Music Producer David Gest Dies in London at 62

Music Producer David Gest Dies in London at 62
In this Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007 file photo, U.S. music producer David Gest poses with some of his collection of entertainment memorabilia at an auction house in London. Music producer David Gest, ex-husband of Liza Minnelli, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 62. AP Photo/Sang Tan, file
The Associated Press
Updated:

LONDON—David Gest, a music producer, reality TV star and former husband of Liza Minnelli, was found dead Tuesday at a London hotel. He was 62.

Gest’s friend Imad Handi confirmed his death, remembering Gest as “a natural star and a genuine celebrity.”

“David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon,” Handi said.

Producer David Gest arrives for the European Premiere of Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon, at a central London cinema, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
Producer David Gest arrives for the European Premiere of Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon, at a central London cinema, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. AP Photo/Joel Ryan

The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called to “reports of an unexplained death of a man in his 60s” at the Four Seasons Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning.

The force said an autopsy would take place “in due course” to determine the cause of death, but it was not being treated as suspicious.

Producer David Gest embraces singer Martha Reeves as they arrive for the European Premiere of Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon, at a central London cinema, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
Producer David Gest embraces singer Martha Reeves as they arrive for the European Premiere of Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon, at a central London cinema, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Born in 1953, Gest was raised in southern California, where he became friends with Michael Jackson and his family. He worked as a music promoter and television producer, and was introduced to Minnelli by Jackson when Gest produced the King of Pop’s 30th anniversary tribute concert for television in 2001.

The couple married in 2002, at a celebrity-studded ceremony with Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honor.

U.S. music producer David Gest poses with one of his collection of entertainment memorabilia, a Gold Record of 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' by the Rolling Stones, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation Gold singles and albums, amongst them are The Beatles songs Yellow Submarine, Help! and Penny Lane as well as The Doors' Light My Fire. The latter were previously Jim Morrison's personal copies. The collection is to be auctioned on Dec. 5 in London. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
U.S. music producer David Gest poses with one of his collection of entertainment memorabilia, a Gold Record of 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' by the Rolling Stones, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation Gold singles and albums, amongst them are The Beatles songs Yellow Submarine, Help! and Penny Lane as well as The Doors' Light My Fire. The latter were previously Jim Morrison's personal copies. The collection is to be auctioned on Dec. 5 in London. AP Photo/Sang Tan

They separated in a burst of headline-grabbing acrimony in 2003. Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging that she beat him so badly during alcoholic rages that he suffered permanent injuries. Minnelli struck back with a $2 million suit claiming Gest had stolen money from her.

The pair ended their dispute in 2007 when their lawyers filed court papers saying they had settled their differences and agreed to divorce without fault.

U.S. music producer David Gest gestures as he poses with some of his collection of entertainment memorabilia at an auction house in London, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation Gold singles and albums, amongst them are The Beatles songs Yellow Submarine, Help! and Penny Lane as well as the Rolling Stones' I Can't Get No Satisfaction and The Doors' Light My Fire. The latter were previously Jim Morrison's personal copies. The collection is to be auctioned on Dec. 5 in London. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
U.S. music producer David Gest gestures as he poses with some of his collection of entertainment memorabilia at an auction house in London, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation Gold singles and albums, amongst them are The Beatles songs Yellow Submarine, Help! and Penny Lane as well as the Rolling Stones' I Can't Get No Satisfaction and The Doors' Light My Fire. The latter were previously Jim Morrison's personal copies. The collection is to be auctioned on Dec. 5 in London. AP Photo/Sang Tan

Gest remained a friend of Jackson and after the singer’s death in 2009 produced a documentary, “Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon.”

Gest gained a following in Britain with appearances on reality TV shows including “I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here” in 2006 and “Celebrity Big Brother” earlier this year. He had to leave the latter in January after two weeks on medical grounds.

Producer David Gest, left, estranged husband of entertainer Liza Minnelli, arrives with an unidentified woman for the funeral of music legend Ray Charles at the First AME Church in Los Angeles, Friday, June 18, 2004. Charles died last week at 73. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Producer David Gest, left, estranged husband of entertainer Liza Minnelli, arrives with an unidentified woman for the funeral of music legend Ray Charles at the First AME Church in Los Angeles, Friday, June 18, 2004. Charles died last week at 73. AP Photo/Chris Carlson

His upbeat personality and frankness endeared him to British viewers. Gest told a British TV show he regretted having plastic surgery in the 1980s, from the same doctor as Michael Jackson.

“What an idiot I was. ... It’s the stupidest thing in the world,” he said.

Liza Minnelli and husband David Gest arrive at the Dorchester Hotel for Gest's 50th birthday party, London, Friday May 9, 2003. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Liza Minnelli and husband David Gest arrive at the Dorchester Hotel for Gest's 50th birthday party, London, Friday May 9, 2003. AP Photo/Sang Tan

He settled far from the bright lights of showbiz, buying a house in the northern English city of York. He told the Yorkshire Post newspaper in 2014 that he loved the city’s cathedral, cobblestone streets, Viking history and famous York Hog Roast.

“I don’t look at celebrity the way others look at it,” he said. “I’m down to earth.”

Actress/singer Liza Minnelli, right, gazes at her husband, producer David Gest, as they are interviewed about their new weekly VH1 musical reality series, "Liza And David," in Los Angeles, on July 25, 2002. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson)
Actress/singer Liza Minnelli, right, gazes at her husband, producer David Gest, as they are interviewed about their new weekly VH1 musical reality series, "Liza And David," in Los Angeles, on July 25, 2002. AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson

During his stint on “Celebrity Big Brother,” fellow contestant Tiffany Pollard misheard news of David Bowie’s death and told cast mates that Gest had died.

The incident inspired the title of a musical show, featuring Gest and a roster of soul musicians, that was due to tour Britain this summer: David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive With Soul.

In this Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002 file photo, Liza Minnelli, right, and her husband David Gest, left, pose for photographers upon their arrival at the musical theatre "Neue Flora" in Hamburg, northern Germany. Music producer David Gest, ex-husband of Liza Minnelli, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 62. (AP Photo/Christof Stache, file)
In this Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002 file photo, Liza Minnelli, right, and her husband David Gest, left, pose for photographers upon their arrival at the musical theatre "Neue Flora" in Hamburg, northern Germany. Music producer David Gest, ex-husband of Liza Minnelli, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 62. AP Photo/Christof Stache, file