Hollywood stars who died young – troubled past, overdoses and cause of death mystery

Many of Hollywood’s greatest stars were taken too soon, their deaths still mourned to this day and will be for years to come.

While the industry keeps moving, their memory still remains and their legacy will live on through the impression they left on fans, friends and family.

As the anniversary of River Phoenix’s birthday approaches, take a look back at some of the most iconic actors from the 90s and 2000s whose lives were cut short.

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Their influence is still felt throughout the entertainment industry, whether it be creating laughs with comedy or thrilling audiences in an action flick, read on to pay homage to a few of the best of their time.

River Phoenix

The eldest brother of Rain, Joaquin, Liberty and Summer Phoenix, River’s life was tragically cut short after an overdose back in 1993.

River had no formal schooling but, from a young age, the star showed an acute interest in playing guitar which led to a love of the arts.

He flourished and was involved in acting from age 10, when he starred in commercials before he made it onto the silver screen in his breakthrough role as Wolfgang in 1985’s Explorers.

River was most known for his role in Stand By Me, a coming of age film adapted from a Stephen King novel about four boys who come face to face with mortality.

He then made it big time, going on to star in Running On Empty and My Own Private Idaho before his untimely death.

Aged just 23, River died from a combined drug intoxication of cocaine and heroin during the early hours of Halloween in 1993.

He was at the Viper Room, a club in Los Angeles owned by Johnny Depp, when he began having seizures on the pavement outside.

Heath Ledger

Ledger’s life was cut short in January 2008 after he accidentally overdosed on medication.

The talented actor starred in teen cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and The Dark Knight, which was in post-production at the time of his death.

An Australian actor with a taste for Hollywood, Heath moved to the States when he was just 20 years old and enjoyed a fruitful career after he relocated.

He suffered from insomnia and told The New York Times back in 2007: “Last week, I probably slept an average of two hours a night. I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, my mind was still going.”

Sadly, Ledger was found unconscious by his housekeeper just a year later and the autopsy concluded that his death was “accidental abuse of prescribed medications”.

Brittany Murphy

The bright young star featured in iconic chick flick Clueless as Tai and went on to secure roles in Girl, Interrupted alongside Angelina Jolie and Eminem in 8 Mile.

She was encouraged to act from a young age and due to her promise, her mother moved to Los Angeles in 1991.

Brittany was loved throughout Hollywood and dated Ashton Kutcher in late 2002 before she married Simon Monjack in 2007.

However, just two years later Murphy collapsed in her bathroom and firefighters tried to resuscitate her.

Despite their best efforts, Brittany was pronounced dead at an LA medical centre after a cardiac arrest.

Her husband was also found dead in May 2010 at the same house and it was later found that the Los Angeles County Department Of Health had considered toxic mould to be the cause of their deaths, but was later dismissed as Chief Coroner Ed Winter said there were “no indicators”.

Despite investigations into the mysterious deaths, there has never been an official cause behind Brittany and her husband’s demise.

Cory Monteith

The Canadian star was known for his prominent role as the love interest for many of the Glee stars throughout the series and also starred in films Monte Carlo and Sisters & Brothers.

Cory struggled with substance abuse from a young age, left school at 16 years old and entered rehab three years later.

An amazing singer and talented actor, he became an international heart throb during his time on Glee.

The role projected him to stardom and his premature death came as a shock to the world.

Cory was sadly found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver back in 2013, aged only 31 years old.

Heroin, alcohol, codeine and morphine were found in his system and his death appeared to be accidental.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk