On January 22, 2008, months shy of the release of “The Dark Knight,” Ledger was found dead at his New York apartment of an accidental overdose. His masseuse found Ledger unresponsive; she first called his close friend, Mary-Kate Olsen, and then called 911, according to reports. Autopsy results showed several different prescription drugs in his system, per The Guardian. Per The Washington Post, Phoenix (23) died in the early hours of October 31 from a cocaine and heroin overdose. There was talk at the time of murder charges being brought against the drug supplier. For a few nights after, Depp actors that died from drugs shut down his club as fans brought flowers and mementos to memorialize the late star (via Showbiz Cheatsheet).
Famous People Who Died Of Drug Overdose
- Imagine being poor, then one day you wake up with access to millions of dollars.
- The following table outlines the death of notable celebrities and athletes who have had drugs or alcohol implicated in their deaths.
- Following that breakout role, Williams’ career exploded, though he could never quite match his success as Omar.
- She married and divorced 4 times and had a long struggle with eating disorders.
- Anna Nicole Smith died at 39 from a combination of prescription drugs on Feb. 8, 2007, in her hotel room in Hollywood Fla.
There he played parts in episodes of “The Commish,” “Murphy Brown,” “Baywatch,” and “Murder, She Wrote.” As Rich got older, though, the rapid rise to fame led to numerous personal problems. He had multiple stints in rehab facilities as he suffered from drug abuse and alcohol abuse. He was in and out of handcuffs for years, too, including a 1991 arrest for attempted burglary and an incident in which he tried to shoplift at a West Hills pharmacy in Los Angeles. In 2002, he was back in trouble again, arrested and suspected of driving under the influence after he drove his vehicle down a closed stretch of highway. She started with small parts before moving into leading roles, and Dandridge’s career is dotted with all-time classics.
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LOS ANGELES — Former “Eight is Enough” child star Adam Rich died of the effects of the drug fentanyl, the medical examiner’s office has ruled. Michael K. Williams, a transcendent actor whose performance as an openly gay drug dealer-robbing gangster on the hit cable TV drama, “The Wire,” was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment on Sept. 6, 2021, following a suspected drug overdose. While no official cause of death was immediately reported, authorities said they found heroin in Williams’ apartment. Throughout history, drug addictions have plagued the lives of so many celebrities. Actors, singers, politicians, even social media influencers have all abused drugs, which has led to the deaths of some of our favorite celebrities. Imagine being poor, then one day you wake up with access to millions of dollars.
River Phoenix
- Known for her playful attitude, curvaceous figure, and long flowing locks, Monroe’s name and likeness became synonymous with beauty and glamour.
- With critically acclaimed performances in “Stand By Me” and “My Own Private Idaho,” River Phoenix had established himself as a respected actor.
- Medical examiners determined that Farley overdosed on a mixture of heroin, cocaine and morphine.
- The legendary Michael Jackson’s life was cut short by an overdose of propofol in 2009.
- “Glee” star Cory Monteith died from a mixture of heroin and champagne on July 13, 2013, in his Vancouver hotel room.
TMZ reported that she overdosed on painkillers and muscle relaxers. Forensic reports asserted that Bartusiak’s death was an accident. Her mother told CNN that the late actor had suffered epileptic seizures since childhood and that she had performed CPR on her daughter on multiple occasions. Brad Renfro was living in a trailer park when director Joel Schumacher spotted him and cast him in The Client.
At the age of 27, the famous guitarist’s fire was tragically extinguished. He was found lifeless in his London flat, asphyxiated after consuming a lethal mix of barbiturates. Hendrix’s premature exit sent shockwaves through a global community that revered him.
John Belushi
There he starred opposite Ian McKellen as a naive high school student who learns that his elderly neighbor is a surviving Nazi officer. But just as he was coming into his own, Renfro’s life became a tangled web of substance abuse and run-ins with the law, beginning as a teen when he was charged with drug possession. Several more arrests followed, including a charge of grand theft in 2000, and his famously nasty attitude toward movie critics didn’t help matters. Hollywood is almost like another world, a city of bright lights, brighter stars, and extraordinary excess that could feel alien to everyone else. For some, though, it’s that excess that attracts aspiring talent, drawn to the promise of the what is alcoholism glitz and glamour, and the fame and fortune that a successful acting career can bring.
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Phoenix was replaced by Christian Slater in “Vampire,” which is dedicated to his memory. On January 22, 2008, Ledger was found unresponsive at his apartment in New York City. Not long after, he was pronounced dead, with later reports revealing that the Australian-born actor suffered a fatal overdose by way of a prescription drug cocktail at just 28 years old.
