Tina Turner's firstborn son Craig Turner found dead from suicide aged 59

  • Craig Raymond Turner was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, aged 59, at his home in Studio City, California on Tuesday
  • Mother Tina was just 18 when she gave birth to Craig, whose father was a saxophonist named Raymond Hill
  • Tina later married Ike Turner, who adopted her son and gave him his name
  • The What's Love Got to Do with It singer said Craig, who had seen his mom get abused by Ike Snr., was 'a very emotional kid'
  • Tina was seen attending Paris Fashion Week just a few short hours before her son was found dead

Tina Turner's oldest son Craig Raymond Turner has committed suicide.

Craig was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, aged 59, at his home in Studio City, California on Tuesday, TMZ reports.

Craig was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.38pm and Los Angeles County coroner's office assistant chief Ed Winter confirmed his death was being reported as suicide, although the official autopsy is pending.

His famous mother Tina, 78, who was seen attending Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week just a few short hours before her son was found dead, was just 18 when she gave birth to Craig, whose father was a saxophonist named Raymond Hill.

Tina later married Ike Turner, who adopted her son and gave him his name. 

Craig, who studied at Santa Monica College, was in real estate at Rodeo Realty, in the San Fernando Valley. He does not appear to have any children or be married at his time of death. 

Tina has not yet made an official statement about Craig's death.

Tina Turner's oldest son Craig Raymond Turner (pictured with her) has committed suicide, according to reports

Tina Turner's oldest son Craig Raymond Turner (pictured with her) has committed suicide, according to reports

His famous mother Tina (pictured Tuesday at Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week ) was just 18 when she gave birth to Craig, whose father was a saxophonist named Raymond Hill

His famous mother Tina (pictured Tuesday at Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week ) was just 18 when she gave birth to Craig, whose father was a saxophonist named Raymond Hill

Craig (pictured) who studied at Santa Monica College, was in real estate at Rodeo Realty, in the San Fernando Valley

Craig (pictured) who studied at Santa Monica College, was in real estate at Rodeo Realty, in the San Fernando Valley

The 'Proud Mary' singer has four children: her son Craig, and Ronnie, 57, her and Ike's only child together, as well as Ike's two children from his first marriage who Tina adopted when they married in 1962; Ike Jnr, 59, and Michael, 58.

In May 2005, Tina told Oprah her eldest, who had seen his mom get abused by Ike Snr., was 'a very emotional kid'. 

'They saw the black eyes. Ike's children never reacted, but my oldest son, Craig, was a very emotional kid. He'd always look down in sadness.

'One day when Ike was fighting me, Craig knocked on the door and said, "Mother, are you all right?"

'I thought, "Oh, please, don't beat me at home." I didn't want my children to hear.

'I tried to have meals with the children, talk to them about life. But Ike had no sense of that. He'd always come home late from the studio. It was awful.' 

Ike Senior and Tina Turner pose for a portrait with their sons in 1972. Clockwise from bottom left: Michael Turner, Ike Turner Jr, Ike Turner, Craig Hill and Ronnie Turner

Ike Senior and Tina Turner pose for a portrait with their sons in 1972. Clockwise from bottom left: Michael Turner, Ike Turner Jr, Ike Turner, Craig Hill and Ronnie Turner

In May 2005, Tina told Oprah her eldest was 'a very emotional kid' after he watched his mom get abused by then husband Ike Turner (pictured with her in 1963)

In May 2005, Tina told Oprah her eldest was 'a very emotional kid' after he watched his mom get abused by then husband Ike Turner (pictured with her in 1963)

Craig's biological father Raymond Hill (top row, second from the left ) was in Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm band, pictured in 1956 

Craig's biological father Raymond Hill (top row, second from the left ) was in Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm band, pictured in 1956 

Tina said she only left Ike after Craig graduated from high school. 

The turbulent story of Ike and Tina is part of music history. The drug addict son of a Mississippi preacher, Ike regularly beat up Tina until, after 16 years, she fled in the middle of the night in a bloodstained white suit with just 36 cents in her pocket.

She has lived in Switzerland since 1994 with German music producer Erwin Bach. The couple married five years ago.

Ike Jnr. said his mother had all but abandoned her kids after the move overseas, although he said they were looked after financially.

'My mother is living her life – she has a new husband and she's in Europe. She doesn't want to have anything to do with the past.'

According to Ike Jnr, Tina, 78, has distanced herself from the part of her life spent with his father and has cut herself off from her children.

Craig Turner also had a few celebrity friends through his mom, including Oprah (pictured with him here)

Craig Turner also had a few celebrity friends through his mom, including Oprah (pictured with him here)

Craig appears to have remained close to his famous mother (pictured hugging her in a picture posted in 2015)

Craig appears to have remained close to his famous mother (pictured hugging her in a picture posted in 2015)

She has lived in Switzerland since 1994 with German music producer Erwin Bach. The couple married five years ago

She has lived in Switzerland since 1994 with German music producer Erwin Bach. The couple married five years ago

Ike Jnd said the last he knew, Craig was doing OK. Their other brother Michael is reportedly in a convalescent home in Southern California.

Ike and Tina were always absent parents, he claimed.

'We were raised by housekeepers because my mother and father were gone 11 months out of a year.

'My father took me out of school at 13. I ended up running his recording studio, plus going on the road with them. They made a lot of money on tour and my father used to make me count it until my hands were grey.' 

For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here

For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here

For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here

 

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Tina Turner's son Craig Turner found dead from suicide aged 59