Hollywood’s drug overdoses
By Patrick Day, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Those Hollywood careers that have flared out in a haze of illegal drugs are many. Everyone remembers John Belushi’s lethal speedball and the tragic repeat years later of Chris Farley and his own speedball.
But Heath Ledger is not the first to have succumbed to the dangers of seemingly everyday prescription drugs. Here are several other stars whose careers were cut short by items they could have picked up at the corner pharmacy. (Dima Gavrysh / Associated Press)
Anna Nicole Smith
The former Playmate and reality TV star died in 2007 from an accidental overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate, which mixed with the prescription drugs already in her body, including four benzodiazepines used as tranquilizers: clonazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam and Valium, also known as diazepam. Benadryl, a diphenhydramine, Topamax, a topirimate and an anti-convulsant, and GABA, also an anti-convulsant, were found as well. (Rob Griffith / Associated Press)
