Heath Ledger could be the latest star to have died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Ledger was taking anti-depressants as well as the “dangerous drug” Ambien at the time of his death, although his autopsy today was inconclusive. While most celebrity overdoses have been the result of either suicide or the use of illegal drugs, a surprising number of stars have died by accident — from medications you can purchase at the corner pharmacy. Here’s a list of accidental celebrity drug deaths:
1.) MARILYN MONROE.
Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” died from an overdose of sleeping pills — specifically, Nembutal and chloral hydrate . Although Monroe’s death was officially listed as a suicide in 1962, many forensic experts and investigators now say the overdose was more likely to have been accidental.
2.) ELVIS PRESLEY.
Perhaps the most famous prescription-drug abuser of all time, Elvis Presley died in 1977 from an overdose of medications while on the toilet in his Graceland mansion. Presley’s ex-wife wrote: “Presley was taking Placidyls to combat severe insomnia in ever increasing doses and later took Dexedrine to counter the sleeping pills’ after effects.” Presley’s personal physician, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, concluded: “Elvis’s problem was that he didn’t see the wrong in it. He felt that by getting [pills] from a doctor, he wasn’t the common everyday junkie…”
3.) JUDY GARLAND.
Judy Garland, the Wizard of Oz star was found dead in her London bathroom by her husband in 1969. Coroner Gavin Thursdon said the cause of death was an accidental overdose of Seconal.
4.) MICHAEL JACKSON.
On June 25, 2009 the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson died from an acute intoxication of propofol and benzodiazepine.
5.) ANNA NICOLE SMITH.
According to Wikipedia, “Ultimately her death [in 2007] was ruled an accidental drug overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate that became increasingly lethal when combined with other prescription drugs in her system, specifically 4 benzodiazepines: Klonopin (Clonazepam), Ativan (Lorazepam), Serax (Oxazepam), and Valium (Diazepam). Furthermore, she had taken Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) and Topamax (Toprimate), an anticonvulsant GABA agonist, which likely contributed to the sedative effect of chloral hydrate and the benzodiazepines.”
6.) DOROTHY DANDRIDGE.
The first African-American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award, Dorthy Dandridge was found dead in West Hollywood in 1965 from an overdose of Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant. It’s believed she improperly combined the medication — which she took for her bipolar disorder — with pain medication she received after breaking an ankle.
7.) BRITTANY MURPHY.
On December 20, 2009 actress Brittany Murphy passed away due to pneumonia, anemia and high levels of her prescribe medications: hydrocodone, acetaminophen, L-methamphetamine and chlorpheniramine.
8.) BRUCE LEE.
According to wikipedia, the famed martial artist Bruce Lee died on May 10, 1973 due to an analgesic (painkiller) that was given to him for a headache. The painkiller contained both aspirin and a tranquilizer, meprobamate.
9.) MARGEUX HEMINGWAY.
On July 1, 1996, the actress Margeux Hemingway and grand daughter of Ernest Hemingway was found dead at the age of 42 in her studio apartment due to an apparent overdose of phenobarbital.
10.) ROBERT WALKER.
Perhaps the most bizarre accidental prescription-drug death. Robert Walker, the star of Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train died mysteriously in 1951 after being given an injection of the “truth serum” sodium amytal by psychiatrists at his home.
11.) HEATH LEDGER.
On January 22, 2008 influential actor and director Heath Ledger died in his Manhattan apartment from an accidental overdose due to the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylaminie.
12.) WHITNEY HOUSTON.
Beloved singer, songwriter and actress Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012 due to drowning, atherosclerotic heart disease, cocaine, diphenhydramine, alprazolam, cannabis and cyclobenzaprine.
13.) PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN.
On February 2, 2014 actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died at the age of 46 in a Manhattan apartment due to “acute mixed drug intoxication” from including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine.
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59 Comments on "12 Accidental Celebrity Prescription Drug Deaths"
Where is Jimi Hendrix? He also died of an accidental overdose. Also Nick Drake is commonly known to have commited suicide so…doesnt quite fit the accidental title.
shouldnt heath ledger be added to this list?
I should be dead
Hendrix could be included, since he took sleeping pills the night he died. But he was also drunk and died by choking on his own vomit.
Oh, and most accounts say Drake’s death was accidental — although with drug overdoses, it’s hard to know for sure. Many would think Dana Plato and Rob Pilatus were suicides too.
Heath Ledger died at age 28 as a result of “acute intoxication by the combined effects” of the drugs oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. Sad and tragic.
Drugs I love them and hate them. Who knows when you decide to take an xtra 1/2 of a val its going to punch your ticket.
Marilyn Monroe’s death wasn’t accidental. I know this for sure because I killed her. I’m serious.
elton johns ‘candle in the wind’ was written for princess diana, not for marilyn monroe.
Ambien (zolpidem) was not found in Heath Ledger’s toxicology report.
All these people are sad…think of the other millions of addicts you don’t read about.
Stephanie, Elton John’s original Candle in the Wind was recorded for Marilyn Monroe. He wrote a new version for Princess Diana after her death.
Elton wrote Candle In the Wind for Marilyn first – it was later changed for Dianas funeral.
Here’s another: Socrates -> hemlock.
Re: Candle in the Wind. It was originally written about Marilyn. He updated it when Diana died.
stephanie, by ur comment “candle in the wind” written for Princess diana. Cary Byrd is right it was written for Marilyn. Sad but true i remember the release of this song. The truth be told most of these “accidental overdoses” are usually pills washed down with booze.
Yummy pills, mmmm.
candle in the wind was written for marilyn…….diana’s song was called “goodbye england’s rose” different lyrics, same music (tune)
“Candle in the Wind” was originally written for Marilyn Monroe and later adapted for Princess Diana. hence the last verse “..Goodbye Norma Jean From the young man in the 22nd row Who sees you as something as more than sexual More than just our Marilyn Monroe”
[…] For those who haven’t read it, here’s the full blog post on celebrity prescription drug overdoses. […]
i miss heath
Stephanie, Candle In The Wind was originally written for Marilyn Monroe. When Princess Diana died, he re-wrote it for her. Listen to the original. ” Goodbye Norma Jean…” That was Monroe’s real name.
Heath Ledger is mentioned in the opening line, giving the motivation for the list.
Where is heath ledger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what about jimi hendrix!!!!!!!!!!!
heath was in dark night how can you people forget!!!!!!!!!
where’s Bruce Lee a Master of Martial Arts , whose impact also was felt in the industry of film and movie, followed also his son Brandon lee ,call it strange circumstances or drug misuse
Ok ok we get it, so what if “Candle In The Wind” was written for Norma Jean aka Marilyn Monroe… what I find amazing is that Anna Nichole Smith over dosed on the SAME EXACT pills as Marilyn Monroe.. And the females ALMOST looked like sisters.. And what is up with Smith’s obsession with Monroe?? Kinda creepy if you ask me.
ali… Bruce Lee died from a swollen brain problem and Brandon died from an accidental shooting. Either were drug related. dum ass
These people need to get lives. there so stupid
I think you mean NEITHER. Dum ass!
um… not to be rude, burt this article was in response to Heath’s death, and is mentioned in the first few lines of the article. guess you were just flipping thru the pictures, eh?
M.A.R.C.S. knows no boundries; M.A.R.C.S. doesn’t discriminate.
Don’t Hate
In Memory of those gone
The Victims of M.A.R.C.S. (2007)
heath ledger??!! why doesnt anyone talk about Brad Renfro who died a few days earlier?
M.A.R.C.S. is an acronym for ; Murder, Abuse Rape, Chronical Illness, Suicide I have been helping to bury victims of these incidents by selling t-shirts, poetry, books that I have written. The worst part of these is the innocent victims left behind; children. Hope you will buy books, poetry, or t-shirts in memory of a loved one. Carol Frieszell aka Dink
never woulda happened if they stuck to the ganja
um WHAT? dalye is weard shes also cooooool. lol. field day is on the 26th of Mayyyy… ::))
Candle in the wind was originally for Marylin Monroe and then after Princess Diana died he remade it for her.
ALL SOULD BE LOVED ..DEAHT COMES TO US ALL GOD PICKS AMEN
[…] http://www.pharmacytechs.net/blog/18-celebrities-who-died-from-prescription-drugs Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Here’s the commercial where Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fireRavaged by drugsStars tweet their reaction to Michael Jackson’s death […]
You forgot the most well-known to me who died from this….RIVER PHOENIX….
Dorothy Dandridge was not the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, Butterfly McQueen was, for her role in “Gone With the Wind.” And YOYOYO, I wouldn’t call people stupid when you don’t know the difference between “there”and “they’re.”
Ok! We know Candle in the Wind was for Monroe. Amen Snapper. Don’t glorify the stars who od’ed, remember them and pray for those- famous or not -who are struggling with thier own demons
Um… Layne Staley, Jim Morrison, Jimmi Hendrix…. Who are more important people then half on this list!!!!?????
What about michael jackson the most most well known of all
What about River Phoenix, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix? Much more famous than some of the others.
what about janis joplan
All of these persons had bad habits and didn’t know that the life that was treating them like stars really was not the family whom cared. They actually needed friends to like them for who they were before they became famous.
Elton John wrote”Candle in the Wind” for Monroe than revised it for Dianna!!
the picture of the pills beside anna nicole smith are definitely not the pills she died from. It’s the same picture as Marilyn Munroe.
And for people who keep posting other celebrity deaths on here remember its for PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
[…] Presley’s personal physician, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, concluded: “Elvis’s problem was that he didn’t see the wrong in it. He felt that by getting [pills] from a doctor, he wasn’t the common everyday junkie…†(Source) […]