Tawny Kitaen Revealed Plans for Autobiography Prior To Her Passing

Tawny Kitaen--who passed away at the age of 59 this weekend--was in the midst of writing an autobiography prior to her death.

In one of her last interviews, Kitaen –famed for appearing in several Whitesnake videos–told podcaster David Yontef of “Behind the Velvet Rope” that she wanted her life to be accurately portrayed, and the only way to do so was to paper and do it herself, “”Even if I only sell two copies.”

“I’m in the middle of writing a book right now because if I don’t write my life story, somebody else is going to, and they’re going to do it off of sound clips that aren’t true and aren’t real about me,” she said.. “So, it’s really, really important that I get my book out.”

Kitaen died at her home in Newport Beach last Friday (May 7).

Her children, Wynter and Raine, issued a statement on the morning of May 8 via their mother’s Instagram account which read, in part: “We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom. … We miss her and love her and we know her legacy will live on forever.”

Kitaen’s rock world debut came in 1983 when she appeared on the cover of back-to-back albums by heavy metal band RATT, including the band’s self-titled 1983 debut and the triple-platinum “Out of the Cellar, in 1984. Kitaen was dating RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby at the time. Kitaen appeared in RATT’s “Back for More” music video and later became the video vixen best known for her appearance in Whitesnake’s 1987 smash “Here I Go Again,” where she displayed her talent for car hood acrobatics. “Still of the Night,” “Is This Love” and “The Deeper the Love” also featured Kitaen, who was briefly married to Whitesnake’s lead singer, David Coverdale, from 1989 to 1991.

She additionally starred opposite Tom Hanks in 1984’s “Bachelor Party.”

he had additional roles in “Witchboard,” “White Hot” and “Dead Tides” and also appeared in a “Seinfeld” episode, “The Nose Job.”

In more recent years, Kitaen participated in several reality shows, including “The Surreal Life,” “Botched” and a season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” the latter of which filmed in 2008.

Kitaen had long struggled with substance abuse, as she revealed on “Celebrity Rehab,” and had several run-ins with the law, including a charge for cocaine possession in 2006 and driving under the influence in 2009.