Junior Rasmussen
Russell Armstrong, the 47-year-old husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide on August 15, 2011, just days before Pandora Vanderpump's wedding. The season finale of the show centered around Pandora's wedding and was a joyous occasion, but it also served as a gathering for the housewives a few weeks after Russell's death. The wedding took place on August 27 or 28, 2011, with Pandora marrying Jason Sabo. The episode also marked the first time the girls saw Taylor since Russell's suicide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Russell's death | 15 August |
| Pandora's wedding | 27 August or 28 August |
| Russell's cause of death | Suicide |
| Russell's age | 47 |
| Russell's relationship status | Married to Taylor Armstrong |
| Taylor Armstrong's attendance at Pandora's wedding | Absent |
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What You'll Learn
Russell Armstrong's suicide
Russell Armstrong, the husband of Taylor Armstrong, died by suicide in August 2011. He was an American attorney and venture capitalist, who appeared alongside his wife on the Bravo reality TV series, 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'. Russell's suicide occurred just days before Pandora Vanderpump's wedding, which was featured in the season finale of the show.
Russell had a history of domestic violence, with multiple accusations from his first wife, Barbara Ann Frederickson, and his ex-girlfriend, Claudia Haro. He was also charged with spousal battery and battery during an alleged altercation with Barbara in 1997. Additionally, he faced legal troubles, including a felony tax evasion charge in 1995. Taylor, his second wife, spoke about the control, jealousy, and emotional and physical abuse she experienced during their marriage. She recalled the "verbal criticism" and "tapes [that] play over and over in your head". Taylor also mentioned that Russell made her feel like she would lose custody of their child, Kennedy Armstrong, if she left him.
On the day of his suicide, Taylor was supposed to meet with Russell to discuss the custody of their daughter. When she arrived at his home, she found the office dark and empty, which was unusual given his workaholic nature. Taylor had a sinking feeling that something terrible had happened, and unfortunately, her fears came true. She discovered Russell's body, hanging in the northwest corner of his bedroom. The coroner's report confirmed suicide by hanging, with an orange extension cord wrapped around a wooden beam and looped around his neck.
The impact of Russell's suicide was felt by the cast and crew of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'. In the season finale, the women gathered for Pandora's wedding, and Taylor's absence was attributed to the recent suicide of her husband. The original airing of the episode included discussions about Russell's death, but streaming reruns may have cut those parts out due to sensitivity and respect for the subject matter.
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Timing of Russell's death
Russell Armstrong, the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Taylor Armstrong, died by suicide on August 15. His death came as a surprise to his family and occurred about a month after Taylor filed for divorce. Russell was reportedly distressed about how the Bravo TV Show would portray him in the upcoming season.
The exact timing of Russell's death is not clear from the sources, but it appears to have been a few days or weeks before Pandora Vanderpump's wedding, which took place on August 27. The wedding was featured in the season finale of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and the episode showed the women gathering a few weeks after Russell's death, with Taylor absent from the festivities.
The original airing of the show mentioned Russell's suicide, but streaming reruns on Bravo/Hulu may have cut that part out due to the sensitive nature of the topic. The season started with the tragedy of Russell's death and ended with Pandora's wedding, giving a sense that everyone was healing.
Russell's death had a noticeable impact on the show and its cast. The women expressed their shock and sadness, and there was even talk in the press about cancelling the new season before it started. The show addressed Russell's death and its aftermath, including the impact on Taylor and the tensions it caused within the family regarding funeral arrangements.
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Pandora Vanderpump's wedding
The wedding of Pandora Vanderpump and Jason Sabo was featured in the season finale of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The episode, which aired on January 23, 2012, centred around the glamorous wedding, which took place just days after the suicide of Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of fellow housewife, Taylor Armstrong.
Pandora is the daughter of housewife Lisa Vanderpump, who was keen to plan the perfect event with famous wedding planner Kevin Lee. The episode shows Lisa's stress in the lead-up to the event, which was heightened by Lee's absence for most of the week before the wedding. Lisa's outdoor tennis court was transformed into an extravagant venue, and the other housewives were in attendance, wearing their most fabulous attire.
Notably absent from the festivities were Taylor Armstrong and Kim Richards. Taylor's absence was due to the recent death of her estranged husband, Russell, which was addressed in the episode. Kim's absence was not explained, but it was speculated that it was for the best due to her behaviour throughout the season, including making herself the centre of attention and displaying tardiness and a disregard for others' feelings.
The wedding episode marked a shift in tone for the season, which had begun with the tragedy of Russell's death and ended with a sense of healing and joy.
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Russell's funeral arrangements
Russell Armstrong's funeral arrangements were a source of conflict between his widow, Taylor Armstrong, and his family. As the next of kin, Taylor had the legal right to determine the burial arrangements, and she initially wanted to bury Russell in a cemetery in Los Angeles. However, Russell's family wanted him to be returned to his home state of Texas.
The situation was eventually resolved, with both sides agreeing that Russell would be cremated, and his ashes would be divided between Taylor and his parents. Two funeral services would be held: one in Los Angeles, organised by Taylor, and another in Texas, organised by Russell's family.
The funeral arrangements were made more difficult by the public nature of the death, with the family arguing over whether the funeral location and time would be shared with the media. Russell's death occurred in the midst of a divorce, with Taylor having filed for divorce one month prior, which is a common catalyst for family fights over estate planning.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills addressed Russell's death in the season finale, with the cast gathering at Kyle Richards' house to discuss it. The episode also featured Pandora Vanderpump's wedding, which took place just days after Russell's suicide. The wedding was a joyous occasion, but the season ended on a sombre note, with the cast reflecting on Russell's death and the impact it had on them.
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Impact on the Real Housewives show
Russell Armstrong, the 47-year-old husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide on August 15, just days before his wife's co-star Pandora Vanderpump's wedding. The wedding was featured in the season finale of the show, which took place a few weeks after Russell's death.
The impact of Russell's death was felt throughout the season, with the usually dramatic finale taking on a more subdued tone. The episode centred around Pandora's wedding, with the other housewives in attendance, except for Taylor and Kim Richards. The absence of Taylor, who was grieving the loss of her husband, was notable, and the other women acknowledged the impact of Russell's death on the group.
In the lead-up to the finale, the show addressed the fallout from Russell's death, with the women gathering at Kyle Richards' house to catch up with Taylor after her husband's passing. The conversation was awkward, with the women skirting the issue and making small talk about the wedding and other topics. This gathering was planned to bookend the emotional opening to the season, where the women discussed Russell's death and the impact it had on them.
The season as a whole was affected by Russell's death, with the show choosing to cut some scenes and references to his suicide out of respect and due to the sensitive nature of the topic. The show also addressed the marital problems between Taylor and Russell, with allegations of abuse and financial troubles surfacing. The other housewives expressed shock at Russell's suicide and offered their support to Taylor, with Kyle Richards stating that it was "very hard to move forward" after the tragedy.
The impact of Russell's death extended beyond the show, with public family fights over his funeral arrangements and estate. Taylor, as Russell's widow and next of kin, had certain legal rights and was able to determine the burial and memorialization process, which caused tension with Russell's family. The press also discussed the possibility of cancelling the new season of the show before it started, but ultimately it went ahead as planned.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Russell Armstrong, the 47-year-old husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide on August 15.
Yes, Russell died by suicide before Pandora Vanderpump's wedding. Pandora's wedding was on August 27 or 28, and Russell died on August 15.
Taylor Armstrong missed Pandora's wedding because her husband, Russell, had died by suicide days before the wedding.
