KTLA Entertainment Reporter Sam Rubin Dead at 64

Sam Rubin, an entertainment reporter who has been a fixture on Los Angeles’s KTLA since 1991, has died at 64. “Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades,” the station said in a statement confirming the news. “His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most. Our thoughts are with Sam’s family during this difficult time.” A source close to the station later confirmed to Variety that Rubin died of a heart attack at home on Friday after finishing his regular Hollywood segments on the station’s Morning News program.

Born in San Diego in 1960, Rubin eventually became a staple for stars on Hollywood press tours and reported on the inner workings of the industry. He co-founded the Critics Choice Association and has written celebrity biographies about Jackie Kennedy and Mia Farrow. Over the course of his decades-long career, he has been honored with a Golden Mike for Best Entertainment Reporter, a lifetime-achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association, and Best Entertainment Reporter from the Los Angeles Press Club. Rubin is survived by his wife, Leslie, and their four children. In the wake of his death, several celebrities have taken to social media to pay tribute.