Beloved entertainment journalist Sam Rubin suffered a fatal heart attack following his hospitalization in May, a coroner’s report revealed Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Hollywood reporter’s death was determined as “ischemic heart disease due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Tuesday.
His death was ruled as natural.
Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is described as a lethal heartbeat due to a lack of blood and oxygen flowing to the heart.
Ischemic heart disease, also known as Coronoary Heart Disease, is classified as a leading cause of death around the world, according to the National Institutes of Health.
About 126 million people are affected by the disease worldwide, with nine million deaths being attributed to it.
Men are more commonly affected than women.
The longtime KTLA personality had gone to a local hospital the morning of May 10 with stomach pain after calling 911 on the advice of his doctors.
He was pronounced dead inside the emergency room at 11:03 a.m. the medical examiner added.
An autopsy was performed on May 13, and the full examiner’s report is expected to be released by the end of the week.
Rubin, a founding member of the Broadcast Film Critics’ Association, received several accolades during his career.
He joined KTLA in 1991 and served as the outlet’s weekday entertainment anchor for over three decades.
In 2013 he was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition, receiving its annual Impact Award for outstanding integrity in broadcast journalism.
Rubin is also a recipient of a Golden Mic award, a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association, and was named the best entertainment reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club.
Apart from his expansive television career, the San Diego native also wrote two biographies, one covering later former first lady Jackie Onassis and another about actress and activist Mia Farrow, according to KCAL.
Rubin’s final show appearance came on May 9, the day before his death, where he talked with actress Jane Seymour, an interview he posted to X.
He did not appear on the broadcast on May 10 and “showed no outward signs of illness,” KTLA said citing coworkers.
He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and their four children.
