Joan Collins, 85, shares tribute for ‘wonderful’ Robin Leach of Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous

Joan Collins shared a touching tribute after Robin Leach died at the age of 76 in Las Vegas on Friday.

The 85-year-old Dynasty star had worked with the journalist in the 1980s when she appeared on his TV show Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous.

The British beauty posted an old black-and-white photo of them side by side with the caption, ‘So sad to hear about the death of the wonderful broadcaster and media personality #robinleach.’

She will miss him: Joan Collins shared a touching tribute after Robin Leach died at the age of 76 on Friday

Joan Collins on his show in the late 80s

Joan Collins on his show in the late 80s

The movie star added, ‘He was the life of the party and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was a great show that placed him indelibly in showbiz history.’

The two often dined together in London and had mutual freiends.

Leach’s show epitomized Eighties decadence.

Lynda Carter of Wonder Woman and Stefanie Powers of Hart To Hart were features on the show.

The series ran from 1984 until 1995.

Leach passed away Friday morning in Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

He had been hospitalized since November after suffering a stroke while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

No one can forget this show: Collins is best known for playing Alexis in Dynasty

No one can forget this show: Collins is best known for playing Alexis in Dynasty

Leach had been in hospice care after suffering a second stroke on Monday, the paper added.

The show ran from 1984 until 1995

The show ran from 1984 until 1995

‘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,’ the family said in a statement shared on Friday.

The family added, ‘Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. 

‘Memorial arrangements to follow. With love, Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach.’ 

He will be forever known for his show Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, on which he signed off, ‘Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.’

The personality also appeared on the  reality TV shows Celebrity Wife Swap, Holly’s World, The Surreal Life: Fame Games and I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

He most recently appeared on an episode of VICELAND’s Most Expensivest with rapper 2 Chainz.

Leach had said he knew he wanted to be a journalist when he was just 10 years old. 

When at Harrow County School for Boys, he began reported for The Harrow Observer.

Stars flocked to him: With Morgan Fairchild with her sister Cathryn Hartt at a club in St Tropez, France in 1986

Stars flocked to him: With Morgan Fairchild with her sister Cathryn Hartt at a club in St Tropez, France in 1986

He had a way with celebrities: The journalist, who used to work at the Daily Mail, posed here with Ivana Trump in 1990 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City

He had a way with celebrities: The journalist, who used to work at the Daily Mail, posed here with Ivana Trump in 1990 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City

He got along with the Trumps: Here he is seen with Trump in 1993

He got along with the Trumps: Here he is seen with Trump in 1993

The good life: Here he is seen with Cecilia Nord at the launch party for The Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous Cookbook in 1992  in New York City

The good life: Here he is seen with Cecilia Nord at the launch party for The Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous Cookbook in 1992 in New York City

The paper hired him when he was only 15-years-old.

Later, he left to work at the Daily Mail, where he became the publication’s youngest Page One editor at age 18.

In 1963 he moved to New York City where he wrote for the New York Daily News.

He also started interviewing celebrities for People magazine and became friends with Morgan Fairchild as well as Donald Trump’s ex-wife Ivana Trump.  

In the Eighties he moved on to TV working for CNN and then Entertainment Tonight. 

And in 1984 he created Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, which he starred in and produced. It was one of the first shows to go inside celebrity homes and get a good look at their over-the-top worlds.

Many have said his show opened the door for reality TV. 

Another icon: In 2004 he posted with Hugh Hefner of Playboy as well as Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt

Another icon: In 2004 he posted with Hugh Hefner of Playboy as well as Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt

Another fun photo: Robin posed with Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Scott Disick in Vegas in March  2017 at Sugar Factory

Another fun photo: Robin posed with Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Scott Disick in Vegas in March  2017 at Sugar Factory

They clicked: The icon with Simple Life vet turned DJ Paris Hilton in Vegas in 2008

They clicked: The icon with Simple Life vet turned DJ Paris Hilton in Vegas in 2008

And Leach seemed to know that fans loved the glitz of it all. ‘The more eye-popping and outrageous, the better. 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 told AskMen.

The show made Leach into a household name and it helped him land roles in movies such as 1989’s She-Devil, 2016’s Spring Broke and 2006’s Maxed Out.

He was last seen on TV in 2017 with the show Great News. 

Leach also wrote the books The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Cookbook: Recipes and Entertaining Secrets from the Most Extraordinary People in the World.

He took to Sin City: Leach worked in Las Vegas starting in 1999. Here is one of the last photos of him from May 2017 with Jennifer Romas

He took to Sin City: Leach worked in Las Vegas starting in 1999. Here is one of the last photos of him from May 2017 with Jennifer Romas

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk