Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous People who Died of a Suspected Drug Overdose

1 - 25 of 25 Historically important and notable famous people who died of a suspected drug overdose ranked by their popularity on On This Day.

List of Deaths from Drug Overdose

  • 1929-10-03 Jeanne Eagels, American actress and former Ziegfeld Girl (Rain, Under False Colors), dies of a drug overdose at 39
  • 1945-09-20 William Seabrook, American journalist, occultist and explorer, commits suicide by drug overdose at 61
  • 1957-12-28 Ernie Henry, American jazz saxophonist (Fats Navarro; Dizzy Gillespie; Illinois Jacquet), dies of a heroin overdose at 31
  • 1960-01-25 Diana Barrymore, American actress (Nightmare, Lady Courageous, Fired Wife), dies of an alcohol and drug overdose at 38
  • 1962-08-04 Marilyn Monroe [Norma Jean Mortenson], American actress (Some Like It Hot; The Seven Year Itch), found dead of an apparent self-inflicted drug overdose at 36
  • 1963-05-10 Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, American NFL football defensive lineman, 1953-62 (Baltimore Colts, and two other teams), and professional wrestler, dies of a heroin overdose at 31
  • 1963-10-29 Michael Holliday [Norman Milne], British pop singer ("The Story of My Life"), dies of a suspected drug overdose at 38
  • 1964-05-20 Rudy Lewis, American pop vocalist (The Drifters - "Up On The Roof"; "On Broadway), dies of a probable drug overdose at 27
  • 1965-10-21 Marie McDonald, American singer and actress known as "The Body Beautiful" (Promises Promises), dies of an accidental drug overdose at 42
  • 1966-05-30 Bob Thompson, African American painter, dies of a drug overdose at 28
  • 1968-02-07 Nick Adams [Nicholas Aloysius Adamshock], American actor (Interns, Pillow Talk, FBI Story), dies of a drug overdose at 36
  • 1968-02-27 Frankie Lymon, American pop singer (The Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), dies of a heroin overdose at 25
  • 1970-03-15 Mary Ann Ganser, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), dies of a drug overdose at 22
  • 1970-10-04 Janis Joplin, American rock and blues singer-songwriter ("Piece of My Heart"; "Me and Bobby McGee"; "Mercedes Benz"), dies of a heroin overdose at 27
  • 1971-07-03 Jim Morrison, American singer-songwriter (The Doors) and poet, dies of heart failure allegedly caused be an accidental heroin overdose at 27
  • 1972-08-02 Brian Cole, American rock vocalist and bassist (The Association - "Windy"; "Cherish"), dies of a drug overdose at 29
  • 1973-09-19 Gram Parsons [Cecil Ingram Connor III], American country-rock singer-songwriter (Byrds - Sweethearts of the Rodeo; Flying Burrito Brothers; "Grievous Angel"), dies of a drug overdose at 26
  • 1974-04-17 Vinnie Taylor, American rock guitarist (Sha Na Na), dies of a drug overdose at 25
  • 1974-04-25 Pamela Courson, American artist and long-term companion of Jim Morrison, dies of a heroin overdose at 27
  • 1974-11-25 Nick Drake, English singer-songwriter (Pink Moon), dies of a drug overdose at 26
  • 1975-06-29 Tim Buckley, American singer-songwriter, dies at 28 of a heroin overdose
  • 1975-12-08 Gary Thain, New Zealand bassist (Uriah Heep, 1972-75), dies of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose, at 27
  • 1976-08-28 Anissa Jones, American child actress (Family Affair - "Buffy"), dies of multiple drug intoxication at 18
  • 1978-09-07 Keith Moon, British rock drummer (The Who - "Bell Boy"), dies of a drug overdose at 32
  • 1979-02-02 Sid Vicious [John Simon Ritchie], English musician and bassist (Sex Pistols), dies of a heroin overdose at 21
  • 1979-04-23 Doug Rauch, American rock and jazz-fusion bassist (Santana, 1972-74), dies of a heroin overdose at 28
  • 1979-05-17 Donyale Luna [Peggy Ann Freeman], American model and actress "the first Black supermodel", dies of a heroin overdose at 33
  • 1979-11-23 Judee Sill, American singer-songwriter ("Crayon Angels"; "Jesus Was A Cross Maker"), dies of a drug overdose at 35
  • 1980-10-27 Steve Peregrin Took, English musician (Tyrannosaurus Rex), dies of a drug overdose at 31
  • 1980-12-29 Tim Hardin, American singer (If I Were a Carpenter, Reason to Believe), dies of a drug overdose at 39
  • 1981-02-15 Mike Bloomfield, American musician (Electric Flag), dies of a drug overdose at 37
  • 1982-03-05 John Belushi, American comedian (SNL, 1975-80), actor (Animal House), and singer (The Blues Brothers), dies of a drug overdose at 33
  • 1982-06-10 Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German filmmaker and director (Marriage of Maria Braum), dies of a drug overdose at 37
  • 1982-09-02 Tom Baker, American actor, dies of a drug overdose in New York at 42
  • 1982-10-21 Radka Toneff, Norwegian jazz singer (It Don't Come Easy), dies of a drug overdose at 30
  • 1983-04-14 Pete Farndon, English rock bassist (The Pretenders - "Brass In Pocket"), drowns in his bathtub after a drug overdose at 30
  • 1985-05-15 Jackie Curtis, actor (Underground USA), dies of a drug overdose at 38
  • 1988-06-22 Jesse Ed Davis, Native American session and touring guitarist (Taj Mahal; Concert for Bangladesh; The Faces), dies of a drug overdose at 43
  • 1988-08-12 Jean-Michel Basquiat, American artist (Gray, SAMO), dies of a drug overdose at 27
  • 1989-09-09 Tim Hovey, American child actor (Slim Carter, Man Afraid), dies of a drug overdose at 44
  • 1990-10-08 B.J. Wilson, British session and touring rock drummer (Procol Harum, 1967-77; Joe Cocker), dies of a drug overdose complications and pneumonia at 43
  • 1990-12-06 Pavlos Sidiropoulos, Greek rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (Electric Theseus), dies from a heroin overdose at 42
  • 1991-06-01 David Ruffin, American soul musician and early lead singer for The Temptations (My Girl; Ain't Too Proud to Beg), dies of a drug overdose at 50
  • 1991-10-03 Max Cantor, American actor and journalist, dies of a drug overdose at 32
  • 1992-04-01 Nigel Preston, British drummer (The Cult), dies of a drug overdose at 28
  • 1992-06-27 Stefanie Ann Sargent, American guitarist (7 Year Bitch), dies of alcohol and heroin overdose at 24
  • 1993-06-28 [Jesus Christ] "GG" Allin, American punk rock singer, dies of accidental heroin overdose at 36
  • 1993-10-31 River Phoenix, American actor (Little Nikta, Stand By Me), dies of a drug overdose at 23
  • 1994-06-16 Kristen Pfaff, American rock bassist (Hole, 1993-94), dies of heroin overdose at 27
  • 1995-08-23 Dwayne Goettel, Canadian keyboardist and industrial-electronic music composer (Skinny Puppy), dies of a heroin overdose at 31
  • 1995-10-21 Shannon Hoon, American vocalist (Blind Melon), dies of a drug overdose at 28
  • 1995-10-31 Henry Percy, British peer, 11th Duke of Northumberland, dies after a drug overdose at 42
  • 1996-05-25 Bradley Nowell, American ska musician (Sublime), dies of a heroin overdose at 28
  • 1996-07-12 Jonathan Melvoin, American funk-rock keyboardist (Prince; Smashing Pumpkins, 1995-96), dies of a heroin overdose at 34
  • 1997-05-30 West Arkeen, American musician, best known for co-writing several Guns N' Roses songs (It's So Easy, The Garden), dies of a drug overdose at 36
  • 1997-12-18 Chris Farley, American actor and comedian (SNL, Wayne's World, Coneheads), dies of a drug overdose at 33
  • 1998-04-03 Rob Pilatus, American-German model, dancer, and de-frocked Grammy Award winner (Milli Vanilli - "Girl You Know It's True"), dies of accidental prescription drug and alcohol overdose at 42
  • 1998-04-11 Rodney Harvey, American actor and model (Salsa), dies of a drug overdose at 30
  • 1999-08-20 Bobby Sheehan, American bassist (Blues Traveler - "Run-Around"), dies of a drug overdose at 31
  • 2000-03-05 Lolo Ferrari [Eve Valois], French adult actress and dancer, dies from an overdose of prescription drugs at 37
  • 2000-09-17 Paula Yates, English TV personality (The Big Breakfast), dies of a drug overdose at 41
  • 2000-11-16 DJ Screw [Robert Earl Davis Jr.], American hip-hop DJ and rapper (Screwed Up Click), dies of codeine overdose coupled with mixed drug intoxication at 29
  • 2000-12-02 Chris Antley, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (Kentucky Derby 1991, 1999; Preakness 1999), dies of a drug overdose at 34
  • 2000-12-31 Eddy Shaver, American country-rock guitarist and songwriter, dies of a heroin overdose at 38
  • 2002-02-21 Harold Pruett, American actor (Sybil, Embrace of the Vampire), dies of a drug overdose at 32
  • 2002-06-05 Dee Dee Ramone [Douglas Colvin], American punk rock bassist (Ramones. 1974-89 - "I Wanna Be Sedated"), dies of a heroin overdose at 51
  • 2003-05-25 Jeremy Michael Ward, American musician (The Mars Volta), dies of a heroin overdose at 27
  • 2004-03-10 Dave Blood [Schulthise], American rock bassist (The Dead Milkmen -"Punk Rock Girl"), dies from a drug overdose at 47
  • 2004-05-31 Robert Quine, American rock guitarist (Lou Reed; Matthew Sweet; John Zorn), dies of an intentional heroin overdose at 61
  • 2004-10-10 Ken Caminiti, MLB third baseman, 1987-2001, (Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and 3 other teams; NL MVP- 1996), dies of a drug overdose at 41
  • 2004-11-13 Ol' Dirty Bastard [Russell Jones], American rapper (Wu Tang Clan), dies of a drug overdose at 35
  • 2005-11-21 Bill D'Angelo, American heavy metal guitarist (Femme Fatale, 1987-90), dies of a drug overdose at 43
  • 2007-01-19 Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow, American professional wrestler, dies of a drug overdose at 45
  • 2007-02-08 Anna Nicole Smith [Vickie Hogan], American model, Playboy playmate (May 1992, Playmate of the Year 1993) and tabloid fixture, dies of a prescription drug overdose at 39
  • 2007-06-23 Rod Beck, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1993, 94, 97; San Francisco Giants), dies from a drug overdose at 38
  • 2007-10-01 Chris Mainwaring, Australian Rules Football wing (All Australian 1991, 96; West Coast Eagles), dies from drug overdose at 41
  • 2007-12-11 Ashleigh Aston Moore, Canadian child actress (Now and Then), dies of a drug overdose at 26
  • 2008-01-15 Brad Renfro, American actor (The Client), dies of heroin overdose at 25
  • 2008-01-22 Heath Ledger, Australian-American Actor (Brokeback Mountain, The Dark Knight), dies of a drug overdose at 28
  • 2008-04-15 Sean Costello, American blues guitarist and singer, dies of multiple drug intoxication at 28
  • 2008-10-08 Gidget Gein [Bradley Stewart], American hard rock bassist (Marilyn Manson), dies of a suspected drug overdose at 39
  • 2009-06-05 Jeff Hanson, American singer-songwriter, dies of a drug overdose at 31
  • 2009-08-28 DJ AM [Adam Goldstein], American DJ and musician, dies of a drug overdose at 36
  • 2010-05-24 Paul Gray, American heavy metal bassist (Slipknot), dies of a drug overdose at 38
  • 2010-06-18 Trent Acid [Michael Verdi], American professional wrestler, dies of a drug overdose at 29
  • 2010-08-13 Lance Cade, American pro wrestler who was WWE Tag Team Champion (with Trevor Murdoch) 2005, dies from accidental drug overdose at 29
  • 2011-08-03 Bubba Smith, American College Football Hall of Fame defensive end (Michigan State; Pro Bowl 1970, 71; First Team All Pro 1971; Super Bowl 1971; Baltimore Colts) and actor (Police Academy), dies of acute drug intoxication and heart disease at 66
  • 2011-10-08 Mikey Welsh, American bass player (Weezer, 1998-2001 - "Island In The Sun"), dies of a drug overdose at 40
  • 2014-02-02 Philip Seymour Hoffman, American actor (Capote, Moneyball), dies of a suspected drug overdose at 46
  • 2014-04-07 Peaches Geldof, English columnist and daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, dies of a heroin overdose at 25
  • 2015-12-03 Scott Weiland, American rock singer-songwrite (Stone Temple Pilots; Velvet Revolver), dies of an accidental drug overdose at 48
  • 2016-08-20 Matt Roberts, American rock guitarist (3 Doors Down - "When I'm Gone"), dies of prescription drug overdose at 38
  • 2016-12-14 Garrett K. Gomez, American jockey (US Champion Jockey by earnings 2006-09; Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey 2007-08), dies of a drug overdose at 44
  • 2017-11-15 Lil Peep [Gustav Åhr], American rapper, dies of a drug overdose at 21
  • 2018-09-07 Mac Miller [Malcolm McCormick], American rapper and music producer (Best Day Ever), dies of a drug overdose at 26
  • 2018-12-16 Colin Kroll, American co-founder of Vine and HQ Trivia, dies of a drug overdose at 34
  • 2019-10-02 Barrie Masters, British pub-rock singer (Eddie & the Hot Rods - "Teenage Depression"), dies of drug intoxication at 63
  • 2022-09-28 Coolio [Artis Leon Ivey Jr.], American Grammy Award-winning singer-rapper (Gangsta's Paradise), dies of accidental drug overdose at 59
  • 2023-07-31 Angus Cloud, American actor (Euphoria), dies of an accidental drug overdose at 25

History KabAstro | Copyright © by Kabastro.com. All rights reserved.