LOS ANGELES (June 25, 2009)— Pop star Michael Jackson, 50, died Thursday in Los Angeles after suffering cardiac arrest at his home, ending the saga of a gifted, but troubled performer, whose career started in childhood and ended with an attempt at a comeback after years of scandal.

The web site TMZ first reported Jackson’s death Wednesday afternoon.

TMZ said he was dead when paramedics arrived and that the performer’s sister La Toya was sobbing when she ran into the hospital after he was pronounced dead.

The Los Angeles Times later reported that Jackson died after arriving at UCLA Medical Center in a deep coma.

The Associated Press also reported that the 1980s pop icon has died, quoting a source that requested anonymity.

Paramedics responded just before 2:25 p.m. CDT Thursday to a 911 call from Jacksons West Los Angeles home, LA media reported.

Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived.

The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson’s rented home, was roped off Thursday with police tape as a crowd of fans and the curious began to gather.

News trucks were gathered, helicopters flew overhead, and orange cones were laid out to redirect traffic.

Jackson’s death brings a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer who melded black and white music, shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album “Thriller” is still the best-selling pop album of all times.

Jackson had mostly stayed out of the spotlight since his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, but he was attempting a comeback and was planning a series of shows in London this summer.

He started in the music business at age 11, as a member of the Jackson Five with his brothers.