Robin Leach, Host Of 'Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous,' Dead At 76

My husband Michael Caprio with Robin Leach in Las Vegas

Very sad to report that longtime journalist and TV host, Robin Leach, has passed away at the age of 76.

Living here in Las Vegas, my publicist husband Michael (above) became very good friends with Robin over the years as Robin moved here in 1999 and became a mainstay in entertainment journalism.

The Hollywood Reporter recaps his incredible life and career:

Leach had been hospitalized since Nov. 21 after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where Leach worked as a celebrity columnist.

"Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m.," said the family in a statement. "Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow."

The London native gave viewers a glimpse of those with "champagne wishes and caviar dreams" with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, which aired in syndication from 1984-95.

"The more eye-popping and outrageous, the better," Leach told Askmen.com in 2007. "We wanted to make your mouth drop. That was the main effect. One picture was worth a thousand words, so if you had more pictures, the less you would have to say."

He also was an early investor in the Food Network.

Born on Aug. 29, 1941, Leach wrote for The Harrow Observer while he was attending the Harrow County School for Boys, earning $6 a week at the newspaper after he graduated. He went on to become the youngest editor at London's Daily Mail at 18, then wrote for the New York Daily News, Ladies' Home Journal, People and The Star after moving to the U.S. in 1963.

"I wanted no other job than to work in newspapers," he told the Las Vegas Sun in 2011. "I was fascinated by the process of collecting information, talking to people and having the story appear in a paper that would be delivered in your letterbox."

After appearing on CNN and helping to launch the syndicated Entertainment Tonight news show, Leach co-created Lifestyles with producer Al Masini. The program helped usher in the era of celebrity-focused reality series and culture.