Bethenny Frankel's on-again, off-again boyfriend Dennis Shields has died of a suspected drug overdose at age 51.
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"On Friday at around 9:19AM, police responded to a 911 call of an aided male inside of 721 5th Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered the unconscious male at the location. EMS responded and pronounced the man deceased," the New York Police Department's Public Information Officer told the magazine.
"The NYC Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death."
According to the New York Post, Shields overdosed on prescription pills and asked his assistant to give him Narcan, which is used to reverse the effects of a drug in an emergency situation.
Sources told TMZ they believe Shields overdosed on oxycodone, but an autopsy is pending.
Frankel, a 47-year-old star on The Real Housewives of New York City, was reportedly friends with Shields for more than 20 years before their relationship turned romantic in 2016.
The pair allegedly dated on and off for the last two years, and they recently attended a wedding together in New Orleans in May 2018.
During an early August episode of The Real Housewives of New York City, Frankel discussed how she was taking a break from Shields.
"I didn't say it to Dennis, but in my own mind, I said, '90 days. I'm not saying a word to Dennis for 90 days.' It's a really hard thing to realize that someone you love, it doesn't mean they're the right person," Frankel told co-star Dorinda Medley at the time, according to Us. "And I wish he was."
Shields is survived by his children from his previous marriage.
Frankel starred on the first three seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills before leaving the Bravo reality series in 2010 due to personal reasons.
Frankel -- who has starred in numerous spinoffs, such as Bethenny Ever After -- later returned for Season 7, and she has starred on the show ever since.
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Prior to getting involved with Shields, Frankel had been married to Peter Sussman from 1996 to 1997, followed Jason Hoppy from 2010 to 2016. Her divorce from Jason was high-profile, nasty and dragged out.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
