Robin Leach, once host of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” has died, TheWrap has confirmed. He was 76.
“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,” Leach’s son Steven said in a statement, also attributed to Robin’s sons Gregg and Rick Leach, published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal Friday.
“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 [died] in hospice care. He’d been hospitalized since Nov. 21, after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas,” columnist John Katsilometes wrote on Twitter.
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
“Robin Leach was a kind and generous man, a true professional and perfectionist,” Zachary Solov, Leach’s former spokesperon, told TheWrap. “He was a big supporter of the Alzheimer’s charity ‘Keep the Memory Alive’ throughout the years. It was a pleasure to work with him, he was one of my first clients I represented early on in my career. The entertainment industry lost one of the greats today. Champagne wishes.”
Leach — born in London — was working as a celebrity columnist at the time of his passing, but is best known as the host of the glamorous series “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and for his signature sign off phrase, “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” Leach created the syndicated series with prolific TV producer Al Masini. “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” ran from 1984 to 1995, showcasing the homes and getaways of the Hollywood elite.
Prior to “Lifestyles,” Leach appeared on CNN’s “People Tonight” show in the 1980s and had a hand in starting “Entertainment Tonight.”
In 1999, Leach moved to Las Vegas, where he covered A-list events for publications, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, over the last two decades.