I'm Not A Dick Ted: Top 20 Drug-Induced Celebrity Deaths

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse and addiction are both very devastating problems. In serious cases, help offered by a drug rehab facility is strongly recommended. Complications with physical health, relationship problems, poor work and school performance, as well as a number of other problems can occur as a result of drug use. Drug treatment offered at a drug treatment center can provide recovery for those who cannot overcome drug use on their own. In rare cases of drug addiction, death occurs. The following examples tell the stories of those who have died as a result of drug abuse:

John Belushi – Belushi was an actor, comedian, and musician. He has starred in television shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, and programs put on by National Lampoon. Throughout his life, John was known for drug abuse. Eventually, he died of accidental drug overdose as a result of taking 11 speedballs (a combination of cocaine and heroin).
Paula Yates – Paula was a television celebrity and writer. She had four children, all of them girls. Yates was known for naming her children rather unusual names which include Pixie and Fifi. Television shows Paula held roles in include, The Tube, Have I Got News For You, and The Big Breakfast. She died at the age of 40 as a result of accidental heroin overdose.
Hillel Slovak – Slovak was a guitarist for the famous band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hillel also played in a band called What Is This? but eventually left it to continue with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. During his lifetime, Hillel became addicted to drugs, primarily heroin. He eventually died as a result of his drug habits. The cause was an accidental speedball overdose. Today, the Red Hot Chili Peppers continues without Hillel Slovak or drummer Jack Irons, who resigned after Slovak’s death.
Marilyn Monroe – She is known as a famous actress, model, and American sex symbol. She was born as Norma Jean Mortenson and was married 3 times, all of which ended in divorce. Today, Monroe is the only woman listed on Forbes list of top earning dead celebrities. At the age of 36, Marilyn died in her sleep of barbiturate poisoning (an overdose of sleeping pills). To this day, no one knows for sure whether her death was a suicide or homicide.
Billie Holiday – Billie was a famous female jazz singer. She was originally named Eleanora Fagan. This singer used hard drugs (primarily heroin) and was involved in unhealthy relationships where abuse took place. Eventually she developed heart disease and liver complications. She died at the age of 44 from cirrhosis of the liver, a problem which arose from long-term drug and alcohol abuse.
Ken Caminiti – This famous baseball player is known as the first player to have announced steroid use during their career to the public. Alcohol and cocaine abuse were other problems Caminiti struggled with during his life. This sports professional played third base and was chosen to be MVP for the National League in 1996. Unfortunately, Ken died of a heart attack at the age of 41 (he had already retired from baseball). The cause of death was an overdose of cocaine.
Bridgette Anderson – This actress is primarily remembered as a child actress. She is most famous for her starring role in the film, Savannah Smiles. Throughout her life, this actress struggled with an addiction to heroin. Bridgette died as a result of accidental drug and alcohol overdose at the age of 21.
River Phoenix – This actor was the oldest of five children, one of whom is actor Joaquin Phoenix. He acted in films such as Stand By Me, Little Nikita, The Thing Called Love, and Running on Empty. Throughout his life he was a proud supporter of animal rights and refused to use animal products in the films he acted in. Phoenix died as a result of speedballs (a combination of cocaine and heroin) outside of the night club The Viper Room. He was 23 years old.
Anna Nicole Smith – Smith was an actress and model. In fact, she was named Playmate of the Year in 1993. She was married three times during her lifetime, the most famous of which was to J. Howard Marshall. This oil executive was a billionaire and 63 years older than Smith. Anna Nicole Smith died at the age of 39 from accidental overdose of chloral hydrate and other prescription drugs.
Jim Morrison – He is most famous for being a singer, but he also wrote a number of poems, directed films, and wrote his own songs. Morrison was a lead singer for the famous band, The Doors. Throughout his life, the singer struggled with both drug and alcohol abuse. He died at the age of 27. Although several stories have circulated regarding his death, the general consensus is that he died of a heart attack triggered by accidental heroin overdose.
Chris Farley – Farley was an actor. He acted in the television show Saturday Night Live for a number of years and starred in movies including Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja. Drug and alcohol abuse were a constant part of Farley’s life and eventually caused problems with his career. Farley died at the age of 33 as a result of an accidental speedball overdose. Long term drug and alcohol addiction (and possibly his obesity) contributed to his death.
Tim Hardin – Hardin was a singer as well as a song writer. He sang songs which include, “If I Were a Carpenter”, “Reason to Believe”, “Bird on a Wire”, and “A Simple Song of Freedom”. Unfortunately, Tim was known to have struggled with heroin abuse. In fact, an overdose of heroin combined with morphine caused his ultimate death.
Elvis Presley – Presley was known as an American singer, actor and sex symbol. He is often called the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Elvis was addicted to prescription drugs and eventually died of a heart attack brought on by long-term drug use. He was 42 years old.
Donyale Luna – Luna was a famous African American Supermodel and the first black woman to grace the cover of a Vogue magazine. She also had roles in several films. Some have said she was ashamed of her black heritage. On occasion, she was known to wear colored contact lenses and blond wigs. Donyale, born Peggy Anne Freeman, died of drug overdose in her 30’s.
John Kordic – Kordic was a hockey player. He was famous for his temper and was known for instigating fights. Throughout his life he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and was admitted to drug and alcohol rehab centers on occasion. He eventually died at the age of 27 after police were called to his hotel room and a fight broke out. His official cause of death was heart failure due to long term drug and alcohol abuse as well as steroid use.
Janis Joplin – Joplin was an American singer and songwriter. At one point in time she was a part of the band Big Brother and The Holding Company, but later began a solo career during which she played at the Woodstock Festival. Throughout her short life, Joplin experimented with a variety of drugs and drank heavily. At the age of 27, Janis died as a result of heroin overdose and alcohol consumption.
Len Bias – This basketball star was selected to play for the Celtics in the NBA draft just hours before his death. Len, born Leonard Kevin Bias, was the second player chosen to be drafted, at the time he was playing college basketball. He also signed a contract with the shoe company, Adidas. Unfortunately, Len Bias died from cocaine overdose less than 48 hours after the NBA draft took place. He was only 22 years old.
Jimi Hendrix – Hendrix was a famous singer and guitar player. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and also holds a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Jimi Hendrix also had the opportunity to headline for the music festival, Woodstock. Throughout his life, Jimi experimented with drugs such as LSD, marijuana, speed, and sleeping pills. He died as a result of taking sleeping pills and alcohol which later caused asphyxiation by his own vomit while sleeping.
Judy Garland – This singer and actress struggled with weight gain as well as drug addiction for a great deal of her life. She is perhaps best remembered for her lead role in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Judy was married 5 times in her life and divorced 4 times. At several points in life, Garland attempted suicide but eventually died of an accidental drug overdose of barbiturates, she was 47.
John Bonham – This drummer played for the famous band, Led Zeppelin. He learned to play drums at a young age and soon became a drumming legend due to his incredible speed and powerful style of hitting. Unfortunately, Bonham was also an alcoholic. He died at the age of 32 due to asphyxiation from vomiting. This was caused by heavy alcohol consumption. The band Led Zeppelin decided against continuing with a different drummer after his death.