Hollywood producer found dead in Beverly Hills mansion son of billionaire investor
The 27-year-old had roles in a couple of Hollywood films but was best known for being the son of billionaire investor Ron Burkle.
The 27-year-old son of billionaire tycoon Ron Burkle has been found dead in his Beverly Hills home.
The body of Andrew Burkle, who helped run a Hollywood production company, was discovered by authorities on Monday evening at his apartment, People reported.
Police received a call at 7.26pm for an “unconscious male’’ at the address, and responding officers found the body, the outlet said. Officials believe that Andrew died hours earlier, a source told People.
His cause of death was not immediately known. Andrew’s famous 67-year-old investor father rushed to the scene and was there with police as they investigated, People said.
“It is with the deepest regret and sadness that we announce the death of Andrew C. Burkle on January 6, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California,” the family said in a statement. “He is deeply loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.”
The loved ones requested the “privacy of the family be respected during this difficult time”.
Ron Burkle founded the private equity firm Yucaipa Companies and is co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team.
He and his son shared a love of the sport.
In a touching Instagram tribute to his dad for Father’s Day in 2018, Andrew posted a photo of the two of them plus his brother John after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup the year before, writing, “It’s hard to find words to describe my dad, but here goes.
“He is one of the smartest people in the world, he’s kind, loving, and incredibly generous.”
The account was made private after Andrew’s death.
Other online postings appeared to show that the young man – who grew up surrounded by his dad’s famous friends, including Bill and Hillary Clinton – had just enjoyed a joyous holiday season.
Andrew spent Christmas with his family, posting a photo on Instagram on December 25 of him in front of a Christmas tree hugging a young girl, apparently a relative, People said.
“Merry Christmas from me and the munchkin! 2nd year of this photo, definitely a tradition now,” Andrew wrote.
A few weeks earlier, on December 2, he celebrated his birthday.
At the time, his brother John posted an online slide show of photos of the two of them at a racetrack, People said.
“Sometimes we slide cars around tracks and try to look really cool doing it. Great way to celebrate my bro’s Birthday,” John Burkle wrote.
Andrew was a producer with In Good Company Films, and his IMDB account said he made the 2019 movie Airplane Mode. The plot, according to IMDB, was “Horny American teenagers fly to Australia for sex at the social media convention in Sydney. Will Logan survive his fear of flying? Will the pilots survive passengers not using aeroplane mode? Will anyone survive?”
Andrew also appeared as “boy on slide’’ in the 1998 flick Breakfast with Einstein, which IMDB said: “When Albert Einstein puts his mind into a dogs body, he becomes the new under dog. He certainly shows who’s boss …”
Forbes estimated the fortune of Andrew’s dad at $1.5 billion and said the mogul had invested in companies such as Uber.
Andrew is survived by his father and his mother, Janet Duitson, as well as his brother and sister Carrie Harr.
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission