AceShowbiz -

"Iron Chef America" star Kerry Simon died at the age of 60 after a two-year fight against brain disease Multiple System Atrophy. The so-called Rock 'n' Roll chef passed away on Friday, September 11 at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

Simon appeared in two installments of "Iron Chef". He was defeated on "Iron Chef USA" in 2001 but won in the second season of Food Network's "Iron Chef America" in 2005. He also made a guest appearance on "Hell's Kitchen". Simon owned restaurants in Las Vegas and co-found Simon Hospitality Group, a restaurant management company which oversees four restaurants.

Former host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" Robin Leach wrote an obituary for the chef, noting that Simon led a healthy life which excluded smoke and alcohol. He fought for the "Parkinson's on steroids" disease while bound to his wheelchair. He had around-the-clock nursing care while continuing to work on his memoir as well as on new eateries.

Simon contracted pneumonia two weeks ago and went into a coma. He had two Tibetan monks saying bedside prayers as he slipped away at the hospice. "...I can add that Kerry's final wish would be that you, too, join the Fight MSA group that he founded here in his culinary home of Las Vegas," Leach wrote.

Simon's book, co-penned by food writer Al Mancini, will be published next year and some of the proceeds will go to MSA research.