Supervising Medical Examiner Investigator Paul Parker told CNN at the time that high blood pressure and emphysema contributed to his passing. Her life, though filled with artistic highs, is also a cautionary narrative about the toll that relentless public scrutiny and professional pressures can exert. As one of the most recognizable personas from the 1990s, Anna Nicole Smith lived a highly publicized life. She first came to the public’s attention with her debut Playboy cover in March 1992, per ABC News. She then became a member of the exclusive clan of ’90s “Guess Girls” featured in the iconic ad campaign — “sensual, mysterious, and seductive” was how Guess co-founder Paul Marciano described her.
Anna Nicole Smith
The findings of the cause of Sanders’ death come amid a rising wave of deaths related to fentanyl use in Los Angeles County and across California. Speaking of celebs who died from overdose, Ike Turner makes an interesting case as, unlike most, he died at the age of 76. Since then, she has not only dedicated countless episodes on her show to discuss addiction and healthy recovery programs, but she has also been sober since the early 80s. After giving a remarkable performance in Chaplin, a film that earned him an Academy Award nomination, Downey’s career was going to another level. Unfortunately, in 1996 he was arrested for possession of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and an unloaded 357 Magnum. British supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne checked into rehab herself in late 2022 and is now still in recovery.
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Turner had a history of drug addiction and abusive behavior which his former wife, Tina Turner, describes in detail in her memoir, My Love Story. The acclaimed actor known for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight died on January 22, 2008. The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of prescription medications, including painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication. The ugly truth about drugs is that they don’t discriminate and can affect people from all walks of life, including the rich and famous.
Recovered Celebrity Drug Addicts
- Judy Garland died from a barbituate overdose on June 22, 1969, in London.
- The acclaimed actor known for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight died on January 22, 2008.
- Hollywood was rattled when Belushi died of an overdose on March 5, 1982, at 33 years old.
- Reportedly, he has been clean and out of the gang of famous heroin addicts since 2003, but is still in the process of recovery and dedicated to helping others who are struggling with addictions.
From actors and singers to athletes and even politicians, read on for a list of famous drug addicts who made headlines and how their struggles illustrate the devastating power of addiction. Dinah Washington, a jazz, blues and R&B singer who enjoyed a successful career in the 1950s, died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in 1963. Keep reading to find a running list (that we, hopefully, won’t need to update too often) of notable Black people who died following drug overdoses. On top of that, actor Michael K. Williams‘ overdose death in his Brooklyn penthouse on Sept. 6, 2021, was also attributed to fentanyl that was used to lace heroin. Even though Williams’ admitted fight with drug addiction was well documented, his death still caught people off guard. Prince died following an accidental fentanyl overdose in his Paisley Park residence on April 21, 2016.
Prior to his death, Ledger was stressed and reeling from his breakup with actor Michelle Williams, with whom he shared a daughter, Matilda. Joaquin, who won an Oscar for “Joker” in 2019, commemorated Phoenix in his speech and named his son River in memory of his late brother (per the Independent). Chyna was a professional wrestler, pornographic actress, bodybuilder, and glamour model.
Chris Farley
- Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday.
- Comedian Mitch Hedberg died from a heroin overdose on March 29, 2005, in Livingston, N.J. He was 37.
- After a period of abstinence in his 20s, Monteith began using drugs again, and in the months prior to his death, he had checked himself back into rehab, per reports.
- His story is not just of famous people who did drugs and are now sober but one of victory as he is now one of the highest-paying actors in Hollywood.
- During an interview years later, Kelly said she’d turned to alcohol after losing a baby in a miscarriage but was working to turn her life around.
While the declared cause was an overdose of barbiturates, her death has been the subject of endless speculation and various conspiracy theories, leaving the true Oxford House circumstances somewhat murky. “Now and Then” has endured as an iconic coming-of-age flick, even decades after we first met the girl gang of Samantha, Teeny, Roberta, and Chrissy in 1995. The endearing character of Chrissy, played by Ashleigh Aston Moore, immediately became an audience favorite, as did the actor herself. Following his big-screen debut, Renfro earned repute as the celebrated character of Huckleberry Finn in “Tom and Huck,” with further films like “Apt Pupil” and “Bully” among his best works.
A coroner’s report later revealed that he died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and morphine, per The Washington Post. He had faced lifelong issues of obesity and addictions that landed him in rehab several times. According to Entertainment Weekly, his final days were fueled by a drug and booze binge. Hailed as the leading figure of the emo rap scene of the mid-late 2010s, Lil Peep went on to inspire many youth subcultures. In his personal life though, he struggled with mental health conditions. Found dead in his Los Angeles home, the final verdict wasn’t suicide, though, but an accidental drug overdose, with the autopsy report revealing a combination of heroin, cocaine, and other drugs in his system.
John Belushi
The daughter of Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, Christina Onassis actors who died from drugs had an unhappy life. She lost both her parents shortly after her brother’s accidental death. She married and divorced 4 times and had a long struggle with eating disorders. He is credited with co-creating the popular rock band Stone Temple Pilots where he served as the lead singer.
