You Light Up My Life song writer Joseph Brooks was found dead around 12:30 p.m. in his Upper East Side apartment by a friend with whom he had planned to have lunch with. 73 year old Brooks, who won an Academy Award in 1977 for best original song for “You Light Up My Life” and Grammy Award winner, was found dead on his living room couch. He had a plastic dry-cleaning bag around his head with a hose attached to a helium tank hooked to it and a towel wrapped around his neck.
Killing one’s self with helium was outlined in British author Derek Humphry’s best-selling suicide manual. Though an autopsy is yet to be done on Brooks’ body, asphyxiation was thought to be the cause of death. A three-page suicide note was found but its contents weren’t revealed. It was said to include complaints that Brooks had about his health.
Brooks’ lawyer said that Brooks’ health was deteriorating during the court case. In 2008 Brooks’ suffered a stroke and he looked gaunt and was shuffling slowly when he came to recent court dates.
Brooks had been arrested in 2009 and has been awaiting trial for 82 counts of sexual abuse. He has been charged of raping 13 women whom he lured to his apartment for supposed discussions of movie roles. Prosecutors said that Brooks Allegedly lured most of the women to his apartment using an online ad offering auditions for a role in a movie. He made them do an “acting exercise” where they were to drink wine but he drugged the drink then sexually assaulted the women afterwards. He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual abuse and other charges.
Last year, the songwriter’s 25 year old son Nicholas Brooks, is charged for strangling his 33 year old girlfriend, Peruvian-American swimsuit designer and former Victoria’s Secret swimsuit designer Sylvie Cachay. Her body was found dead, half-clothed and face-up in an overflowing Bath tub at an elite club and hotel, Soho House private club December last year.
Medical examiners said that Sylvie Cachay was strangled and drowned. If convicted, Nicholas could face up to life in prison for the murder of Miss Cachay. Nicholas Brooks has pleaded not guilty to the accusation and is being held without bail at the Rikers Island jail complex.
Nicolas Brooks’ sister, 29 year old Amanda Brooks, said that she ‘believes 100 per cent’ in her brother’s innocence. With regards to her father, she said: “I am grateful to know he is finally facing the consequences of his actions and that there is some justice in the world.”
Debby Boone’s 1977 ballad for “You Light Up My Life” made the song famous and gave Brooks an Academy Award for best original song where he also directed a movie of the same name. The “You Light Up My Life” movie was about a comedian who had a one-night stand with a director.
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