Christina Applegate Mourns Former Beau's Death

Police are looking into the sudden death of 26-year-old Lee Grivas, whom the actress called "an incredible human being"

By Natalie Finn, Claudia Rosenbaum, Matt Donnelly Jul 03, 2008 11:50 PMTags
Christina ApplegateLisa O'Connor/ZUMA Press

Some very sad news for Christina Applegate.

E! News has confirmed that an investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the death of 26-year-old Lee Grivas, an aspiring photographer who had been dating the Samantha Who? star off and on for more than two years.

"I am profoundly saddened," Applegate said in a statement to E! News.

"Lee was an incredible human being who was an extremely important and beautiful part of my life. He is missed beyond words. He touched so many and I feel much sadness for his mother, brother and all of his family and friends."

The Los Angeles Police Department said that a report was filed July 1 but would not divulge any further details, pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests.

"All I confirm is that a death report investigation for Lee Grivas has been taken," Officer Julie Sohn said.

Authorities have also said, however, that Grivas had a history of drug abuse and that an officer found a syringe at the scene.

TMZ.com reported that a neighbor discoverd Grivas' body on the living room floor of his Hollywood apartment on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at 5:25 p.m.

According to published reports, Applegate started seeing Grivas in January 2006, a year after husband Jonathan Schaech filed for divorce. At the time, she was starring in a Broadway revival of Sweet Charity.

They reportedly split later that year but had been seeing each other again over the last few months.

"We're very happy with each other," Grivas told People in 2006. "I like making her smile and she likes making me smile. It's really innocent and fun."