Everyone knows that some celebrities, from Winehouse to Lohan to Spears, and more particularly those who are new to the money and glitz, don’t handle it well and become somewhat cloudy of judgement with their newfound wealth, but what about those for whom it isn’t a new thing, who still find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer momentum.
Why does it seem so odd to us to see them, floundering when wealthy, presumably having it all, and then losing it. What makes us watch as they piss away their fortunes on drugs and bad choices.
A case in point would be DMX, a superb talent, whose acting skills in the couple movies he did, even considering the less talented star of the show, impressed us, and whose current legal troubles, to the tune of five, six or seven arrests in less months, have us asking “What is this guys PROBLEM?”
More to the point, how can the remaining celebrities NOT be scared straight by the loss of such legendary names and colossal talents as John Belushi, Heath Ledger, Freddie Prinze, River Phoenix,Christina Onassis, Dylan Thomas, Andy Gibb, Anna Nicole Smith and so many more.
How can they see these kinds of things, and still be saying.. Oh that can’t happen to me!” We read about the open letters of stars such as Pamela Anderson..(Hey okay.. Past stars, but still she’s got some clout) asking for legalization of various drugs and we have to wonder if some of them just don’t notice the many that are missing from the effects of their recreation.
The past twenty odd years has seen a fair share of celebrities succumb to the lifestyle, becoming somewhat less than famous for their talents and somewhat more famed for their arrests, their attitudes, for their rehab stints, and in some cases, even their untimely demise.
A few cases in point:
Anissa, Buffy from Family Affair, who died at the age of 18 from the effects of more than four drugs combined in her system at the same time.
Heath Ledger, whose untimely death from more than three drugs in his own system at the same time left Hollywood in shock and his new daughter without a father at a very early age.
The Different Strokes Kids, two of whom have seen some real changes to their fortune,some serious arrest records and one, Dana Plato, who, after unsuccessfully attempting to rob a store and forging a prescription for drugs, found herself in some serious hot water and died at the age of 34.
Drew Barrymore, who thankfully has turned her life around to become what we all knew she could be, had her own rocky start. Drinking at 9, smoking pot at ten and doing cocaine by the time she was twelve, Drew sought out some rehab and got her life sorted out. She was one of the lucky ones.
Teen age idol, Andy Gibb, of the BeeGees, a super star at age 19 couldn’t handle the pressure of stardom. He wasted his considerable fortune on cocaine, blamed all his problems on his love life and died broke at thirty years old of a heart infection. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of.
McKenzie Phillips, child star in her own right, from One Day at a Time, and child of the superstar John Phillips, still fights her battles, both drugs and legal ones, with her recent arrest for drugs.
Ryan O’Neal, whose demons are apparently still in control, was arrested several months ago for drugs in his home, accompanied by his child this time around.
Jodie Sweetin of Full House has been a bit more fortunate, trading in her meth addiction for motherhood this year,through genuine hard word and determination, she is one of the lucky ones.
Winehouse, who checked into the hospital again this week, well the jury is still out on that one.. Stay tuned for further updates on who’s kicked the habit and whose habit is kicking them.
Anna Nicole started to abuse alcohol and drugs in high school.
She was in coma twice, overdosed on sedatives, in 1987 and 1995. She was in rehab centers, but never stopped to abuse drugs.
Her son Daniel stole his mother’s drugs and died in 2006. He was a victim of Anna Nicole’s reckless behavior.
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