Hollywood's deadly drug addiction

PHILIP Seymour Hoffman, who died aged 46 of a suspected heroin overdose in his Manhattan apartment, joins a long list of Hollywood stars whose lives were cut short by drugs.           

Whitney Houston, 48 (pic): The US pop legend was found dead in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2012. A final coroner’s report said she may have overdosed on drugs and alcohol before drowning face down.

John Belushi, 33: The American comedian and leader of The Blues Brothers died at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont hotel in 1982 after getting a “speedball” injection of crack and heroin.               

Heath Ledger, 28: The Australian-born heartthrob, who won acclaim for his role as a repressed gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, was found dead in his New York apartment in 2008. He is reported to have died accidentally of a cocktail of six painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs.

Judy Garland, 47: The American actress, who appeared in 35 films including The Wizard Of Oz, was a star at 15 and in therapy three years later. She died in London in 1969 of a barbiturate overdose.               

Marilyn Monroe, 36: The iconic Hollywood sex siren died in her Los Angeles home in 1962 of a sleeping pill overdose.               

Cory Monteith, 31: The Canadian actor who starred in the TV musical series Glee died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel in 2013.

River Phoenix, 23: The US actor who shot to stardom as a teenager in Stand By Me, collapsed outside a Los Angeles club in 1993. High levels of morphine (of which heroin is a derivative) and cocaine were found in his blood.               

Jean Seberg, 41: The American-born actress, who starred in French cult new wave film Breathless, was found dead in her car in Paris in 1979. The probe concluded that she had killed herself with an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol. – AFP