However, some celebrities have also been able to successfully overcome their addiction and achieve long-term recovery. Many of music’s most famous and beloved singers and rock stars have suffered from alcohol addiction. For these musicians with alcohol addition, death is a very real and very scary possibility. Alcoholism is a disease that affects people from all walks of life, regardless of their socioeconomic status, profession, or level of fame. Throughout history, many influential figures have struggled with addiction to alcohol, leading to personal and professional challenges. Famous pop/rock musician Billy Joel has admitted to struggling with alcohol abuse in his adult life.
Peter Cook was a prominent English comedian with a career in British television and movies. During a break, while filming ‘Gladiator,’ English actor Oliver Reed died of a heart attack (2000). Since his starring role on “Baywatch”, David Hasselhoff become notorious for his alcoholism. A home video of a drunken Hasselhoff went viral in spouses of alcoholics support groups 2007, receiving airtime on countless news programs and across the internet. His visitation rights with his daughters were temporarily suspended, forcing him to seek serious help for his addiction.
Famous People Who Died of Alcoholism
In 1959, under the treatment of a doctor in Canada, Flynn succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 50. Doctors cited heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver as the main causes. 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.
Famous Recovering Alcoholics
Grant’s addiction began during his military career and continued into his presidency. He ultimately sought treatment and was able to overcome his addiction, but his struggles with alcoholism were a significant part of his legacy. When it comes to famous alcoholics in history, the story of the fastest way to flush alcohol out of system American astronaut Buzz Aldrin who was the second person to walk on the moon is one worth sharing.
American actress and comedian Jane Lynch is among the many celebrities who are sober and have stayed sober despite the fact that they have been struggling with multiple addictions. The Hellboy actress, who is also one of the few celebrities diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, has shared the details about her alcoholism in her memoir, Mean Baby. His struggles came to a head in 2013, when he, like many celebrities who went to rehab, decided to address his addiction and restore his health. Efron has credited exercise and healthy habits, such as meditation and cooking, with helping him stay on the path to recovery. It seems “the boy who lived” is also the man who drinks a lot, or at least he did. Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his role as Harry Potter, is yet another one of the many celebrities who are recovering alcoholics.
Stephen King
A long-time alcoholic, Cassavetes passed from complications of cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, at the age of 59. In 1942, at the age of 60, Barrymore collapsed, lapsed into a coma and never woke up. Doctors listed liver, kidney, and heart ailments all as causes, complicated by pneumonia and his continued drinking. A notorious alcoholic, McCarthy died of acute hepatitis exacerbated by his drinking in 1957, at the age of 48.
Blair shared that she had been struggling with alcohol addiction for years, sought help, and entered rehab in 2016, where she received treatment and began her journey to sobriety. Despite the difficulties arising from her deteriorating illness, Blair has been sober since the day she checked into rehab. The American actor, writer, and director, has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and shared on his Facebook page that he is among the many celebrity alcoholics in recovery. He shared that he first entered rehab in 2001 and has since sought treatment multiple times.
- 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.
- Lead vocalist of the Irish band The Cranberries died on January 15th, 2018, from drowning due to alcohol intoxication.
- It’s important to address the underlying issues in order to treat alcohol addiction.
- 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.
In 2012, singer Lana Del Ray admitted that she had started drinking at the age of 14 and that it was the reason why she was sent to boarding school. Eventually, Del Ray checked into rehab at the age of 18 and has been sober ever since. When it comes to famous people in AA, actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper has been most generous in crediting the support of Anonymous Alcoholics, family, and friends in maintaining his sobriety.
A long-time alcoholic, Jamerson died of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia in 1983, at the of 47. British actress Yootha Joyce found success in her work on British television, appearing in such productions as Man About the House and George and Mildred. She would reportedly consume a half bottle of brandy every day for ten years leading up to the day in 1980 when she succumbed to liver failure the age 53.
Unfortunately, history has seen many brilliant minds lost to this disease so it’s up to the famous alcoholics who got sober to serve as an inspiration to others to seek help and prioritize their mental health. Here is a list of famous alcoholics who drank themselves to death. Cooper was struggling with alcohol addiction that started while he was in his late teens and continued into his early 30s. In 2004, the actor made the decision to quit drinking and has been sober ever since. The beloved star of the “Harry Potter”movies has struggled, like many other child actors, growing up in show business. While his character maverick house sober living Harry was innocent and heroic, for Daniel Radcliffe, real-life challenges started affecting him, namely his addiction to alcohol.
