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)

Friday 27 May

By Dad

Vote down Vote up Report this

Very Sad butit's Time to pull the Plug. I know I wouldn't want to exist like that. That's NOT Living

By Nightwriter

He was a good actor. Peace and support to his family and closest of friends and colleague, one of which I know must be John Travolta. (smile)

By klh

Very sad. Drug abuse is so prevalent in Hollywood.

By Brian

What about the H.I.P.P.A. law also?

By Christopher Persaud

Why are we always in a hurry to end a person's life after hearing a medical professional's grim prognosis - an opinion that could very well be incorrect or ill-advised. Life is sacred and is to be cherished for as long as possible. It is lamentable that there are so many know-it-all doctors who are more concerned with their egos and the profitability of their institutions than the health and welfare of their patients.

Let us pray and hope for the best for Jeff Conaway. Let us not give up on him so fast. Miracles do take place!

By Glenn

Pharmaceutical drugs have killed more people then you can imagine.

By rich

there but for the grace of god go i.you will be in a better place jeff

By drdrewsucks

Yeah Drew blame it on the girlfriend....

By jjp009

Is he dead or not? There is a photo of Jeff above this article that says "Conaway Dead at 60", then this article says "May be taken off life support". Which is it? Talk about bad journalism.

By Robin

Blessed be Kinicke. May your trip to heaven be glory to you. I will remember you with John Travolta.

By jamie

You can see the pain in his eyes . God bless him, hope he finds peace

By Jan

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You know, I feel horrible about this story. Not only because Jeff Conaway is having to go through such an ordeal and has been struggling for so long, but because the effing media just violated the privacy of this man. Shame on you AOL for allowing this article to be posted BEFORE a person's death...and shame on the person who violated medical privacy laws.

By peace

His life was his own we all make mistakes. He is in the palm of gods hand.

We all are going to grow old get sick and die! no one has the right to judge others!

By Tess

I am very sad over this!

By Cat woman...

So So sad.. Yet another gone due to drugs. Poor guy living a sad miserable down life. I hope he Rests in peace. You were a very good actor Jeff. You deffinetly had potential and lots of it. Poor guy and his family. I pray for them too. RIP!

By MJ

I LOVED HIM FOR HIS ACTING BUT WE MUST ALL REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE DID WITH HIS LIFE...ONCE GOD CALLS YOU HOME...YOU MUST GO...NO MATTER IF YOUR IN PERFECT HEALTH AND YOU GET HIT BY A CAR, LIGHTNING OR WHATEVER....I WILL MISS HIM FOR SURE BUT I KNOW HE IS WHERE GOD WANTS HIM TO BE RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER! THEY CAN'T BLAME HIS GIRLFRIEND BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T TAKE HIM THAT NIGHT....THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTED FROM HER AT THE MOMENT TOO, SO IT'S NOT HER FAULT HE IS GONE.

By NoName

He was very talented (great dancer) and handsome. Too bad he chose the wrong woman. RIP.

By SusanneD

Prayers for his family and friends.

By Ian

Sad and senseless. Maybe a wakeup call for others like Charlie Sheen.

By mistertaylo

Yes, Jeff suffered severe back pain, hence, the addiction to the pain meds. BUT, he suffered this back injury as a result of a fall while freaking high on drugs! I do not judge, and I pray to never have to walk a mile in his shoes (or any addicts). Just pray for him and for all, celeb or real folks, who suffer from this tragedy that destroys so many lives.

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