He was 64. His wife, Leslie Gale Shuman, blamed his death in a hospital to a system breakdown.
KTLA reported that the cause was a heart attack. In a sector known for changing identities and developing trends, Mr. Rubin was a fixture for viewers across the city for decades. An interview with him was seen as a rite of passage for many celebrities.
His ability to make celebrities feel comfortable as he quizzed them about their craft ranged generation.
Although it was evident that Mr. Rubin was engrossed in the details of his beat, part of his attraction stemmed from the antics he brought to the studio, as well as his ability to vary the pace of what could have been a dull interview.
“Is it shampoo and conditioner, or just shampoo—what is the hair regimen, Jared?” he once asked actor Jared Leto. “You know, my friend, it’s a toupee,” Mr. Leto explained.