Report: Jeff Conaway to Be Taken Off Life Support

By PopEater Staff Posted May 26th 2011 03:50PM

Jeff Conaway will be taken off life support machines after doctors told the 'Grease' actor's family that he has had no brain activity since being admitted to a hospital May 11. "The feeding tube has already been removed. The ventilator which is breathing for Jeff, will be removed sometime this afternoon," a source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com.

The source said no measures will be made to revive the actor, saying, "Jeff is in no pain whatsoever."

It was originally reported that the 60-year-old Conaway was hospitalized in Los Angeles because of prescription drug overdose, but celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky later said the former 'Taxi' star was suffering from pneumonia and sepsis, a dangerous blood infection.

Pinsky, who treated Conaway on VH1's 'Celebrity Rehab,' also disputed Conaway's manager's assertion that the actor was comatose. "He's in an induced coma," Pinsky said. "He's actually on a Propafol drip."

Ten days into his hospitalization, his condition worsened , as described by Pinsky. He told his Twitter followers that Conaway was "considered critical with sepsis. Many people die from septic shock," then adding, "We all need to pray for him. Not doing well today suddenly."

Conaway rocketed to fame in 1978 with a starring role in 'Grease' and in the same year began his three-year run on the hit TV series 'Taxi.' Roles dried up in the 1980s as his substance abuse problem worsened, but he later found steady work on the sci-fi hit 'Babylon 5.'

In 2008, a disheveled and unhealthy Conaway joined Pinsky's VH1 show, 'Celebrity Rehab,' to address his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Sadly, his sobriety attempt failed and last year, the actor was injured in a fall while under the influence of OxyContin and methadone.

PEOPLE reports that on the night of May 9, Conaway's on/off girlfriend Victoria Spinoza visited him. According to a close friend, Spinoza told Conaway she would take him to a doctor the following morning. When the time came, she received no answer and called 911.

Now Conaway's family has seized upon that visit as a legal grievance; the actor's sister, Carla Shreve, filed a May 18 restraining order against Spinoza, alleging that after a recent breakup, Conaway feared for his life.

"He had just secured an apartment ... and was calling friends and family anxious to start this part of his life without her," reads Shreve's restraining order request, obtained by PEOPLE

The magazine calls Conaway's rocky relationship with Spinoza "volatile," noting restraining orders each filed against the other earlier in 2011. Spinoza's friend and spokesperson, Aubry Fisher, tells PEOPLE Spinoza cared for Conaway for seven years and deems the new restraining order "horrible and wrong."

"When Vikki went to visit Jeff in the hospital, she sat by his side," Fisher said, referencing the day before the restraining order went through. "They were in the process of reconciling."

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Jeff Conaway Pics

HOLLYWOOD - FILE: Actor Jeff Conaway and Vikki Lizzi arrive at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards on September 24 2008 at the Avalon Hollywood club in Hollywood California. It has been reported that Jeff Conaway is in a coma following an apparent drug overdose. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Jeff Conaway Snapshots

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FILE: Jeff Conaway attends the Andre Merritt ASCAP Awards After-Party at the Hwood on April 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California. It has been reported that Jeff Conaway is in a coma following an apparent drug overdose. (Photo by Michael Bezjian/WireImage)

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

SANTA MONICA, CA - FILE: Actor Jeff Conaway arrives at the 6th annual "TV Land Awards" held at Barker Hanger on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. It has been reported that Jeff Conaway is in a coma following an apparent drug overdose. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for TV Land)

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

FILE: Actor Jeff Conaway arrives at the 6th annual "TV Land Awards" held at Barker Hangar on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. It has been reported that Jeff Conaway is in a coma following an apparent drug overdose. (Photo by Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2009 file photo, Jeff Conaway arrives at the 2009 Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in Los Angeles. Conaway's manager says the former star of "Taxi" is hospitalized in critical condition. The actor was found unconscious last week from a drug overdose, possibly pain pills, manager Phil Brock said Wednesday, May 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 22: Vikki Lizzi (L) and Jeff Conaway (R) arrive at Andre Merritt's ASCAP Awards After-Party on April 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vikki Lizzi;Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

Actor Jeff Conaway and Vikki Lizzi arrive at the Fox Reality Channel

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

Actor Jeff Conaway arrives at the Fox Reality Channel

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

HOLLYWOOD - SEPTEMBER 24: Actor Jeff Conaway (R) and television personality Vikki Lizzi arrive at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards at the Avalon Hollywood club September 24, 2008 in Hollywood California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vikki Lizzi;Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

Jeff Conaway attends the official VMA after party presented by Nikon And Pepsi at Paramount Studios on September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Jeff Conaway Snapshots

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Comments

(100)

Thursday 26 May

By Dee Dee

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

By Kenicke :(

By joe

john travolta was his (2nd.) in grease, remember the scene before the car race?!!!!!!!

By Anna

Very sad

By nylee

A Hickey From Kenickie is like a Hallmark card. Great movie. our thoughts are with you.

By cheryl

you will be missed kenicke. so sad :(

By Sam

He threw his life away. I watched my mother and sister in law FIGHT for life. My sister in law died at the age of 37 from cancer my mom 3 months later. I really don't want to sound hard, but he pissed his life away.

By nonyabusinesspa

Very true and Very well said!!

By cannotbelievethis

Sam, I agree with you, sadly. To be given such talent, and seemingly throw it away is very sad. Oh well, he is no longer in pain, and apparently he was a tortured soul. RIP Jeff.

Friday 27 May

By Sue

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Agreed!! I've seen so many people in my family fight for just one more day...

By kiran

Vote down Vote up Report this

However he chose to spend his life..it was his life...and his life only...my parents taught me we should never speak ill of the dead...R.I.P. Jeff.

By Ivette

Goodbye Kenickie. Grease was one of the first movies I ever saw and it's still a favorite. Thanks for the memories....

By JEB BUCKINGHAM

This is the end for Jeff. Conaway has gone away.

By Rick

It's sad when we have to turn to self medicating ourselves because we can't handle the realities of life. Jeff was in full control of his life...He just chose to live it out of his control and allow his drugs to control it for him...My God bless you Jeff...

By sbrewton9

Jeff lived with excruciating pain from a back injury...he had multiple operations to try and help with the pain but not once did he CHOOSE to live his life out of control and can hardly be condemned for doing what he needed to do to get whatever relief he could. It is unfortunate that doing so brought on his addiction to pain meds. Look at the pics where he is hunched over and using a cane. But for the grace of God it could have been me or you in that position. Soon he will be where there is no pain or suffering. God speed Jeff on your journey home.

By jerry

He is an actor that was apart of my childhood in Grease and taxi. I escaped alcohol addition. It was very hard and I will miss him as an very good actor! Rest in peace and may the lord be with you!

By The Train!

can we get another source besides dr. drew? he's not actually affiliated with the hospital or treating conaway, is he? we should wait until doctors confirm both the cause of conaway's hospitalization and his condition. dr. drew has NO credibility. i trust his medical knowledge but not his motives.

By Dee

I totally agree with you about Dr. Drew. Even though Taxi debuted before I was born. I grew to appreciate watching the re-runs, one of my mom's favorite shows.

By shirleyspinoza

Rest in PEACE Jeff, you will no longer feel the excruciating back, legs, knees, head and teeth PAIN. GOD BLESS!

By Renee

Its said when a life is loss my prayers goes out to his family,friends and fans Jeff was a great actor and some may not like how he handle things in his life but we are not to judge may he rest in peace.

By paul

he had very bad pain from back injury!!!!!!

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