ITV This Morning stars in tears during on-air tribute to Sam Rubin after sudden death

The stars of ITV's This Morning were moved to tears during an on-air tribute to Sam Rubin, who tragically died suddenly.

The show paid a heartfelt tribute to the 64 year old Hollywood correspondent on Monday's episode following his unexpected death. Sam, who was also the host of Hollywood Uncensored, sadly died at the age of 64 on May 10 after being rushed to hospital.

According to Variety, Sam suffered a heart attack while working from home one morning. He was swiftly taken to a Los Angeles hospital by ambulance, but unfortunately did not survive.

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The This Morning team honoured Sam on Friday night, with the official Instagram account of the ITV show sharing a photo of the late star and informing followers: "There will be a tribute to Sam on Monday's show, but in the meantime we send our condolences to his wife Leslie, their four children and Sam's colleagues at KTLA". They continued their tribute on Monday's show.

As they began the show, hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley expressed their sorrow, stating that everyone in the studio had "heavy hearts". They showcased a video montage of Sam's best moments and paid tribute, reports the Mirror.

The two presenters then connected with Hollywood correspondent Ross King live from New York City, who struggled to hold back tears as he paid homage to his friend and former colleague.

Ross expressed his deep sentiments, saying: "I hope, Sammy, you're looking down and seeing how much love there is for you because it's remarkable. Sam loved being Sam and he loved being on camera, he was loved. I just hope he can see it, I hope he can see the love he's got from the industry that people are talking about him so much, it's making such big news. Again, the outpouring of grief from people in the industry, those stars that loved him as well, Sammy would have loved this."

The sad news of Sam Rubin's passing was confirmed by KTLA with a heartfelt message online: "KTLA 5 is profoundly saddened to report the death of Sam Rubin. Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades."

In their tribute, they further honoured his memory: "His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most. Our thoughts are with Sam's family during this difficult time."

Sam Rubin had contributed to This Morning as a correspondent, often sharing the latest Hollywood news and gossip. His last appearance at the This Morning studios was in 2018, where he joined then-presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford to discuss the latest happenings in the world of celebrities.

Sam, who has been a presenter for KTLA since 1991, was on air just last week. Over the years, his work has earned him several Emmys and a Golden Mike award.

He also received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association. He hosted his own show, Hollywood Uncensored with Sam Rubin, which ran for over 100 episodes.

In 2007, he married Leslie Gale Shuman and they have two children together. Prior to this, he was married to Julie Anderson. They tied the knot in 1988 but divorced in 2006, and they also have two children together.

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