10 Famous Celebrities Who Died From Fentanyl Overdose After Evan Ellingson's Cause Of Death Revealed
The entertainment industry has seen its fair share of tragedies, and the recent revelation of Evan Ellingson's cause of death has once again brought the spotlight onto the opioid crisis.
Ellingson, known for his roles in "My Sister's Keeper" and "CSI: Miami," died from an accidental fentanyl overdose on Nov. 5 inside the bedroom of his home in Fontana, California, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's coroner told People. He was 35.
As fans reflect on his untimely death, here are 10 other celebrities who died from fentanyl overdose.
1. Prince - April 2016
Music legend Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, in April 2016. He was 57.
Authorities said Prince took what he thought was Vicodin but was actually a counterfeit painkiller that was laced with fentanyl.
2. Mac Miller - September 2018
Rapper Mac Miller was only 26 years old when he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol at his home in Studio City, California, on Sept. 7, 2018.
The rapper's personal assistant told authorities that Miller struggled with sobriety and had had "several recent 'slips'" before his death.
3. Lil Peep - November 2017
At just 21, Lil Peep's accidental overdose of fentanyl and Xanax cut short a promising career.
He died on his tour bus before a scheduled performance in Tucson, Arizona, his second to last scheduled show on a 33-date nationwide tour.
Following his death, artists such as Sam Smith, Diplo, Pete Wentz, Charli XCX and Travis Barker mourned his passing and paid tribute to him on social media.
4. Paul Gray - May 2010
Paul Gray, bassist and co-founder of Slipknot, died in a suburban Des Moines hotel room due to an overdose of morphine and fentanyl. He was 38.
Autopsy results also showed that he had developed "significant heart disease" and had traces of the anti-anxiety pill Xanax in his system at the time of his death.
5. Stephan Bonnar - December 2022
Mixed martial artist Stephan Bonnar died from an accidental fentanyl overdose on Dec. 22, 2022. He was 45.
He competed as a light heavyweight in the UFC for most of his career and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 6, 2013.
6. Justin Townes Earle - August 2020
Singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine on Aug. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 38.
His family's statement following his death emphasized the dangers of opioids and urged support for those battling addiction.
"Even though Justin was very outspoken and concerned about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of the 'legal' drugs fed by the pharmaceutical companies, he became the victim of a deadly dose of fentanyl," the estate said. "Illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are causing an enormous rise in overdoses, turning cocaine usage into an even deadlier habit. It only takes a few salt-sized granules of fentanyl to cause an overdose."
7. Shock G - April 2021
Gregory Edward Jacobs, known as Shock G, died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, ethanol, and methamphetamine on April 22, 2021, in a Tampa, Florida, hotel room, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner.
He was a rapper and musician best known as the lead vocalist of the hip-hop group Digital Underground. He was responsible for Digital Underground's "The Humpty Dance" and co-producer of 2Pac's debut album, "2Pacalypse Now."
8. Adam Rich - January 2023
Best known for his role on "Eight Is Enough," Adam Rich passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose on Jan. 7. He was 54.
He also made appearances in TV shows and television movies throughout the late 70s and 80s, including "Fantasy Island," "CHiPs," "Small Wonder" and "Dungeons & Dragons."
After a 10-year acting hiatus, Rich played himself in the 2003 David Spade comedy "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" and portrayed Crocodile Dundee in the TV series "Reel Comedy" that same year.
9. Freddy Soto - July 2005
Comedian Freddy Soto died in his sleep at a friend's house on July 10, 2005, just hours after performing at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. He was 35.
His death was later attributed to a drug overdose involving fentanyl.
10. Jay Bennett - May 2009
Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Jay Bennett, a former member of Wilco, died on May 24, 2009, from an accidental overdose of fentanyl. He was 45.
His story emphasized that substance abuse knows no boundaries, affecting individuals across various genres of music.
