Robin Leach, ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ Host, Dies At 76

Robin Leach, who’s best known for hosting the 1984 television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, died on Friday. He was 76.

ROBIN LEACH DIES AT 76

According to the statement issued by Leach’s family, the London-born journalist passed away at his home in Las Vegas, where he has lived since 1999. Leach is survived by his three sons — Rick, Gregg and Steven — and many grandchildren.

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Back in November, Leach suffered a stroke while vacationing in Mexico. It took him months to recover, requiring him to spend much of that time at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Leach’s column in The Las Vegas Review-Journal, a newspaper that circulates across its namesake city, mentioned that the writer had endured another stroke on Monday.

During his tenure narrating on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Leach and producer Al Masini coined his catchphrase: “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” In the decade Leach hosted the program, he closed every episode by saying it. And, as with many prolific public figures with distinctive voices, he was the focus of many affectionate parodies; Saturday Night Live featured recurring skits throughout the ’80s and ’90s with Harry Shearer and Dana Carvey receptively portraying Leach in each decade.

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In addition to his work on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and The Las Vegas Review-Journal, Leach also contributed to CNN, Entertainment Tonight, People and Britain’s Daily Mail, the latter serving as his professional debut when he was 18.