Learn About the Musicians Who Died From Alcohol

The famous comedian abused cocaine and alcohol early in his career, but quit when friend and fellow comedian, John Belushi, died of a cocaine and heroin overdose in 1982. After that, the late actor struggled off and on with alcohol for years until his death in 2014. He even regularly highlighted these struggles as a part of his stand-up routines. In a 2006 interview with Diane Sawyer, Williams talked about the reality that drinking doesn’t always have a reason behind it, saying “It’s addiction — not caused by anything, it’s just there,” Williams said. It lays in wait for the time when you think, ‘It’s fine now, I’m OK.’ Then, the next thing you know, it’s not OK. I didn’t realize I was in Cleveland.’” Sadly, Williams died in 2014.

Musicians Who Died of Alcoholism

This list of celebrities who died from alcoholism includes information like the victim’s hometown and other biographical information when available. Unfortunately many famous people’s lives have been cut short because of alcoholism, including actors, musicians and athletes. Holden’s heavy drinking began impacting his professional and personal life, including a drunk driving incident where he killed another driver. In 1981, at the age of 61, Holden had a few too many one last time, and slipped and hit his head. Take Jimi Hendrix, for example, the iconic guitarist whose groundbreaking music and performances left an indelible mark on rock and roll.

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Several different facets contribute to the higher than normal alcoholic musicians. These can include mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, performance anxiety, workplace and cultural pressures to drink and party, pressures of fame, and pressures of touring, just to name a few. Sadly, there is a long list of famous musicians whose lives were cut short early because of alcohol abuse. The young starlet, like many child actresses, has publicly struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. Lohan has to work hard to stay sober, and has already had one failed attempt at rehab in 2011. In 2010, she was forced by court order to wear an alcohol detection bracelet to monitor her alcohol consumption.

Many targets of McCarthy were blacklisted from working in the government and in Hollywood. The youngest child of Garland’s later studied photography and sound, telling the outlet, “I’ve been more behind the camera.” The son of Garland and Sidney Luft, Joey Luft has lived his life mostly out of the spotlight, although he, too, has dabbled in entertainment. Garland’s only son, Joey Luft, was just 14 when his mother died in 1969. When Liza Minnelli was asked in a 2020 interview with Variety about what her favorite memory of her late mother was, she answered “everything.”

Ruined, he began to drink even more, and eyewitnesses reported that he was often extremely drunk while at the Senate. He suffered from cirrhosis of the liver and was hospitalized several times for his drinking. Less than three years after censure, McCarthy died of alcoholism.

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It is hard not to think about how many solution focused worksheets of these talented musicians may have led longer, more productive lives if they had received adequate help for alcohol addiction. A program that may have addressed any co-occurring disorders and helped with coping mechanisms to handle the stresses of their career. Take a look at this list and you’ll see the people who bit the big one because they couldn’t put down the bottle. Gerry Rafferty was a Scottish singer and musician, famous for such hits as “Stuck in the Middle with You” (as a member of Stealers Wheel) and “Baker Street”. Born into a working-class family, Rafferty began drinking early in life, a habit that impacted his personal and professional lives.

1. In 2015, he told the Mirror“It is my responsibility to do the best I can and to take it one day at a time.
2. Ruined, he began to drink even more, and eyewitnesses reported that he was often extremely drunk while at the Senate.
3. Due to drunkenness, his health had been worsening for several years.
4. Christopher’s manager, Chi Muoi Lo, previously confirmed the actor’s death in a statement to USA TODAY in October.
5. In 1980, Scott passed out in a friend’s car, later dying in the hospital from acute alcohol poisoning at the age 33.

Death due to drugs can also be the result of mixing prescribed medications with other drugs (legal or illegal), alcohol, over-the-counter medications or even herbal supplements. Drug-drug interactions may also play a role in drug-related deaths. For example, the consumption of multiple central nervous system depressants, such as opioid pain killers, sedatives, hypnotics, or alcohol may lead to an unintentional overdose due to severely depressed breathing.

His visitation rights with his daughters were temporarily suspended, forcing him to seek serious help for his addiction. Mel Gibson has publicly admitted to battling alcoholism for all of his adult life. He was arrested in 2009 for driving under the influence.

Due to drunkenness, his health had been worsening for several years. John Cassavetes began his career as an actor in such films as Rosemary’s Baby. Considered a key American director of the later 20th century, films such as A Woman Under the Influence and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie were important influences on later directors. After an attempt at sobriety, McKernan spent the last few months of his life eating little and consuming vast quantities of alcohol, dying in 1973 at the age of 27 from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Thomas Kinkade was a popular painter of colorful, quaint, and idyllic subjects, achieving success in mass marketing prints of his work. Never a critical darling, Kinkade sold millions of prints of his work.