80s rock music video star Tawny Kitaen dies at 59 | WJHL

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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) – Tawny Kitaen, the sultry red-haired actress who appeared in rock music videos during the heyday of MTV and starred alongside Tom Hanks in the 1984 comedy “Bachelor Party,” is deceased. She was 59 years old.

The Orange County coroner’s office said she died Friday at her Newport Beach home. The cause of death was not immediately released.

Her daughters, Wynter and Raine, confirmed their mother’s death on Kitaen’s Instagram account.

“We just want to say thank you to all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life every day,” their statement said.

Kitaen became the “video vixen” of the rock world after appearing on the cover of two albums by heavy metal band Ratt and appearing in several Whitesnake music videos, including the 1987 hit song “Here I Go Again”. The video, which aired several times on the booming music television network, showed Kitaen cartwheels on the hood of a Jaguar.

She also played the role of the fiancee of Tom Hanks’ character in the comedy “Bachelor Party” and the girlfriend of Jerry Seinfeld in an episode of “Seinfeld” in 1991. Other TV credits included a stint as co- host of “America’s Funniest People” and on reality shows “The Surreal Life” and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”, in which she revealed her struggle with drug addiction.

Kitaen had a tumultuous personal life, which included a brief marriage to Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale, and a rocky marriage to baseball pitcher Chuck Finley, with whom she had two daughters.

“My sincere condolences to his children, family, friends and fans,” Coverdale tweeted on Saturday.