She built a thriving dog walking business in the heart of the Hollywood Hills. She married a rising actor who’d go on to become one of television’s most respected performers. She touched countless lives through her work with animals and her warm, dedicated personality. Yet Leanne Kaun’s story ended tragically at just 37 years old—a life cut short that continues to spark important conversations about mental health and the hidden struggles people face.
Leanne Kaun became known to the public primarily through her marriage to actor Walton Goggins, but she was much more than someone’s spouse. She was a successful entrepreneur who carved out her own path in the competitive Los Angeles pet care industry. Her business, Canyon Dog Walking, became the go-to service for Hollywood Hills residents who wanted the best care for their pets.
What made Leanne special was her genuine connection with animals and her determination to succeed despite significant health challenges from birth. She turned her lifelong passion for dogs into a respected business, earning loyalty from clients who trusted her completely with their beloved pets. Her story reminds us that behind every public figure’s life are real people with their own dreams, struggles, and complexities.
Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leanne Kaun (born Leanne Knight) |
| Known As | Leanne Goggins |
| Born | 1967 |
| Birthplace | New Brunswick, Canada |
| Age at Death | 37 years old |
| Profession | Dog Trainer, Entrepreneur |
| Active Years | Early 2000s |
| Famous For | Canyon Dog Walking business, marriage to Walton Goggins |
| Died | November 12, 2004 |
Who Was Leanne Kaun
Most people first heard Leanne’s name in connection with Walton Goggins, particularly after his breakout role as Shane Vendrell in the critically acclaimed series The Shield. But those who knew her in Los Angeles recognized her as the dedicated professional who walked their dogs through Laurel Canyon’s winding streets in her distinctive red and black jeep.
Leanne’s journey to recognition came through hard work and passion rather than seeking the spotlight. She moved from Canada to Los Angeles for love, leaving behind her family and everything familiar. In a city known for fleeting relationships and surface-level connections, she built something lasting through her dog walking and training services.
Her most notable achievement was becoming the first advertiser for Canyon News and providing care for Liberty, the publication’s mascot. Clients praised her reliability, her understanding of canine behavior, and her willingness to go beyond basic walking services. She offered training, diet management, and even adventure activities for the dogs in her care.
Early Life and Childhood Health Struggles
Born in 1967 in New Brunswick, Canada, Leanne came into the world fighting. She had jaundice from birth—a condition where the liver doesn’t properly process bilirubin, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes. This wasn’t just a minor issue that cleared up quickly. The condition affected her throughout childhood, leading to ongoing health problems that required medical attention and created financial strain for her family.
Her parents were Peggy Kaun and Robert Brian Knight. After her parents’ relationship ended, her mother married Arnold Kaun, who became Leanne’s stepfather. She grew up with her brother Jason, known as “Jay,” in a Christian household that emphasized perseverance and faith.
Despite the health challenges, Leanne attended school and pushed through the difficulties. The chronic health issues she faced as a child included a viral disease that could have had serious long-term effects. But she didn’t let these obstacles define her future. Instead, they seemed to strengthen her resolve.
One lasting impact of her childhood was her love for animals. Ironically, her health conditions meant she couldn’t own pets growing up. This restriction only intensified her desire to work with animals later in life. She dreamed of the day when she could spend her time caring for dogs, and she eventually turned that dream into reality.
The Love Story – How Leanne Met Walton Goggins
Leanne’s life changed direction in 2000 when she met Walton Goggins. He was working on the Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson comedy Shanghai Noon, playing one of the villains in the Western action film. Their meeting happened around the time of this production, though the exact circumstances aren’t widely documented.
Their connection was immediate and intense. Within a year, they married in 2001. For Leanne, this meant leaving Canada—her home, her family, and everything she knew—to start a new life in Los Angeles. She was taking a chance on love in one of the toughest cities in America.
The early days of their relationship showed promise. Walton was building his acting career, taking roles that would eventually lead to major recognition. Leanne supported his ambitions while pursuing her own dreams in the pet care industry. They seemed to balance each other—his public-facing career and her more private, animal-focused work.
Moving to Los Angeles wasn’t just a change of address for Leanne. It was a complete cultural shift. The fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle, the focus on fame and appearance, the distance from family—all of these factors would later play a role in the challenges she faced.
Building Canyon Dog Walking in Hollywood
Leanne didn’t wait long to establish herself in her new city. She launched Canyon Dog Walking, setting up shop in the Laurel Canyon and Hollywood Hills areas. These neighborhoods were home to entertainment industry professionals, musicians, and other well-off residents who wanted premium care for their pets.
Her business quickly gained a reputation. Clients appreciated that Leanne treated their dogs like her own. She didn’t just walk them around the block and call it a day. She studied each dog’s personality, energy level, and needs. She created customized experiences that kept the animals healthy and happy.
The red and black jeep she drove became a familiar sight in the neighborhood. Dog owners would see her loading up multiple dogs for their daily adventures. She’d take them hiking, to dog parks, and on routes that provided both exercise and mental stimulation.
Her success came from more than just loving dogs. Leanne understood the business side too. She became Canyon News’ first advertiser, showing smart marketing instincts. When the publication chose Liberty as their mascot, they trusted Leanne to provide care—a testament to her professional reputation.
Dog Trainer and Entrepreneur
While many people offer dog walking services, Leanne distinguished herself through comprehensive training services. She didn’t just supervise dogs—she educated them and their owners. Her approach combined patience, consistency, and an intuitive understanding of canine behavior.
She worked with dogs on basic obedience, behavioral issues, and socialization. Some of her clients needed help with aggressive dogs, anxious animals, or puppies that required structure. Leanne handled these challenges with calm professionalism, rarely meeting a dog she couldn’t help.
Her training methods focused on positive interactions rather than punishment. This approach was less common in the early 2000s, making her ahead of her time in many ways. She understood that dogs respond better to rewards and encouragement than to harsh corrections.
Beyond training, Leanne managed nutritional consulting for her clients’ pets. She’d advise on diet changes, recommend foods for specific health issues, and help owners understand their dogs’ changing needs as they aged. This holistic approach to pet care set her apart from basic walking services.
Her entrepreneurial spirit showed in how she grew the business. She built strong relationships with clients who recommended her services to friends. Word-of-mouth referrals became her best marketing tool because people trusted her completely with their animals.
Marriage Under Pressure
By 2003, cracks started showing in Leanne and Walton’s relationship. His career was taking off. The Shield premiered in 2002 and became a massive critical hit. Walton’s portrayal of Shane Vendrell earned him recognition as one of television’s most compelling actors. But success in Hollywood comes with a price.
Walton’s schedule became demanding. He worked long hours on set, attended industry events, and focused intensely on his craft. For Leanne, this meant spending many evenings alone. She was building her own business, but the loneliness grew harder to manage.
She started expressing a desire to return to Canada. Los Angeles never quite felt like home to her. The city’s intensity, the superficial aspects of the entertainment industry, and the distance from her family all wore on her. She missed the simpler life she’d known before marriage.
The cultural adjustment proved more difficult than expected. Hollywood operates by its own rules—who you know matters more than almost anything else, appearances count heavily, and the pace never slows. Leanne preferred authenticity and quieter moments. The mismatch between her nature and the city’s character created constant friction.
Their marriage didn’t end in anger or dramatic conflict. Instead, it eroded gradually under the weight of incompatible lifestyles and unmet needs. They eventually separated, though the exact timeline remains private. What’s clear is that by 2004, they were living apart while technically still married.
The Silent Battle with Depression
Beneath Leanne’s professional success and outward capability, she struggled with chronic depression. This wasn’t a recent development—it had shadowed her for years. But the combination of factors in her life made the condition worse.
The isolation she felt in Los Angeles contributed significantly. Far from family, watching her marriage dissolve, and dealing with the competitive pressure of running a small business all took their toll. Even her thriving dog walking service couldn’t fill the emotional void.
Her childhood health problems also played a role. Chronic pain from those early conditions persisted into adulthood. Living with constant physical discomfort compounds mental health challenges, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.
Depression often goes unrecognized, especially in people who appear functional and successful. Leanne showed up for her clients every day, cared for their dogs with dedication, and maintained her business. From the outside, she seemed fine. But inside, she was fighting a battle most people couldn’t see.
The early 2000s also had less awareness about mental health than we have today. Seeking help carried more stigma. Resources weren’t as accessible. Many people suffered in silence, not knowing how to ask for support or where to find it.
November 12, 2004
On November 12, 2004, Leanne Kaun died by suicide in Los Angeles. She jumped from the 17th floor of a building. She was 37 years old. At the time, she and Walton were separated but not divorced.
The news shocked those who knew her. Her clients, who saw her regularly and depended on her, struggled to understand. Friends and family, particularly those in Canada who couldn’t be close by, were devastated.
Suicide leaves those left behind with countless questions. What signs did we miss? Could we have helped? Why didn’t she reach out? These questions haunt survivors, but they rarely have satisfying answers. Mental illness distorts thinking, making people believe their loved ones are better off without them—a tragic lie that depression tells.
Walton, who’d been with her for years and watched her struggles, carried tremendous grief. Losing a spouse to suicide creates a specific kind of pain that’s difficult to process. The guilt, the wondering “what if,” and the shock of such a final decision stay with survivors for years.
Remembering Leanne Kaun
Leanne’s funeral service took place on November 19, 2004, at Hollywood Funeral Home in Los Angeles. Despite living in California when she died, her family chose to bury her in Canada. She was laid to rest at Rocky View Garden of Peace Cemetery in Calgary, Alberta—back in the country where she was born and raised.
The decision to bury her in Canada rather than California speaks to how she never fully transplanted to Los Angeles. Her roots remained in Canada, and her family wanted her home.
She was survived by her mother Peggy Kaun, her stepfather Arnold Kaun, her brother Jason “Jay,” and her ex-husband Walton Goggins. Each of them carried the loss differently, but all felt the profound absence she left behind.
Her clients mourned too. The dogs she cared for lost their trusted companion and caretaker. The owners who’d depended on her reliability and skill had to find new arrangements. But more than the inconvenience, they grieved for the person they’d known and appreciated.
Leanne Kaun Net Worth
At the time of her death, estimates placed Leanne’s net worth between $80,000 and $300,000. The variation in estimates reflects the difficulty of assessing a small business owner’s exact financial situation. Different sources calculate net worth differently, particularly when factoring in business assets versus personal wealth.
Her earnings came entirely from Canyon Dog Walking. She’d built the business from nothing, establishing a client base through excellent service and word-of-mouth recommendations. For a solo entrepreneur in a competitive market, achieving this level of financial success demonstrated real business skill.
Money wasn’t what drove Leanne. Her passion was always the animals and the work itself. But she understood that running a sustainable business meant charging appropriate rates and managing finances well. She succeeded in creating a profitable enterprise doing what she loved.
Walton Goggins’ Journey Through Grief
After Leanne’s death, Walton traveled to Thailand in 2004. He needed to escape, to process the loss somewhere far from Hollywood and all its reminders. Thailand offered that distance—physically and emotionally.
He later described those years as a healing journey that took approximately three years. Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, but Walton worked through the pain, the guilt, and the confusion that accompanies losing someone to suicide.
In 2019 and again in 2025, Walton opened up publicly about Leanne’s death. He spoke about the loss in interviews, particularly when discussing The White Lotus Season 3, which filmed in Thailand. Returning to the country where he’d grieved two decades earlier created a powerful emotional experience.
The parallels between his character Rick Hatchett’s journey in The White Lotus and his own Thailand experience weren’t lost on Walton or viewers. Art and life intersected in meaningful ways, allowing him to process old wounds while creating compelling television.
Walton eventually remarried. In 2011, he married filmmaker Nadia Conners. They have a son named Augustus. His ability to find love again and build a family doesn’t erase Leanne’s memory—it shows that healing and moving forward are possible even after devastating loss.
A Legacy Beyond Tragedy
Leanne Kaun’s story carries important lessons about mental health, support systems, and the pressures that come with life changes. Her death sparked conversations about depression, particularly the kind that hides behind functional exteriors and successful careers.
Her successful business and the joy she brought to animals and their owners shouldn’t be overshadowed by how her life ended. She built something meaningful. She excelled at work she loved. She connected with creatures who trusted her implicitly.
Mental health awareness has improved since 2004. More resources exist. Less stigma surrounds seeking help. People talk more openly about depression and suicidal thoughts. Leanne’s story contributes to that broader conversation about why these discussions matter.
The pressures of Hollywood life affect more than just those in the spotlight. Partners, spouses, and family members of entertainment industry figures face unique challenges. The lifestyle demands, the public scrutiny, the constant hustle—these factors impact everyone in that world.
Support systems matter critically. Isolation increases mental health risks. Leanne’s distance from family, her struggling marriage, and her cultural displacement all contributed to her vulnerability. Her story reminds us to check on people, to maintain connections, and to recognize that success doesn’t equal happiness.
Remembering the whole person matters most. Leanne wasn’t just someone who died tragically. She was a skilled entrepreneur, a dedicated dog trainer, a loving wife, a daughter, a sister. She faced health challenges from day one and still built a life of purpose. That’s what deserves recognition alongside the sadness of how her story ended.
Quick Facts About Leanne Kaun
• First became known through her Canyon Dog Walking business in Hollywood Hills • Loved dogs from childhood but couldn’t have pets due to health issues • Drove a distinctive red and black jeep for her business • Became Canyon News’ first advertiser • Cared for Liberty, the Canyon News mascot • Met Walton Goggins around the time of Shanghai Noon filming in 2000 • Married in 2001, separated in 2004 • Specialized in dog training, diet management, and adventure activities for pets • Overcame jaundice from birth and childhood viral disease • Buried in Calgary, Alberta, Canada despite dying in Los Angeles
Conclusion
Leanne Kaun’s best work was the business she built from passion and dedication. Canyon Dog Walking represented more than income—it was her way of connecting with the animals she’d always loved and creating something meaningful in a city that often feels superficial.
The life lessons her story teaches are clear. Mental health deserves attention and care, just like physical health. Success in one area of life doesn’t protect against struggles in others. Support systems and connections matter more than we sometimes realize. And checking on people—really checking, not just asking “how are you” in passing—can make a difference.
Her future goals died with her that November day in 2004. We’ll never know what she might have achieved, where her business could have grown, or whether different circumstances might have allowed her to find peace and happiness again.
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