Who was Harry Morton? Peter Morton’s son tragically passed away at 38

Actress-model Rebecca Gayheart was spotted kissing billionaire Peter Morton outside of an Italian restaurant, E-Baldi, in Beverly Hills, on December 3. According to E! Online, they were on a date night.

While the pair hasn’t officially confirmed their relationship status, they have been rumored to be dating since 2023. They are often captured on camera together, including at this year’s Chanel and Charles Finch-hosted pre-Oscar dinner party in March.

Peter Morton has been married twice. He shared his late son, Harry Morton, with his first wife, former British model Paulene Stone. The marriage lasted from 1980 to 1986.

Harry Morton was a restaurateur and the founder/ owner of the Los Angeles-based Mexican food chain, Pink Taco. He suffered a “sudden cardiac death” in November 2019, according to his family’s statement at the time. He was 38.

Peter Morton, 78, also has two children from his second marriage (1990-1997) to Tarlton Pauley.

As for Rebecca Gayheart, 54, she shares two kids, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with his estranged husband, actor Eric Dane.

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All about Peter Morton’s late son

Peter Morton’s eldest child, Harry Morton, was born in Chatterton, Lancashire, England, in April 1981. He was a third-generation restaurateur. His grandfather, Arnie Morton, founded the Morton’s Restaurant Group, also known as Morton’s The Steakhouse. Peter Morton, himself, was the co-founder of the globally popular Hard Rock Café chain (established in 1971) with Isaac Burton Tigrett.

Harry Morton was the owner of the nightclub The Viper Room on Sunset Strip, Hollywood. According to Vice, he once described it as a:

“neglected child that needed some polishing.”

In 1999, Harry founded Pink Taco inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (owned by Peter Morton until 2006), which soon expanded to LA, Boston, and Chicago. Years later, in April 2016, he sold his business to the private equity management firm Z Capital Partners; however, he continued to serve as its creative director.

Harry Morton spoke to Haute Living in 2012 and expressed a wish to “change the name” of Pink Taco.

“It started off as a funny idea. It was a joke at the time. But now we pride ourselves on our ability to evolve, and the food speaks for itself. The name isn’t even provocative anymore; it’s almost cliché. If we kept trying to play that hand, it would be boring. The name is what it is. But at least it’s catchy and internationally known,” he stated.

Peter Morton’s son was known for his reported romances with certain A-listers. He was also friends with Ashton Kutcher, Oliver Hudson, Luke Wilson, and Tara Reid, who all attended his 2002 birthday bash in Sin City.

Until his demise, Harry Morton lived at his $25.46 million mansion in Beverly Hills, which was earlier owned by his father and previously owned by Elvis Presley. The late restaurateur was a volunteer sheriff’s deputy with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department and became the 2018 Reserve Deputy of the Year.

Six years ago, on November 23, Harry Morton was found unresponsive at his home by a family member and later declared dead on the scene. The LA County Coroner’s Office said there was no foul play.

Back then, his stepbrother, Matthew Morton, issued a statement on Instagram. He wrote that his brother, who “taught me everything growing up,” passed away from a “sudden cardiac death” and urged others to “go and get a heart scan.”

Sharing several pictures of them together over the years, Matthew continued:

"Harry is that rare person who means so much to so many people in so many different ways, but to no one, could he be more meaningful than he has been to his little brother. Pretty much everything that’s good inside me comes from a lesson I learned along the way from Harry."

Matthew concluded by writing: "He paved the way for me to become the person I am today. I could never have asked for a better teacher or a better friend."

Peter Morton’s other son wrote on social media that he spoke to his late brother on the morning of his death and had dinner with him the night before. Harry’s last words to him were “love you, frere.” Matthew said he was “eternally grateful” to have spent so much time with him and urged everyone to give their siblings a “big squeeze” and tell them how much they mean to them.

The New York Post also reported that Harry Morton had undiagnosed coronary artery disease. The family, in its official statement, added that Harry had:

"Calcification in three main arteries and suffered… an unexpected death caused by loss of heart function."

In the aftermath of Harry Morton’s death, Pink Taco representative Tim Ragones told USA Today:

“Harry was a visionary and restaurateur ahead of his time, and his contributions, both professionally to our brand and personally to those he worked with, were numerous. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Peter Morton’s brother, Michael Morton, is also a restaurateur. Meanwhile, Harry Morton’s maternal half-sister, Domino Harvey, preceded him in death and succumbed to a drug overdose in July 2005, at the age of 39.

The 2021 movie, The King’s Man, paid tribute to Peter Morton’s late son in the post-credit scene, calling him a “true gentleman who led by example.”

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Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane married in 2004 and separated in 2018. That same year, Gayheart filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” However, in March 2025, she withdrew her divorce petition.

Last month, the Once Upon A Time in Hollywood actress appeared on the Broad Ideas podcast and told hosts Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen that she and her kids have been supporting Dane through his ALS diagnosis.

“I am trying to show them that we show up for people no matter what. He is our family. He is your father. We show up and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it. We will get through it the best we can,” Rebecca stated in the November 17 episode.

Meanwhile, Eric Dane, 53, has been dating filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff and attended the June premiere of his latest project, Countdown, in Los Angeles. He appeared on Good Morning America earlier this year and shared that he’d become “better friends and better parents” with Gayheart, adding she’s his “biggest champion” and “most stalwart supporter.”