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)

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 carver.stacey

Vote down Vote up Report this

Please check your facts, he had a son with his first wife

By StarrJonez

What is that, two former Celebrity Rehab-er's dead now.
Way to help.

By Phil

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Take care Jeff. We'll all remember the good old days. Everyone has their troubles in life and there are those whose troubles are to much too bare. Until we meet again. GO GREASE LIGHTENING!

Saturday 28 May

By punkROCKIN hippie

hickie from kenickie ...its like a hallmark card!! rest in peace Jeff. You will be sorely missed!!!! Much love

By Melody

Very sad to hear about this. I truly think Jeff was trying very hard to rid himself of this demon called addiction. Sadly, the beast won. RIP Jeff. At least now your horrible struggles are over.

By doneldathomas

Ditto!!! very well said.

By Connie Colvin

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I am a huge Babylon 5 fan and am very sad that we have lost our Zack Allen. What a waste and tragedy. He was so fun in Taxi as well. Addiction is such a terrible thing, and I know what a terrible struggle it is. We will always love him for loving B5 and to all who loved him, I extend my deepest sympathy.

By Eve

RIP Jeff -

Maybe all you cynicals posting here can
refrain for a few minutes AND let Jeff RIP . . . .

By Susan

Kat Wuman, what a benevolent person you are -- NOT. I wish everyone were as perfect as you.

By reality bites

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

See ya loser. I laugh at these talentless people that literally fall into a pile of gold and still manage to destroy their lives and be miserable for ever. Just like when I dont care when a drunk bum on the street dies, I could care less that Jeff Who? just died.

And you people that mourn, "r.i.P." and give your condolences on an internet forum are just as pitiful as he was! Get a life losers!

Reality Bites

By themeeker

What does it make YOU if you are bashing those people. Do us all a favor, and join Jeff by dropping dead. Loser.

This should be a wake up call to idiots like Linzey who think they know better. Drugs will kill you.

Very sad. RIP.

By Fran

I thought he had a son named Emerson Newton-John, son of Rona Newton John and Jeff Conaway, nephew to Olivia Newton John?

By sylvia Santiago

I recall Mike once of Alice in Chains band, and his early demise. RIP Jeff. One would have to walk many miles in their shoes. Charlie Sheen this should be a lesson learned asap for you.

By Dee

Well, Looks like he finally succeeded at his suicide attempt.Congratulations!

By Steve

What are you, 9 years old? That was a stupid thing to say.

Monday 30 May

By cathy Makowski

Sorry to lose you Jeff!!!!! But there is nothing better than a Hickey from Kinicki !!!!!!!! RIP Jeff you will be missed.........

By Maria

He was so great as Bobby Wheeler, the cab driver/wannabe actor, on Taxi--so many great moments to live on via tv/internet. So sad Jeff Conaway could never overpower his own demons. RIP.

By tanji123

Jeff was great in Taxi. Peace be with you Jeff. And condolences to his family and friends.

By CC

So sad, and seems like Charlie Sheen is right behind him.

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