Entertainer, producer and reality television star David Gest has died at the age of 62. A statement by the American star’s friend confirmed the news on Tuesday (April 12th).

Gest was discovered dead in his hotel room at the Four Seasons in Canary Wharf, London. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but police do not believe that there are any suspicious circumstances. The star was known to have long-term health problems with respiration, which had forced him to quit the ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ house three months ago.

Describing him as a “huge talent”, his friend and former bodyguard Imad Handi released a short statement on Tuesday that read: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that David Gest has died today.”

David GestDavid Gest has died at the age of 62

Gest was probably best-known for being the estranged husband of Liza Minnelli, to whom he was married, at least formally, between 2002 and 2007. However, he made his name in the entertainment industry in America, producing one of the highest-rated music TV special in the country’s history with 2001’s ‘Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration’.

He had planned to tour the UK in July with a variety show called ‘David Gest is Not Dead but Alive with Soul Tour!’, named after the rather gruesome controversy in the ‘CBB’ house when an idiotic fellow housemate thought that Gest – who was ill in bed with tonsillitis – had died after it was announced that David Bowie had died.

Handi’s statement continued: “David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon. I know he will be missed by millions of fans around the world, and particularly in Britain, who came to love his charm and blistering one-liners. If I may steal the words of one eminent critic, David was a natural star and a genuine celebrity. I will miss him desperately.”

London Metropolitan Police issued a statement shortly afterwards. “Police were called at 10:17am on Tuesday 12 April to the Four Seasons hotel, in Westferry Circus to reports of an unexplained death of a man in his 60s. London Ambulance Service were called to the scene. Life was pronounced extinct at the hotel. A post-mortem will be held in due course. Next of kin are in the process of being informed.”

More: David Gest departs ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ house for “medical reasons”