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)

Saturday 28 May

By Kathy Liverman

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It seems to whom much is given in this life, much is taken. I saw Mr. Conaway on Celebrity Rehab and remember thinking how someone that had everything going for him is now in such pain and suffering. I'm sure this took an emotional toll as well. It must have been hard for his family to watch him in such turmoil. Thank you Jeff for the wonderful memories and I pray your experience will show people how truly blessed they really are and that anything can happen to people anytime. None of us are exempt from misfortunes. We just handle them the best we can. God Bless...

Friday 27 May

By Phyllis

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God speed Jeff. You will be missed :(

By Doc

Dr. Drew Pinsky is violating patient confidentiality with his tweets on Jeff Conaway's condition. His license to practice - if he has one - should be suspended. That is totally inappropriate.
Jeff: Good journey to you.

By Aydee

sadly addiction is a battle that not many win...it's a tough fight and some people arent as strong willed as others...May he find peace in the after life.

By Brock

This is just too sad -

By jofi

RIP Jeff. You will be missed. I hope now you will find the peace you deserve. god bless you and your family

By tatiana

I am so, so sad reading this! I cried watching him struggle & suffer through Celebrity Rehab. He seemed like a sweet guy who was dealt too hard a deck in life. He experienced so much abuse as a child that he never deserved, along with excruciating back pain & surgeries. No wonder he became an addict!

May Jeff Conaway find the peace he couldn't find here on earth. Condolences to his family and friends. He will not suffer anymore and he will be in a better place.

By Mike

live like a PWT die like PWT

By iguanamama9873

jeff conaway showed a really human side to drug and alcohol addiction on celebrity rehab

he seemed like a good guy with a horrible addiction problem. maybe he opened other people's eyes that addiction is not just about excessive partying and making irresponsible decisions, its a terrible disease, that sadly, kills.

maybe his life will cause other people to look upon an addict with kindness and sympathy instead of disdain. while i'm not a gigantic fan of reality tv, my hope is that he taught people something in that public forum.

god bless

By Barry

It is very easy to point a finger at Mr Conaway and condemn his actions but living with chronic pain can make the most rational sane person take extreme measures to ease the pain. I hope his pain will be over soon.

By Jan

The way this poor man was exploited by reality show media was criminal. It was obvious he was suffering greatly from various addictions and unable to give consent to anything. Drew Pinsky should lose his medical license - if he has one. How dare he use people with serious problems to create a certain kind of sleazy fame for himself. Hopefully Jeff Conaway will find the peace in death that he could not find in life.

By JD

Praying for Mr.Conway's family and friends at this
difficult time!

By Fred

Kenickie has left the building

By Nonnie

Having spent my entire career in health care delivery, I'm absolutely bowled over that this alleged physician is tweeting his patient's condition and diagnosis! That's so unprofessional as well as unethical. Shame on him.

By Addie

I LOVE you Jeff Conaway. May the four winds blow you safely home...

By Steve

God bless you,,,

By Teresa

No more suffering in this sad world for him all his pain is gone.

By Brian

Look close at the picture.You can see the fear and sadness in his eye's. To bad, he had alot going for him at one time.

By Lee

He's not the first person in this world to fall victim to addiction. It's normal to want to stop the pain, and he took what was given to him. I feel bad about it. It's not like he got into this mess abusing drugs for recreational purposes! And if you've never suffered from an addiction, DON'T JUDGE!

By stinkfistula

Please don't pull the plug until Latka and Simka have had a chance to visit.

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