Liza Minelli’s Ex-Husband Found Dead in Luxury London Hotel

Happier Times: David Gest and Liza Minnelli together in 2002, the year they were married. Image by Getty Images

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(JTA) — David Gest, an American Jewish reality television star and the ex-husband of actress Liza Minnelli was found dead in a five-star London hotel.

Police and paramedics were called to the luxury Four Seasons Hotel early on Tuesday to find the 62-year-old’s body, The Sun, a British tabloid, reported.

The former contestant on Britain’s “Celebrity Big Brother” show and Minnelli married in 2002, but separated after a year. However, the two officially divorced only in 2007.

Gest, who was born in Los Angeles and became a music producer, had been due to tour the United Kingdom in a musical show called David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive with Soul, starting in York on July 1. He was also known for being a close friend of the late Michael Jackson.

According to The Sun, a British tabloid, his company, David Gest Limited, accumulated a $500,000 debt after he became addicted to gambling in his final months.