Body Found in Hollywood Home of Canadian TV Star George Stroumboulopoulos: Reports

UPDATED AT 2:15 P.M.: HOLLYWOOD, CA — Police are looking for witnesses to the beating death of a man found in the Hollywood Hills home of Canadian TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos.

Stroumboulopoulos, who until recently hosted Canada’s popular "Hockey Night in Canada," was not at home during the incident, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Many of you have seen the reports of a homicide, which occurred early this morning in the home I rent in Los Angeles," Stroumboulopoulos wrote in a statement. "I only have a few details but it seems like it was the result of a break-in. The victim was a dear friend of mine, who was staying at my place while I was away. I am heartbroken."

The broadcaster said he was "writing this from a plane en route to Los Angeles from New York, so I can be with my friends there, who are also devastated. There's so much to say but I'm at a loss for words so just love your people. I will have more to say when we know more about what happened."

Stroumboulopoulos hosted the CBC TV talk show "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" from 2014 to this year.

The death was reported at 2:17 a.m. in the 6700 block of Milner Road, said Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Division.

Authorities withheld the name of the man, who was in his 40s, pending family notification, the coroner's office said. The cause of death was reportedly blunt force trauma.

According to reports from the scene, the man suffered head trauma and the crime may have involved a burglary. No arrests were immediately reported. Police said the attacker was seen running down Las Palmas Avenue. Police set up a perimeter, using a helicopter and police dog in an effort to track the suspect.

Patch staffer Paige Austin and City News Service contributed to this report; Photo: Shutterstock