American TV icon, entertainment reporter Sam Rubin dies
A beloved and long-time reporter for the Today show has unexpectedly died at the age of 64.
Entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin suffered a heart attack at his Los Angeles home on Friday.
The TV star also worked for LA station KTLA and his colleagues confirmed his tragic passing in an emotional tribute live on air.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“We have some news from the KTLA family which is shocking and hard to comprehend at the moment, we have the profoundly sad duty to report that our friend and colleague Sam Rubin has died,” Frank Buckley said.
“Our hearts, as you can imagine, our broken.”
Speaking through tears, Buckley said “his laugh, charm and caring personality” will be remembered by all that knew him.
Aussie entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins said Rubin was the Today show’s “go-to guy”.
“The entertainment world has really lost one of its greatest colleagues and dear friends today,” Wilkins said on Weekend Today.
“For the last 20-odd years he’s been a member of our family, mainly through the Today show and Today Extra … but whenever the big stories broke, Sam was our go-to guy.
“And those beautiful people that he works with, they will be absolutely gutted today, obviously he brought this immense knowledge of the entertainment industry, but he brought this immense warmth as well.”
Popular TV host Karl Stefanovic also paid tribute to the entertainment icon on Instagram.
“I absolutely adored every second with @samontv on air and off over the past two decades.” he wrote alongside a picture of himself and Rubin in the LA studio.
“His spirit. His laugh. His warm caring nature. He was a beautiful man. What a loss. All our love to his family. And to his tv family at @ktla5news @ktla_entertainment.”
Today show host Sylvia Jeffreys said she was “devastated” about the news.
“This is devastating. Sam was such a loved member of our team; passionate about his work and unfailingly cheerful,” she wrote on her Instagram stories.
“He often spoke of his wife and children to us in the ad breaks — sending deep love and condolences to them all.”
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, comedian Kathy Griffin, entertainment reporter Ryan Seacrest and musician Rick Springfield also shared heartfelt tributes on Twitter.
He leaves behind his wife Leslie and four children
Originally published on The Nightly
