42 Hollywood Drug Overdoses
From the black and white films of the 20's to actors who's film hasn't even hit the theaters yet, we've compiled the list of unfortunate drug overdose tragedeous over the years. List is compiled in alphabetical order, from last name.
Nick Adams
Nick Adams, born Nicholas Aloysius Adamshock (July 10, 1931, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania – February 6-7 1968, Beverly Hills, California) was an American film and television actor. He has been noted for his supporting roles in successful Hollywood films during the 1950s and 1960s along with his starring role in the ABC television series The Rebel (1959). Decades after Adams' untimely death from a prescription drug overdose at the age of 36 his widely publicized friendships with James Dean and Elvis Presley would stir speculation about both his private life and the circumstances of his death. In a synopsis for Adams' last film in the US All Movie Guide reviewer Dan Pavlides wrote, "Plagued by personal excesses, he will be remembered just as much for what he could have done in cinema as what he left behind."
Bridgette Andersen
Bridgette Andersen (July 11, 1975 – May 18, 1997), was an American child actress, best known for her part in the title role of the 1982 comedy Savannah Smiles.
Scotty Beckett
Scott Hastings Beckett (October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968), better known as Scotty Beckett was an American child actor. He is best remembered for his parts in the Our Gang and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger series.
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor and musician, notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon's Animal House, and The Blues Brothers.
Max Cantor
Michael 'Max' Cantor (May 15, 1959 - October 3, 1991) was an American journalist and actor in films such as Dirty Dancing (1987) and Fear, Anxiety and Depression (1989). His father was the theatrical producer Arthur Cantor. He grew up in the famed Dakota Apartments on West 72nd Street in New York. He was a 1982 graduate of Harvard University, where he lived in Adams House and starred in several productions by the then-student director Peter Sellars. He wrote for The Village Voice on ibogaine as a cure for heroin addiction, and took an interest in the cult surrounding East Village cannibal murderer Daniel Rakowitz.
Montgomery Clift
Edward Montgomery Clift (October 17, 1920–July 23, 1966) was an American film actor. He was known for brooding, sensitive, working-class character roles, and received four Academy Award nominations during his career.
Natasha Collins
Natasha Louise Collins (7 July 1976 – 3 January 2008) was a British actress and model. She was also the fiancée of the late BBC presenter Mark Speight.
Megan Connolly
Megan Jennifer Connolly (April 9, 1974 - September 6, 2001) was an Australian actress. Connolly first gained notice in her 1990 film debut in The Crossing with Russell Crowe. She became one of Australia's leading soap stars with her role of Tori Hayden in Paradise Beach. After the show's sudden end in 1994, she co-hosted the Saturday morning video game TV review show The Zone for a year.
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922–September 8, 1965) was an American actress and popular singer. Dandridge was the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Bobby Driscoll
Bobby Driscoll (March 3, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – March 30, 1968 in East Village, Manhattan in New York City), was a successful, Academy Award-winning American child actor, known for a large body of screen- and TV-work from 1943 to 1960, which include some of the Walt Disney Company's most famous live action pictures, such as Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Treasure Island (1950). He was also the Close-up model and the voice of animated Peter Pan (1953).
Jeanne Eagels
Jeanne Eagels (June 26, 1890 – October 3, 1929) was an actress on Broadway and in several motion pictures. A former Ziegfeld Follies Girl who went on to greater fame on Broadway and in the emerging medium of "talkies" (films with sound), she was posthumously nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her 1929 role in The Letter after dying suddenly that year at the age of 39.
W.C. Fields
W. C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946) was an American juggler, comedian, and actor. Fields created one of the great American comic personas of the first half of the 20th century—a misanthrope who teetered on the edge of buffoonery but never quite fell in, an egotist blind to his own failings, a charming drunk; and a man who hated children, dogs, and women, unless they were the wrong sort of women.
Judy Garland
Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in both musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage. Respected for her versatility, she won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her work in films, Grammy Awards and a Tony Award.
Alexander Godunov
Alexander Borisovich Godunov (Russian: Александр Борисович Годунов, November 28, 1949 — May 18, 1995) was a Russian ballet dancer and actor, whose defection caused a diplomatic incident between the USA and the USSR. Godunov was born in Sakhalin, USSR. He joined the Bolshoi Ballet in 1971 and rose to become premier dancer before defecting to the USA in 1979.[1] After briefly dancing with the American Ballet Theatre, he gave up ballet and turned to film acting. Godunov's roles were varied, including a good-natured Amish farmer in Witness, a violent German terrorist in Die Hard, a comically narcissistic symphony conductor (referred to as "the maestro") in The Money Pit, and Vronsky in Anna Karenina in 1987. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1987.
Phyllis Haver
Phyllis Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was a popular American actress of the silent film era.
James Hayden
James Hayden (November 25, 1953 – November 8, 1983) was an American actor. Apart from starring on Broadway, he is perhaps best known for playing Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg in the film Once Upon a Time in America.
Margaux Hemingway
Margaux Louise Hemingway (February 16, 1955 – July 2, 1996) was an American fashion model and actress, who appeared in several movies. She was born in Portland, Oregon, the sister of actress Mariel Hemingway and the granddaughter of writer Ernest Hemingway. In addition to Mariel Hemingway, she had another sister, Joan. She grew up on her grandfather's farm in Ketchum, Idaho.
Anissa Jones
Mary Anissa Jones (March 11, 1958 – August 28, 1976) was an American child actress best remembered as "Buffy" on CBS's Family Affair.
Alan Ladd
Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American film actor. He was famous for his emotionless demeanor and small stature. Reports of his height vary from 5'4" to 5'6" (1.63 to 1.68 m), with 5'5" (1.65 m) being the most generally accepted today.
Barbara La Marr
Barbara La Marr (Reatha Dale Watson) (July 28, 1896 in Yakima, Washington – January 30, 1926 in Altadena, California) was a popular American stage and motion picture actress, cabaret artist and writer.
Carole Landis
Carole Landis (January 1, 1919 – July 5, 1948), born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste, was an American film actress. She is probably best remembered in Topper Returns (1941).
Heath Ledger
Heath Andrew Ledger (April 4, 1979 – January 22, 2008) was an Academy Award-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe-, and SAG Award-nominated Australian film and television actor. After appearing in television roles during the 1990s, Ledger developed a movie career, appearing in nearly 20 films. He starred in both critical and box-office successes, including 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale, and Brokeback Mountain. For his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain, Ledger was nominated for a 2005 Oscar for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" and also was nominated and won "Best Actor" awards for that role from BAFTA and the Australian Film Institute and the New York Film Critics Circle, respectively, as well as won an MTV Movie Award with Jake Gyllenhaal for their "best kiss" in the film.
Béla Lugosi
Béla Lugosi (October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), was an iconic Hungarian stage and B-movie film actor best known for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the American Broadway stage production (1927), and subsequent film (1931), of Bram Stoker's classic vampire story, Dracula.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; baptised Norma Jeane Baker June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe-winning, critically-acclaimed American actress, singer, model, Hollywood icon, cultural icon, fashion icon, pop icon, film executive and sex symbol. She is known for her beauty, comedic acting roles and screen presence. Monroe was one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950s and early 1960s and became the object of unprecedented popular adulation. During the later stages of her career, she worked towards serious roles and her fame surpassed that of any other entertainer of her time. Monroe is the only female on the Forbes top-earning dead celebrities list.
Charles Morris
John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 - September 11, 1970) was an American actor. Chester Morris is most famous for his role in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s. He was a dark, handsome, firm-jawed actor who appealed to both men and women for his confidence and good-natured humor.
Jack Nance
Marvin John Nance (December 21, 1943 – December 30, 1996), known professionally as Jack Nance and occasionally credited as John Nance, was an American actor of stage and screen, primarily starring in offbeat or avant-garde productions. He was known for his work with director David Lynch, particularly for his roles in Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks.
Hugh O’Connor
Hugh Edward Ralph O'Connor (April 7, 1962 – March 28, 1995) was an American actor, known for his role as Det./ Lt. Lonnie Jamison on In the Heat of the Night from 1988-1995.
Lani O’Grady
Lani O'Grady (October 2, 1954 – September 25, 2001), born Lanita Rose Agrati, was an American actor, and the sister of actor/musician Don Grady. Born in Walnut Creek, California, O'Grady is best-remembered for her role as Mary Bradford, the eldest sister from Eight is Enough, and she reprised the character in both its television movie reunions. She also played guest roles on Harry O, The Love Boat and other shows. She co-starred in Massacre at Central High, a theatrical movie, along with Kimberly Beck, who appeared as Nancy in the Eight is Enough pilot.
Chris Penn
Christopher Shannon Penn (October 10, 1965 – January 24, 2006) was an American film actor. He was the son of noted director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan (born Eileen Annucci), and the brother of actor Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn. Born in Los Angeles, California, he was the youngest of the three sons. He dated and lived with Steffiana de la Cruz from 1993 to 1999.
Christopher Pettiet
Christopher Lee Pettiet (February 12, 1976 - April 12, 2000) was an American television and film actor best known for his role as Jesse James in the Western TV series The Young Riders and as Zach Crandell in the cult comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.
Jack Pickford
Jack Pickford (August 18, 1896 - January 3, 1933) was a Canadian-born American actor. He was best known for his tabloid lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets of his day, and being of the famous Pickford acting family.
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated American film actor. He was listed on John Willis's Screen World, Vol. 38 as one of twelve "promising new actors of 1986", and was hailed as highly talented by such critics as Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. His career was cut short, however, when he died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine (also known as a speedball) on Halloween morning 1993 at age 23. He was the older brother of actor Joaquin Phoenix.
Dana Plato
Dana Michelle Plato (November 1, 1963 – May 8, 1999) was an American actress who became famous playing the role of Kimberly Drummond in the U.S. television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. Plato's career declined after her departure from the show, with appearances in low-budget films, including some softcore pornography. She had longstanding personal problems and died from an overdose of prescription medication on May 8, 1999.
Glenn Quinn
Glenn Martin Christopher Francis Quinn (May 27, 1970 – December 3, 2002) was an Irish actor in television and film. As well as having a role as a major character in the television series Angel, he also had a recurring role as Mark Healy in the comedy Roseanne and the short-lived UK series Covington Cross.
Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid (April 15, 1891 – January 18, 1923) was an actor in silent film referred to by Motion Picture Magazine as "the screen's most perfect lover".
Brad Renfro
Brad Barron Renfro (July 25, 1982 – January 15, 2008) was an American actor. He made his movie debut in 1994 in the title role of The Client. He acted in 21 movies, several short films, and one television episode during his career. Much of his later career was marred by a pattern of substance abuse.
Alma Rubens
Alma Rubens (February 19, 1897 – January 22, 1931) was an American silent film actress and stage performer. Born in San Francisco, California, she performed since youth and became a star at the age of 19. She was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent in San Francisco. Her mother was Irish and her father was Jewish.
George Sanders
George Sanders (born George Henry Sanders) (July 3, 1906 – April 25, 1972) was an Academy Award-winning English film and television actor.
Jean Seberg
Jean Seberg (November 13, 1938 – September 8, 1979) was an American actress. She starred in 34 films in Hollywood and in France. Seberg became even more of an icon after her roles in numerous French films and the tragedy of her turbulent life and eventual suicide.
Edie Sedgwick
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick (April 20, 1943 – November 16, 1971)[1] was an American actress, socialite, and heiress who starred in several of Andy Warhol's short films in the 1960s.
Margaret Sullavan
Sullavan arrived in Hollywood on May 16, 1933, her 24th birthday. Her film debut came in 1933 in Only Yesterday and she received her sole Oscar nomination as Best Actress for the WWI-era romance Three Comrades (1938). She co-starred in four films with James Stewart, with whom she and Fonda had acted in a stock company when they were all unknowns: Next Time We Love (1936), The Shopworn Angel (1938), The Mortal Storm and The Shop Around the Corner (both 1940). Other major films during this period include Little Man, What Now? (1934), The Good Fairy (1935, directed by Wyler), The Shining Hour (1938, with Joan Crawford), So Ends Our Night, Back Street, Appointment for Love (all 1941) and Cry 'Havoc' (1943). Her last screen performance was in the film No Sad Songs for Me (1950), directed by Rudolph Maté and written by Howard Koch. She came out of retirement in 1952 to appear in Terence Rattigan's drama The Deep Blue Sea on Broadway, followed the next year by the Broadway premiere of Samuel A. Taylor's comedy Sabrina Fair. She also appeared on TV in Chevrolet Tele-Theater, Studio One, Magnavox Theater, and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street.
Robert Walker
Robert Hudson Walker (October 13, 1918 – August 28, 1951) was an American actor. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Zella (McQuarrie) and Horace Walker, he was the youngest of four sons. He developed an interest in acting which led to his maternal aunt Hortense (McQuarrie) Odlum (the president of Bonwit Teller) to offer to pay for his enrollment at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 1937.
