Famous Celebrities Who Died From Alcohol And Drugs Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, Mac Miller Cause of Death

celebrities who died from drug or alcohol

Known as the co-lead vocalist of the blues-rock band Canned Heat, Bob Hite died of a cocaine overdose in 1981. Considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix died of an accidental barbiturate overdose in 1970. Known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Quiet Riot, Kevin DuBrow accidentally overdosed on cocaine, alcohol, and painkillers in 2007. In 1974, singer-songwriter Nick Drake fatally overdosed on an antidepressant called amitriptyline.

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celebrities who died from drug or alcohol

Janis Joplin was a singer and musician who became one of the most successful female rockers of her time. Known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley died in 1977 at age 42. However, the attack likely resulted from his abuse of various prescription drugs, including barbiturates, opiates, and antihistamines. Unfortunately, Joplin’s illustrious career was continually plagued by her battles with drug addiction. In 1970, at the age of 27, she became another member of the notorious ’27 Club,’ dying from a fatal heroin overdose.

celebrities who died from drug or alcohol

George Clooney & Brad Pitt Share How They’ve Leaned on Each Other During ‘Complicated’ Stages of Life

Renfro’s most notable film is “Apt Pupil,” the film that turned director Bryan Singer into a Hollywood darling. 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.

John Belushi (Speedball, Cocaine & Heroin)

The death of the 39-year old actress was caused by an overdose of benzodiazepines and chloral hydrate. Oxycodone is an opioid prescription painkiller that has been used as a recreational drug. When it became more difficult to get opioids, many people turned to illicit drug dealers to get their fix. The problem is that these street opioids are often counterfeit versions that contain other substances like fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine that’s why a minute amount may cause an overdose.

  • The legendary Michael Jackson’s life was cut short by an overdose of propofol in 2009.
  • Many fans of the franchise were livid that the star of teen dramas and rom-coms was playing the iconic Batman villain.
  • In and out of rehab during his final months, Farley’s death stunned the comedy world.
  • Colin Kroll co-founder of Vine and HQ Trivia died at his home in Manhattan, New York.
  • His death was the result of a lethal combination of heroin and the prescription drugs in his system.
  • Best known for his beloved character on the TV show “Glee,” Cory Monteith’s life came to a devastating halt due to a deadly mixture of heroin and alcohol.

The 49-year-old actor suffered alcohol intoxication and was hospitalized not long before his death, which was officially declared to be the result of suicide. The troubled actor, in and out of rehab for most of his adult life, died in 2023 at the age of 54. The autopsy report said the cause was an accidental overdose of fentanyl. In and out of rehab during his final months, Farley’s death celebrities who died from drug or alcohol stunned the comedy world. Just months after a fateful Playboy interview where he joked about his poor health, his trouble with drugs, and his impending death, Farley died from a fatal overdose, a toxic mixture of cocaine and morphine. Many feared that with a lifestyle that involved copious partying, frenzied alcohol consumption, and wanton drug use, Farley was destined for a downfall.

The state has expanded access to medication that can reverse drug overdoses. It has also joined lawsuits against drug manufacturers, and as of February had invested $24 million from legal settlements in addressing the opioid crisis, according to the state Department of Justice. New Hampshire has implemented some of the preventative measures Trust for America’s Health said could help reduce the risks of deaths related to suicide, alcohol, and drugs. Cocaine- and other psychostimulant-related overdose deaths were up 39% and 50%, respectively.

Unfortunately, his memorable career was cut short in early 1982, the result of an ongoing drug addiction and a shocking manslaughter case that left Belushi dead. But tragically, almost a year to the day later, Perry was found dead at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023, with his passing partially attributed to opioid usage and an overdose of ketamine. What fans of the model-turned-actor may not have realized, though, is that throughout her diverse career, Hemingway was also struggling with myriad personal problems.

celebrities who died from drug or alcohol

Marilyn Monroe, an iconic Hollywood actress and cultural symbol, passed away at the age of 36 on August 4, 1962. Her death was ruled as a suicide, caused by an overdose of barbiturates and chloral hydrate. Marilyn Monroe’s untimely demise shocked the world and continues to be a subject of fascination and speculation.

Chris Farley

  • She often spoke about the recovery process while playing the opiate-addicted Nurse Jackie from 2009 to 2015.
  • A toxicity report revealed he had ingested very large amounts of the opioids codeine, hydromorphone, meperidine, and oxycodone.
  • River Phoenix got his big break in Hollywood when he was a child, first appearing as one of the stars of the Joe Dante-helmed “Explorers” alongside a young Ethan Hawke.

Whitney Houston was a singer and actress who became one of the best-selling music artists in history. In 2012, she died of an accidental drowning that medical examiners linked to heart disease and cocaine use. He was best known as one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live. In 1982, he died of an accidental overdose involving a speedball (a mixture of cocaine and heroin). Bruce Berry was a roadie for the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 28 due to an overdose caused by a mixture of drugs that consisted of cocaine, benzodiazepines, and propoxyphene.

Amy Winehouse (Alcohol Abuse)

He was 40 years old and left behind an ex-wife and two children. Until his death, he had convinced nearly everybody, including the newspapers reporting on his passing, that he was an Australian native, born in Perth. His father cleared up the tall tale at Goddard’s own funeral. Brad Renfro got his start as a child actor with a small role in Joel Schumacher’s courtroom thriller “The Client,” but as he got older he took on starring roles.

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