Jeff Conaway Dead at 60

By PopEater Staff Posted May 27th 2011 02:25PM

'Grease' actor Jeff Conaway died Friday at age 60, RadarOnline.com reports and The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The news comes just a day after reports that the star would be taken off life support.

Radar calls it "the end a long, sad road of addiction that made him one of Hollywood's cautionary tales." Conaway, known for his roles as Bobby Wheeler on 'Taxi' and T-Bird Kenickie in 'Grease,' was a New York native whose brutal battles with substance abuse came to define the latter decades of his fame.

Conaway was checked into an LA hospital on May 11. As of May 26, he was reported to have been experiencing no brain activity. A source told Radar that Conaway's feeding tube had been removed as of Thursday afternoon and that "Jeff is in no pain whatsoever."

Conaway shot to stardom in 1978 with his starring role in 'Grease' and quickly followed up with a three-year run on hit TV series 'Taxi.' Roles dried up in the 1980s as his addictions worsened, but Conaway later found steady work on the sci-fi hit 'Babylon 5.'

Conaway, who had no children, was married twice -- once to Olivia Newton-John's sister Rona from 1980 to 1985, and again to Kerri Young in 1990 (the time and circumstance of his second divorce remain unclear).

In 2008, a disheveled and unhealthy Conaway joined celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky's VH1 show, 'Celebrity Rehab,' to address his addiction to drugs and alcohol.

According to E! Online, in that same year, Conaway scarily told Howard Stern he had attempted suicide many, many times. "I've tried to commit suicide 21 times. I'm terrible at it! I get depressed over how come I can't kill myself," Conaway said. "Mostly it's been with pills. I've taken enough pills to knock an elephant out ... God wants me on this planet for some reason or another."

Sadly, Conaway's sobriety attempts failed; last year, the actor was injured in a fall while under the influence of OxyContin and methadone.

Of his televised problems with addiction, Conaway told THR in 2009, "I think people are just enamored with other people's problems because they have enough of their own, and they want to stop thinking about their own and think about somebody else's for a while. I think that's what television is all about, really."

This time, in May of 2011, it was originally reported that Conaway was hospitalized due to a prescription drug overdose, but Pinsky later insisted the star was suffering from pneumonia and sepsis, a dangerous blood infection. Pinsky tweeted on May 21, "We all need to pray for him. Not doing well today suddenly."

Earlier this year, Conaway and on-and-off-again girlfriend Victoria Spinoza filed restraining orders against each other. On the night of May 9, Spinoza paid Conaway a visit that ignited controversy within the star's family. Conaway'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."

Remember Conaway with his performance of 'Greased Lightning':

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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

Tags: Jeff Conaway

Comments

(178)

Friday 27 May

By lulu

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You must not have ever loved someone with an addiction....he is still a human being with a family that loves him...

By Jeanette

you are a heartless individual

By cantuii

LOL.. he was in an accident! it wrecked his spine, he became addicted to pain killers. There is a lot more to this story.

By Kim

Addiction is in the brain chemistry - not always by choice, not cut and dried, not so black and white! Poor soul he was.

By Kat Wuman

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

All of those saying I am cruel are the same ones who probably enable folks like these!! Don't think for ONE minute that Jeff did not WORK that angel, "so much pain" Need more drugs! And folks just rolled over for him! Addicts KNOW what buttons to push and how to manipulate and play folks against one another. That is what they DO- and as you have all said, "He was a GREAT actor!" He was a liar and an addict, doing what he had to do for his next fix. Same story, just more famous victim. If you think I have not been touched by this personal hell, you are wrong.

By sandra

Why are you being so critical of a man that has died? Because he didn't live his life to suit you? Just stop with your asinine remarks, the man is dead, let him rest in peace, he never did anything to you.

By Jim

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

OMG, how rumors get big... the "guy from Hangover 2" didn't shoot heroin on Bill Maher's show... lol, how crazy is that? He smoked a joint! lol

By Lena

You're one sick person

By kim

who the H*ll are you to judge!!!!!!!!!!RIP Jeff, may the lord help your family thru this horrible time.

By Zeek Osbourne

I totally concur. Cant feel sorry for someone who does not want help but will blame everyone else and be the victim. May the FSM do nothing, cause thats what its all about....nothing afterwards.

By Linda

And I am sure you are the one and only perfect human being on this planet right? We know better. I am more than sure you are NOT perfect yourself. Stop judging least you want to be judged as well..and I AM judging you now..I think you are a MORON for what you said about Jeff. Someone died, have some respect and save your negative BS! RIP PEACE JEFF.Bummer......

By Madness

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The guy from Hangover 2 lit a Joint on Bill Mahers show, he didn't shoot heroin you Idiot!!. Quit trying to make things seem worse than they really are

By poo

you are so wrong i am a person who has had three back surgeries and a torn spinal cord and nerve damage and never had taken meds until all of this and today may 27th of 2011 am thankful to my husband for saving my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pain like this i wish on nobody!!!!!! and i just turn 39 as of this year. i and my family has watched and hoped everything would be fine but yet the first surgery almost killed me and then to not deal with the pain and misery i alomst killed myself with meds and acohol no i wasnt trying but when you are just trying to have a life and make everybody happy including my self!!! and i have rilized no matter what i will always have pain with the metal cages i have i do pool thearpy and trying to learn how not to agervate my back and leg!!! i do know i love my husband and daughter more than life and i will never put them through the scare i did on may 11th 2011 and by the way my husband vidoed my seizure and that alone would bring you to tears!!!!!!!!! let alone people thinking you wanted to die and all you want is to live and be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so careful don't judge when you have not a clue of what or why this happens to people you truley are heartless god blees anybody in your reach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By mary

I agree! Everything with these people is blamed on 'addiction,' why not call it what it really is...no will power. I don't mourn him, he did this to himself, but his loved ones will have to live with this forever. Wasted life, self-imposed, undignified death!

Saturday 28 May

By PAULO

OH, SO QUICK TO JUDGE. ARE YOU AWARE THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET ADDICTED TO PAIN KILLERS ACTUALLY NEEDED RELIEF FROM THEIR PAIN? NO ONE EVER WHEN ASKED AS A KID OR TEEN ANSWERED THE QUESTION -WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN LIFE?-AN ADDICT
NO ONE EVER ANSWERED THAT. BUT WHAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EDUCATED ON THIS SUBJECT DON'T REALIZE IS THAT WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE FOR THIS ONE REASON AND THAT REASON IS THAT GOD FORBID IF WE WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT THAT WE EXPERIENCE SO MUCH PAIN THAT YOU OR ANYBODY WOULD PLEAD FOR RELIEF THUS CREATING AN ADDICT. OPEN YOUR EYES AND OPEN YOUR HEART CAUSE LIKE I SAID "WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE" WHICH INCLUDES YOU OR A LOVED ONE. GOD FORBID.
RIP JEFF-YOU ARE FINALLY IN PEACE MY BROTHER.

By esteban

Another sad Dr. Drew success story.... I am saddned by the death of anyone but when you are talented, have money and the chance to do good and you piss it away on drugs and addiction I feel no sorrow... I hope he does rest in peace but everyone know he really was a pathetic person the last 20 or so years of his life and abused all the talent and luck he was given...

By BPM

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Amen...enugh sais...

By Bill

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

By Kate

Nobody chooses to be an addict. Yes, they choose to drink or do drugs, but for some people, there is a chemical reaction in the brain and a change in the cell chemistry in the body...once that happens, you are beyond controlling your addiction. But addicts can choose to help manage this cruel disease! That is why support groups, such as NA & AA are so important. Believe me, I know...my husband is a recovering alcoholic. Thank God he chose to get help with his support group. Unfortunately, Jeff did not choose help and his addiction took over. RIP Jeff...you will be greatly missed.

Tuesday 31 May

By Dantzler

Take note Charlie Sheen. It's so sad that people who are afflicted with terminal diseases fight for their lives and
people who have everything going for them throw it away.

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