LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong has been found dead in what police on Tuesday said appeared to be a suicide.
Venture capitalist Russell Armstrong was found dead on Monday evening at a house on Los Angeles' famous Mulholland Drive, a Los Angeles police spokesman said.
Celebrity website TMZ.com said Armstrong, 47, was found hanging in a bedroom. Police could not confirm details but said Armstrong's death was being treated as an apparent suicide.
Armstrong's wife Taylor filed for divorce in July and her struggle to keep her six year marriage alive was expected to be a key theme in the second season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills", which is due to start on September 5.
Russell Armstrong was hit with a $1.5 million breach of contract lawsuit in July by a company that claimed it hired him to expand its business but alleged he had misused the funds to redecorate the mansion he shared with his wife.
Armstrong's lawyer Ronald Richards told TMZ on Tuesday that Armstrong had huge debt problems, but Richards said he had no idea Armstrong was depressed.
"His credit cards weren't working...He had tremendous financial problems," Richards was quoted as telling TMZ. "He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor."
Taylor Armstrong told People magazine last month that the couple had explosive arguments and accused Russell of pushing and shoving her. Russell Armstrong admitted things had become heated but told People "this (TV) show has literally pushed us to the limit." The couple have one young daughter, Kennedy.
The popular reality show about the lives of rich and pampered women in the Beverly Hills area was filmed over the summer.
"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," the cable TV channel said in a statement.
Fellow "Housewives" cast members were stunned by the news. Camille Grammer, whose divorce from "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer played out over the first season of the TV show, said in a Twitter message, "My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy. My thoughts and prayers are with them."
Danielle Staub. a cast member of the New Jersey version of the TV franchise, said in a Twitter message to Taylor Armstrong "Love and prayers to you and your family. I pray your privacy will be respected in this great time of need!"
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
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