Ex-Child Star Corey Haim Dies at Age 38

[Teressa]

Corey Haim, the former teen idol who rose to fame in 1980s classics 'The Lost Boys,' 'Lucas' and 'License to Drive,' died Wednesday morning of an apparent accidental drug overdose in Burbank, Calif., the LAPD has confirmed to several media outlets. He was 38. Local news station KTLA is reporting that Haim was found in an Oakwood apartment believed to belong to his mother, who was at home at the time and called emergency responders. TMZ is reporting that four prescription drug bottles were found nearby, and that he had been gripped by flu-like symptoms in recent days.

Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie told reporters that Haim died at 2:15 a.m. at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is pending.

Canadian-born Haim rose to fame in the 1980s as a child actor. His breakout role was in the critically-acclaimed 1986 film 'Lucas,' where he played a nerdy and skinny student looking to prove himself on a high school football team. He later went on to star in major commercial hits like the vampire movie 'The Lost Boys,' 'License to Drive' and 'Dream a Little Dream.'

Like many child actors, Haim's transition from kid to adult wasn't easy, and the actor's career -- and self-esteem -- faltered over the years.

Most of his films since the 1990s have been direct-to-video and low budget sequels to other films like 2008's 'Lost Boys 2.' In 1997, he filed for bankruptcy and spent the next decade in and out of rehab for drug addiction. He reportedly suffered a drug-related stroke in 2001. In a 2004 interview, Haim said he began drinking in 1985 and a year later tried his first joint. From there, things went from bad to worse.

"I lived in Los Angeles in the '80s, which was not the best place to be," he said. "I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack."

After that, he claimed to have been hooked on pills, and was at one point taking up to 85 a day. "The doctors could not believe I was taking that much," he told The Sun. "And that was just the Valium -- I'm not talking about the other pills I went through."

Most recently, Haim's troubled relationship with fellow '80s teen star Corey Feldman was documented in the A&E reality show 'The Two Coreys.' During the show, Haim's substance abuse was often a recurring problem between the two actors. After taping the show in 2008, Feldman cut ties with Haim over his personal problems.

"I don't feel that he's a safe person to have around my wife and child at the moment, for a multitude of reasons," Feldman told PEOPLE at the time.

Last year, Haim famously took out a full-page ad in Variety aimed at getting his career back on track. The ad read: "This is not a stunt. I'm back. I'm ready to make amends. I'm ready to work." He then scored a role in 'Crank 2' alongside Jason Statham, and spoke to TV Guide about his new role. "I'm loving it, and ... I just want to work, and that's what I'm doing, thank God, on stuff I want to do," he said. ~snipped~

[iowalovescaylee]

This is really sad.

[MysticFlower]

It's also sad that people don't learn from these tragedies. It's not just the celebrities dying from drug use. The everyday person doesn't make the news like this but it's happening everyday and there's so much to learn from these tragic deaths.

[Twisted Whiskers]

Death certificate issued for Corey Haim

Published: March. 18, 2010

LOS ANGELES, March 18 (UPI) -The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office Thursday issued a death certificate for Corey Haim and listed the cause of the actor's death as deferred.

Haim starred in a string of hit movies as a child and teen in the 1980s, but his career was eclipsed by an addiction to drugs that lasted most of his life. He died March 10 at the age of 38 after complaining of flu-like symptoms and was buried this week in his native Toronto.

The actor's mother, Judy, has said the coroner's office told her Corey suffered from pulmonary congestion and an enlarged heart.

E! News said that although the death certificate was issued for the former child star Thursday, the official cause of his death will not be determined until after toxicology test results are analyzed.

~snipped~
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_New...7921268962581/