Sam Rubin, a journalist for the television station KTLA 5 in Los Angeles whose morning interviews with celebrities became requisite viewing for much of the entertainment industry and who endeared himself to Hollywood insiders with his geniality and knowledge of their work, died on Friday. He was 64.
Mr. Rubin’s death was announced by a KTLA anchor, Frank Buckley. A tribute segment that aired on the station said the cause was a heart attack.
In an industry known for its changing names and evolving trends, Mr. Rubin was for decades a mainstay for viewers across the city and an interview with him was considered a rite of passage for many stars.
His ability to make celebrities feel comfortable as he asked them about their craft spanned generations.
Although it was clear that Mr. Rubin was immersed in the minutiae of his beat, part of his enduring appeal came from the antics he himself brought to the studio and his ability to change the pace of what could be a rote interview.
“Is it shampoo and conditioner, or just shampoo — what is the hair regimen, Jared?” he said in an interview with the actor Jared Leto.
“You know, my friend, it’s a toupee,” Mr. Leto said.
It was clear that Hollywood’s biggest names had an affection for Mr. Rubin. They often appeared at ease and familial under the KTLA studio lights, as though they were speaking with an old friend.
Mr. Rubin could be seen on a red carpet, genially shaking Tom Hanks’s hand as the movie star shouted “Sam Rubin, ladies and gentleman!” or interviewing Billie Eilish about the Oscars or dancing with Beyoncé and the members of Destiny’s Child when the group was still together.
On social media, many in the industry reflected on their interactions with Mr. Rubin.
“Even if I was on my 85th interview that day, I was always happy to see Sam,” the actor Ryan Reynolds wrote. “Even if HE was on his 85th interview that day, he always brought genuine kindness, curiosity and an outside the box question.”
Sam Rubin was born on Feb. 16, 1960, in San Diego, according to The Los Angeles Times. He attended Occidental College in Los Angeles and earned a degree in American studies and rhetoric.
After working as a correspondent for several local outlets covering entertainment news, Mr. Rubin joined KTLA in 1991 and quickly made a name for himself with his unexpected questions and easy charm.
Mr. Rubin won multiple Emmy Awards for his coverage, and a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association. He used his celebrity acumen as co-author of two celebrity biographies, one about the former first lady Jacqueline Onassis, and another on the actress Mia Farrow.
The entertainment that Mr. Rubin offered was not confined to the KTLA studio. He was the co-owner of SRE, Inc., a production company that aired broadcast and cable programs like “Live From” red carpet events and the talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”
Mr. Rubin is survived by his wife, Leslie Gale Shuman, and four children, according to The Los Angeles Times.
In his last interview on Thursday, Mr. Rubin spoke with the actress Jane Seymour.
After learning of Mr. Rubin’s death, the actor Henry Winkler spoke to KTLA about the legacy that he left behind.
“When you were being interviewed by him, there was nobody after you, there was nobody before you at that desk,” Mr. Winkler said. “It was you in that seat, and that was all that mattered.”
