Man found dead in Hollywood Hills home of Canadian TV personality

HOLLYWOOD (CNS / FOX 11) - The man found dead in the home of Canadian TV talk- show host George Stroumboulopoulos was identified Saturday in Canadian and U.S. media reports as 41-year-old actor Richard Hong.

The coroner's office would not confirm the victim's identity because next of kin had not been notified, said coroner's Lt. David Smith.

The victim was found at 2:17 a.m. Friday as officers investigated a reported burglary in the 6700 block of Milner Road, said Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison of the department's Media Relations Division.

The deceased appeared to be the victim of a homicide, said LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez. A possible cause of death was not released by the coroner's office.

Police said a man wearing a black jacket was seen "fleeing'' the area, Madison said. That man was described as black, about 5-feet-8 inches tall with a thin build and short black hair, according to Madison.

"Many of you have seen the reports of a homicide, which occurred early this morning in the home I rent in Los Angeles,'' Stroumboulopoulos wrote in a statement Friday. "I only have a few details but it seems like it was the
result of a break-in. The victim was a dear friend of mine, who was staying at my place while I was away. I am heartbroken.''

The broadcaster said he was "writing this from a plane en route to Los Angeles from New York, so I can be with my friends there, who are also devastated. There's so much to say but I'm at a loss for words so just love
your people. I will have more to say when we know more about what happened.''

Stroumboulopoulos hosted the CBC TV talk show "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' from 2014 to this year.

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