Sam Rubin, a TV host known for his Hollywood reporting, has died at the age of 64

In 1991, he began working for Los Angeles news station KTLA and became a staple of the morning newscast thanks to his celebrity interviews.

Sam Rubin, whose morning celebrity interviews on Los Angeles television station KTLA 5 became must-see viewing for much of the entertainment industry, and who bonded with Hollywood insiders with his friendliness and knowledge of their work, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 64.

His wife, Leslie Gail Shuman, attributed his death at the hospital to a system failure. A KTLA TV report said the cause of death was a heart attack.

In an industry known for changing names and developing trends, Mr. Rubin has remained a mainstay for viewers across town for decades. An interview with him was considered a rite of passage for many stars.

His ability to make celebrities feel comfortable when he asked them about their craft spans generations.

While it was obvious that Mr. Rubin was immersed in the intricacies of his job, part of his appeal lay in the antics he brought to the studio and his ability to change the pace of an interview that could have become mediocre.

"Shampoo and conditioner or just shampoo - what's your hair regimen, Jared?" - he once asked actor Jared Leto.