Philip Seymour Hoffman’s body was found in his Greenwich Village home Sunday morning, but the details seem to come straight out of a Hollywood story. Hoffman, 46, died of an apparent heroin overdose, with bags of the illegal drug found all around his apartment.
The actor, who had spoken in past interviews about his drug addiction and efforts of rehab, is just the latest in a line of drug-related casualties to hit Hollywood stars.
Here are nine other actors who, in the past two decades, met their fates at the hands of an overdose.
Lisa Robin Kelly
Death: Aug. 14, 2013
Age: 43
After Lisa Robin Kelly’s five-season run on the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” on which she played the older sister of Eric Forman (Topher Grace’s character), the actress found herself landing in all sorts of trouble, including a DUI arrest in 2010, for which she served probation. Just before her death, Kelly had voluntarily checked herself into a rehab center, according to her manager. She was found dead in her sleep; the cause of death was “multiple drug intoxication,” the Los Angeles coroner ruled.
Cory Monteith
Death: July 13, 2013
Age: 31
The “Glee” star was found dead in his room at a Vancouver hotel. Monteith — who played quarterback Finn Hudson in the high school musical dramedy — had checked himself into rehab just months before, trying to kick a drug habit that began at age 12. The coroner’s report said traces of heroin and alcohol were found in his system.
Whitney Houston
Death: Feb. 11, 2012
Age: 48
Just hours before Whitney Houston was scheduled to perform at her mentor Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party, the singer/actress, who had a very public battle with drugs over the years, was found unconscious in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She was submerged in a bathtub, and her death was ruled an accidental drowning caused by the effects of cocaine use.
Brittany Murphy
Death: Dec. 20, 2009
Age: 32
The actress, who made a name for herself after her breakthrough performance in the 1995 teen comedy “Clueless,” collapsed in the bathroom of the Hollywood home she shared with her husband, Simon Monjack. The coroner said that she died from pneumonia and a mix of legal prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Heath Ledger
Death: Jan. 22, 2008
Age: 28
The Australian actor was found dead in his Soho apartment by a housekeeper and a masseuse. Ledger’s death, caused by an overdose of prescription drugs including oxycodone and hydrocodone, was ruled an accident. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar posthumously — which his family accepted — for his work a the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”
Brad Renfro
Death: Jan. 15, 2008
Age: 25
At age 11, Renfro made his film debut in the legal thriller “The Client,” opposite Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. He would go on to appear in other films and television shows but never rose to fame, largely due to his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He died in his Los Angeles apartment from a heroin overdose, at which time he had 2-day-old tattoo that read “F - - k All Y’all” on his back.
Robert Pastorelli
Death: March 8, 2004
Age: 49
Known primarily for his years playing Eldin Bernecky, the oddball house painter on the TV series “Murphy Brown,” Pastorelli was found dead in his Hollywood home of a heroin overdose. Before he died, investigators had reopened the case of a shooting death of his girlfriend, Charemon Jonovich, who was killed in the house they shared.
Chris Farley
Death: Dec. 18, 1997
Age: 33
The “Saturday Night Live” alum was well on his way to a prosperous solo career when his brother found him dead in his Chicago apartment. Chris Farley reportedly sought treatment for his substance-abuse problems more than a dozen times. The cause of the comedian’s death was an overdose brought on by speedballs, a blend of cocaine and heroin.
River Phoenix
Death: Oct. 31, 1993
Age: 23
In 1993, River Phoenix collapsed outside of the Viper Room — a celebrity nightclub hangout — in front of members of his family (including brother Joaquin Phoenix) and other notables, such as Johnny Depp and Flea of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Phoenix had been scheduled join Flea onstage to perform. The autopsy report found traces of heroin and cocaine in his blood.