Celebrity Health

Charlton Heston Dead at 84

2008-04-06T07:56:13Z

Legendary actor Charlton Heston has died at the age of 84 of undisclosed causes.

Heston starred in films such as Ben-Hur (for which he won the Best Actor Academy Award), The Ten Commandments, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes.

In his later years, he was outspoken about politics and gun rights and served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

His family made the following statement:

"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country."

What's the Real Story with Patrick Swayze?

2008-03-06T15:34:17Z

The recent sad news about Patrick Swayze's pancreatic cancer reminds us that it is extremely difficult for the public to learn what is really going on with sick celebrities. Although famous people are now much more likely to reveal their diagnoses, most continue to keep aspects of their illnesses private. This is even more likely when the celebrity has a grave diagnosis like pancreatic cancer.

It is also common for a celebrity's publicist or agent to issue an optimistic report about the prognosis. Such a statement has already been made in Swayze's case. Yet while we hope that it is true, Swayze's diagnosis remains quite severe. The vast majority of people with pancreatic cancer die of the disease because it is not caught in time.

In contrast to breast or prostate cancer, relatively few celebrities become spokespeople for pancreatic cancer. There are simply not enough survivors and most people dying of the disease, like Luciano Pavarotti, gradually become more private as their condition worsens.

Having said all of this, I obviously wish Mr. Swayze luck and hope that he is in the category of patients whose disease is truly caught early enough to cure. And if his case helps others with pancreatic cancer or at risk for the disease, he--like other celebrity patients before him--will have done a huge service by "going public."

Barron H. Lerner, MD, PhD
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Author of "When Illness Goes Public: Celebrity Patients
and How We Look at Medicine" (Johns Hopkins, 2007)

Patrick Swayze Has Pancreatic Cancer

2008-03-06T07:20:09Z

Patrick Swayze, 55, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The National Enquirer broke the story and reported that Swayze only had weeks to live, but Dr. George Fisher, his physician, told US Magazine:

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far. All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."

Because pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat once it has progressed, it's great to know that Swayze's doctor believes his disease is limited and that they are optimistic.

William F. Buckley, Jr. Dead at 82

2008-02-28T03:03:24Z

Conservative writer and commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. died on Wednesday at the age of 82 while working in his study in Stamford, Connecticut. He had been suffering with emphysema and diabetes.

In 1945 Buckley enrolled at Yale University where he became a member of the infamous secret society, Skull and Bones. A year after graduation, he was recruited into the CIA, in which he reportedly served for less than a year. In 1955, he founded the conservative National Review. From 1966 to 1999 he hosted the PBS show Firing Line. Throughout his career, he published many works of fiction and non-fiction.

His wife Pat Buckley died last year. They had one son, writer and satirist Christopher Buckley.

Jaws Star Roy Scheider Dies at 75

2008-02-12T02:52:06Z

Actor Roy Scheider has died at the age of 75 after a three year battle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma cells.

He went into partial remission in 2005 after a bone marrow transplant. His wife, Brenda Siemer, says he died on Sunday of complications from a staph infection while undergoing treatment at the Myeloma Institute for Reserch and Therapy at the University of Arkansas.

Scheider's most popular role was as police chief Martin Brody in Jaws. He also starred in several other successful films, including All That Jazz, Klute, Marathon Man, and The French Connection, for which he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.

Delta Burke Checks into Psychiatric Hospital

2008-02-07T03:34:23Z

Delta Burke, 51, has checked into a psychiatric ward for treatment of hoarding, OCD, and depression. The actress did an interview with TMZ in which she explained that her meds weren't working and she needed help getting them sorted out.

"I've been here a week. I came in because I was on so many medications and they just weren't working, and I knew I needed to get my meds worked out, and that's a very long, tedious procedure ... Even if you're just on one or two. I'm on five. We were thinking that maybe I hadn't been properly diagnosed. Because some of these meds, it didn’t seem like they were working ...Have you seen those shows where they don't find the body for days and they go in to clean up and there are stacks of newspapers up to the ceiling? That's hoarding. And I hate it."

Burke is married to actor Gerald McRaney.

Heath Ledger's Death Ruled an Accidental Overdose

2008-02-07T02:33:37Z

Heath Ledger's death has been ruled an accidental overdose. He had six different drugs in his system - two painkillers, two anti-anxiety drugs, and two sleep aids. The medical examiner's report states:

Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine.

We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.
(view report)

The DEA is now undertaking an investigation to determine how he got so many drugs.

Heath Ledger - A Timeline

2008-01-23T13:38:43Z

Here's a timeline of Health Ledger's life from Twoop tracing his life from his childhood in Perth, Australia through his many fine acting performances and ending in his tragic death yesterday.

Also, reports are coming out that Ledger may have been suffering from pneumonia at the time of his death, which can be serious and deadly all by itself and if combined with a cocktail of prescription drugs might have been too much for his body to handle.

Heath Ledger Dead at 28 of Possible Drug Overdose

2008-01-22T22:06:03Z

Actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead by his housekeeper in his Manhattan apartment this afternoon and early police reports say there were a lot of pills around the bed.

Police say they do not suspect foul play but they are still investigating the scene. The details of his death are still coming out and it is unclear if it was suicide or an accidental overdose.

Ledger recently finished filming the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," in which he plays the Joker. The movie was set to be released this summer. He has a 2-year-old daughter named Matilda with ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams.

Ledger gave an interview in 2006 about his preparation for a role as a drug addict in the movie "Candy." In the interview, he said: "I do think that drugs and alcohol have been obviously glorified and mythologised. We've kind of connected that with what it takes to create something, which is anything from the truth. Creation comes from your mind and it's hard to create when you're phased and drugged out. I'm sure drugs and alcohol would inspire new thoughts but it's certainly not something that I use as a tool or a mechanism to create."

Update: TMZ is reporting that he was found face down on the bedroom floor. They are also reporting that the pills were sleeping pills.

See Also
Health Ledger - A Timeline

Nicole Richie Gives Birth to Baby Harlow

2008-01-12T02:46:55Z

Nicole Richie, 26, and Joel Madden, 28, welcomed a baby girl today named Harlow Winter Kate Madden. The baby was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and weighed in at 6 lbs. 7 oz.

A representative for the couple told People magazine: "The beautiful healthy baby girl left the hospital with her ecstatic parents."

The couple says they plan to marry in the near future but haven't set a date.

Johnny Grant, Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Dies

2008-01-12T01:24:31Z

Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, has died in Hollywood at the age of 84.

Spokeswoman for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Ana Martinez-Holler, said, "I had lunch with him today ... we had omelets together and he said he wasn't feeling good. I saw him walk away after lunch, and that was the last time I saw him."

Grant, who was born in 1923, was a radio personality and television producer. He was also the only person to receive the Order of California, California's highest honor, twice.

"He was the bridge between Hollywood's golden past and what's happening today," Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler told the crowd gathered to place flowers around Grant's star in front of the Kodak Theatre, a symbol of the community's revitalization. "Johnny was perhaps the greatest cheerleader Hollywood ever had, even in its darkest days."

Toni Collette Gives Birth to Baby Girl

2008-01-12T00:57:10Z

Actress Toni Collette, 35, and husband Dave Galafassi, welcomed their first child on Wednesday, a baby girl named Sage Florence Galafassi. The baby was born in Sydney, Australia.

According to a spokesperson, "Both mother and baby are very well and very happy."

Ike Turner Dead at 76

2007-12-12T23:56:50Z

Ike Turner has died in San Diego at the age of 76. There was no cause of death reported.

Turner's legendary marriage to singer Tina Turner ended in 1978. Tina, whose real name was Anna Mae Bullock, accused Ike of spousal abuse. Ike wrote in his 2001 autobiography, "Sure, I've slapped Tina. There have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her."

Turner is credited with making the first rock and roll record in 1951, called "Rocket 88."

He battled drugs for years and went to jail in 1989 on drug-related charges. He served 17 months in prison. While he was in prison, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tina Turner accepted the honor on his behalf.

A representative for Tina Turner issued the following statement to TMZ: "Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made."

Ike once said: "Either accept people for what they are, or don't. So, in other words, man, if people don't know me, I think they do themself an injustice. Because, as a whole, I think I'm a good person."

Dennis Quaid and Wife Suing Heparin Manufacturer

2007-12-06T00:55:57Z

Dennis Quaid and his wife are suing the makers of heparin after their newborn twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace were accidentally overdosed with the drug at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

The suit accuses Baxter Healthcare Corp. of Illinois of failing to put clear distinguishing labels on its 10-unit and 10,000-unit vials of heparin, and failing to recall the product after three other infants died because of a mix-up. The Quaids seek at least $50,000 in damages.

The Quaids' lawyer says the couple is filing suit in order to prevent such an accident from happening to other people.

Evel Knievel, 69, Dies of Pulmonary Fibrosis

2007-12-03T04:06:43Z

Evel Knievel has died in Clearwater, Florida at the age of 69. The legendary daredevil had been suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that required him to be on oxygen 24 hours a day.

On November 30, after Knieval was having trouble breathing, an ambulance was called but he died before reaching the hospital.

Knieval also suffered from diabetes and hepatitis C, for which he underwent a liver transplant in 1999. He also suffered from severe pain from the many broken bones and physical injuries he'd suffered over the years.

In 2007, Knievel underwent a major religious transformation and announced that he had converted to Christianity. Speaking of the experience, he said:

So I don't know what in the world happened. I don't know if it was the power of the prayer, or God Himself, which was reaching me while I was driving or walking down the sidewalk or sleeping … the power of God in Jesus just grabbed me! It just took hold of me. It was so strong. I can't tell you how strong it was and I became a person who was filled… just filled with Christianity. All of a sudden I just believed in Jesus Christ. I did! I believed in Him! I don't know what happened to me.

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