Hairstylist Paul Mitchell’s son Angus Mitchell has died at the age of 53 at his Honolulu, Hawaii home in what authorities are investigating as a drowning.
Police sources on Wednesday told TMZ that they were contacted around 6 a.m. Wednesday about a possible drowning.
Authorities told the outlet that Angus had been ‘pronounced dead at the scene,’ and they have not yet released a cause of death.
The shocking death comes after Angus appeared to be at a gathering with friends Tuesday, in a clip shared to his Instagram Stories.
Angus was a partial owner of his father’s haircare company John Paul Mitchell Systems, which he inherited upon Paul Mitchell’s passing from pancreatic cancer in April of 1989, also at the age of 53.
Hairstylist Paul Mitchell’s son Angus Mitchell has died at the age of 53 at his Honolulu, Hawaii home in what authorities are investigating as a drowning. Pictured in LA in 2023
Angus was pictured in a retro shot with his father Paul Mitchell, who was also 53 when he died from pancreatic cancer in April of 1989
Angus followed in his father’s business path in the beauty industry, opening up his own establishment, the Angus Mitchell Salon, in 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.
He was also involved in his company’s men’s focused line MITCH, serving as a model and spokesperson for the subsidiary.
Angus was married to wife Mara Gourdine at his time of death, according to the outlet. He was previously wed to Michelle Raab; and Sian, who he shares son Dylan, eight, with.
On his final Instagram post Sunday, he posed in a family shot with his mother Jolina Mitchell, wife and son, wishing his followers a happy new year.
He captioned the post: ‘Who’s ready to wrap 2023 and head into the new year?! Cheers to 2024 from my family to yours #nye #celebration #kobeyear.’
A number of people chimed in with condolences in the comment section of the post in the wake of his passing.
One person said, ‘Rest In Peace Angus. Thoughts and prayers with his loved ones.’
Another person said, ‘Happy heavenly new year, Angus,’ with a broken heart emoji, while another person described Angus as ‘one of kindest souls.’
Police sources on Wednesday told TMZ that they were contacted around 6 a.m. Wednesday about a possible drowning
Angus (L) was pictured celebrating the New Year with friends in a post shared by his friend Kaori Kawabuchi
The shocking death comes after Angus appeared to be at a gathering with friends Tuesday, in a clip shared to his Instagram Stories
Angus posed with his mother Jolina, wife Mara and son Dylan in a post wishing followers a happy new year
On his final Instagram post Sunday, a family shot wishing his followers a happy new year, a number of people chimed in with condolences in the comment section
Another user said, ‘Very sad to see this. Same age as his dad when he passed. Sending Aloha to his family.’
Said one person, ‘I’m Heartbroken. Angus you were a genuine light in this world and an inspiration to so many. My sincere condolences to your family, the entire Paul Mitchell family and to the entire hair community. God bless you and give your Dad a hug for us.’
One user said, ‘I’m so sorry you left earth so early. Fly high Angus.’
Angus had been recognized for both his work and philanthropic efforts, the outlet reported, with honors including Be magazine’s #1 Platform Artist, a day in his honor in the city of Beverly Hills, and a trio of awards from the Alternative Hair Show, which raises funds for cancer research.
In an October 2021 news release from the Environmental Media Awards, Angus was credited ‘as an advocate for human rights, ecological preservation, and environmental research.’
In the release following the organization’s Green Carpet Environmental Media Awards, which was held at his Van Nuys, California venue Gearbox LA, Mitchell said ‘EMA’s mission is to provide a unified voice for our planet through entertainment, storytelling, and education.
‘I am honored to have played a part in getting to celebrate these positive, forward-thinking, solution-oriented efforts and couldn’t think of a better way to ring in my next year of life!’
According to a biography on the Paul Mitchell brand’s UK website, Angus’s father Paul was born Cyril Thomson Mitchell in Carnwath, Scotland in 1936, and ‘decided to follow in his mother’s footsteps and enrolled at the Morris School of Hairdressing in London’s West End.’
Angus and his son Dylan, eight, were pictured at an LA Clippers game December 3
Angus posed in a picture with his mother Jolina that she posted on Mother’s Day 2022
Angus and his wife Mara Gourdine were pictured at an event in LA in September of 2020
He changed his name to Paul Mitchell – a nickname from his boss – when he began working at the Mayfair salon The Park Lane.
Paul would go on to work with late hair care icon Vidal Sassoon, who said of his then-apprentice: ‘He had great style. He had something terribly special. He could inspire people.’
Paul would go on to work at Crimpers Salon at New York City’s Bendel’s department store, according to the bio.
In 1970, he and wife welcomed Angus and in 1971, he formed a friendship with businessman John Paul DeJoria, who he would subsequently form a lucrative business partnership with.
Upon his 1989 passing, the bio read, Angus inherited his share of the business.