Tawny kitaen died at 59, actress and 'video vixen'

The Orange County Coroner's Office reported on that of Julie E. "Tawny" Kitaen, who appeared in a variety and music videos for the Band Whitesnake in the 1980's and once had the headlines of Chuck Finley's rocky baseball marriage. She was fifty-nine. There has been no cause of death.

At 1:51 p.m., police were sent to the home for a "unreactive woman found inside," said Sgt. Steve Oberon of Newport Beach Police.

Kitaen was pronounced dead on the scene by the Newport Beach Fire Department paramedics.

Autopsy is scheduled for the beginning of next week.

Kitas daughters Wynter, Merin Finley, and Raine Finley wrote on Facebook: "We are heartbroken and sad to announce our mother's death. "We want to say thank you all for showing her so much support and love to you, her fans and her friends. Every day you gave her life."

In 1984, Kitaen performed with Tom Hanks on the comedy "Bachelor Party." She was also featured in "The Surreal Life" and "Celebration Rehab with Dr. Drew" on reality TV. She posed for a problem in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit, and was renowned for her role in a Whitesnake video that decorated Jaguar's hood.

Kitaen appears in the 1991 "Seinfeld episode and the co-hosting of "America's funnier people" in "Hercules: the legendary journeys;" and in "The New WKRP in Cincinnati." Kitaen has been a part of the TV show.

According to Variety, the “video vixen” made her debut in the rock world in 1983, when she appeared on the covers of back-to-back albums by heavy metal band RATT. At the time, she was dating RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby. She rose to prominence after appearing in Whitesnake's 1987 smash "Here I Go Again." From 1989 to 1991, she was married to Whitesnake's lead singer, David Coverdale.

“I awoke to some very sad, unexpected news... We're waiting for confirmation... But, if it's true, please accept my heartfelt condolences to her children, family, friends, and fans,” Coverdale tweeted Saturday.

"She went on to marry baseball star Chuck Finley — with whom she had two daughters — and the end was disastrous. Finley claimed she kicked him over and over again with her high heels in her face and was accused of domestic violence. Three days later, he filed for divorce. She made a plea and joined a counselling programme on domestic violence."

Prosecutors charged Kitaen with having 15 grammes of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano home in November 2006. In exchange for the fee being dropped, she agreed to a six-month recovery programme. She was arrested for driving under the influence in Newport Beach a few years later. She was sentenced to two days in prison, a first-offender alcohol programme, and 64 hours of community service after pleading no contest to misdemeanour DUI.

Kitaen tweeted on Thursday, May 6, thanking a fan for drawing a portrait of her. Her most recent Facebook post, dated Tuesday, May 4, showed a self-portrait of herself with the message: "When I stare at you, it's because I want to know what you're thinking." And I'm interested in what you're thinking because I care about you. Please notify me.”

This storey was contributed to by City News Service.