Taylor Armstrong Reveals the Truth Behind Russell’s Suicide

Taylor Armstrong reveals she's not returning to RHOC for season 18

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Taylor Armstrong is opening up about the death of her late husband, Russell Armstrong.

On the August 3 episode of SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, Taylor Armstrong opened up about Russell Armstrong‘s 2011 suicide, which aired on season 3 of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

To start, Taylor Armstrong reveals that the day after she discovered Russell’s body in his Los Angeles home, Russell’s business, Alan Schram, was also found dead of an apparent suicide.

RHOBH alums Taylor Armstrong and Russell Armstrong

“I’m not sure exactly what day [Russell] ended up taking his life, but … that same day is when his business partner took his life,” Taylor explained.

Jeff Lewis then peppered Taylor Armstrong with questions about Russell’s death.

“Is it possible that they were in business with the wrong people?” Jeff asked, to which Taylor replied, “There’s a lot of speculation that that was the case.”

“Okay, and is it possible that both of these men could have taken their own lives to protect their families?” Jeff followed up.

The Real Housewives of Orange County friend admitted she believed that to be true, telling Jeff, “I think that’s highly likely as well.”

Taylor Armstrong and Russell Armstrong with their daughter Kennedy

During her time on RHOBH, Taylor was plagued by rumors of financial issues and domestic violence. Taylor later confirmed that Russell physically abused her. In July 2011, Taylor filed for divorce, citing verbal and physical abuse as the reason for the split. On August 15, 2011, Russell died by suicide at the age of 47.

Taylor Armstrong at WWHL

Taylor found Russell’s hanging body in the home he rented on Mulholland Drive. Upon Russell’s death, Taylor was left to clean up the mess he left behind, which included a $1.5 million lawsuit. To settle the lawsuit, Taylor had to turn over her 10-carat yellow diamond engagement ring, valued at $251,000, as well as two of her Hermès Birkin bags, which wound up being fake.

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.

Thoughts on this all? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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3 comments

Donna April 15, 2025 - 7:00 pm
She knew nothing about why he did it, the headline is a lie.
Lisa Barlow’s Cankles August 18, 2023 - 5:16 pm
She should have returned all her implants to him in the divorce settlement
Steve August 8, 2023 - 3:16 pm
Just more rumors about what happened -- 12 years ago! Let the past remain in the past. Especially so gruesome of a past.
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