Jayme Deerwester

USA TODAY

David Gest, who made his name as a music producer but became famous for his five-year marriage to Liza Minnelli, died Tuesday at age 62 in a London hotel.

Gest’s friend Imad Handi confirmed the death to the Associated Press, saying, “David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon."

The Metropolitan Police force announced that officers were called to “reports of an unexplained death of a man in his 60s” at the Four Seasons Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson said an autopsy would take place “in due course.”

The Los Angeles-born Gest married Minnelli in 2002 amid much fanfare; their union eroded in an acrimonious divorce in 2007 amid claims that she physically abused him.

Minnelli, Gest end lawsuits, to divorce - USATODAY.com

Gest was also close friends with Michael Jackson, who served as best man at his wedding to Minnelli, and produced a documentary about the King of Pop called The Life of an Icon.

He had gained a recent following in Britain with appearances on reality TV shows including Celebrity Big Brother.

He was due to tour the U.K. this summer in a musical show ironically titled David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive With Soul.

Gest's former lawyer, Susan Moss in New York, said in a statement to USA TODAY: "David Gest was a kind soul and a great entertainer. He truly will be missed."

Contributing: The Associated Press