( CNN ) -- Singer-impressionist-comedian Danny Gans died early Friday at his Las Vegas , Nevada , home , according to the hotel where he was based . Danny Gans was one of Las Vegas ' top entertainers and recently moved to the Encore Theatre . Gans , 52 , was voted Las Vegas `` Entertainer of the Year '' for 11 of the 13 years he was based there . There was no immediate word on the cause of death . `` Everybody knew that when they came to Vegas , the one show they had to see was Danny Gans , '' said Robin Leach , who covers the Vegas entertainment scene on his Web site . Hotel mogul Steve Wynn , who signed Gans to star in his Encore Theatre in February , said he was `` devastated at the loss of our brilliant , talented and loving friend . '' `` One of the most unique human beings and entertainers in the world has been taken from us in an unexpected moment , '' Wynn said . `` A profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless . '' Gans is survived by his wife , Julie , two daughters and a son . `` When he landed the residencies here in Vegas , he was thrilled that he would be able to go home every night to Julie and the three kids , '' Leach said . His long Vegas run began in 1996 , when he gave up his one-man Broadway show and a tour schedule of 200 shows a year for a three-month gig at the Stratosphere Hotel . He signed a nine-year deal to play in his own 1,250-seat theater at the Mirage Hotel starting in 2000 . Some reports put the contract at $ 200 million . When that expired early this year , Gans moved to the Encore Theatre , which sits between the Encore Hotel and the Wynn Las Vegas hotel . `` He was an absolute genius with the art of impersonation , '' Leach said . `` There was nobody that he could n't imitate , and he was uncanny . '' Gans was working on an impersonation of President Obama , which he considered a tough assignment , Leach said . Watch Gans speak with Larry King » . The easiest voice to imitate , Gans told Leach , was TV host Regis Philbin . `` When Regis came to see the show , Regis said , ' I thought I was talking out loud , ' `` Leach said . Being great at being other people can limit your own fame , Leach said . `` Impersonating other stars does n't give you too many opportunities out there in mainstream show business , to be honest , '' he said . `` But what he did was the best there was in the business , and Vegas was the ultimate place to perform that act . '' Gans released an album of his musical impersonations this year , but his records have not sold well outside Las Vegas , Leach said . Gans , however , never aspired to be a global household name , he said . `` There was no lust for fame outside the fame he had here in this valley , '' Leach said . `` I think he would have been very successful if he jumped on that treadmill of insanity . '' The biography on his personal Web site says that out of college , Gans played minor league baseball for two years , until a career-ending injury . He then turned to entertainment , traveling for 15 years before landing in Vegas .
NEW : `` One show [ Vegas visitors ] had to see was Danny Gans , '' said Robin Leach . Danny Gans was Las Vegas singer-impressionist-comedian . Gans was named Vegas `` Entertainer of the Year '' 11 times . Gans had own theater at Mirage , later moved to Encore .