Anna Nicole Smith dead at 39

Posted Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 5:10 PM Central

by John Couture

The Anna Nicole Smith story took one final, tragic turn today when the Playboy Playmate turned actress collapsed and died at the age of 39. Smith was staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida when a private nurse found her collapsed on the floor and unresponsive.

Anna Nicole Smith was probably best known as the much younger wife of oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, who passed on in 1995. A long court fight ensued over his estate that was still ongoing despite the main combatant's, E. Pierce Marshall, death last June.

Smith's 20-year-old son died suddenly September 10th of last year in the Bahamas, in Smith's hospital room. Smith had just given birth to a daughter, but the paternity of her child is still being disputed by two men.

The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death was under investigation and an autopsy would be done on Friday.