RIP Jeff Conaway 1950-2011

[Jonas]

According to E! Online:

Another sad turn of events for a former Celebrity Rehab patient.

Jeff Conaway is in critical condition at an Encino hospital after an apparent overdose, the actor's rep confirmed to E! News Wednesday.

"He is in a coma and unresponsive at this time," said manager Phil Brock.

Family members have been in and out of the hospital waiting for news, Brock said, adding, "He turned his head two days ago, but nothing since."

There is no word on whether or not doctors expect Conaway to wake up.

The former Taxi star, who also played bad-boy Kenickie in Grease, has been plagued by health problems in recent years, including a bad fall a year ago that occurred when he was under the influence of methadone and OxyContin.

There is no word on what he may have OD'd on today.

He left Taxi in 1982 and worked in television throughout the 1980s and '90s, including a starring stint on Babylon 5.

In 2008, Conaway joined Celebrity Rehab, where he opened up about his longtime addictions to cocaine, painkillers and alcohol.

Sigh...

[Jan]

Sad news. Addiction is hard as it is, but when there's also unremitting pain...it must be pure hell.

Jan

[JoeD80]

Hm Joe just posted this on his twitter too. Doesn't sound good.

[AmyG]

Sounds worse now. Claudia, on her Facebook page, noted that he is brain dead. I haven't been able to confirm that via any news sources, so assume it is info from the family. Sad, bad news.

[DGTWoodward]

Sounds worse now. Claudia, on her Facebook page, noted that he is brain dead. I haven't been able to confirm that via any news sources, so assume it is info from the family. Sad, bad news.

Oh no!

I am sure that I am not alone on this board in being a sufferer of depression. It is a blight that is almost (until fairly recently at least) universally underestimated in its effects.

Until there is additional confirmation, I am hoping for the best and I really wish Jeff and his family all my most positive thoughts.

Come on Jeff, we need you in the upcoming (hopefully) B5 related...something...that JMS has in the works.

We need our Zack Allen back!


EDIT: Seems it was due to a fall? Regardless, all the above still applies.

[Jan]

EDIT: Seems it was due to a fall? Regardless, all the above still applies.

Jeff had a bad fall in January of 2010. Here's a Reuters article with a tiny bit more info than the entertainment sites have.

Still hoping he'll recover and find a solution to both the pain and the addictions.

Jan

[DGTWoodward]

Thanks Jan.

[ILUVJOHNSHERIDAN]

Just read this on MNBC Website : LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Dr. Drew Pinsky has come to the defense of actor Jeff Conaway amidst reports claiming the former "Grease" star is near death following an overdose. "Just visited Jeff Conaway," Pinsky wrote. "He is stable & looks like he will recover from his pneumonia. Not an OD like press is alleging & certainly not dead."
"Pneumonia with sepsis," he continued. "No evidence of intentional OD."

[AmyG]

I saw that today. While I really would like to think things are going to be okay, I have to take the word of a tv host with a bit of a grain of salt. Still, I'm hoping for the best outcome...

[Jan]

A TV host reporting on Twitter, no less.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43121637

I do hope for the best, truly. But I have no use for "Dr. Drew".

Jan

[ILUVJOHNSHERIDAN]

Anyone hear any more news about Jeff? I haven't and cant find anymore on it.

[Jan]

I haven't seen anything new today. I've set a Google Alert so if anything comes up, I'll post. Latest I've read is that his coma was induced and it appears that the main issue now is sepsis (a blood issue).

Still hoping for the best for him.

Jan

[Distorted Humor]

Well from that news, while not good, it is a lot better then some of the news we have heard, will continue to say a prayer for him.

[Jan]

Here's a report quoting some of his co-stars from 'Taxi'.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/05/exclusive-former-taxi-stars-tony-danza-marilu-henner-hold-bedside-vigil-jeff

ETA: Sorry, it's quoting an unnamed 'inside source'.

Jan

[Jan]

Note that I don't know anything about this site but they're reporting that Jeff Conaway hasn't had brain function from the time he was taken to the hospital (which seems to match what Claudia Christian said on her FB page earlier in the week) and that life support is being turned off today.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/05/jeff-conaway%E2%80%99s-life-support-be-turned

ETA: A second report: http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/26/j...-life-support/

I want to hope that it's not true but...it's sad.

Jan