Drug-Related Deaths - Notable Celebrities
The tragic loss of a renowned celebrity or athlete to a drug or alcohol-related death is an event that often leaves many unanswered questions. Famous and much-loved celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Heath Ledger have been the victims of such unfortunate circumstances. While many deaths may be due to misuse of illegal substances, these drugs are not always illicit - and an overdose may not always be intentional.
Drug Interactions Can Be Deadly
Death due to drugs can also be the result of mixing prescribed medications with other drugs (legal or illegal), alcohol, over-the-counter medications or even herbal supplements. Drug-drug interactions may also play a role in drug-related deaths. For example, the consumption of multiple central nervous system depressants, such as opioid pain killers, sedatives, hypnotics, or alcohol may lead to an unintentional overdose due to severely depressed breathing.
Mixing illicit, prescription or over-the-counter medications can be dangerous, and patients should always rule out drug interactions with their healthcare provider. The use of prescription medications with illegal drugs or alcohol can produce an unpredictable and fatal response, and many deaths due to such circumstances may have been preventable.
The following table outlines the death of notable celebrities and athletes who have had drugs or alcohol implicated in their deaths.
| Name | Notable Fame | Cause of Death | Drug Category | When | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Best | Professional soccer player | Complications due to alcohol abuse, alcoholism | Alcohol | 2005 | 59 |
| Jon Bonham | English musician (drummer) and songwriter (Led Zeppelin) | Asphyxiation due to massive alcohol consumption | Alcohol | 1980 | 32 |
| Richard Burton | Welsh-born actor | Cerebral hemorrhage; possible complications due to alcohol, alcoholism | Alcohol | 1984 | 58 |
| Truman Capote | American writer | Liver disease complicated by phlebitis, alcohol and multiple drug intoxication | Alcohol | 1984 | 59 |
| Billy Holiday | American jazz singer and songwriter | Cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol; alcoholism | Alcohol | 1959 | 44 |
| Jack Kerouac | Author | Cirrhosis of liver, internal bleeding due to alcohol use | Alcohol | 1969 | 47 |
| Joseph McCarthy | U.S. Senator | Hepatitis exacerbated by alcohol, alcoholism | Alcohol | 1957 | 48 |
| Amy Winehouse | English singer and songwriter | Fatal alcohol poisoning; alcoholism | Alcohol | 2011 | 27 |
| Jeff Hanneman | Musician (Slayer) | Cirrhosis due to alcoholism | Alcohol | 2013 | 49 |
| Verne Troyer | American actor (Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series) | Suicide by alcohol poisoning | Alcohol | 2018 | 49 |
| Dolores O'Riordan | Irish musician, singer and songwriter (The Cranberries) | Accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication | Alcohol | 2018 | 46 |
| Steven Scott Bechler | Major League baseball pitcher; Baltimore Orioles | Heat stroke exacerbated by ephedra | Alternative/herbal drug | 2003 | 23 |
| Eddie Guerrero | Professional wrestler | Cardiomyopathy, heart disease, possibly due to anabolic steroid use | Anabolic steroids (speculated) | 2005 | 38 |
| Matthew Perry | Actor | Acute effects of Ketamine. Drowning. Cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. | General anesthetics | 2023 | 54 |
| Len Bias | Boston Celtics second overall NBA draft pick (1986) | Cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 1986 | 23 |
| Douglas Glenn Colvin, aka Dee Dee Ramone | American songwriter and musician (The Ramones) | Heroin overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 2002 | 50 |
| David Croudip | American football defensive cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons | Cocaine overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 1988 | 30 |
| John Entwistle | English bass guitarist (The Who) | Heart attack induced by cocaine | Illegal drug | 2002 | 58 |
| Whitney Houston | American singer, actress | Drowning; complications of cocaine and heart disease; Flexeril, marijuana, Xanax and Benadryl also found in body but did not contribute to death | Illegal drug | 2012 | 48 |
| Peter Jackson | Australian rugby player | Heroin overdose (suicide) | Illegal drug | 1997 | 33 |
| Janis Joplin | American musician | Heroin overdose | Illegal drug | 1970 | 27 |
| Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb | Football defensive lineman in the National Football League (US), Pittsburgh Steelers; professional wrestler | Heroin overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 1963 | 31 |
| Chris Mainwaring | Australian Football Player | Cocaine overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 2007 | 41 |
| Billy Mays | Spokesperson | Heart disease possibly complicated by cocaine use | Illegal drug | 2009 | 51 |
| Jim Morrison | Musician, singer, songwriter (The Doors) | Heart failure; possible heroin or cocaine overdose (disputed) | Illegal drug | 1971 | 27 |
| Darrell Porter | American professional baseball player | Cocaine overdose (accident) | Illegal drug | 2002 | 50 |
| Don Rogers | Football safety in the National Football League (US), Cleveland Browns | Fatal cocaine overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 1986 | 23 |
| John Simon Ritchie, aka Sid Vicious | Musician (Sex Pistols) | Heroin overdose (suicide) | Illegal drug | 1979 | 21 |
| Ike Turner | Musician, bandleader, songwriter, producer | Cardiovascular, lung disease complicated by cocaine overdose (accidental) | Illegal drug | 2007 | 76 |
| David Waymer | American football player, NFL | Heart attack, cocaine related | Illegal drug | 1993 | 34 |
| Lisa Robin Kelly | Actress (That '70s Show) | Multiple drug intoxication | Illegal drug | 2013 | 43 |
| Chris Kelly | Rapper (Kris Kross) | Fatal overdose, cocaine and heroin | Illegal drug | 2013 | 34 |
| Peaches Geldof | English columnist, television personality, and model | Heroin overdose | Illegal drug | 2014 | 25 |
| Cory Monteith | Actor (Glee) and singer | Toxic mix of heroin and alcohol | Illegal drug and alcohol | 2013 | 31 |
| José Fernández | Cuban-American professional baseball pitcher (Miami Marlins) | Boating accident while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol | Illegal drug and alcohol | 2016 | 24 |
| Howie Epstein | American bass guitarist (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) | Possible heroin overdose; also reportedly using prescription antibiotics | Illegal drug overdose | 2003 | 47 |
| Paul Hayward | Professional Rugby League Player; Newton Jets (Australia) | Heroin overdose. | Illegal drug overdose | 1992 | 38 |
| Chet Baker | Jazz musician and singer, trumpet player, guitarist | Accidental fall from hotel window; cocaine, heroin | Illegal drugs | 1988 | 59 |
| John Belushi | American actor; comedian; musician; Saturday Night Live comedy TV show | Speedball overdose; a combination of heroin and cocaine (accidental) | Illegal drugs | 1982 | 33 |
| Lenny Bruce | American comedian | Drug overdose: morphine (accidental) | Illegal drugs | 1966 | 40 |
| Chris Farley | Comedian, actor; Saturday Night Live sketch comedy TV show | Overdose; combination of morphine and cocaine; complicated by heart disease; fluoxetine also in system (accidental) | Illegal drugs | 1997 | 33 |
| River Phoenix | American actor | Heroin and cocaine overdose | Illegal drugs | 1993 | 23 |
| Scott Weiland | American musician, singer and songwriter | Accidental overdose of cocaine, alcohol, and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) | Illegal drugs and alcohol | 2015 | 48 |
| Hank Williams, Sr. | Country music singer-songwriter | Heart failure, possibly alcohol, drug-related (accidental) | Mixed alcohol and Illegal drugs (speculated) | 1953 | 29 |
| Derek Boogaard | Canadian professional ice hockey player; left wing (New York Rangers) | Alcohol and oxycodone overdose (accidental) | Mixed alcohol and prescription drugs | 2011 | 28 |
| 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 |
| Christopher Bowman | American figure skater | Drug overdose: cocaine, diazepam, cannabis, alcohol (accidental) | Mixed alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs | 2008 | 40 |
| Michael Carl Baze | Horse jockey | Overdose; cocaine, oxymorphone (accidental) | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 2011 | 24 |
| Scott Charles (“Bam Bam”) Bigelow | American professional wrestler; World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) | Multiple drug overdose: cocaine, temazepam (accidental), possibly worsened by heart disease | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 2007 | 45 |
| Elisa Bridges | American model, actress | Drug overdose: heroin, methamphetamine, alprazolam, meperidine | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 2002 | 28 |
| Kurt Cobain | American singer-songwriter and musician (Nirvana) | Gunshot wound to head; heroin and diazepam found in body (suicide) | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 1994 | 27 |
| Andy Irons | Surfer | Cardiac arrest complicated by mixed drug ingestion (cocaine, methamphetamine, alprazolam, methadone) | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 2010 | 32 |
| David Kennedy | Fourth son of Robert F. Kennedy; no profession | Overdose of cocaine, meperidine, thioridazine (controversial, some say he was murdered) | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 1984 | 28 |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | Actor | Acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs | 2014 | 46 |
| Elvis Presley | American musician, singer, actor, cultural icon | Heart arrhythmia, possibly aggravated by multiple prescriptions (methaqualone, codeine, barbiturates, cocaine), speculated | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs, speculated | 1977 | 42 |
| Freddie Prinze | Actor | Self-inflicted gunshot; possibly under influence of methaqualone, cocaine (suicide) | Mixed illegal and prescription drugs, speculated | 1977 | 22 |
| Howard Hughes | American business tycoon, movie producer and director, aviator, engineer, investor | Kidney failure; possible complications due to chronic use of aspirin (high doses) and dehydration | Nonprescription drug (not confirmed) | 1976 | 70 |
| Keith Moon | Drummer (The Who) | Clomethiazole overdose | Prescription drug | 1978 | 32 |
| Marilyn Monroe | American actress, model, singer, sex symbol | Barbiturate overdose (suicide) | Prescription drug | 1962 | 36 |
| Prince | American singer and songwriter | Accidental fentanyl overdose | Prescription drug | 2016 | 57 |
| Tommy Dorsey | American jazz musician | Choked himself while sleeping; unable to awaken due to sedative use | Prescription drug overdose | 1956 | 51 |
| Anthony Durante | Professional wrestler | Oxycodone or fentanyl overdose (accidental) | Prescription drug overdose | 2003 | 36 |
| Brian Epstein | English businessman; manager (The Beatles) | Sedative overdose (accidental) | Prescription drug overdose | 1967 | 32 |
| Edward Fatu “Umaga” | Samoan-American professional wrestler | Hydrocodone, carisoprodol, diazepam (accidental) | Prescription drug overdose | 2009 | 36 |
| Sigmund Freud | Neurologist | Physician-assisted suicide; morphine | Prescription drug overdose | 1939 | 83 |
| Judy Garland | American actress and singer | Barbiturate (Seconal) overdose; controversial if suicide or accident | Prescription drug overdose | 1969 | 47 |
| Margeaux Hemingway | American actress | Phenobarbital overdose; suicide | Prescription drug overdose | 1996 | 42 |
| Abbie Hoffman | American Political activist | Phenobarbital overdose (suicide) | Prescription drug overdose | 1989 | 52 |
| Heath Ledger | Australian actor | Combined drug toxicity due to oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, diazepam, temazepam, doxylamine (accidental) | Prescription drug overdose | 2008 | 28 |
| Bruce Lee | Martial artist, actor, film director, pop culture icon | Cerebral edema due to meprobramate, aspirin | Prescription drug overdose | 1973 | 32 |
| Christopher Wiley Antley | Horse jockey; 2-time Kentucky Derby winner | Overdose; (clobenzorex, paroxetine, methamphetamine, carbamazepine) and trauma (accidental) | Prescription drugs | 2000 | 34 |
| Erica Blasberg | American golfer (LPGA) | Asphyxia; multiple drug overdose: butalbital, temazepam, alprazolam, codeine, hydrocodone, and tramadol (suicide) | Prescription drugs | 2010 | 25 |
| Michael Jackson | American Pop Singer and icon | Cardiac arrest, acute propofol intoxication; midazolam, lidocaine, diazepam, lorazepam also noted in autopsy report | Prescription drugs | 2009 | 50 |
| Anna Nicole Smith | American model, Playboy playmate, actress | Combined drug toxicity due to chloral hydrate and benzodiazepines (accidental) | Prescription drugs | 2007 | 40 |
| Joan Rivers | Actress | Therapeutic complication with propofol sedation | Prescription drugs | 2014 | 81 |
| Phyllis Hyman | American singer, songwriter and actress | Fatal overdose of pentobarbital and secobarbital (suicide) | Prescription drugs | 1995 | 45 |
| Lil Peep | American rapper and singer | Overdose of fentanyl and Xanax | Prescription drugs | 2017 | 21 |
| Tom Petty | American singer and songwriter | Accidental overdose of prescription drugs including fentanyl and oxycodone | Prescription drugs | 2017 | 66 |
| Art Bell | American broadcaster and author | Accidental overdose from prescription drugs including oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, and carisoprodol | Prescription drugs | 2018 | 72 |
| Jarad Higgins, aka Juice WRLD | American rapper, singer, and songwriter | Overdosed on Percocet pills in an attempt to hide them from the police while conducting a search on his plane | Prescription drugs | 2019 | 21 |
| Tony Hseih | American businessman (Zappos) | Accidental death (fire), documented abuse of ketamine and nitrous-oxide. | Prescription Drugs | 2020 | 46 |
| Taylor Hawkins | Foo Fighters drummer | Investigation ongoing. A preliminary toxicology test reportedly found substances including opioids, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and THC. | Prescription drugs | 2022 | 50 |
| Mac Miller | American rapper, singer, and record producer | Accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol | Prescription drugs and alcohol | 2018 | 26 |
| Chyna | American professional wrestler | Accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs including diazepam, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and temazepam | Prescription drugs and alcohol | 2016 | 46 |
| Dwayne Haskins | NFL quarterback | Struck by truck while under influence of alcohol, ketamine and norketamine. | Prescription drugs and alcohol | 2022 | 25 |
| Brian Jones | Musician (The Rolling Stones) | Drowning due to alcohol and drug intoxication | unknown | 1969 | 27 |
| John Kordic | Professional hockey player | Lung failure complicated by unspecified drug overdose (possible anabolic steroid abuse) | unknown | 1992 | 27 |