One of the music industry's most enduring couples, Rene Angelil and Celine Dion were struck by tragedy yesterday when he died from throat cancer. He is survived by Dion and their their children, 14-year-old Rene Charles, 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy, and his adult children from prior marriages Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre.
In a statement released to People, his representative said, "Rene Angelil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment."
The Clark County Office of Coroner/Medical Examiner also said in a statement to People, "Mr. Angelil, 73, died of throat cancer at his home in Henderson while under the care of a physician." The coroner also confirmed that Angelil's death from natural causes and there would be no investigation into his death.
Angelil famously mentored Dion in the music industry after he discovered her through a demo tape at the young age of 12, signing her and even mortgaging his property to finance La Voix Du Bon Dieu, her first album. They couple married in 1994 following his two previous marriages to Denyse Duquette and another singer, Anne Renee.
While struggling with throat cancer, Dion left her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and cancelled a tour in Asia so that she could be by his side in 2014. Josh Groban cited that her voice "gives him life," and so Angelil insisted that she return to Las Vegas in order to keep performing. While in Las Vegas, Dion played 40 shows from August through January, though in the wake of her husband's death she has now cancelled all shows in Vegas until Feb. 23.
