Hollywood deaths due to drug abuse

Russell Tyrone Jones/Ol' Dirty Bastard,
Russell Tyrone Jones/Ol’ Dirty Bastard

The sudden death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, 46, due to a heroin overdose shows that although a person may be a true artist, often has a troubled life and soul. This often comes across through their music, dance, writing or visual arts.   Rolling out thought it would fit to remember other major celebrity deaths.

Name


Notable Fame

Cause of Death


Drug Category

When

Age

Billy Holiday

American   jazz singer and songwriter

Cirrhosis   of the liver due to alcohol; alcoholism

Alcohol

1959

44

Dorthy   Dandridge

Actress,   Singer

overdose   of the  antidepressant,   melipramine.

Prescription   drug overdose

1965

42

Jimi   Hendrix

American   musician and singer-songwriter

Respiratory   arrest, asphyxia due to alcohol and barbiturate overdose; vomit inhalation

Mixed   alcohol and prescription drugs

1970

27

Bruce   Lee

Martial   artist, actor, film director, pop culture icon

Cerebral   edema due to meprobramate, aspirin

Prescription   drug overdose

1973

32

Freddie   Prinze

Actor

Self-inflicted   gunshot; possibly under influence of methaqualone, cocaine (suicide)

Mixed   illegal and prescription drugs, speculated

1977

22

Donyale Luna

Model,   first black woman on  cover of Vogue

LSD overdose

Illegal Drugs

1979

38

Len   Bias

Boston   Celtics second overall NBA draft pick

Cardiac   arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose

Illegal   drug

1986

23

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Artist

Heroin overdose

Illegal drugs

1988

28

David   Ruffin

The   Temptations,

Crack

Illegal   drugs

1991

50

Rob   Pilatus

Singer Milli-Vinilli

Methadone   and alcohol

prescription   drugs and alchol

1998

32

Russell   Tyrone Jones/Ol’ Dirty Bastard,

rapper

mixture of cocaine and the  painkiller Tramadol

Illegal   drugs and prescription drugs

2004

36

Ike   Turner

Musician,   bandleader, songwriter, producer

Cardiovascular,   lung disease complicated by cocaine overdose (accidental)

Illegal   drug

2007

76

Michael   Jackson

American   Pop Singer and icon

propofol   intoxication; midazolam,     lorazepam

Prescription   drugs

2009

50

Whitney   Houston

American   singer, actress

Drowning;   cocaine  Flexeril, marijuana, Xanax

Illegal   drug

2012

49

Kris Kelly

Rapper Kris-Kross

Cocaine and Heroin

Illegal Drugs

2013

32

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