Robin Leach, a celebrity columnist and television host who famously signed off each episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” with his signature catchphrase of “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” died Friday.

Robin Leach, celebrity columnist and television host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," died Friday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye /Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ilene Murphy, Robin Leach & Don Ushers at the Tropicana in 1986. (File Photo)

Robin Leach enjoys a martini with Mayor Oscar Goodman as the mayor shakes hands with celebrities and well-wishers in 2002. (Ralph Fountain/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Robin Leach in a TV studio. (John Gurzinski/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Michael Severino, left, Joan Severino and Robin Leach propose a toast at the Las Vegas Odyssey Food, Wine and the Art dinner in 2003.

Andrea Bundonis, president of the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, attends an elegant affair with Robin Leach in 2002. (File Photo)

Robin Leach, left, arrives with Spike TV's Laura Diane on the red carpet for the opening night of Monty Python's Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas March 31, 2007. (Sara Tramiel/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Television personality Robin Leach smokes a cigar while attending a party at Bare at Mirage Friday, April 27, 2007. (Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Gordon Ramsay with Robin Leach on Friday, April 28, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Tom Donoghue)

Celebrity columnist and television host Robin Leach died Friday. (Tom Donoghue)

Robin Leach at the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Hew Burney)

Robin Leach and Jennifer Romas on Monday, May 8, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Erik Kabik)

Christie Brinkley and Robin Leach. (TVT)

Shania Twain and Robin Leach at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Frederic Thiebaud)

Robin Leach returned to primetime television in "Life of Luxury." (ABC/Virginia Sherwood)

Robin Leach presents an award during the 2016 Best of Las Vegas Awards at The Venetian on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Las Vegas. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

On the red carpet, Nanette Miller and Robin Leach attend the 9th Annual Oscar Night America at Caesars Palace to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

Robin Leach poses with Suzanne Farace, "Duchess of Venis Donna Lucrezia," at St. Mark's Square inside The Venetian, July 22, 2004. (Clint Karlsen/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Clint Holmes, left, hosts Animal Foundation's "Best in Show." and Robin Leach served as celebrity judge.(Ralph Fountain/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Robin Leach at red carpet pre-Oscar viewing of auction items in 2002. (Ralph Fountain/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Living; Robin Leach stands next to a "Rich and Famous" slot machine inside The Orleans in Las Vegas, July, 2004. (Clint Karlsen/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Guests gather outside The Venetian to kick off the first of several international landmarks to be illuminated in pink light to produce an awareness in the battle against breast cancer. Among the guests taking part were, Chef Thomas Keller, Laura Cunningham, Andre Agassi, Evelyn H. Lauder, Robin Leach and Elizabeth Hurley.

Robin Leach records a video message for U.S. military personel during an holiday event at the Opportunity Village Magical Forest in Las Vegas Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal) JOHN LOCHER/REVIEW-JOURNAL Robin Leach records a video message at the Opportunity Village Magical Forest in Las Vegas Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. The message was for US Troops.

Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, left, U.S. Rep. Dina Titus and Robin Leach (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Robin Leach, left, with Sammy Hagar and Cari Hagar (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Robin Leach, left, emcees as volunteers get their heads shaved Saturday, March 5, 2011 at McMullan's Irish Pub at a fundraiser to find cures for childhood cancers organized by St. Baldrick's, a volunteer-driven charity. (Ralph Fountain/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Steven Leach, son of celebrity columnist Robin Leach, poses for a photo during an interview in Henderson, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

A marquee honoring celebrity columnist and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” host Robin Leach is shown at the Palazzo hotel-casino at 3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd. after his death at the age of 76 in Las Vegas on Friday, August 24, 2018. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas News Bureau)

A marquee honoring celebrity columnist and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” host Robin Leach is shown at the Palazzo hotel-casino at 3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd. after his death at the age of 76 in Las Vegas on Friday, August 24, 2018. CREDIT: Bill Hughes/Las Vegas News Bureau

A marquee honoring celebrity columnist and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” host Robin Leach is shown at the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino at 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd. after his death at the age of 76 in Las Vegas on Friday, August 24, 2018. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas News Bureau)

A marquee honoring celebrity columnist and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” host Robin Leach is shown at the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino at 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd. after his death at the age of 76 in Las Vegas on Friday, August 24, 2018. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas News Bureau)

Robin Leach, a celebrity columnist and television host who famously signed off each episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” with his signature catchphrase of “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” died Friday. He was 76.

Leach had been hospitalized since last November after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas. After his first stroke, Leach was taken to the St. Rose Dominican, Siena, ICU upon his return to Las Vegas. Leach was moved to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio in December and later admitted to a nearby rehabilitation facility. In May he returned to Las Vegas, where he continued his rehabilitation. On Monday, Leach suffered an additional stroke.

‘A beautiful life’

“Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had,” read a statement released by his sons Steve, Gregg and Rick Leach. “Everyone’s support and love over the past almost one year has been incredible and we are so grateful.”

Robin Leach spent most of the last two decades chronicling star-studded events around town, most recently for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and before that for the Las Vegas Sun and publications in the Greenspun Media Group.

He was known for his grandiose personality, seemingly tireless coverage of the Las Vegas celebrity scene and similarly passionate contributions to local charities — most notably the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

“He really believed in helping people,” said Larry Ruvo, founder of the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas. “I have lost a friend and mentor.”

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and current Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who issued a joint statement Friday.“We have lost a dear, dear friend and wonderful man. His kindness and decency will be missed. He was so very charitable, and he really loved Las Vegas. An eternity of Champagne and Caviar for him.”

Born in London on Aug. 29, 1941, Robin Douglas Leach knew he wanted to be a journalist when he was just 10 years old. As a student at Harrow County School for Boys, he began sending weekly dispatches about goings-on there to the editor of the local newspaper, The Harrow Observer. The paper published the stories and hired him after he graduated. He was 15. He later worked at the Daily Mail in London, where he became the publication’s youngest Page One editor at age 18.

After moving to New York, Leach wrote for several publications, including the New York Daily News, Ladies Home Journal and People magazine, authoring its first 11 cover stories.

His big break came in 1984 with the debut of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” a syndicated program he created with legendary television producer Al Masini. The syndicated show focused on celebrities’ lavish homes and favorite destinations. Many pop-culture observers point to “Lifestyles,” which ran from 1984 to 1995, as a turning point that opened the door for other celebrity-centric reality shows, including “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

“It was an area of journalism that I thoroughly enjoyed covering,” Leach told Askmen.com. “The more eye-popping

Taste for finer things

“Lifestyles” made Leach a multimillionaire himself, and he was able to indulge his tastes for crisp linen pants and fine British motorcars. He was featured in publications including The New York Times, was impersonated in a skit on “Saturday Night Live” and even appeared in several movies, including “She-Devil” (1989), “Spring Broke” (2016) and “Maxed Out” (2006).

Despite his reputation, Leach insisted he was a normal, down-to-earth sort and described his TV persona as a “cartoon character.”

“That’s not who Robin Leach is,” he told The New York Times in 1990. “And when I wake up in the morning, I wink at myself because I like me — I know who I am. And when it’s time to send the cartoon character off, I just send him on his way.”

The success of “Lifestyles” also helped Leach build connections with celebrity chefs, which he used to help start the Food Network. Leach told KNPR that casino owner Sheldon Adelson reached out to him through the network with an invitation to set up a studio at what would become The Venetian. The idea was that Leach could attract celebrity chefs who might consider opening restaurants at the hotel.

It worked. Leach often wrote about the dining scene in Las Vegas and loved discovering the latest over-the-top offerings.

Chef Rick Moonen, whose restaurants include RM Seafood and RX Boiler Room at Mandalay Bay, was one of Leach’s first guests on the Food Network in 1993, and the two remained close friends ever since.

“He always enthusiastically supported anything Las Vegas,” Moonen said Friday. “Sin City will never be quite the same.”

Another close celebrity chef friend, Wolfgang Puck, released a statement Friday saying: “(Robin) embodied ‘bon vivant’ and loved restaurants the most … I will miss him.”

Robert Earl, chief of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, was among Leach’s closest friends who ran businesses in Las Vegas.

“I wouldn’t make a visit to Vegas without making a trip to see Robin and get a lowdown on the whole city,” Earl said Friday. “He loved Las Vegas. He was so happy there.”

And he embraced the opportunity to explore and write about his adopted hometown.

“I will never hang up the sign that says ‘Gone Fishing,’ ” Leach told KNPR. “My work is my joy, my work is my hobby.”

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian and Palazzo.