Viper Room, Pink Taco Owner Harry Morton Has Died

Harry Morton, founder of the Pink Taco restaurant chain and former owner of the Viper Room nightclub in West Hollywood, was found dead in his Beverly Hills home on Saturday.

Morton, 38, was pronounced dead at 5:28 p.m. Saturday, according to the LA County Coroner’s Office, which reported that a representative from the office was dispatched to the 500 block of Haynes Avenue in Beverly Hills.

“The autopsy and report are incomplete at this time, and will probably be completed in a couple of days,” a coroner’s spokesperson said.

A watch commander at the Beverly Hills Police Department told City News Service that he could not immediately comment on the matter, but that the department’s public information officer would be available for comment Monday.

People magazine reported receiving information from the Beverly Hills Police Department that Morton was found dead in his Beverly Hills home.

The magazine reported that a source informed them that Morton’s younger brother, Matthew, discovered the body.

Morton’s grandfather, Arnie, co-founded Morton’s Steakhouse restaurant in 1978 and his father, Peter, co-founded the Hard Rock Cafe franchise in 1971.

Harry Morton bought the Viper Room nightclub in West Hollywood in 2008. The Viper Room is on the property where the 8550 Sunset Blvd. hotel and condo project is proposed.

Harry Morton was also a volunteer sheriff’s deputy at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood station.

Actress Lindsay Lohan, who briefly dated Morton years ago, posted a photo of the two on her Instagram account Sunday, with the caption: “Best friends. Best life.”