Popular entertainment journalist Sam Rubin suffered a fatal heart attack after being hospitalized in May, a coroner’s report said Tuesday.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined the 64-year-old Hollywood Reporter’s cause of death was “ischemic heart disease secondary to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.” It was announced on Tuesday.
His death was ruled a natural death.
Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is a condition that causes a deadly heartbeat due to insufficient blood and oxygen flowing to the heart.
Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is classified as the leading cause of death worldwide. National Institutes of Health.
Approximately 126 million people worldwide are infected with the disease and 9 million have died from it.
Men are more susceptible than women.
The longtime KTLA personality visited a local hospital on the morning of May 10 complaining of stomach pains, after calling 911 on his doctor’s advice.
He was pronounced dead inside the emergency room at 11:03 a.m., the coroner added.
An autopsy will take place on May 13th, with a full autopsy report due to be released by the end of this week.
A founding member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Rubin has received numerous accolades during his career.
He joined KTLA in 1991 and served as the station’s weekday entertainment anchor for more than 30 years.
In 2013, he received the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s annual Impact Award for excellence and integrity in broadcast journalism.
Rubin has also received the Golden Mike Award, a lifetime achievement award, from the Southern California Broadcasters Association and was named Best Entertainment Reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club.
In addition to his extensive television career, the San Diego native has written two biographies, on former first lady Jackie Onassis and actress and activist Mia Farrow. According to KCAL.
Rubin’s final television appearance was on May 9, the day before his death, in conversation with actress Jane Seymour. Posted in X.
He did not appear on the May 10 broadcast and “did not show any outward signs of illness.” KTLA reported the story, citing a colleague.
He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and their four children.
