How did Doris Bergman die? Late Hollywood publicist, 68, had worked with Jane Lynch and Brigitte Nielsen
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Doris Bergman, 68, who worked as a Hollywood publicist was charred to death along with her husband Albert Sassoe Jr, and their cat on Wednesday, February 8. The couple tragically died in a house fire that broke out early morning in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles.
A 911 call was made from inside the residence, but the call was cut off before enough information was provided to the dispatcher. By the time the fire department reached the scene, the house was already ablaze and they discovered the lifeless bodies of the couple and their pet. The incident was reported around 2.20 am, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
READ MORE
Who died on 'Christina in the Country'? HGTV star Christina Hall opens up about 'scariest' loss
Bergman's longtime friend, fashion designer Sue Wong, confirmed the news of her tragic demise on her Facebook page where she described Bergman as a "good friend". "I’m beyond devastated to find out just right now that my good friend Doris Bergman perished yesterday in an incendiary consuming fire along with her husband, Albert, and their pets," she wrote. Sue, a China native, added that their house was "completely ablaze". She also said that she spoke to Bergman as early as last week.
Sue noted that Doris had sounded "rather delusional and hallucinatory probably from pain pills and was perhaps very over-medicated." "She told me that she was lying on the floor and couldn’t sit up because her back and shoulders went out", she said. "She asked me when the two massage therapists were coming over to treat her that I was sending and that would I be performing a tea ceremony with them? Honestly we had never talked about any such thing," added Sue.
Wong said that she is completely heartbroken by this loss. "We had a good mental and intellectual bond." She said that she will miss Bergman's "great sardonic wit, her intelligence, her generosity of spirit and her wicked sense of black, dark humor."
Who was Doris Bergman?
Doris Bergman, a Hollywood publicist, has hosted Oscar gifting suites with Jane Lynch, Marilu Henner, Esai Morales, Brigitte Nielsen, and Judd Nelson as guests. She also worked with George Lopez on his annual golf classic event.
What did the fire department say?
LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey explained at the scene that before they could determine the situation, the call from the house got disconnected. The "intense" fire apparently broke out from the kitchen and living room. "In searching the premises, firefighters located a man, woman and pet cat lifeless inside the burnt home. Beyond medical or veterinary assistance, they were determined to be dead at the scene," Humphrey said according to Daily Mail. The LAFD said the home did not have operational fire sprinklers.
The victims were later identified as Bergman and her husband Sassoe Jr by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. As of now, the coroner has yet to determine the specific cause, time, and manner of their death.