Who Is Kjell Rasten? New Details About Charo's Husband Who Died By Suicide At 78
They were married for 40 years.
getty Who is Kjell Rasten? The husband of Charo, the famous flamenco guitarist and singer, committed suicide on February 18th in the couple’s home. According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, Rasten was pronounced dead at a local hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 78 years old.
Reports claim that Charo was home at the time of the incident, and called 911. A witness told The Blast that Charo ran from the house screaming, covered in blood, and in her phone call, initially thought Rasten had fallen and hit his head. She was “inconsolable” and rode with her husband in the ambulance. There was no suicide note left behind.
While speculation continues as to why Rasten shot himself, Charo released a statement:
“Yesterday, Kjell, my husband of forty years and the love of my life, killed himself. There are no words to describe what we are feeling now. He was an amazing man, a great husband and the best father I could imagine to our son. He dedicated his life to loving and supporting his family.
In recent years, his health began to decline and he developed a rare and horrible skin disease called Bullous Pemphigoid. He also became very depressed. That, along with the many medications he needed to take, became too much for him, and he ended his suffering.
None of us had any idea this could happen to such a wonderful, kind and generous man. Please, if anyone you know and love is suffering from depression or illness, hold them close, tell them you love them with all your heart, and that the world is better because they are in it. Get any help you can. Suicide is not the answer.”
Bullous Pemphigoid is “an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic blistering of the skin.”
Rasten and Charo married in 1978, and he was her second husband. She was previously married to bandleader Xavier Cugat from 1966 to 1978, though Charo claims it was just a business arrangement. Together, Charo and Rasten had one son, Shel Rasten, the drummer for the band Treazen.
But Rasten was more than just Charo’s husband. He was a TV and film production manager and producer in the 70s and 80s, known for International Championship of Magic, ABC Late Night, and Robert Young with the Young. But he also served as her longtime manager. The couple also appeared in an episode of Celebrity Wife Swap in 2015, where Charo switched places with her Love Boat co-star Jill Whelan.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.