Usually on show nights, Danny Gans joined his band and crew for a short prayer.
But on Friday night, for the first time in years, they prayed without him. They held each others’ hands — tight, so tight — a circle of 16 in the Green Room, near scores of framed photos of Gans posing with old Vegas (George Burns, Bob Hope, Ray Charles) and new Hollywood (Paula Abdul, Tito Martinez, Ben Stiller.) The 52-year-old impressionist died at his Henderson home early Friday. The cause of death is unknown. Police conducted a death investigation at the home Friday morning following department procedure, and Henderson police spokesman Todd Rasmussen said investigators don’t believe foul play was a factor in Gans’ death. Rasmussen said police received a call about 3:45 a.m. from a woman inside the home in the exclusive Roma Hills gated community off of Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. The woman said that a 52-year-old male was having breathing problems. When officers and paramedics arrived they found the man unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A Clark County coroner’s office spokesperson said an autopsy was performed on Gans’ body Friday. The cause of death is unknown pending toxicology studies, which could take between two to four weeks. Gans’ manager Chip Lightman texted with Gans on Thursday.
“Everything seemed fine. The only difference was, on his day off, he would usually run errands and stuff, and he was exhausted. He hadn’t slept well the night before. He laid down in the late afternoon.”