By SUZETTE LABOY, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Anna Nicole Smith, the voluptuous former Playboy centerfold who married an octogenarian billionaire and waged a legal battle for his fortune all the way to the Supreme Court, died Thursday after collapsing at a hotel. She was 39.
The blond bombshell — who recently became tabloid fodder all over again after the sudden, apparently drug-related death of her 20-year-old son — was stricken while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and was rushed to a hospital.
Edwina Johnson, chief investigator of the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office, said the cause of death was under investigation and an autopsy would be done on Friday.
A private nurse called 911 after finding Smith unresponsive in her sixth-floor room, said Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger. He said Smith's bodyguard administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation about an hour before she was declared dead.
Through the '90s and into the new century, Smith was famous for being famous, a pop-culture punchline because of her up-and-down weight, her exaggerated curves, her little-girl voice, her ditzy-blonde persona, and her over-the-top revealing outfits.
The curvaceous Texas-born Smith was a topless dancer at strip club before she entered her photos in a search contest and made the cover of Playboy magazine in 1992, captivating readers with her Marilyn Monroe looks. She became Playboy's playmate of the year in 1993.
She was also signed to a contract with Guess jeans, appearing in TV commercials, billboards and magazine ads.
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 at age 90, 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. 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 stepson died June 20 at age 67. But the family said the court fight would continue.
More recently, Smith's ballooning figure and up-and-down weight became a subject of public fascination. But she lost a reported 69 pounds and became a spokeswoman for TrimSpa, a weight-loss supplement.
She starred in her own reality TV series, "The Anna Nicole Show," in 2002-04. Cameras followed her around as she sparred with her lawyer, hung out with her personal assistant and interior decorator, and cooed at her poodle, Sugar Pie. She also appeared in movies, performing a bit part in "The Hudsucker Proxy" in 1994.
After news came of Smith's death, G. Eric Brunstad Jr., the lawyer who represented Marshall, said in a statement: "We're very shocked by the news and extend the deepest condolences to her family."
Smith's son, 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. Last month, a Bahamas magistrate scheduled a formal inquiry into the death for March 27.
Meanwhile, the paternity of her now 5-month-old daughter remained a matter of dispute. The birth certificate lists Dannielynn's father as attorney Howard K. Stern, Smith's most recent companion. Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead was waging a legal challenge, saying he was the father.
Debra Opri, the attorney who filed his paternity suit, said Birkhead "is devastated. He is inconsolable, and we are taking steps now to protect the DNA testing of the child. The child is our number one priority."
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.
"From my professional exposure to Anna Nicole, I can say she was always personable, down to earth and driven. All in all, a joy to have as a client," said Wayne Munroe, her Bahamian lawyer who has overseen the aftermath of her son's mysterious death in Nassau.
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BREAKING NEWS! ANNA NICOLE SMITH DIES
32 posts
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From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
This is shocking. I just saw this on the news a few mins ago.
Frank
Rumor has it she OD'd on meth.
^ I think it was the TrimSpa turning on her. LOL thats what my mom says. Because just think about it: It says she was having on and off weight gain/loss and sooner or later those pills does have late side effects.
From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
Wah...This is crazy... she's soo young!
ummm 39 is not young
From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
^To die?!
Yeah, that's too young to die. At least in my eyes.
^ that's what he said, 39 I think is a tad too young to die..If she was at least 50 I'd say yeah but... 39? come on..
right thats what i was trying to say really.
From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
 From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
Gosh, reading that story of how screwed up her life was is pretty sad. On that note, let's hope it wasn't suicide or anything. Crazy news, that's for sure, especially since i've stayed in that hotel before...
RIP: Trailblazer and Deja Vu...heck, even Alien Encounter
Fangs Up Cobra Style!!! Chitown's finest resident here!!!!!
Interesting.... everyone who comes in contact with that old guy she married's money dies. His son. Her son. Him. Now her....
I smells a curse. Every jumbled pile of person has a thinking part that wonders what the part that isn't thinking, isn't thinking of.
They are saying she choked on her own vomit, and they found illegal substances/prescriptions in her hotel room.
WHAT!!!
 Thats crazyFrom being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
Sounds like Jimmi Hendrix if i remember correctly.
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
^Only Jimmi Hendrix died a well respected man to some degree.
RIP: Trailblazer and Deja Vu...heck, even Alien Encounter
Fangs Up Cobra Style!!! Chitown's finest resident here!!!!!
I don't see why this is such a big deal. While hundreds of soldiers die in Iraq for a CAUSE, they hardly get any grief and/or notice. And now a porn star dies who people barley know, and its the biggest deal in the world! Yesterday, internet hits were the HEIGHEST in the last 5 years over this issue. BULL SHIT!!!! I don't see what the big deal is.
Now don't think i'm cold hearted, i'm sorry she died at such a young age but i have the feeling the autopsey (sp) will show it was her own fault. Again, this whold Anna Nicole Smith dies thing is B-U-L-L S-H-I-T
Yeah because unless a person tries to get the Nobel peace prize their death is meaningless.
Her life was pretty messed up. Even in the last five months, she had a new baby, her older son dies the next day, then a paternity battle breaks out over who is the father of her baby....not to mention the J Howard Marshall thing back int he 90s. Though this will sound mean, I personally thought she wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.
Yes it is too young to die. i agree. Let her rest in peace. They reported today that there were no traces of illegal drugs in her system. While there are no traces, that still could have been a factor. They did find traces of perscription drugs in her system though. I think it might have been a suicide with all that has happened to her in the last five months. All the reports have said she hasn't gotten over the death of her son, and with all this paternity stuff going on, maybe she just wanted out. I just hope somebody good will take over this baby. Not the weirdo Howard. I think he has something to do with this. Most of these people i think only want the baby for the money that baby has inherited. The baby's worth hundreds of millions of dollars now. I feel really bad for the baby. 2006 visits: 20
2007 visits: 17 2008 visits: 3
Pretty much. this is a signature
I'm telling you, the money is cursed.
Every jumbled pile of person has a thinking part that wonders what the part that isn't thinking, isn't thinking of.
so far from what i just heard, they say they found perscription drugs in her room but none found in her stomach. Scary isn't it? And the investigation may take up to 5 weeks to get the final results. And they are gonna talk to the Nurse to see exactly what happened.
From being one of the class geeks in 8th grade to one of the most noticable ones in High School. Thats what you call "Steppin Yo Game Up!"
I agree with this rant completely! But what can you do, it's just one of the wonders of hollywood and being famous.  RIP: Trailblazer and Deja Vu...heck, even Alien Encounter
Fangs Up Cobra Style!!! Chitown's finest resident here!!!!!
32 posts
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