Australian Idol Judge Found Dead at 36

Former Australian Idol judge and Sony Music executive Jay Dee Springbett was found dead Thursday in his Sydney apartment. He was 36.

His death is not suspicious, police tell the Sydney Morning Herald. Springbett's friends had been unable to contact him for a while and called emergency services. Springbett was already dead by the time paramedics arrived.

"The Australian Idol family is deeply saddened by the passing of Jay Dee," Fremantle Media, which owns the Idol properties, said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with his family and all at Sony Music."

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Springbett joined Australian Idol in its seventh and final season in 2009, earning a reputation as a nice guy. He was also an A&R executive at Sony for more than six years, where he fostered the careers of such artists as Human Nature and Guy Sebastian."Jay Dee was so very enthusiastic and passionate about his family, his music projects and his plans for the future," Sony said in a statement. "[He] was a great friend and larger-than-life charismatic character who will be missed enormously."