Pop music icon Michael Jackson dead at 50

LOS ANGELES, June 25 (UPI) -- Pop star Michael Jackson died in Los Angeles Thursday after falling into a deep coma, his family said. He was 50.

Jackson had gone into full cardiac arrest at his home and paramedics were unable to revive the eccentric entertainer known as the King of Pop, the entertainment news Web site TMZ said. Emergency workers reportedly performed CPR on him in the ambulance as he was transported to UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Citing law enforcement sources, the Los Angeles Times said robbery-homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances of the performer's death, even though there was no evidence of wrongdoing. The Los Angeles County coroner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine how the father of three children died.

TMZ said the post-mortem exam is to be performed Friday.

A large crowd had gathered outside UCLA Medical Center and continued to grow throughout the afternoon.

Jackson's brother, Jermaine, told reporters at the hospital that medical personnel worked hard to save Michael's life.

"His personal physician, who was with him (at the house) at the time, attempted to resuscitate my brother, as did paramedics," Jermaine Jackson said. "A team of highly skilled doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but were unsuccessful."

Michael Jackson, who is said to have suffered myriad health problems, was slated to start a 50-date residency at London's O2 arena next month. The concert series was widely viewed as his comeback with millions of people clamoring to buy tickets to the gigs, which were to be his first full concerts in nearly a decade.

The Indiana native and youngest member of the family pop group the Jackson Five grew up to enjoy a successful solo career with hits like "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean." His moonwalk dance, military-style costumes and glittery glove also helped cement his place in pop-culture history.

Jackson's career was later overshadowed, however, by reports of bizarre behavior and excessive plastic surgery, as well as numerous legal and financial problems. He was plagued by child molestation accusations, but never convicted of abusing youngsters. He has maintained a relatively low profile in recent years.

The recording artist with the trademark falsetto voice is survived by his children -- Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II; his parents Joe and Katherine Jackson; and his siblings Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet Jackson.

Two marriages, to singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley and former dermatologist nurse Deborah Rowe, ended in divorce.