Tawny Kitaen Cause of Death Confirmed
A cause of death for Tawny Kitaen, who died suddenly in May at the age of 59, has been confirmed.
Per the Orange County Coroner’s Office (as reported by People and TMZ), Kitaen’s cause of death was due to dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a common form of heart disease.
The Coroner’s Office also noted other contributing factors in her death like mild coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and having various medications in her system including mirtazapine (antidepressant), mirtazapine metabolite (antidepressant), alprazolam (a sedative whose most popular brand is Xanax), acetaminophen (pain deliver whose most popular brand is TYLENOL), pregabalin (an anti-epileptic drug) and hydrocodone (an opioid used to treat severe nerve pain).
As previously reported, no foul play was suspected in Kitaen’s death.
Kitaen’s acting credits included 1984 films Bachelor Party and Gwendoline and numerous television credits including Santa Barbara, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Eek! The Cat, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Moms Anonymous.
Kitaen’s fame reached new levels when she appeared in a number of popular music videos starting with Ratt’s “Back for More” in 1984 and then a trilogy of videos for Whitesnake in 1987 which included “Still of the Night,” “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again.”
Kitaen is survived by two daughters whom she had during her second marriage to MLB pitcher Chuck Finley, which lasted from 1997-2002. Her first marriage to Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale lasted from 1989-1991.
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