Don Cornelius Commits Suicide

Don Cornelius was found dead in the early-morning hours of February 1, 2012. According to reports, police responded to a report of a shooting at his Los Angeles mansion, and found the legendary host dead, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Cornelius had undergone a 21-hour brain operation in 1982, due to a deformity in his cerebral arteries.

By the time of his death, Don Cornelius was in “extreme pain,” leading many to believe this was the cause of his suicide.