Harry Morton, founder of Pink Taco, dead at 38
Harry Morton — the 38-year-old founder of the Pink Taco eateries and son of Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton — has died, Page Six has learned.
Morton passed away Saturday at his $25 million home in Beverly Hills, an estate formerly owned by Elvis Presley, a family source confirmed.
The source added the restaurateur had dined with the Morton family, including his father, the previous day and had seemed in good spirits.
“Harry’s family is devastated. They believe his sudden death is related to an unforeseen medical issue, but it is too early to say,” the source added.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also confirmed that the Beverly Hills PD is investigating.
“We are saddened by the passing of Harry Morton, the founder and former owner of Pink Taco. Harry was a visionary and restaurateur ahead of his time, and his contributions, both professionally to our brand and personally to those he worked with, were numerous. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time,” a Pink Taco spokesperson said in a statement.
Morton worked for years for his father’s Hard Rock Cafe chain. In addition to his taco restaurants, he owned Hollywood’s Viper Room, the nightclub where Joaquin Phoenix’s brother, River Phoenix, fatally overdosed in 1993. Harry bought the Viper Room in 2008.
His grandfather, Arnie Morton, co-founded the famed Morton’s Steakhouse chain.
Morton has been romantically linked over the years to everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston.
Morton’s half-sister, model Domino Harvey, died of a drug overdose in 2005. The pair shared the same mother.
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