Frank Dileo, former manager and confidante of Michael Jackson, has died. He was 63.
The long-time Epic Records exec began overseeing Jackson's career after the game-changing release of 1984's Thriller. He was executive producer of Jackson's movie Moonwalker and helped negotiate the singer's commercial mega-deal with Pepsi. Dileo and MJ split in 1989, but DiLeo was at the pop star's side during the his 2005 child molestation trial. Rumors emerged in 2009 that DiLeo was working with MJ again in his final days.

DiLeo has also appeared in several movies, including GoodFellas and the Wayne's World franchise.

In a statement released yesterday, DiLeo is remembered as a "legendary, iconic and highly respected music industry figure." He died between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Boardman, Ohio, due to complications from a heart surgery he had undergone six months ago. 

DiLeo is survived by his wife, two children and a grandson. Services will be held in Pittsburgh next week.

(Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)