Jeff Conaway dies following drug overdose

Jeff Conaway dies following drug overdose

Grease star Jeff Conaway died today after he overdosed on painkillers two weeks ago.

Conaway, 60, who played Kenickie in the hit 1978 musical and also starred in TV's Taxi, was battling pneumonia and sepsis, a potentially deadly blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection, his manager Phil Brock said Monday. To aid his recovery, Conaway was in a medically induced coma at the Encino Tarzana Medical Center, where he died this morning, spokeswoman Kathryn Boole told AP.

His family is said to have decided to turn off the life support machine yesterday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His ex-girlfriend Vikki Lizzi, who claimed she has power of attorney over the actor, tried to block the move.

Brock said the actor was found unconscious May 11 after an apparent overdose of painkillers. Reports said he might have been in that state for 10 hours before being found. Brock said the actor was suffering from pneumonia at the time.

The actor appeared on the VH1 reality show Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew in 2008 where he admitted to being addicted to cocaine, painkillers and alcohol. In January 2010, Conaway suffered a broken hip and other serious injuries after falling at his home.

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