Mourners have been sharing their sorrow over the death related to an apparent opioid overdose of Dennis Shields, 51, who was found on Friday after passing away in his New York City home.

Those publicly grieving the loss of Shields include the likes of film and television executive Brian Koppelman, famed personality Mehmet 'Dr. Oz' Oz, and his estranged wife, Jill, with whom he shared four children.

His on-again-off-again romantic partner Bethenny Frankel, whom he had known for more than two decades, has not commented personally, but sources say she is 'heartbroken.'

Additional outpourings of sadness, sympathy and support came from Shields' many business colleagues, as well as Frankel's castmasts from the BravoTV's Real  Housewives franchise.

Shields died unexpectedly after it's believed he suffered a heart attack while overdosing on oxycodone, an addictive opioid he was taking to treat back pain.

He was at home in Trump Tower at the time of his death, with his housekeeper, who he asked to administer Narcan, an opioid blocker, according to TMZ. 

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Mourners have been sharing their sorrow over the death related to an apparent opioid overdose of Dennis Shields, 51 (left), who was found on Friday after passing away in his New York City home; Shields had been a long-time friend of Bethenny Frankel (right), and a more recent romantic partner, with the two of them pictured here in New York City in June of 2016

Shortly before 9am on Friday, Shields asked his housekeeper to go to a pharmacy to buy him Narcan, after taking multiple pills the night before.

At some point, according to TMZ, the housekeeper returned with Narcan, noticed he was unresponsive, called 911, and administered the Narcan, though it's not clear in what order these events unfolded, but Shields remained unresponsive. 

Narcan works by knocking out opioids from the opiate receptors in a person's brain.

Sources tell DailyMail.com Shield's heart could not cope with the dosage of oxycodone he's believed to have taken, beginning on Thursday night. 

Before his untimely death, Dr. Oz was just one of the many lives Shields touched. 

'Sad to learn that Bethenny Frankel’s friend, Dennis Shields, lost his life to an apparent opioid overdose today,' Dr. Oz shared on Twitter on Friday.

'My thoughts are w/ Bethenny & all of Dennis’ loved ones. His death is another reminder that the opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions & can touch everyone.' 

Before his untimely death, Dr. Mehmet 'Dr. Oz' Oz was one of the many lives Shields touched

Koppelman, The co-creator of Showtime's 'Billions,' also shared his sadness over the passing of his long-time friend

Koppelman, The co-creator of Showtime's 'Billions,' also shared his sadness over the passing of his long-time friend.

'Dennis Shields, who died this morning, was my close friend for 30 years. One of the smartest, most generous, people I ever came across,' Koppelman tweeted on Friday.

'He was also one of the great storytellers in the world. And understood life’s endless absurdity in his bones. I loved him. And love his family.' 

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 Frankel, who hasn't personally commented on Shield's death publicly, is reportedly 'heartbroken' over the death of her on-again-of-again boyfriend Dennis Shields. 

Sources close to the Real Housewife of New York City told E! News: 'This is really bad. It's dreadful. She's known him for over 20 years. She's heartbroken.'   

Frankel is reportedly 'heartbroken' at the loss of her on-again-of-again boyfriend who was found dead on Friday morning

Shields (pictured with Bethenny Frankel in 2016) was found dead on Friday morning

The medical examiner's car remained outside Trump Tower on Friday afternoon hours after the 51-year-old died reportedly after trying taking Narcan to reverse the effects of opioids 

The medical examiner's truck is pictured leaving the building on Friday afternoon 

At some stage before 9am, Shields lost consciousness and the maid called 911.  He was pronounced dead by EMTs shortly afterwards.

Sources close to the businessman told DailyMail.com that his back had been 'acting up' recently and still hadn't recovered from a 2015 surgery.

They believe that he died of cardiac arrest because his heart 'could not cope' with the dosage of the powerful painkiller.

Frankel was unaware of the news on Friday morning and was adding to her Instagram story frequently until around noon (she is seen above in a selfie with her dog on Friday morning)

Frankel was at her home in Bridgehampton when he died. She appeared to be unaware of the tragedy and was uploading photographs and videos to her Instagram story until around noon.

She and Shields dated intermittently from 2016 onwards but always remained friends. 

He appeared occasionally on the Bravo show in which she stars. The SkinnyGirl mogul has not commented on Shields' death. 

Shields' estranged wife Jill, who he had four children with, told DailyMail.com she was 'devastated' by his death.   

The pair were married for 26 years before separating in 2016, not long before he and Frankel became an item.

They had not yet finalized their divorce when he died.  

'We are all heartbroken,' Jill said.

'Dennis was and always will be the love of my life. His spirit lives on in our children.'

She added that he was a 'loving father and friend.' 

The couple had four children together; daughters Tyler, 24, Darien, 20, and Kelsey, who is in college, and one son, Zachary, 23.   

Shields had been trying to sell his two bedroom apartment in Trump Tower since last April. It is still listed for $4.75million. A photograph taken inside the apartment is shown 

Shields was the CEO of LawCash, a Brooklyn-based firm which bankrolls lawsuits against New York City. 

'We are all heartbroken. Dennis was and always will be the love of my life. His spirit lives on in our children.'  Shields' estranged wife Jill  

He was also the executive chairman of Esquire bank and the fin-tech start-up YieldStreet.  

The businessman lived on the 42nd floor of Trump Tower, the luxury building located in the heart of Manhattan on 5th Avenue, in a two bedroom apartment which he bought for $3 million in 2012. 

He put it on the market in April 2017 for $4.75 million and it is still up for sale. 

Jill Schwartzberg Shields, the businessman's estranged wife, said she was 'heartbroken' by the news as she called Dennis the 'love of her life' 

The first of Frankel's housewives to speak out on Friday was Sonja Morgan.  

'This is heartbreaking,' Morgan said.

'I spoke to Bethenny yesterday to say I was going to Coast Rica, in case she wanted to come and get away. 

'She's been working so much,' she told RadarOnline. 

Carole Radziwill, who spent the last season fighting with her one-time best friend Bethenny, later tweeted her condolences. 

Without making reference to Bethenny, she said: 'I just heard the sad news about Dennis. 

'He was a good man. My condolences to all his family and friends. So tragic.'.

'I know what it is like to lose someone so soon. It's unbearable,' castmate Jill Zarin, who is recently widowed, told The Post. 

'There is nothing worse than sudden death. You can't prepare. There is no time to say goodbye.' 

Frankel and Shields had been friends for years before they began dating. 

She called one of his daughters on one of her Bravo show's infamous reunion episodes to prove their relationship was wholesome after it was claimed that they began seeing each other before his separation. 

Shields is pictured with his estranged wife, right, two of their four children. Zachary, 23, and Darien, 20. They are shown in 2014, two years before they separated

Shields and his ex were married for 26 years before their 2016 separation. Jill is pictured with their four children, L-R: College student Kelsey, Zachary, 23, Tyler, 24, and Darien, 20

Shields is pictured with Bethenny in an episode of the show which aired in April. It was filmed last fall in Southampton

Carole Radziwill, Bethenny's one time best friend, was among the first to address the tragedy on Friday 

During that call, Shields' daughter spoke of the back surgery which was still causing him pain when he died. 

WHAT IS OXYCODONE?

Oxycodone is the most commonly-prescribed opioid in the US, alongside hydrocodone. 

They are both classified as 'semi-synthetic' because they (like heroin) are synthesized from opium. 

The effects of oxycodone on the brain are indistinguishable from the effects produced by heroin. 

The most commonly-used brand is OxyContin, made by Purdue Pharma, which has come to be the poster child of the opioid epidemic. 

Despite attempts to make the drug less addictive - by making it harder to crush - the drug is still commonly reported in overdoses.

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In May, after parting ways, Frankel alluded to a reconciliation, telling Steve Harvey: 'I've been with someone on and off for years. 

'It's like a partnership where if we're not being teammates and it's not working and one man is down, then the other man is down.

'We're trying to really kind of be good partners and be good teammates and I think relationships oddly are — and this sounds cold — but a little bit like business.

'If both people aren't happy about it but slightly uncomfortable and giving up something or giving in [to] something, it doesn't work. 

'So both partners have to say, 'All right, I'm in it for this.'

'And I think we might be at that point, believe it or not. I haven't said that to anyone yet.' 

On Friday, Shields' colleagues at Esquire mourned him as a 'true visionary'. 

'It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of our dear friend and business partner, Dennis Shields. 

'Dennis' passion for his family, friends, and professional work were unmatched and there are no words to describe the loss we feel today.

'This tragic and emotional loss is devastating to all of us who knew Dennis and loved him dearly,' said Tony Coelho, Vice Chairman of the Board.  

Andrew Sagliocca, President and Chief Executive Officer, added: ''Dennis was a great visionary in the financial and legal community and created a tremendous franchise in Esquire Bank.

'Our focus, thoughts, prayers, and love are with his family.' 

Shields' death is the second in Trump Tower in six months. In April, an art dealer was killed by a fire in his 50th floor apartment. 

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