Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Ali Aga Khan Embiricos |
| Also known as | Andrew Embiricos |
| Born | 1986 (commonly reported) |
| Died | Early December 2011 (age 25), New York City |
| Residence | Chelsea, Manhattan, New York |
| Education | Fordham University (Psychology) |
| Occupation | Early-career professional in sales; volunteer/participant in Alzheimer’s-related initiatives |
| Parents | Princess Yasmin Aga Khan (mother); Basil Embiricos (father) |
| Maternal grandparents | Rita Hayworth; Prince Aly Khan |
| Known for | Lineage linking Hollywood (Hayworth), the Aga Khan family, and the Embiricos shipping tradition |
| Manner of death (public reporting) | Reported as an apparent suicide; initial autopsy described as inconclusive while testing was pending |
A Family Tied to Cinema, Philanthropy, and History
Andrew Ali Aga Khan Embiricos was born into a family where surnames read like chapters of 20th‑century history. His maternal grandmother, Rita Hayworth, symbolized Golden Age Hollywood’s glamour; his maternal grandfather, Prince Aly Khan, connected him to the venerable Aga Khan lineage; his father, Basil Embiricos, stood in the long shadow of a Greek shipping dynasty. His mother, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, forged a modern path—global philanthropy, tireless Alzheimer’s advocacy, and the Rita Hayworth Gala—work that helped frame Andrew’s sense of service.
His life was not lived on red carpets but in classrooms, city streets, and volunteer rooms. The family’s stage was global, but Andrew’s own spotlight was small and often private. Still, the family names around him—Hayworth, Aga Khan, Embiricos—formed a constellation that ensured his story would never be entirely off the public map.
Early Life and Education
Born in the mid‑1980s and raised amid transatlantic influences, Andrew came of age with New York as a compass. He attended Fordham University and studied psychology, a discipline that suggests a curiosity about people and an inclination toward understanding minds and motives rather than commanding attention. Friends and brief profiles described him as cultured and social, more at ease in conversation than in publicity.
The dates tell their own story: Rita Hayworth died in 1987, when Andrew was a toddler, yet her presence lingered through the work of his mother and the gala that bore her name. The shadow of fame never quite left the room—but it didn’t define him, either.
Early Career and Service
After university, Andrew stepped into an early-career role in sales while maintaining connections to his mother’s charitable endeavors. That mix—young professional by day, volunteer or supporter by night—was hardly unusual in New York. It placed him among the thousands who stitch the city together: recent graduates finding their footing, moving between jobs and causes, building adult identities with fragile resolve.
He became known within a modest circle for showing up where it mattered—charity events, research-linked initiatives, and family occasions—without seeking a marquee of his own. The famous surname might draw a camera, but his contributions tended to be quieter.
A Brief Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Birth of Andrew Ali Aga Khan Embiricos (commonly reported year). |
| 1987 | Death of grandmother Rita Hayworth; family’s Alzheimer’s advocacy expands in ensuing years. |
| Mid‑2000s | Fordham University studies in psychology. |
| Late 2000s | Early-career roles in sales and participation in Alzheimer’s-related efforts. |
| December 2011 | Found deceased at his Chelsea apartment; age 25. Initial public reporting referred to an apparent suicide; early autopsy described as inconclusive pending further tests. |
The Final Days and Public Response
In early December 2011, Andrew was found deceased in his Chelsea apartment at just 25. Public statements at the time referred to an apparent suicide, while the medical examiner’s initial autopsy was described in coverage as inconclusive pending toxicology. Those few facts—stark, spare—were enough to ignite a storm of commentary.
The conversation that followed revealed less about Andrew and more about our culture’s relationship with tragedy. Some voices urged caution in assigning motives or causes; others speculated beyond the record. In the churn of headlines, an essential truth risked being lost: a family had suffered a sudden, intimate loss, and a private young life had ended.
Media Narratives, Boundaries, and the Space for Grace
Andrew’s surname guaranteed attention; the paucity of official detail amplified it. From there, narratives bloomed: competing theories, moral postures, and late-night whispers filtered into daytime posts. The better angels of journalism counsel restraint with the newly dead. The louder angels of gossip often do not.
What remains appropriate—and humane—is to frame his passing around what is known, naming the uncertainty and resisting the lure of invention. The mind fills gaps with stories; grace leaves space for silence.
The People Around Him: A Family Snapshot
| Relation | Name | Notability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | Princess Yasmin Aga Khan | Philanthropist; Alzheimer’s advocate | Led the Rita Hayworth Gala; spoke publicly with dignity in times of loss. |
| Father | Basil Embiricos | Greek economist/shipping heir | Connected to a longstanding maritime family history. |
| Maternal grandmother | Rita Hayworth | Iconic Hollywood actress | Her legacy seeded a global Alzheimer’s awareness movement. |
| Maternal grandfather | Prince Aly Khan | Diplomat and sportsman; Aga Khan lineage | Link to a historic family with deep cultural and philanthropic footprint. |
| Great‑uncle | Prince Karim Aga Khan (Aga Khan IV) | Spiritual leader and philanthropist | Broader familial context of service, culture, and global initiatives. |
The pattern is plain: glamour, philanthropy, lineage. Andrew’s life flickered between these poles—less a headline than a footnote, but a meaningful one for those who knew him.
Legacy and Remembrance
Legacies can be grand monuments or small, enduring lights. Andrew’s is the latter: the memory of a gentle presence, a Fordham graduate who used his time and name to support causes that impacted his family, and a reminder that even in famous families, grief is ordinary and immense. Memorials and services marked his passing; the family continued its advocacy, a through line from Rita Hayworth’s illness to Andrew’s generation and beyond.
The numbers remain simple: 25 years, a handful of roles, a web of relationships, and a single December that changed everything. Around those digits, stories swell. The kindest ones focus on the person, not the noise.
FAQ
Who was Andrew Ali Aga Khan Embiricos?
He was the grandson of actress Rita Hayworth and the son of Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and Basil Embiricos, known for his family ties and charitable involvement.
How old was he when he died?
He was 25 years old.
Where did he live?
He lived in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
What did he study?
He studied psychology at Fordham University.
Did he have a high‑profile public career?
No; he worked early-career roles in sales and participated in Alzheimer’s-related initiatives, mostly outside the spotlight.
What is known about his death?
He was found deceased in early December 2011; initial reporting referred to an apparent suicide, and the first autopsy was described as inconclusive pending further tests.
How was he related to the Aga Khan family?
He was the grandson of Prince Aly Khan and the great-nephew of the Aga Khan IV, connecting him to the broader Aga Khan lineage.
What is his connection to Rita Hayworth?
Rita Hayworth was his maternal grandmother, and her legacy influenced the family’s Alzheimer’s advocacy.
Was his net worth public?
No; there are no reliable public figures for his personal finances.
How is he remembered today?
He is remembered for his family ties, his education and early work, and his presence in charitable efforts linked to Alzheimer’s awareness.
