Russell Armstrong Dead: 'Real Housewives' Taylor Armstrong's Husband Commits Suicide: Report

UPDATE: People has obtained the following statement from Armstrong's rep: "Taylor Armstrong is devasted [sic] by the tragic events that have unfolded. She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter."

AP Text:

LOS ANGELES -- The estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong has been found dead in his Los Angeles home.

Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Ed Winter says 47-year-old Russell Armstrong was pronounced dead at 8:16 p.m. Monday in a home on Mulholland Drive.

Death was caused by hanging and Winter says a suicide note hasn't been found.

Russell Armstrong was an investment banker and venture capitalist.

His publicist, Rebekah Iliff, says he's the founding managing director of Crescent Financial Partners. She also confirms Armstrong and his wife were in the midst of a divorce.

Sources tell TMZ that Armstrong hanged himself in an apparent suicide.

The Bravo family responds:

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Andy Cohen

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@BravoAndy
Andy Cohen

I am so very sad about today\'s news. My prayers and thoughts are with Taylor Armstrong and her family.

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Watch a clip of Russell on the show:

Death was caused by hanging and Winter says a suicide note hasn't been found.

Bravo, which airs the reality series, issued a statement Tuesday saying, "All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time."

Russell Armstrong was an investment banker and venture capitalist.

His publicist, Rebekah Iliff, says he's the founding managing director of Crescent Financial Partners. She also confirms Armstrong and his wife were in the midst of a divorce.

The death was first reported by TMZ.com.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Comments

[blindhog]

07:54 PM on 09/22/2011

Any man who calls their child a dog is not a man ANYONE should ever marry.

[Pamwings]

02:56 PM on 09/06/2011

The death was handled tastefully in the new season intro. Suicide is a violent act, and all of the friends of Taylor were affected in their own ways. This was definitely reality, not "reality". Ken's doltish comments about therapy were just the tip of the iceberg of what Taylor has had to deal with. See my blog: "Has Reality TV Gone Too Far: The Russell Armstrong Suicide" at http://open.salon.com/blog/pam_malone.

[capella8888]

04:11 AM on 08/20/2011

I dont think he committed suicide because of the show. I think it is because of a culmination of so many things including the recent softness in economy, he felt the double whamming of divorce, financial problem and everything that comes in between. Capella Campomayor of New York

[myrtlesus]

10:46 PM on 08/19/2011

Why would anyone watch these types of shows? I've never seen one - I'm too busy living my own life. Take all the "reality" shows off the air and get some actors, writers and producers employed again. Seems like the real losers of the world end up on TV making fools of themselves - all for a paycheck. Now it cost this poor man his life. Wake up! Turn off the TV channels that promote junk TV. Read a book, take a walk, phone a friend. Stop watching trash on the tube.

[jankay777]

10:40 PM on 08/19/2011

To Jgalejohns- (((((Hugs)))))).
It hurts to grieve, I know, I'm doing that right now myself. We must let ourselves go through the hurt feelings, that is how we work through our grief. I'm happy for you that you have someone living with you that you love, this will certainly help, having an understanding person that is close to you, so please cherish the relationship. I am so sorry for your loss, believe me I know the ache that is in your stomach and in your heart. You will make it through this, keep the good memories.

[jankay777]

10:33 PM on 08/19/2011

To russelltrust: Double shame on you- We should never wish for someone to take their own life. That is very very harsh.

[jankay777]

10:27 PM on 08/19/2011

I have never watched the show but I always sympathise with families who have lost a loved one in this manner. It's very very sad. He may have given some signals that he was very depressed and wanted to take his life, did no one notice anything strange lately? I wish with all my heart that he would have seeked professional help. As much as he loved his little daughter it's a terrible shame that she will now be without the Father that she loves knowing how much love he had for her. My sympathies go out to all of his family.

[zomema8]

12:32 PM on 08/19/2011

the two faces of Russell. when forced to interact on camera with wife and other "housewives" and their husbands, Russell looked sad, bored and aloof. But watching Russell spend time with his little girl, the man was transformed. You could see and feel the JOY ,PRIDE, CONFIDENCE, and PURE LOVE He felt for his daughter. Of ALL the "housewife" shows on bravo, it seemed Russell was the only one who was REAL. MY thoughts and Prayers are with His little girl,His Mother, His family and friends.

[IsyFleur]

12:02 PM on 08/19/2011

How sad... I just watched the clip - first time ever I have seen anything from any reality TV show. How humiliating for him. To think even his death is turned into a reality TV Tweet... what kind of society have we created? May his spirit find peace.

[DocTonyNYC]

11:39 AM on 08/19/2011

It really never ceases to amaze me the callousness in posts on a discussion board that is more or less anonymous.

I'm not a big fan of the Housewives shows, or really any reality program like it. What have seen of these shows is that they are full of mostly shallow, vapid women and their equally gross husbands. But, as much as I find the cast members appalling, I would certainly never be hoping that any of them commit suicide, and I wouldn't be celebrating their deaths.

Seriously, if you don't like the shows, don't watch them. If you find yourself getting so emotionally involved that you wish death upon the people in these shows, you might seek professional help.

[Young Park90]

11:35 AM on 08/19/2011

It's So sad- that Russell would lose Hope and the will to live, especially because he was a father. Taylor's televised extravagant birthday party for her daughter was hideously over the top!! Knowing now the financial difficulties the family was having.. $60,000 was Excessive!! It wasn't an expression of love. It was a "look at me" moment. It was 'friendly' competition with co-star Richards and her child's birthday party. Taylor shared her heartwrenching story that she and her mom lived in women's shelters because of domestic violence her mom endured.. It's too bad that Taylor Was the Abuser in her own relationship with her spouse. She's NO Victim. She's Sick! Sick to stand by and then leave her husband in his hour of need. Sick to place the stress of paying for a $60000 birthday party for her 4 year old in his lap. Sick to allow Bravo and her television co-stars to run him through the mud. Shame on you Taylor!! It appeared that he treated you like trash; however, you, Bravo and your housewife friends were the ones making up the trash. That he would die feeling like trash is unconscionable. How Do you Live with Yourself?

[Sixtracks]

10:34 AM on 08/19/2011

From what I've seen of these housewives, it would appear he's in a better place.

[martiniandabotoxchaser]

03:06 AM on 08/19/2011

Condolences should be private - not public displays to gain press time....send a card and stop tweeting.

[huck2512]

12:43 AM on 08/19/2011

I'm so glad that I have no idea who these people are

[jgalejohns]

10:48 PM on 08/18/2011

I did watch a few episodes of this series (Hollywood). What I saw was a couple struggling, and I also witnessed their love and heartache from both of them while their relationship sank. Do not blame either of them for his choice. Unless you've been depressed and suicidal, you don't know. He could have had billions of dollars, their relationship perfect, and still have been depressed enough to have chosen to end his life this way. The bottom line is, we don't know, irregardless that we think we had some insight into their relationship one night at week for a few months, we still don't know the total dynamics of their relationship and I don't feel like anyone has the right to judge them. Depression sucks....pardon my language.