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 hello kitty

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I remember a scene from 'Taxi' where he gets in his taxi and turns up his new stereo and all the windows blowout.

By DangerWoman

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My Danger Sense warned me that this was going to happen, fans!
When I learned the news that he died, I said: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
I even broke down and cried and asked "Why God, Why?"

And then, I started to have a serious flashback to 1998 in Atlanta,Georgia, when Jeff Conway and Robin Atkin Downes came to Dragon Con for my BIG 3-0! When Jeff met me, he thought that I was so heroically cute! He even wished me special birthday greetings when I met him!

And now, here I am in the present day, knowing that I must go and do as I am told and tell and tell the Dragon Con people what happened and to do a special tribute on the website.

Jeff Conway, I will NEVER forget you!

Goodbye my friend! May we meet again in the promised land of justice.

Yours In The Fight For Justice,
DANGER WOMAN

Friday 27 May

By kat wuman

This is just LAME!! Danger Woman? The dragon con?! How about living in here and now and not in some lala land. At 30- I would THINK that you would have grown up by now. He is/was not a hero. He was a drug addict - nothing to worship or mourn- just another sad footnote in history.

By MinuteMaid

I am deeply saddened...see you on the other side

By Rose

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No one dies. They just go back to where they came from. Only his form died. Not his spirit.

By Renee'

All to be done now is pray.

By BB

How sad.Making the decision to take him off life support and not revive him is a very hard one to make.My thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

By Julie

It's a shame that a harmless substance like pot is outlawed but addictive and harmful prescription drugs continue to dominate the market. My condolences go out to his friends and family.

By Squeeezle

I agree with Sam. He pissed his life away. I have a 50 year old brother who was just diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and never smoked a day in his life. He will leave behind 4 children and 3 grand children and his only wish is to make it through one more summer. My thoughts and prayers are going to go someone who deserves them....

By Pompano Ann

Peace to Jeff and his loved ones!

By Hot Chickie Mama

I am a recovering addict and it is something that you work at every day. You have to want it for yourself. No one else can do it for you. You are in recovery for the rest of your life. I feel bad that Jeff wasn't stronger than the drugs. I feel even sadder and mad that his girlfriend wasn't strong for him and that she kept using around him and influencing him. It's a shame that the only way that he will finally obtain sobriety will be through death. My heart goes out to your family. May they have the peace that they so truly deserve.

Sunday 29 May

By Deb

Yes, how very sad. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. He was so much fun to watch on the big screen. He will be missed.

By Patty

So sorry to hear about his illness and maybe his demise. I liked him in Grease and in Taxi. I think when stardom hits some of these people they go overboard and abuse themselves thinking they are invincible. He didnt have the stardom that John Travolta has and some people cant handle that. It is sad when stars get older and try to cling to their youth. Everybody gets old, You just have to have a back up plan and self esteem. Jeff we will miss you and you wont be forgotten.

By doneldathomas

So sad that he is not going to make it...at least his restless soul will be at peace...my prayers are with Jeff & his family & friends..

By ctiarad87

man that's really sad...Grease is one of my favorite movies and he (kinicke, sp?) was my favorite character.

By P C

So sorry to hear this but at least he is no longer in pain. Sometimes in life we are all delt a deck of cards we sometimes cant handle. Sometimes people try and help just to show others that they can but they cant. So they fall off. They have to want to help themselfs. Stay away from people who pull you down when you are trying to turn things around.. God Bless You Jeff..

By William

What a waste of NO talent. See ya

By Nancy

I so enjoyed Jeff in Greese....very sad day for his family....Your suffering will soon be over Jeff R.I.P.

By BIG AL SVID

That crap (Oxycontin) does more harm than good .... RIP Jeff, and I hope you are in no pain where you're going now . .. ...

By Rich

He really could not give up the drugs and it cost him dearly. He seemed like a very good person but lost his way. God Bless You Jeff.

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