Harry Morton's brother posts emotional tribute: 'I lost my best friend in the entire world'
Harry Morton’s brother has broken his silence after the restauranteur’s sudden death.
Matthew Morton, who discovered the Pink Taco founder’s body on Saturday, paid tribute to his half-sibling on social media Wednesday, on the heels of Harry’s cause of death being revealed by the family. In the tribute, Matthew — who shares a father, Peter Morton, with Harry — said he lost his “best friend” and “the person that looked out for me.” Harry, who had a heart attack, his family said, was just 38.
“On Saturday I lost my big brother,” Matthew, whose mom was Tarlton Pauley, wrote on Instagram with a series of photos. “Harry is that rare person who means so much to so many people in so many different ways, but to no one, could he be more meaningful than he has been to his little brother. I lost my best friend in the entire world, my second father, I lost the person that taught me everything growing up, the person that looked out for me, guided me, showed me the way. Pretty much everything that’s good inside me comes from a lesson I learned along the way from Harry. He paved the way for me to become the person I am today. I could never have asked for a better teacher or a better friend.”
Matthew, 27, revealed that he had dinner with Harry on Friday — and spoke with him on the phone Saturday morning. At some point later on Saturday, Matthew found his sibling unresponsive at his Beverly Hills, Calif. home.
“The last thing I said to him was ‘love you frere,’” Matthew revealed.
He went on to write he is “eternally grateful that I got to spend so much time” with his sibling, adding, “If you’re lucky enough to have a brother or a sister, please give them a big squeeze, and tell them how much you love them.”
Matthew’s message reconfirmed what the family spokesperson said: that Harry “passed away from sudden cardiac death.” He urged young men to get a heart scan because Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) “is the single largest cause of natural death in the United States ... and it is twice as common in men as it is in women.”
The post concluded with news that a foundation in Harry’s name would be established to “combat heart disease and hopefully help others catch it early.”
Matthew ended by writing, “I love you more than anything in the world frere.”
Harry — the son of Hard Rock founder Peter Morton and model Paulene Stone — founded the first Pink Taco eatery in 1999. There are several of the restaurants across the country. He previously had also been a part owner of The Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles. (Harry’s grandfather Arnie Morton also co-founded the Morton’s Steakhouse chain.)
Harry was also known for dating a series of celebrities. He was linked to Lindsay Lohan and Demi Moore, who have both paid tribute to him.
Preliminary results from the Los Angeles coroner announced Tuesday indicated that Harry died of undiagnosed heart disease. Morton had coronary artery disease with a mildly enlarged heart, his family was told. A toxicology report is still underway.
A memorial for Harry — who was predeceased by a half-sister, model turned bounty hunter Domino Harvey — will take place on Saturday.
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