Tawny Kitaen, 59, was ’80s rock video star

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Tawny Kitaen, the sultry red-haired actress who appeared in rock music videos during the heyday of MTV, has died. She was 59.

The Orange County coroner’s office said she died at her home in Newport Beach on Friday. The cause of death was not released.

Kitaen became the rock world’s “video vixen” after appearing on the cover of two albums by the heavy metal band Ratt and starring in several music videos for Whitesnake, including the 1987 smash song “Here I Go Again.”

She also starred as the fiancee to Tom Hanks’ character in the 1984 comedy “Bachelor Party,” and as Jerry Seinfeld’s girlfriend in a 1991 episode of “Seinfeld.”

Other TV credits included a stint as co-host of “America’s Funniest People” and on the reality shows “The Surreal Life” and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” in which she revealed her struggle with substance abuse.

Kitaen had a tumultuous personal life, including marriages to Whitesnake’s lead singer, David Coverdale; and to baseball pitcher Chuck Finley, with whom she had two daughters.