Artist and writer Sebastian Horsley was found dead today from a suspected heroin overdose.
Horsley, 47, was discovered by his girlfriend at his flat in Meard Street, Soho, central London.
The artist is perhaps best known for being "crucified" without painkillers in the Philippines while being filmed.
He has written extensively about his dysfunctional family, addiction to heroin and crack cocaine, sex, and his use of prostitutes.
His death comes only days after a play, Dandy In The Underworld, based on his own memoir, opened at the Soho Theatre.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called to an incident at 11am in Meard Street, Soho. A 47-year-old male was found deceased. Death is being treated as unexplained. Next of kin have been informed."
In 2007 a London gallery staged a retrospective of Horsley's work titled Hookers, Dealers, Tailors.
The writer was once deported from the United States on the grounds of "moral turpitude".
Describing himself, he once said: "I am stretched out on the bed like a swastika and I like Germany. And why not? I am half-Byronic, half-moronic; part-shaman, part-showman; half-Nazi, half-Liberace."