moving to York.
He told The Grimsby Telegraph: “I will never go back to LA; I will die here and want to be buried in York.
“I love this country much more than my own.”