Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Loses Battle With Cancer

TORONTO (CBSLA.com) — A former Toronto mayor who gained international notoriety for admitting to smoking crack cocaine while in office has died.

According to his family, Rob Ford died Tuesday at 46 after losing his battle with cancer.

He was diagnosed in 2014 and had been receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer that reoccurred despite surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy.

His tumultuous tenure as mayor of Canada's largest city between 2010 and 2014 was marred by his confessions of drinking problems and illegal drug use.

He was repeatedly videotaped and photographed while intoxicated in public. His antics became the butt of jokes for comedians. Ford was also caught on video threatening to kill someone in a profanity-laced rant.

Despite his woes, Ford was later elected to a city council seat by a landslide.

He left behind a wife and two children.