Hollywood’s “Lost Boys” star Corey Haim, a former teenthrob whose career was derailed by drug abuse, died in Los Angeles yesterday of an apparent overdose. He was 38.
The Canadian-born actor was pronounced dead at the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. There was no sign of foul play.
“As he got out of bed, he felt a little weak and went down to the floor on his knees,” Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said. His mother called paramedics.
“It was an apparent overdose,” said Los Angeles Police Department /b> spokesman Frank Albarren.
No illegal drugs were found at the apartment, but authorities said they discovered four bottles of prescription pills.
A close friend of the actor told RadarOnline.com that Haim had been abusing prescription drugs in his final days.
“I’m not surprised that this has happened,” said the friend, who wanted to remain anonymous. “Corey got really upset that his mom was being treated for breast cancer and that she had lost her hair because of chemotherapy. She is all he really had in the world . . . he got pretty depressed about the situation.”
Fellow “Lost Boys” star Corey Feldman, who later collaborated with Haim on reality television show “The Two Coreys,” said he wept when he heard the news.
“My eyes weren’t even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face,” he wrote. “We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference.”
Other stars took to Twitter to mourn Haim’s death.
“Just woke up to the sad, sad news that Corey Haim passed away. RIP sweet boy,” Tweeted Alyssa Milano, who once dated the teenage star. “My thoughts go out to Corey’s family and friends today.
“So sad,” Christina Applegate wrote on Twitter.
Haim acknowledged his struggle with drug abuse to a British tabloid in 2004.