Who Is Tawny Kitaen? 5 Things About Actress Who Died Hollywood Life ·

Who Is Tawny Kitaen? 5 Things About Actress Who Died Hollywood Life ·

Actress Tawny Kitaen has died at the age of 59. The California native was known for appearing in a slew of music ’80s music videos and movies, notably alongside Tom Hanks for the 1984 classic Bachelor Party. She was listed as Tawny Finley by the Orange County coroner’s office, who stated she died at her Newport Beach area home on Friday, May 7, according to Variety. No cause of death has been revealed.

Her daughters Wynter, 28, and Raine, 22, issued a statement about the tragic passing of their mother. “We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom,” they said to TMZ on Saturday, May 8. “We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life everyday. We miss her and love her and we know her legacy will live on forever,” they added. Learn more about Tawny below.

She was from California

Tawny was born Julie E. “Tawny” Kitaen on August 5, 1961 in San Diego, California. Tawny was one of three children born to her parents Terry and Linda Taylor Kitaen. After dropping out of Mission Bay High School, she moved moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She remained in the Southern California area throughout her life.

She struggled with substance abuse

Tawny was open about her struggles with substance abuse, particularly cocaine. She was charged with possession of the drug in Nov. 2006 at her Orange County home, prompting her to enter a six-month rehab facility for six months.

As a result of completing the program, her felony drug possession charge was dropped. In 2009, Tawny was arrested for driving under the influence, and was later sentenced to to two days in jail and 64 hours of community service. She documented her struggles on shows like Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2009.

Marcus Vance
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Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.