Jeff Conaway’s death determined to be accidental

Four months after the fact, actor Jeff Conaway’s death has been determined to be accidental.

Autopsy reports show that Conaway died due to complications involving septic emboli, aortic valve endocarditis, coronary artery disease, pneumonia, and encephalopathy – a brain disorder that can cause loss of cognitive functions and an altered mental state, among other symptoms.

Prior to his death on May 27, Conaway had been hospitalized after he was found unconscious in his Los Angeles area home on May 11. He was in a coma and remained unresponsive until he died due to multiple complications over two weeks later.

Conaway had been struggling with addiction to prescription and nonprescription drugs in addition to alcohol. In 2008, his struggle with addiction was documented on Dr. Drew’s “reality-treatment” show Celebrity Rehab.

As Conaway was in a hospital for over two weeks before his death, officials opted not to perform a toxicology report on the actor, as any test would have come up clean.

Conaway was best known for his role as “Kenickie” in the 70s hit movie musical Grease. He was also well known for portraying cab-driving Bobby Wheeler on 80s comedy sitcom Taxi.

Source: Reuters

[Image: Getty Iamges]