Corey Haim Dead After Apparent Accidental Drug Overdose
The former '80s child star struggled with addiction throughout his life.
March 10, 2010 — -- Actor Corey Haim died from an apparent accidental drug overdose after he was rushed to a Los Angeles County hospital early this morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Haim, 38, was taken from his mother's North Hollywood home by ambulance to Burbank's Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, according to police Sgt. Frank Albarran.
He was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m. PT, Ed Winter, the assistant chief of the L.A. County Department of Coroner, said.
"He got out of bed about 1:30 this morning, was a little unsteady on his feet," Winter said. Haim's mother then called the paramedics.
Haim's mother said her son had been suffering from "flu-like symptoms," Winter said, adding that four prescription pill bottles were found in the apartment but no illicit drugs.
"He could have succumbed to whatever [illness] he had or it could have been drugs," police Sgt. William Mann told The Associated Press. "He has had a drug problem in the past."
Haim struggled with cocaine and Valium addiction and was reportedly admitted to rehab more than 15 times.
Winter said an autopsy would be performed Friday.
The Canadian-born heartthrob burst onto the scene in the 1980s and starred in movies such as "License to Drive" and "The Lost Boys."
Haim was often paired with actor Corey Feldman, even as recently as three years ago when the two starred in a reality-TV show.
The two were known as "the two Coreys" before seeing it all evaporate after public battles with drugs, alcohol and the law.
Corey Haim, for example, went from the lovable little brother in "Lost Boys" to a crack and Valium addict who made reported trips to rehab and then bloated up to more than 300 pounds.
In a 2007 interview with "Nightline," Haim spoke about fighting his drug addiction.
"I feel like ... I ruined myself to the point where I wasn't functional enough to work for anybody, even myself. I wasn't working," Haim said. "You know, if I'm not working, how anybody else can expect me to work for them if I'm not working. I mean physically working. My brain wasn't working."
Haim on Lindsay Lohan
Haim told "Nightline" that he empathized with Lindsay Lohan, who had been arrested for alleged cocaine possession and driving under the influence, and reportedly went back to rehab for a third time.
"Yeah, I just feel bad for her. It is watching a person who is doing movies, singing, very talented, very pretty, doing what I did, and it is just, she doesn't realize that she's getting sick. She doesn't realize that she's sick. … For me, rock bottom was I couldn't even look in the mirror anymore," Haim said.
"I felt guilty about myself and everybody, and what I was doing, this and that, I just did something about it on my own, but she's young enough to catch it," Haim told "Nightline." "I see, just a version of me that is female and younger, and I just hope that she catches it now, you know?"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.