Actress Natalie Wood was Hollywood’s hottest actress for a generation. She went from child star to A-list celebrity. She married screen legend Robert Wagner not once, but twice. And the couple enjoyed a spectacular lifestyle. But on November 29th 1981 during what was supposed to be a relaxed weekend sailing trip 43-year-old Natalie was found dead. The verdict never completely satisfied the press. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e1: Natalie Wood, Channel 5 2016
‘She had Cyclizine in her system … her stomach had 0.14% alcohol in it … She has a prescription for Placidyl … Metahydrin … ’ ibid. pathologist
‘Natalie turned to sleeping pills to ease her anxiety.’ ibid.
‘She was in effect an anorexic.’ ibid. comment
Behind the scenes Natalie’s private life was crumbling. ibid.
‘Christopher Walken was the inflamatory element on the boat that night.’ ibid.
‘A dynamic that was deep and dark and very dangerous.’ ibid.
Her body was found at 7.30 the next morning dressed in a red down jacket. ibid.
‘That does not rule out suicide as a possible cause of death.’ ibid. pathologist
John Belushi was a comedy genius. The grossout characters he created in Animal House and The Blues Brothers were iconic. But on March 5th 1982 John Belushi was found dead. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e2: John Beliushi
‘His obesity is a stresser on his heart … John Belushi has lung disease … an enlarged heart … ’ ibid. pathologist
John was in grave danger of cardiac arrest. ibid.
He wakes up coughing blood … Belushi is battling a serious cocaine habit. ibid.
A 4-day drug binge that would result in Belushi’s death. ibid.
‘Puncture wounds in both arms … He had a morphine level of 2.1 mg %.’ ibid. pathologist
Jimi Hendrix, electric guitar virtuoso, was one of the highest paid musicians in the world … After his death on 18th September 1970 when he was just 27 years old the coroner concluded that he died after he breathed in his own vomit, but stating insufficient evidence of the circumstances he recorded an open verdict. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e3: Jimi Hendrix
He’s been complaining of a cough he can’t shake off … exhausted and feverish. ibid.
Jimi had been drinking alcohol prior to his death … A quantity of amphetamine identified in his urine … Quinalbarbitone identified in the blood … a very high level … he lapses into a coma and dies. ibid.
Jim Morrison, lead singer of the 1960s band The Doors was one of rock history’s most influencial and cult icons. His outrageous drink and drug-fueled behaviour on and off stage established his reputation as a troublemaker and rebel. But the official cause of his death in Paris on 3rd July 1971 remains controversial. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e4: Jim Morrison
‘There was no autopsy conducted; there was no toxicology conducted; and there was no evaluation of his medical background.’ ibid. pathologist
‘His smoking, his drinking, his eating of fatty foods, can put an enormous amount of strain on the heart.’ ibid.
The gurgling noise that awakens Pamela is the first sign of a heroin overdose. ibid.
As the mother of megastar Kanye West, Donda West went from modest beginnings to raise her son to be one of the biggest rappers in the world. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e5: Donda West
Donda West died [at home] 24 hours after cosmetic surgery. ibid.
‘There’s a history of heart disease within the West family.’ ibid. pathologist
Maurice Gibb was one-third of global megaband The Bee Gees … On Wednesday January 8th 2003 Maurice Gibb collapsed in agony at his Miami home: he died four days later aged just 53. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e6: Maurice Gibb
Maurice Gibb was a heavy smoker. ibid.
A drug which Maurice is known to have enjoyed: alcohol. ibid.
When Maurice dies his liver appears normal. ibid.
Maurice went into multi-system organ failure. ibid.
In March 1991 Rodney King was savagely beaten by four white police officers. The incident was caught on camera and broadcast around the world. The four police officers were then found not guilty, triggering the infamous LA riots. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e7: Rodney King
June 17th 2012: King, now aged 47, was found by his fiancee face-down in the back-yard swimming pool. ibid.
Why was he falling down and getting these types of injuries? ibid.
‘He has an enlarged heart … It’s possible he had a heart attack on the poolside or simply blacked out and then fell into the water and drowned.’ ibid. pathologist
‘This is more commonly known as angel dust or PCP.’ ibid.
‘Unable to save himself, Rodney King stopped breathing and drowned.’
The Notorious B.I.G. rapped about girls, guns and money.
In the early hours of March 9th 1997 The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down in a driveby shooting in downtown Los Angeles. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e8: The Notorious B.I.G.
Bill Hartman was a comedy legend. His satirical impressions on Saturday Night Live ruffled the feathers of America’s most powerful. On The Simpsons his voice gave life to 18 iconic characters. Among his peers he was the ultimate team player. But in 1998 the home of one of America’s favourite comic actors was stormed by armed police. Breakfast shows carried the sentational news that Phil Harman had been shot to death in his own bedroom. The horror escalates when police confirm that Phil’s wife Bryann was by his side, also shot dead. Autopsy: The Last Hours of … s6e9: Phil Hartman
‘Brynn did a lot of coke, a lot of Quaaludes.’ ibid. friend
The Hartmans’ relationship had a lot of issues. ibid.
‘Alcohol and cocaine in her system.’ ibid. pathologst
[news]: ‘[Don] Cornelius was found shot dead in his home in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning.’ Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s6e10: Don Cornelius
Cornelius was a popular host and pulled in millions of viewers each week. Soul Train provided the first national exposure on American TV for black musicians. ibid.
‘I need to know what’s going on in his body that led him to kill himself.’ ibid. pathologist
Mental turmoil: He’s been dogged by it for years. ibid.
[news]: ‘Chris Farley’s brother found the 33-year-old comic dead on the floor.’ Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s7e1: Chris Farley
Chris Farley was the larger than life comedy maverick who rose to fame on Saturday Night Live. ibid.
‘His wild behaviour does suggest a mental condition that may have led him down a self-destructive path.’ ibid. pathologist
2 a.m. Chris hits the bars for the fourth night in a row. He’s drunk and hyper, and eyewitnesses describe him as ‘on a roll’. ibid.
‘Prozac … alcohol … TCH … cocaine … GBH … crack cocaine … He had morphine in his blood …’ ibid. pathologist
Chris Farley’s heart weighted 533 grams, and that’s practically twice the normal size of a heart … He had severe coronary artery atherosclerosis, or coronary artery disease.’ ibid.
‘He was one of the worst addicts they’ve ever seen.’ ibid. comment
He’s been partying for three days without sleep. ibid.
‘Edema in the lungs reduces the body’s intake of air, and starves the brain of oxygen.’ ibid. pathologist