David Gest

David Alan Gest was an American television personality and producer born on May 11, 1953, in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a Jewish family in Southern California, he became known for his work in music publicity, talent management, and television production, as well as his appearances on popular British reality television programs.

At the age of 17, Gest began his career in the entertainment industry as a publicist for London Records after representing himself as 24 years old. Within nearly a year, he was promoted to national director of publicity and transferred to the record label's New York office. Encouraged by singer Al Green, Gest established his own public relations and management firm, David Gest & Associates, at age 18. Green served as his mentor and first client, and the firm rapidly expanded to represent 25 artists on its roster.

In 1983, Gest founded the American Cinema Awards Foundation. He went on to produce the 2001 television special Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, which marked the final musical reunion of Michael Jackson and the Jacksons almost 17 years after their previous reunion. A close friend of Jackson, Gest later produced and featured in the documentary film Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon following the singer's death.

Gest achieved prominent television visibility in the United Kingdom starting in 2006, when he finished in fourth place on the ITV reality series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Days later, he received a standing ovation performing at the Royal Variety Show in London before Prince Charles. Although a voting glitch left over 30,000 text votes uncounted in his favor, Gest declined a recount. He subsequently signed a one-year deal with ITV, appearing as a guest judge on Soapstar Superstar, serving as a judge on Grease Is the Word, starring in Greased Lightnin', and hosting his own reality series, This Is David Gest. He later paid for an early release from his contract to host The Friday Night Project on Channel 4.

His later media career included appearances on Gordon Ramsay's The F Word and Celebrity Fantasy Homes. In 2016, Gest participated in Celebrity Big Brother 17 in the UK, finishing in 13th place after choosing to leave the show after 13 days due to medical reasons. Throughout his career, Gest also frequently appeared in tabloid headlines during his marriage to Liza Minnelli, whom he married in March 2002. The couple separated in July 2003, resulting in a legal dispute that was ultimately dismissed in September 2006.

Gest died from a stroke on April 12, 2016, at the age of 62, in his room at the Four Seasons Hotel in East London. Prior to his death, he had arranged a new live tour titled David Gest Is Not Dead but Alive With Soul, named after a misunderstanding during his time on Celebrity Big Brother. The tour proceeded following his death. Gest's funeral service was held at Golders Green Crematorium in North London on April 29, 2016, and his ashes were scattered in York.