Remembering Francesca Cappucci; Entertainment Reporter Dies at 64

Posted by Tamela Phillippe on Thursday, May 2, 2024

Francesca Cappucci, former entertainment reporter at KABC-TV, passed away recently at the age of 64. 

She was renowned for her passion and enthusiasm for reporting about Hollywood’s goings-on. 

In particular, she stood out when acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino acknowledged her by creatively naming a glamorous Italian starlet after her in his film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. 

During an interview, Ms. Cappucci expressed how this blew her away. 

Francesca Cappucci, who led an active and healthy lifestyle, never smoked or did drugs in her life. Despite this, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in July 2020. 

Ian Lyndon, her oldest son, described his mother’s case as an “extreme shock” because of the unexpectedness of it all. 

He remembered her as an advocate for wellness who ran and exercised every day despite being in her seventies. 

Consequently, the impact Francesca left on those around her due to her kindness and sense of compassion will be fondly remembered as she is laid to rest at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

Cappucci began her career as a professional broadcaster in Los Angeles. A veteran of KIQQ’s morning drive show, Cappucci went on to make waves at KABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News, appearing on their morning and afternoon editions for a decade. 

Notably, during her time at KABC she interviewed some of music’s eldest icons such as Rod Stewart, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson; a testament to her skills as an interviewer. 

After a long career in broadcasting that spanned over three decades, today family members have announced Francesca’s untimely passing.

During her tenure at KABC, Francesca Cappucci interviewed celebrated musicians such as Rod Stewart, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. 

After Ian was born, she left the station, but made sure to remain involved in the entertainment industry by collaborating with her son on his 2018 short film Not Me – a project which starred future Netflix Outer Banks star Rudy Pankow and was presented in several film festivals. 

Francesca Cappucci’s remarkable talent was undeniable—Cappucci was recruited to portray news reporters in high-profile projects such as The Colbys, Columbo, 7th Heaven, The Practice, and Charmed. 

Her career even extended to films, with her playing a reporter in 1997’s Beverly Hills Ninja. While Cappucci is no longer with us, she is survived by her sons Ian and Will, her brother Rafael, sister Isabella. 

Beyond her sons, siblings and ex-husband Gordon Fordyce, Francesca was also close to her cherished friends Kim Kelly, Diana Browne and Meredith Brooks.

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