TORONTO — Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose on Feb. 2 — exactly 35 years to the day that Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose less than half-a-kilometre away.
Hoffman was 46. Vicious, whose real name was John Ritchie, was 21.
Heroin has been the cause — or a contributing factor — in the death of a long list of celebrities. Here are a few of them:
Cory Monteith
The Canadian actor was found dead in his suite at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver in July 2013 — only weeks after completing rehab. It was later determined that he had died of a toxic mix of heroin and alcohol. Monteith was 31.
Brad Renfro
The actor, a rising star in Hollywood, was found dead in a Los Angeles apartment in January 2008. He was 25. Renfro’s death was ruled an accidental overdose of heroin and morphine.
Dee Dee Ramone
A founding member of the Ramones, whose real name was Douglas Colvin, died of a heroin overdose in 2002. He was 50. Ramone’s body was discovered by his wife inside his Hollywood, California apartment.
Paula Yates
The British TV host, writer and ex-wife of singer Bob Geldof died on her daughter’s 10th birthday in September 2000 of a heroin overdose. She was 41.
River Phoenix
The young actor collapsed outside The Viper Room in Los Angeles on Oct. 31, 1993. Hours later, he was pronounced dead. Phoenix was 23. The actor died from an overdose of a mixture of heroin and cocaine.
Hillel Slovak
The founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers died in a Hollywood apartment in June 1988 from a heroin overdose. He was 26.
Peter Farndon
The one-time bassist for The Pretenders was discovered dead in his bathtub after passing out following a heroin overdose in April 1983. Farndon was 30.
John Belushi
The comedian and Saturday Night Live star died at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles in March 1982 after injecting a “speedball” — a mix of heroin and cocaine. Belushi was 33.
Jim Morrison
The lead singer of The Doors died in July 1971 at the age of 27 in the bathtub of a Paris apartment. No autopsy was performed but it is believed the musician overdosed on heroin.
Janis Joplin
The iconic rock singer, who was addicted to alcohol and drugs, died of a heroin overdose inside her Hollywood home in October 1970. She was 27.
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