Beloved entertainment journalist Sam Rubin suffered a fatal heart attack in May after being hospitalized, a coroner’s report revealed Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Hollywood reporter’s death was ruled “ischemic heart disease due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Tuesday.
His death was considered a natural one.
Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease is defined as a fatal heart condition that occurs due to insufficient blood and oxygen flowing to the heart.
Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Worldwide, approximately 126 million people suffer from the disease, and nine million people die from it.
Men are affected more often than women.
The KTLA personality had gone to a local hospital on the morning of May 10 with stomach pain after calling 911 on the advice of his doctors.
He was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 11:03 a.m., the coroner said.
An autopsy was performed on May 13, and the lead investigator’s full report is expected to be released later this week.
Rubin, a founding member of the Broadcast Film Critics’ Association, received several awards during his career.
In 1991, he joined KTLA and was the daily host of the entertainment program for over thirty years.
In 2013, he was honored with the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s annual Impact Award for outstanding integrity in broadcast journalism.
Rubin also received the Golden Mic 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 also written two biographies, one about former first lady Jackie Onassis and another about actress and activist Mia Farrow, KCAL reports.
Rubin’s last appearance was on May 9, the day before his death. He spoke with actress Jane Seymour. He posted an interview on X.
He did not appear on the May 10 broadcast and “showed no outward signs of illness,” KTLA reported, citing colleagues.
He is survived by his wife Leslie and their four children.