Police on Tuesday were investigating the killing of internationally-known Toronto hairdresser and beauty company executive Fabio Sementilli, who was found beaten and stabbed at a Los Angeles home.

Detectives did not immediately provide a possible motive. They said his black 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera was missing from the home.

Homicide detectives are investigating after Sementilli was found outside this Los Angeles home bleeding profusely on Monday. (Associated Press)

Paramedics found the 49-year-old Sementilli on Monday on the patio of a gated house in the upscale Woodland Hills neighbourhood. He was bleeding profusely and died at the scene.

The Canadian-born Sementilli worked for decades as a trendsetting hair stylist and served as vice president of education for beauty products giant Coty Inc.

The company said in a statement that he was an icon in the industry.

'Role model to so many'

Sementilli had established himself as a "mentor and positive role model to so many," said Alison Alhamed, editor in chief of the journal Modern Salon.

"He could barely walk a few feet on a trade show floor without someone stopping him to take a selfie with him and share how much he impacted their career," Alhamed said.

On Friday, Sementilli posted a photograph on Facebook of his 1987 hairstylist certification and reminisced about how his 30-year career was aided by a strong work ethic and support from colleagues.

"I'm optimistic, I'm driven and I don't accept the habit of negativity around me," he wrote.