Son of Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle found dead in Beverly Hills home

The son of Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle was found dead Monday night at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., the team confirmed.

Andrew Burkle was 27.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Andrew Burkle’s passing and offer our deepest condolences to Ron and his family,” Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux said in a statement released by the team. “Drew was a bright, creative, energetic young man with a dynamic future ahead of him. Everyone in our organization knows that he was such a big part of his Dad’s life, and one of the many things they shared together was their love of Penguins hockey. My friend Ron knows that we are here if he needs us. Our hearts are heavy.”

A spokesperson for the Beverly Hills police told People magazine the department received a call just before 7:30 p.m. for an unconscious man on Spalding Drive. First responders arrived and found Andrew Burkle dead at the scene.

Heavy.com noted that Burkle’s home is across the street from The Beverly Hilton hotel where the Golden Globes ceremony had been held the night before.

The Burkle family released a statement to People confirming the death.

“Andrew was known as a young man full of life and entrepreneurial energy,” the statement said. “Everyone he met commented on his humble demeanor and hard work.”

The family declined further comment, according to People.

Beverly Hills police could not immediately be reached for comment, and a cause and manner of death has not yet been released.

“I knew Drew Burkle since he was a little boy and my grief and sadness at this sudden news is hard to describe,” Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse said in a prepared statement. “I never met anyone with such a kind heart, gentle spirit and humility, all wrapped up in love and respect for his dad. He was a young man so full of life, so full of energy. He will be missed.”

People reported that Andrew Burkle is thought to have died early Monday, and his father rushed to the home while police were still on scene.

Ron Burkle is co-founder of Yucaipa Companies, a private equity and venture capital firm. He reportedly invested $20 million in the Penguins when he and Lemieux, along with dozens of minority owners, bought the franchise out of bankruptcy in 1999 for $107 million.

Andrew Burkle’s Internet Movie Database page lists him as a producer and actor for the 2019 movies “The Juiceman” and “Airplane Mode” and the 1998 “Breakfast with Einstein.”