Actresses Who Died From An Overdose

The history of the entertainment industry is marked by many talented individuals who passed away due to drug related tragedies. These actresses made significant contributions to cinema and television before their careers were cut short. Their stories often reflect the immense pressure of fame and the personal difficulties faced behind the scenes. This list provides an informative look at several performers whose lives ended because of an overdose.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe passed away in August 1962 due to a barbiturate overdose at her home in Los Angeles. She was a prominent sex symbol and actress known for her roles in films like ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ‘The Seven Year Itch’. Investigators determined her death was a probable suicide following the discovery of high levels of chloral hydrate and pentobarbital in her system. Her final completed film was the drama ‘The Misfits’ which was released just a year before her death.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland died in London in June 1969 after accidentally overdosing on barbiturates. The actress achieved international stardom as Dorothy Gale in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and earned critical acclaim for ‘A Star Is Born’. Her long history of substance use began during her time as a child star at Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios. She was 47 years old when she was found in her bathroom by her husband Mickey Deans.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in ‘Carmen Jones’. She was found dead in her Hollywood apartment in September 1965. The coroner determined that she died of an overdose of the antidepressant imipramine. She had recently finished filming her scenes for the television series ‘The Murder Men’ before her passing.

Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole Smith was found unresponsive in a Florida hotel room in February 2007 and was later pronounced dead. A formal investigation revealed that she died from combined drug intoxication involving several prescription medications. She rose to fame as a Playmate of the Year and starred in the comedy film ‘Naked Gun 33 1/3 The Final Insult’. Her death occurred just months after the passing of her son Daniel Smith from similar causes.

Anissa Jones

Anissa Jones was a child actress best known for her role as Buffy in the sitcom ‘Family Affair’. She died in August 1976 at the age of 18 from an overdose of multiple drugs including cocaine and PCP. The medical examiner noted that her death was one of the most severe cases of drug intoxication they had ever seen. She had struggled with the transition from being a child star to an adult and sought out a lifestyle away from the spotlight.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato gained massive popularity for playing Kimberly Drummond on the television series ‘Diff’rent Strokes’. She died in May 1999 from an overdose of the muscle relaxant carisoprodol and the painkiller hydrocodone. Her death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner in Oklahoma. She had previously appeared in films like ‘California Dreaming’ and the horror movie ‘Night Trap’ during her career.

Margaux Hemingway

Margaux Hemingway was a successful fashion model and actress who appeared in movies such as ‘Lipstick’. She died in July 1996 in her California home from an overdose of the sedative phenobarbital. Her death occurred one day before the anniversary of the suicide of her grandfather Ernest Hemingway. She had been open about her struggles with addiction and mental health throughout her life in the public eye.

Inger Stevens

Inger Stevens was a Swedish American actress who starred in the television series ‘The Farmer’s Daughter’. She was found dead in her home in April 1970 due to acute barbiturate poisoning. She had appeared in many notable films including the western ‘Hang ‘Em High’ and ‘Madigan’. The coroner’s report suggested that her death was a result of self administered medication.

Lupe Vélez

Lupe Velez was a Mexican actress who transitioned successfully to Hollywood in the early era of talking pictures. She died in December 1944 after taking a lethal dose of the sedative Seconal. She was famous for her roles in the ‘Mexican Spitfire’ film series and ‘The Gaucho’. Her death sparked significant media coverage and became the subject of various urban legends in the years following her passing.

Capucine

Capucine was a French actress and fashion model known for her role in the film ‘The Pink Panther’. She died in March 1990 in Lausanne Switzerland after taking a fatal amount of medication. She had appeared in several major Hollywood productions including ‘North to Alaska’ and ‘What’s New Pussycat’. Her death was officially ruled a suicide as she had suffered from depression for many years.

Jean Seberg

Jean Seberg was an American actress who spent much of her career in France and starred in ‘Breathless’. She died in August 1979 from an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol. Her body was discovered in her car parked in a Paris street several days after she went missing. She was well known for her roles in films like ‘Saint Joan’ and ‘Bonjour Tristesse’.

Bridgette Andersen

Bridgette Andersen was a child actress who gained fame for her title role in the film ‘Savannah Smiles’. She died in May 1997 from an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol. She had struggled with substance use since her teenage years after being a prominent figure in the entertainment industry as a child. She had also appeared in episodes of ‘Remington Steele’ and ‘The Golden Girls’.

Laurie Bird

Laurie Bird was an American actress and photographer who appeared in the cult classic film ‘Two-Lane Blacktop’. She died in March 1979 in New York City from an overdose of Valium. She was the girlfriend of musician Art Garfunkel at the time of her passing. Her acting career was brief but impactful and also included a role in the film ‘Annie Hall’.

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Skye McCole Bartusiak was a young actress known for her role as Mel Gibson’s daughter in ‘The Patriot’. She passed away in July 2014 at her home in Texas. The medical examiner determined that her death was caused by an accidental overdose of several medications including vicodin and carisoprodol. She had been suffering from epileptic seizures leading up to the time of her death.

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts was a Welsh actress who won several BAFTA Awards and was nominated for an Oscar for ‘This Sporting Life’. She died in November 1980 from an overdose of barbiturates at her home in Los Angeles. She had appeared in many successful films including ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. Her death was ruled a suicide following a period of personal distress.

Pier Angeli

Pier Angeli was an Italian born actress who starred in films such as ‘Teresa’ and ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’. She was found dead in her Beverly Hills apartment in September 1971. The official cause of death was determined to be a lethal overdose of barbiturates. She was once famously romantically linked to James Dean during her early career in Hollywood.

Elisa Bridges

Elisa Bridges was an American actress and model who appeared in the film ‘Skippy’. She was found dead in her bed in February 2003. An autopsy later revealed that her death was caused by acute intoxication from the combined effects of multiple drugs. She had been featured as a Playmate of the Month and was active in the Los Angeles social scene.

Lani O’Grady

Lani O’Grady was best known for her role as Mary Bradford on the television series ‘Eight Is Enough’. She passed away in September 2001 in her home in California. The coroner ruled that her death was due to a massive overdose of multiple prescription medications. She had been open about her struggles with panic attacks and the medications used to treat them throughout her life.

Carole Landis

Carole Landis was a popular actress in the 1940s who starred in the film ‘One Million B.C.’. She died in July 1948 after taking an overdose of Seconal. She was reportedly distressed over her relationship with actor Rex Harrison at the time of her passing. Her career included numerous roles in musicals and comedies during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Gail Russell

Gail Russell was an American film and television actress who appeared in ‘The Uninvited’ and ‘Angel and the Badman’. She was found dead in her apartment in August 1961 surrounded by empty alcohol bottles. The official cause of death was listed as liver damage and acute alcohol poisoning which is classified as an overdose. She had struggled with extreme stage fright throughout her career which led to her dependency on substances.

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