Who is Tawny Kitaen - Biography, Career and Personal Life

Photo LA Times

News of Kitaen’s death began to spread on Twitter, but no outlet had confirmation until this morning when TMZ reported she died in Newport Beach Friday night (May 7.) A cause of death was not yet determined by the coroner.

Her daughters, Wynter and Raine, confirmed their mother's death on Kitaen's Instagram account.

“We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life everyday,” their statement said.

Tawny Kitaen: Who is she?

Tawny Kitaen was born in Julie Kitaen San Diego, California on August 5, 1961, to Terry Kitaen who worked with the Neon Sign Company. Her mother Linda Kitaen (née Taylor) was a former beauty pageant participant and a housewife. There is no information about her siblings.

Tawny attended Mission Bay High School in San Diego but dropped out along the line because she was dyslexic. She immediately gave herself the name Tawny when she turned 12 years of age and was on the streets making a living through modeling and minor roles on TV. Gradually, she became a powerful sex symbol turning into the lady many men wanted but couldn’t have.

Tawny Kitaen: What movies did she star?

She made her film debut in the French action comedy film “The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak” as Gwendoline a naïve girl who was captured by a trio of thieves at a Chinese port and sold off to a local brothel owner to make men happy. The film was a commercial success, perhaps not as successful as her vixen credits in the music videos of the Whitesnake rock band. It was a good business for her and the rock band.

Photo Hollywood Show

Kitaen’s acting credits include 1984 films Bachelor Party and Gwendoline and numerous television credits including Santa Barbara, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Eek! The Cat, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Moms Anonymous.

Kitaen’s fame reached new levels when she appeared in a number of popular music video starting with Ratt’s “Back for More” in 1984 and then a trilogy of videos for Whitesnake in 1987 which included “Still of the Night,” “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again.”

Tawny Kitaen: Who did she get married to?

Kitaen married British rock star David Cloverdale in 1989, but the two divorced two years later.

Photo E!Online

Kitaen became the rock world's “video vixen” after appearing on the cover of two albums from the heavy metal band Ratt and starring in several music videos for Whitesnake, including the 1987 smash song “Here I Go Again.” The video, played repeatedly on the burgeoning music television network, featured Kitaen performing cartwheels on the hood of a Jaguar.

She remarried in 1997, this time with MLB star Chuck Finley. They had two daughters, Wynter and Raine, before divorcing in 2002.

**READ MORE: Who is Melinda Gates: Biography, Personal Life, Career, Net Worth and Work After Divorcing

Who are Tawny Kitaen's children?

Kitaen had two daughters with ex-husband Chuck Finley.

Photo Answerafrica

Her daughters' names are Wynter Merin Finley, 28 and Raine Finley, 22.

Kitaen posted photos of herself with her daughters often. In March, she dedicated her post to her Wynter who was celebrating her 28th birthday.

Tawny Kitaen: Struggles with drugs

Tawny was subjected to a six months rehabilitation program after she was arrested with cocaine possession in her home in Orange County in 2006. She has also been found guilty of driving under the influence in Newport Beach California. She pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI and was sentenced to jail for a couple of days. Tawny was also ordered to attend a first-offender alcohol program which required her to perform 64 hours of community service in 2009.

Tawny Kitaen: Net worth at the time of her death

Tawny Kitaen had a net worth of 500 thousand dollars in 2019. In 2009, she sued her former boyfriend, alleging that he scammed her $3 million of her assets. The duo finally reached a settlement in 2009.

In 2010, she sold two of her houses far less of what she paid for them. Tawny sold her Irvine penthouse apartment with 2-story-high windows, Viking appliances, Kohler fixtures, marble counters, and a private balcony, within a condo complex with a concierge, state-of-the-art fitness center that has a junior Olympic size pool in a distress sale. Where did all that money go? We have no idea.

In the end, Kitaen was worth just $500,000 when she died on May 7, 2021. In addition to being survived by her daughters, her ex husband Coverdale was also left heartbroken by her passing, tweeting, "Just woke up to some very sad, unexpected news...Waiting on confirmation...but, if it is true, my sincere condolences to her children, her family, friends & fans..."

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