In Los Angeles, tragedy struck as comedian Freddie Prinze passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head after a 33-hour battle by doctors to save his life.
Despite Nurse Linda Rufkin’s desperate attempts to revive him, Prinze’s weak vital signs eventually ceased abruptly.
The 22-year-old Prinze, adored by 40 million viewers each week on the TV show “Chico and the Man,” tragically took his own life early Friday with a bullet through his brain, leaving his manager, Marvin (Dusty) Snyder, in shock and helplessness.
Reportedly devastated by his recent divorce from Katherine Elaine, 26, who filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences after just 15 months of marriage, Prinze reached out to his wife and parents before resorting to the irreversible act of suicide by shooting himself with an automatic pistol retrieved from under a sofa cushion.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Prinze never regained consciousness after the bullet caused severe brain damage by passing through his head, leading to his official declaration of death at 1 p.m., putting an end to the emotional vigil held by his devoted wife and mother at the hospital.
Paul Wasserman, Prinze’s agent and close friend, recounted the heartbreaking moment when the news was broken to Prinze’s wife and mother, resulting in an outpouring of grief and tears as they received the devastating confirmation of his passing.
Richard Greene from the UCLA Medical Center confirmed the loss, stating that Prinze’s passing was determined once all signs of central nervous system function had ceased, shocking medical experts who marveled at the young comedian’s resilience despite the severe brain trauma caused by a .32-caliber bullet through his left temple.
Following a two-hour surgery that proved futile in saving Prinze’s life, Jack Albertson, Prinze’s co-star on “Chico and the Man,” expressed sorrow over the tragic loss, emphasizing Prinze’s potential and the unfortunate circumstances that led to his untimely demise, calling for remembrance and prayers in honor of the talented young talent.
