Whether it's prescription or street drugs, when the demise includes a celebrated face, it attracts consideration regarding evil spirits that neither cash nor notoriety can tame. These 16 stars lost their lives to overdoses, yet their legacy lives on in the collection of work they deserted.
2. ACTOR DIRECTOR
AGE: 46 BORN: 1967 DIED: 2014
PHILIP HOFFMAN
OSCAR
WINNER
MIXED DRUG
INTOXICATION
CAUSE OF DEATHSUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
COCAINE
HEROIN
AMPHETAMINES
SEDATIVES
3. AGE: 31 BORN: 1982 DIED: 2013
CORY MONTEITH
ACTOR SINGERGLEE
Finn Hudson
HEROIN & ALCOHOL
OVERDOSE
CAUSE OF DEATHSUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
HEROIN
ALCOHOL
4. ACTRESS
AGE: 81 BORN: 1933 DIED: 2014
JOAN RIVERS
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
WRITERCOMEDIAN
THERAPEUTIC
COMPLICATION
CAUSE OF DEATH
5. AGE: 28 BORN: 1979 DIED: 2008
HEATH LEDGER
ACTOR MUSICAL
DIRECTOR
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
PRESCRIPTION DRUG
INTOXICATION
CAUSE OF DEATH
The Dark Knight
JOKER
6. SINGER ACTRESS MODEL
AGE: 48 BORN: 1963 DIED: 2012
WHITNEY HOUSTON
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
COCAINE
DROWNING; COCAINE &
HEART COMPLICATIONS
CAUSE OF DEATH
7. AGE: 28 BORN: 1983 DIED: 2011
AMY WINEHOUSE
ALCOHOL
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
SINGER SONGWRITER
ALCOHOL
POISONING
CAUSE OF DEATH
GRAMMY
WINNER
8. ACTOR
AGE: 33 BORN: 1964 DIED: 1997
CHRIS FARLEY
COMEDIAN
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
COCAINE
MORPHINE
OVERDOSE; MORPHINE
& COCAINE
CAUSE OF DEATH
SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE
9. AGE: 25 BORN: 1989 DIED: 2014
PEACHES GELDOF
WRITERTV
PERSONALITY
MODEL
HEROIN
OVERDOSE
CAUSE OF DEATHSUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
HEROIN
10. AGE: 49 BORN: 1964 DIED: 2013
JEFF HANNEMAN
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
ALCOHOL
MUSICIAN SONGWRITER SLAYER
Guitarist
CIRRHOSIS DUE TO
ALCOHOLISM
CAUSE OF DEATH
11. AGE: 27 BORN: 1942 DIED: 1970
JIMI HENDRIX
SINGER SONGWRITER
VOMIT INHALATION;
BARBITURATE & ALCOHOL
OVERDOSE
CAUSE OF DEATH
GUITARIST
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
ALCOHOL
BARBITURATE
12. AGE: 50 BORN: 1958 DIED: 2009
MICHAEL JACKSON
SINGER SONGWRITER DANCER
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
BENZODIAZEPINE
PROPOFOL
CARDIAC ARREST,
PROPOFOL INTOXICATION
CAUSE OF DEATH
13. AGE: 40 BORN: 1969 DIED: 2010
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
FASHION
DESIGNER
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
COCAINE
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
LABEL OWNER WON MANY
AWARDS
CAUSE OF DEATH
HANGING HIMSELF;
INGESTED PRESCRIPTION
MEDS AND COCAINE
14. AGE: 47 BORN: 1943 DIED: 1990
REINALDO ARENAS
POET NOVELIST PLAYWRIGHT
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
ALCOHOL
UNSPECIFIED
DRUGS
DRUG & ALCOHOL
OVERDOSE
CAUSE OF DEATH
15. AGE: 32 BORN: 1977 DIED: 2009
BRITTANY MURPHY
SINGERACTRESS VOICE
ARTIST
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
CAUSE OF DEATH
PNEUMONIA +
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
16. AGE: 36 BORN: 1926 DIED: 1962
MARILYN MONROE
SEX SYMBOL
BARBITURATE
OVERDOSE
CAUSE OF DEATHSUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
BARBITURATE
ACTRESS MODEL
17. AGE: 39 BORN: 1967 DIED: 2007
ANNA NICOLE SMITH
ACTRESS
SUBSTANCE(S)
INVOLVED
PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
MODEL TV
PERSONALITY
CAUSE OF DEATH
COMBINED DRUG
INTOXICATION