HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Anna Nicole Smith, the former Playboy playmate whose bizarre life careened from marrying an octogenarian billionaire to the untimely death of her son, died Thursday after collapsing at a South Florida hotel, one of her lawyers said.
Smith, 39, collapsed and was unresponsive while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino, said the attorney, Ron Rale. She was rushed to a hospital.
"She checked in Monday at 8 p.m. as a guest. She was due to check out tomorrow," said Danielle Giordaano, a spokeswoman for the hotel.
Smith had been a tabloid staple even before she became Playboy's playmate of the year in 1993. Readers were fascinated by her bombshell good looks, her marriage to an elderly billionaire and subsequent court fight over his estate, her weight fluctuations, and last year, the sudden death of her 20-year-old son, Daniel Smith.
A former topless dancer, she made her name squeezing into Guess jeans. She resembled the late actress Marilyn Monroe, a similarity played up in her Guess magazine ads, billboards and department store displays.
In 1994, she married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, the head of oil-based Koch Industries, which is part of a family fortune worth at least $400 million.
He died in 1995, setting off a feud with her former stepson, E. Pierce Marshall, over whether she had a right to his estate.
A federal court in California awarded Smith $474 million in a complicated legal twist that began after she declared bankruptcy. That was later overturned.
But in May, the U.S. Supreme Court revived her case, ruling that she deserved another day in court in her battle with her former stepson.
The justices said only that federal courts in California could deal with her case despite a Texas state court ruling that Marshall was the sole heir to the estate.
Then, the stepson died June 20 at age 67. But the family said the court fight would continue.
Daniel Smith died Sept. 10 in his mother's hospital room in the Bahamas, just days after she gave birth to a daughter.
An American medical examiner hired by the family, Cyril Wecht, said he had methadone and two antidepressants in his system when he died. Low levels of the three drugs interacted to cause an accidental death, Wecht said.
Meanwhile, the paternity of her now 5-month-old daughter remained a matter of dispute.
She was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on Nov. 28, 1967, in Houston, one of six children of Donald Eugene and Virgie Hart Hogan.
She married Bill Smith in 1985, giving birth to Daniel before divorcing two years later.
Posts: 13440 | Registered: Feb 2006
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didn't she admit to taking those weight loss pills or something? Also her speech was always so slurry, gosh who knows what happened... I feel sorry for her new daughter, guess the paternity test is getting more and more urgent... I have a feeling her ex step son E. Pierce Marshall isn't in tears quite yet~
Posts: 13440 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
The worst part is that she has left behind a little daughter that will never know her mother or her brother. It's too bad she (Anna Nicole) couldn't have pulled her life together to make it right with second child.
Posts: 820 | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
she's still deeply depressed that her son just died.... maybe that killed her
Posts: 3128 | From: Not Your Heaven | Registered: Sep 2006
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I agree with you Sheba 76, that girl was a train wreck. She obviously was messed up on drugs a lot and so was her son. I don't wish death upon anyone, but I think it may be best for her daughter to be raised by the father.
Posts: 333 | From: USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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it shows is money so important, noooooooooooooooooooo being happy yesssssssssssssssss
Posts: 4476 | From: Scotland | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by With a name like Smuckers: yes Fairy, but WHO is the father, that's the big mystery....
I guess we will find out. Personally I think it might be the guy suing her......Something Birkhead. They were playing taped phone conversations he had secretly made last night on ET and he was asking if she got the things he sent the baby for Christmas and she was saying they were beautiful. She has also denied they were in a relationship, but he has produced all kinds of kissy/huggy photos and her saying on the phone that he was the one who walked away when they had a fight. I don't really care though, I think either man in the running so far would do better at parenting than her........but with her history there could be even more contenders......especially with the baby being the only heir to the money she may finally get from being married to the old oil tycoon that died.
Posts: 333 | From: USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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wow, that is sad. i was listening to the radio earlier today and they had said that she had collapsed and was in the hospital, but she wasnt dead then.
i thought about those weight loss pills too- seriously, this is going to be bad buisness for Trim Spa.
Posts: 1967 | From: USA | Registered: Oct 2006
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well... I hate to talk smack about the dead... But she was a huge Pill head.. and she raised her son seeing this. Hence why he died of a Drug overdose.. and soon we will hear about her Candy of choice too... It is sad.
Posts: 431 | From: beantown | Registered: Nov 2006
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Her five-month-old daughter has to grow up now without her mother....
I think she was depressive...... How would any mother get over the fact to give birth to a new baby and just looses her older son three days later on?!
RIP, Anna, how sorry I am. Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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I was just thinking it might be post partum depression. She didn't seem like the most emotionally-stable person in the first place, lots of highs and lows.
Posts: 8794 | From: 01-20-09 The End of an Error | Registered: Dec 2004
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All that money and fame just doesnt make people happy, i cant belive this news, she was so beautiful,, how can she of been so depressed, sounds just like Marylin Monroe
posted
Yes, her early death will make her a legend just like MM. I mean look at Anna's biography basically from being a waitress and working later as a stripper, becoming a Playmate, marrying a billionaire, being a worldwide TV celebrity ......
A movie about Anna will follow shortly.
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
All that money and fame just doesnt make people happy, i cant belive this news, she was so beautiful,, how can she of been so depressed, sounds just like Marylin Monroe
posted
Anna Nicole Smith will NEVER be a legend or compare to the likes of Marilyn Monroe. She was a crack-head. Just because someone dies doesn't make them a good person. But I am sorry she is dead and for her daughter.
Posts: 1879 | From: Going to Graceland | Registered: Nov 2006
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No surprise. She took more drugs then any rock star and washed it down with Whiskey. They say she choked on her own vomit like Jimi Hendrix.
heard the news on MSNBC where Rita Cosby was reporting. What's up with Rita? Her voice is aweful. Sounds like a little man is stuck in her throat trying climb out while someone else is pinching her nose.
Posts: 3595 | From: Moved To Mars. Waiting with shotgun | Registered: Dec 2006
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So this is what it takes to knock the story off the front page about the psycho diaper-wearing astronaut stalker chick.
Posts: 8794 | From: 01-20-09 The End of an Error | Registered: Dec 2004
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Whatever they say about Anna Nicole is heresay who really knows? The media is like a snake and spreads venom sometimes. I liked her...She was devastated at the loss of her son....I am a mother so I can relate to that. Yeah she did what she did and had her life style but who are we to judge her? May she rest in peace. By the way, her step-son died also, the tycoon's son so maybe that money will go to a good cause or sit and rot.............I doubt it because the family of the step-son was going to fight her also but that's another story. I was looking at some of her pictures posted and there is a couple of them with her son and it just broke my heart. It is desvasting to lose a loved one yet more when it is your own child....
Posts: 446 | From: USA | Registered: Dec 2006
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Im just jealous of the guy who had both her and her son in the "Dead pool" in Vegas. What are those odds and payoff like? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_pool
I am sad for her, but think that she wasn't intellectually prepared to deal with the cult of celebrity, and at the same time was addicted to it.
Posts: 1071 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I am sad for her, but think that she wasn't intellectually prepared to deal with the cult of celebrity, and at the same time was addicted to it.
Many people in the celebrity world are having a tough time dealing with their special status. You only hear a small amount of what's going on - thanks god not everything.
I must say that Anna Nicole's death was on my mind today the whole time; possibly I feel very sorry for her personal life, she just lost a son and now her baby daughter has to grow up without her. This is so much tragic within a couple of months.
I've just seen about two weeks ago in a celebrity magazine a picture showing her with two big tatoos on her back; on one shoulder the face of her son and on the other her little daughter.
And I am just wondering how fast things can come to an end......
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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Well I hope they come to a quick end..And her mother this morning oh my god, her comments about her own daughter you can tell she didn't know her at alllll...She probably just wants part of that money........
Posts: 446 | From: USA | Registered: Dec 2006
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However she was stupid like 5 pounds of nails, her death made me sad somehow... I guess untimely death reminds us of our own... lack of immortality. I am sure her girl is better off without her, but what the heck, wish her peace and more luck wherever she went. She had a sad life after all.
Ps. If I was to compare her to anything it would not be Monroe (however they both hang on the same IQ level) but the Trailer Trash Classic.
Posts: 2238 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Jun 2004
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Well, atleast the baby girl gets to inherit alot of money to give her good upbringing & education & hopefully a secured life..... wishful thinking
-------------------- Femme Fatale Posts: 3128 | From: Not Your Heaven | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by *The Dark Angel* aka CAT: Well, atleast the baby girl gets to inherit alot of money to give her good upbringing & education & hopefully a secured life..... wishful thinking
I really hope so, however, the Old Gizzard's folks did not give up their end of the bone for Anna Nicole: they may not give up for the "bastard" now... Sad.
Posts: 2238 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Jun 2004
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her death made me sad somehow... I guess untimely death reminds us of our own... lack of immortality.
That thought came to me when i first heard it yesterday & it made me sad until now
Sudden deaths scare me
I never thought I'd feel anything about Anna nicole when she dies but actually I'm so depressed
Posts: 3128 | From: Not Your Heaven | Registered: Sep 2006
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I said yesterday there would be others claiming to be the father of her baby and we got a new one today. Now Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband is claiming he is the father and that he and Anna were having an affair since the '90s!
Posts: 333 | From: USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by FairyDust: I said yesterday there would be others claiming to be the father of her baby and we got a new one today. Now Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband is claiming he is the father and that he and Anna were having an affair since the '90s!
OMG, this is so embarrassing!!!
What is her daughter going to think one day when she's getting to know all the details? I just hope she grows up safely, gets great education - and stays out off the showbizz!!!
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by young at heart: How sick is it that her last moments were filmed and sold
Video sold of battle to save Anna Nicole Smith
Grainy video footage of paramedics working on the unresponsive body of Anna Nicole Smith turned up on the Internet and on German television on Friday a day after the sudden death of the former Playboy model in Florida.
The brief video, shot by the Los Angeles-based Splash News and Picture Agency, captures Smith being wheeled on a stretcher on Thursday from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Paramedics can be seen pumping her body as she is lifted on to an ambulance. One paramedic is seen operating an oxygen pump. She was pronounced dead in the hospital but the cause is yet to be determined.
Splash said it had sold the rights for $500,000 to a buyer it declined to identify. The footage showed up on several Internet sites and on German's RTL TV channel.
Splash news editor Paul Tetley said he expected the footage to eventually fetch about $1 million.
"The first rights deal was for $500,000. It is a piece of footage that will continue to play and play because it was a moment of history," he said in a telephone interview.
Tetley defended the selling of the footage. "It captures the vain battle to save her life. People want to know what happened," he said.
"It was good journalism. We knew where she was staying, we sent in a team of photographers and cameras and we were in the right place at the right time," he said.
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