Alcohol and Drugs: Untimely Celebrity Deaths

celebrities who died of alcoholism

During an interview with A&E, Cassidy admitted he had a drinking problem to cover up the sadness and emptiness, even after attempting sober living many times. He had attributed his memory problems to dementia, but it was actually alcohol-induced, and he had developed liver disease. On November 21, 2017, he died after days in the hospital due to liver and kidney failure directly resulting from his alcoholism.

Suffering from chronic insomnia, Ladd would induce sleep with sleeping pills and rye. In 1964, at the age 50, Ladd suffered a cerebral edema caused by an acute overdose of alcohol, barbiturates, and tranquilizers containing depressants. Legendary country singer and songwriter Hank Williams made his mark on both country music and rock and roll with such songs as “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”. Jack Kerouac was a writer and poet, famous as a key voice of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. His most successful work was his semi-autobiographical road novel, On the Road, which extensively explored what the Beats called “the derangement of the senses”. ‘It was really, really tough to see somebody you love destroy himself.

Celebrities Who Have Struggled with Alcohol Addiction

Gerry Rafferty was a Scottish singer and musician, famous for such hits as “Stuck in the Middle with You” (as a member of Stealers Wheel) and “Baker Street”. Born into a working-class family, Rafferty began drinking early in life, a habit that impacted his personal and professional lives. James Jamerson was the bassist on most of the Motown Records in the 1960s and early 1970s and is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bass players in modern music history. Jamerson played on twenty-three Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, as well as fifty-six R&B number-one hits. A long-time alcoholic, Jamerson died of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia in 1983, at the of 47.

celebrities who died of alcoholism

Inside I’m A Celebrity star Reverend Richard Coles’ relationship with famous actor after husband’s death

According to those who knew Bonham, he often missed his home life while on tour with his band, Led Zeppelin, and often turned to drinking to drown out his sadness. On September 24th, 1980, Led Zeppelin started rehearsals for their North American tour. Bonham stopped for breakfast on the way there, where he drank four quadruple screwdrivers (vodka with orange juice). He continued to drink throughout rehearsals and after 12-hours of drinking, was put to sleep on his side by his assistant.

  1. 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.
  2. Thornton’s “Ball and Chain” was later made famous by Janis Joplin.
  3. These stories don’t just speak to the impact of cirrhosis, but also serve as reminders of the importance of awareness, timely intervention, and support in managing such a serious condition.
  4. He suffered a fatal, alcohol-related stomach hemorrhage on Christmas Day, 1946, at the age 66.
  5. Haemorrhages caused by drunkenness were the cause of his death.

“Every year there’s the friendship no one expected and this year it’s Maura Higgins and reverend Richard Coles,” wrote one person on X (Twitter) in an apt summary of the public consensus surrounding the pair. In 2015, he told the Mirror“It is my responsibility to do the best I can and to take it one day at a time. The scariest is when you go into a meeting and you’re like, ‘Where’s Steve? Christopher’s manager, Chi Muoi Lo, previously confirmed the actor’s death in a statement to USA TODAY in October. “This news was incredibly shocking, and I am devastated by his loss. He was a very gifted actor, and more importantly, an amazing friend,” Lo said. “My heart goes out to his friends and family who loved him so much.”

Understanding Sleep Aid Addiction

The 62-year-old vicar lost partner David Oldham, who was also a clergyman, in 2019 to liver disease caused by an alcohol addiction he had battled with since his teenage years. The pair met when former A&E nurse David visited Richard to seek his advice on joining the chair. When alcohol consumption becomes abusive, it’s time to seek treatment. It’s important to address the underlying issues in order to treat alcohol addiction. Learn more about alcohol abuse and addiction, and explore treatment options to avoid negative health outcomes.

Parsons’ “Cosmic American Music” influenced later generations of indie, alt-country and country rock artists. A dope user and a heavy drinker, in 1973 Parsons consumed copious amounts of alcohol, barbiturates, and morphine, then fell unconscious. A long-time alcoholic, Cassavetes passed from complications of cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, at the age of 59. A founding member of the Grateful Dead, keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan was a blues purist whose role in the band diminished over time.

‘I did everything to try and help David’

She fell off the wagon and was imprisoned for drug How Long Does Molly MDMA Stay In Your System possession, dying in a New York hospital in 1959 at the age of 44. This is a list of celebrities who died from their addiction to alcohol. While we may be more accustomed to celebrities dying to heroin and other drugs, many have died due to an addiction to alcohol. It is hard not to think about how many of these talented musicians may have led longer, more productive lives if they had received adequate help for alcohol addiction. A program that may have addressed any co-occurring disorders and helped with coping mechanisms to handle the stresses of their career. Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, had developed alcoholism throughout his career to cope with depressive moods and traumatic events because he felt it helped his creativity.

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