Russell Armstrong Spent Over $60k On Taylor's Birthday Just Weeks Before Suicide
Aug. 23 2011, Published 9:00 a.m. ET
Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong had one heck of a 40th birthday bash.
Sources exclusively tell RadarOnline.com that her late husband Russell Armstrong pulled out all the stops for her 40th a few weeks ago, leaving no expense overlooked and dropping more than $60,000 for a special party at Beachers Madhouse at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.
"It was a very intimate party with a select group of people," an insider reveals. "On the surface both Taylor and Russell looked happy and were all smiles. He was very attentive to her, maybe even more than usual and I found that to be a bit odd. He followed her around and was by her side the entire time.
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"It was also very strange Russell was throwing money around like water given their known financial troubles. He spent thousands on expensive tables with bottle service and at the end of the night he turned heads when he presented Taylor with an amazing diamond tennis bracelet! It was a very grand and expensive gesture."
The source tells RadarOnline.com that Russell was in charge of the guest list and only extended invitations to co-stars Kyle Richards (who was out of town) and Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd; none of the other RHOBH ladies made the cut.
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"I was surprised that Kyle, Lisa and Ken were the only ones invited from the show," the source adds. "People were inquiring about the other ladies but didn't want to ruin Taylor's night. Lisa and Taylor were chummy and getting along great. It was good time.
"David Arquette was there and jokingly yelled 'get the housewives out of our house,'" the source adds. "That made everyone laugh."
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Russell committed suicide by hanging himself, and his body was found at a friend's house in Los Angeles on August 15.
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