Posted on 02/08/2007 1:17:38 PM PST by NormsRevenge
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Anna Nicole Smith, the former Playboy playmate whose bizarre life careened from marrying an octogenarian billionaire to the untimely death of her son, died Thursday after collapsing at a South Florida hotel, one of her lawyers said.
Smith, 39, collapsed and was unresponsive while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino, said the attorney, Ron Rale. She was rushed to a hospital.
"She checked in Monday at 8 p.m. as a guest. She was due to check out tomorrow," said Danielle Giordaano, a spokeswoman for the hotel.
Smith had been a tabloid staple even before she became Playboy's playmate of the year in 1993. Readers were fascinated by her bombshell good looks, her marriage to an elderly billionaire and subsequent court fight over his estate, her weight fluctuations, and last year, the sudden death of her 20-year-old son, Daniel Smith.
A former topless dancer, she made her name squeezing into Guess jeans. She resembled the late actress Marilyn Monroe, a similarity played up in her Guess magazine ads, billboards and department store displays.
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, 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 in a complicated legal twist that began after she declared bankruptcy. 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 justices said only that federal courts in California could deal with her case despite a Texas state court ruling that Marshall was the sole heir to the estate.
Then, the stepson died June 20 at age 67. But the family said the court fight would continue.
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.
Meanwhile, the paternity of her now 5-month-old daughter remained a matter of dispute.
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.
Mother said Marilyn got more publicity than her 'talent' deserved, and I'll say the same to my children about this woman, if they ever ask.
We need Colombo on this.
If she had the same cocktail, seems like murder to me.
Most likely Larry Birkhead.. however, the baby is still in the Bahama's and Howard K Stern signed the Birth Certificate and in the Bahama's the husband is considered the father... this is now one very rich baby and HKS is going to fight to keep from having that paternity test and losing his meal ticket. (sorry to be so blunt).
Apparently she did.
CBS/AP) The Supreme Court ruled Monday that one-time stripper and Playboy magazine Playmate Anna Nicole Smith could pursue part of her late husband's oil fortune.
Justices gave new legal impetus to Smith's bid to collect millions of dollars from the estate of J. Howard Marshall II. Her late husband's estate has been estimated at as much as $1.6 billion.
(Not sure if she ever won anything. ..was still fighting for it. Let me know if I'm wrong.)
Agreed. But how on earth could a court grant her the entire family fortune after being married for just a year. Oh thats right it was a KALIFORNICA COURT! Where logic and sanity have no place.
I heard on the radio she was found unresponsive in a hotel room, and just couldn't figure out why that was news.
We seem to have an abundance of cold SOB's on FR that like to kick 'em when they're down. Smith obviously had her share of personal problems and controversy but doesn't deserve the treatment some are giving her here. I hope she finds the peace she deserves in the next life that she didn't find in this world. Terribly sad. RIP.
you are exactly right.
Exactly - this will get even uglier now.
Most likely that baby hasn't had a mother since the day Daniel died at the hospital. Everything I've ever read since indicated she was always very sedated because of her grief.
Sounds like a Janis Joplin moment.
HKS managed to dump Daniels drugs down the toilet in the hospital before the authorities arrived... they are saying he didn't accompany her to the hospital..
I have never labored under the notion that there was a connection between amount of talent and amount of publicity garnered, c.f. Madonna, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, need I go on?
One of many compelling questions that can be asked.
"She checked in Monday at 8 p.m. as a guest. She was due to check out tomorrow,"
----
Given her rather radical and bizarre lifestyle, it will be interesting to see the autopsy results....my guess, OD on drugs.
...but she can never leave...
Still in dispute (both the paternity and the fortune). A court needs to appoint a heavy-duty independent legal guardian for this poor little infant before sundown. And order round-the-clock security for her.
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