He was a promising young actor who rocketed to fame in “The Lost Boys” and “Lucas.”
He was the blond-haired, blue-eyed half of a pair of teenage heartthrobs that set girls’ hearts aflutter in the 1980s.
But he also battled addiction and depression most of his young life.
And now he’s dead at 38.
Corey Haim died Wednesday in Burbank, Calif., after being found unresponsive by his mother at the home they shared.
Fans, most of whom are women in their early 30s who plastered Haim’s image on their walls and lockers, were saddened, but not shocked by the news. With Haim, it always seemed not to be a question of if, but when.
In 1994, Haim told a British tabloid he smoked his first joint on the set of “Lost Boys.” That led to cocaine, which led to crack. He went into rehab. However, the addictions had already done their damage, devastating his career as well as his personal life.
He had yet to rebound, but Haim seemed to have straightened out some recently.
He collaborated with Corey Feldman on a direct-to-DVD sequel of “Lost Boys,” had a memorable bit part as Chip Davis in the 2009 Jason Statham film “Crank: High Voltage” and had completed two projects, “American Sunset” and “New Terminal Hotel.” He also had two more lined up, the ironically named “Decisions” and “A Detour in Life.”
According to Feldman, there was a marked shift in his behavior after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. “When his mom got ill, it was the first time I ever saw Corey grow up,” Feldman said Wednesday night on “Larry King Live.”
And yet, he’s dead at 38.
We have to wait for autopsy results to give us a definitive answer to what killed Haim. Feldman has begged us to not rush to judgment. After all, his friend had been exhibiting flu-like symptoms for several days before his death.
But there is no denying his addictions ultimately are to blame. Without that joint, or cocaine, or crack, Haim would not have died, in the words of his best friend, “very destitute, very broke,” without a car and having few friends.
Haim’s death is a tragic loss for his family and Feldman. His descent into addiction at such a young age was a loss for film.
And yet, the larger tragedy is that Haim is not the first teen star to fall victim to addiction.
Anthony Michael Hall and Drew Barrymore — both fortunate enough to have rebounded into brilliant careers.
“Family Ties” Brian Bonsall — he went to jail.
“Diff’rent Strokes” Kimberly Drummond, “The Client” actor Brad Renfro and Haim’s contemporary River Phoenix — all dead before they reached a ripe, old age.
During his interview with Larry King, Feldman said he appreciated the outpouring of sympathy but was troubled by one thing: “Where were all these people the last 10 years, the last 15 years of Corey’s life?”
Not wanting to step in. Not wanting to ask. Not wanting to get their hands dirty.
Don’t let that be you.
Contact Heather Bremer at 640-4867 or heather.bremer@heraldbulletin.com.
