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 |
