'Taxi' star Jeff Conaway hospitalized in a coma

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: AP

Jeff Conaway's manager says the former star of "Taxi" and "Grease" is in a coma following a drug overdose, possibly from pain pills. Manager Phil Brock says the 60-year-old actor was found unconscious on May 11. He is hospitalized in critical condition.

Brock says Conaway is in a coma in an Encino, Calif., hospital and his recovery is uncertain. The name of the hospital was not disclosed.

As part of the reality show "Celebrity Rehab" in 2008, Conaway discussed his addiction to drugs and alcohol.

His manager described Conaway as a "gentle soul" but one who has been unable to "exorcise his demons."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PEOPLE_JEFF_CONAWAY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[femmocrat]

1. What a shame. He was so handsome.

Wasn't he in "Grease" too?

[DJ13]

3. Yes, also in Babylon 5

Jeffrey Charles William Michael Conaway (born October 5, 1950,<1> New York City, New York, United States<1>) is an American actor, best known for his roles in the movie Grease, and the US TV series Taxi and Babylon 5. He also directed the 1992 film Bikini Summer 2.<2>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Conaway

[originalpckelly]

14. I've just been watching Babylon 5 the last few days.

How funny.

[RSillsbee]

18. He played Danny Zucko (male lead) on Broadway

and Kenickie in the movie.

[Botany]

2. he was part of a really great cast

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

[Lindsey]

4. Very sad to hear this. I hope he pulls through. n/t

[EFerrari]

5. Dammit.

[xmas74]

6. I saw him on Celebrity Rehab.

Unfortunately, I'm surprised that this didn't happen sooner.

[madrchsod]

8. yup, he was a wreck on that show....

[xmas74]

15. I hate to sound that way

but I really thought he'd be dead by now. Seeing him on there-wow. I don't know how he made it this long.

[K8-EEE]

12. I know, when he quit treatment I thought, he's a goner

He was downing so many pills!!! And he was so broken down :( Very sad.

[wisteria]

7. So very sad. n/t

[Kat45]

9. That's so sad.

The man was talented, so good looking, in several good shows. Addiction is such a horrible thing, ruining lives. I hope he pulls through.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Oh, no

Man, what is it about sitcoms from the 70's? So many dead or addicted.

It seems like Abe Vigoda got the last laugh after all.

[Javaman]

23. Talented guy. What a shame.

After reading all the comments on here, I never knew he had all these drug problems.

Hope he recovers.

[TheEuclideanOne]

11. Man, that guy will do anything for attention

First Celebrity Rehap, now this. Geez.

[bluedave]

20. Apparently

You don't realize that addiction is just as much a disease as brain cancer.

[K8-EEE]

13. The kind of prescription drugs he was hooked on are just poison

Unfortunately people don't really question "medicine from the doctor" as much as they do street drugs. I took my autistic daughter to a psychiatrist because of self-injurious behavior and he basically prescribed a bunch of poison. When I looked up the drugs I couldn't believe how bad and how prevalent the side effects were (Parkinson's like symptoms? That might be permanent? Um, no.) I went to an alternative doctor looking for a more natural remedy and the results have been nothing short of miraculous.

[The Blue Flower]

16. A Jeff Conaway story

When I lived in Studio City, I attended the same church as Jeff. He was still doing Babylon 5. He had some disagreements with the couple who pastored the church, both of whose show biz careers had ceased to be. Let's just say they were WAY into the tithing thing and were driving better and dressing better than their congregants. My favorite story about their preaching was this gem: "We're all created in the image of God. And, as we know, image is everything!" How LA can you get?

Anyway a few of us there got fed up with the focus on money and left. Jeff went on to start his own Bible study group. A few months later I ran into a young woman who'd been attending the group. I asked how things were going. She thought a moment and then said, "It's okay -- except for all the drinking."

I can say that Jeff was a sweet guy, but certainly had his problems.

[Ian David]

17. He also played Sgt. Zack Allan on Babylon 5.

I wish this had happened to Jerry Doyle instead.

[mackerel]

19. I realise addiction is tough but narcissm is the biggest component

to addiction. That's the real burden, not being able to see that there is this big beautiful world beyond all your 'ism.'

[polly7]

25. Not being able to see this big, beautiful world is why so many become

addicted in the first place, they're looking for it and simply can't see it ... so they look for help. Depression, hopelessness, anxiety, physical pain all have a tendency to block out the good in life, being narcissistic has nothing to do with it, imo.

[smirkymonkey]

26. +1000

[knoxy]

27. Narcissism and Addiction are not the same thing.

NPD is a personality disorder. Addiction is a character disorder. NPD cannot be fixed with sobriety. The one thing that treats addiction is exactly that. Sobriety.

Addicts can ACT narcissistic due to their disease - but it's not the same thing at all.

[Vinca]

21. I think he suffered from a really painful back condition.

It's so easy to get hooked on pain pills when you need them to have a "normal" life.

[gauguin57]

22. Anyone who saw him on "Celebrity Rehab" is not surprised by this.

He was so messed up on that show.

So very sad.

[Ian David]

24. "The doctors are not optimistic and he is fighting for life right now..."

Grease star Jeff Conway fighting for life in coma

<snip>

"The doctors are not optimistic and he is fighting for life right now," said Kathryn Boole, his manager.

"We're hoping he will pull through, but he is still in a coma'.

Phil Brock, another member of the star's management team, added: "These could be his final moments."

"He slightly moved his head three days ago but since, there's been no sign he'll recover."

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8524065/Grease-star-Jeff-Conway-fighting-for-life-in-coma.html