Grease star Jeff Conaway dies at 60 after slipping into coma
Jeff Conaway, former star of Taxi and the musical Grease, died Friday at the age of 60.
Conaway was taken off life support at Encino Hospital Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley, said his sister Carla Shreve.
His business partner, Phil Brock, said that Jeff Conaway had attempted to treat his pain on his own with cold medicine and painkillers, while he was in a precarious state of health. He was found lifeless on May 11
It was the result of “too many prescribed drugs” and he was placed in a medically induced coma afterwards.
The actor had fought an addiction to alcohol and drugs for years and even appeared on Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew in 2008.
TV and radio personality Dr. Drew Pinsky, who treated Conaway on Celebrity Rehab, has said it wasn’t drug overdose that killed Jeff, but was rather due to long-term prescription drug abuse.
“Jeff is another pharmaceutical death from the overutilization of prescription drugs. Please continue to pray for friends and family. They appreciate your support,” Drew explained.
Conaway had starred in the movie Grease in 1978, with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and between 1978 and 1981 he had a role in the sitcom Taxi.
