Since the VH1 reality show’s 2008 debut, twelve of its alumni have passed away.
Celebrity Rehab was founded by Dr. Drew Pinsky to counter the tabloids’ depiction of addiction, according to a 2009 New York Times article on the set of the show. Pinsky, 65, was first opposed to the concept of receiving treatment on television. Following the premiere of the first season of the show, the addiction medicine expert told PEOPLE about his friend, counselor Bob Forrest, who persuaded him to get treatment: “He said, ‘I am so tired of people talking about rehab who have no idea what they’re talking about.’” They are unaware of the struggles and addictions that celebrities face.
The VH1 series, which ran from 2008 to 2011, featured a number of celebrities addressing their substance misuse problems in the Pasadena Recovery Center in California with Pinsky. Celebrity Rehab featured prominent artists, actresses, sports, TV celebrities, models, and more throughout the course of five seasons. Regretfully, following their performances on the reality show, twelve celebrities have passed away. Let’s examine their lives in more detail and how they openly discussed their difficulties in an effort to assist others.
If substance misuse is a problem for you or someone you know, please call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visit 988lifeline.org if you or someone you know is thinking about taking their own life.
Dim-witted Shellshock
It’s funny how life tricks us, isn’t it? The frontman of Crazy Town, who was well-known for being insane both on stage and, regrettably, off, died in June 2024 at the age of 49. Shifty went in and out of dangerous circumstances during his career, including comas and DUI accusations. It was heartbreakingly obvious how much cocaine and medications affected him. “If I kept at it, I was going to die,” he once said to PEOPLE. My goal is to remain sober.
Tom Sizemore
On March 3, 2023, Tom Sizemore, the guy whose Golden Globe-nominated performances could have you riveted to the screen, passed away. His struggle with drug usage was more tragic than amusing. Paul, his brother, said, “He was bigger than life.” More than anyone I know, he has impacted my life. I am heartbroken by his passing and will always mourn him.
Frankie Lons
Every child’s worst dread is to watch their own mother battle addiction before giving in to it. Frankie Lons, the mother of Keyshia Cole, had a turbulent life. What a horrible irony it was that she died on her own birthday. The emotional Instagram post from Elite Noel, her daughter, stated it all: “My mother in a body bag on her birthday is the worst anguish I have ever experienced! My heart ached so much.
Kitaen Tawny
At the age of 59, actress and ’80s star Tawny Kitaen passed away quietly at her Newport Beach home. Her children Wynter and Raine verified their grief with a statement, “You gave her life every day,” following her diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. We love and miss her, and we are aware that her legacy will endure forever.
McKibbin, Nikki
Do you recall Nikki McKibbin from the inaugural season of American Idol? She was generous enough to give her organs before she went away at the age of 42 from a brain aneurysm. Craig, her spouse, put it poetically: “Even in the end, she is still giving.” An appropriate homage to a giving person.
Jason Davis
At the age of 35, the voice actor that embodied a character in Disney’s Recess passed away from fentanyl overdose. His mother remembered him as a season 4 participant who “had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life.”
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Chyna
On April 17, 2016, Chyna, a formidable WWE performer, passed away. The mixture of drugs in her system was the accidental offender. Her life served as an example of publicly facing one’s inner problems while clinging to hope.
Mindy McCready
On February 17, 2013, Mindy McCready, a country music vocalist with a beautiful voice, suddenly passed away. She dealt with alcohol and opioid addictions on the show, and her end was clouded in sadness following the suicide of her boyfriend. A terrible domino effect.
Joey Kovar
Joey Kovar, a reality star from The Real World: Hollywood, passed away suddenly at the age of 29. A life that appeared to be headed toward happiness was ended by opioid abuse. With regret, his brother remarked, “He had turned into such a happy person.” I’m still not really clear what transpired.
Rodney King
On June 17, 2012, the civil rights activist passed away at the age of 47. King’s stress from the vicious assault he suffered in 1991 at the hands of LAPD cops drove him to battle substance usage. Alcohol, marijuana, PCP, and cocaine all had a nasty part in his death; he was discovered drowning in his swimming pool.
Jeff Conaway
The well-known face of Grease actor Jeff Conaway concealed personal troubles. On May 27, 2011, the man who lighted up Broadway and little theaters alike passed away. He battled his addictions all the way to the end, but his job and the people in his life gave him comfort.
Mike Starr
To wrap up this solemn homage, on March 8, 2011, Alice in Chains’ Mike Starr overdosed on prescription drugs. Friends, family, and fans came together for an open memorial service in Seattle to honor a life that inspires people via music.
Bridget Moynahan’s Dream Wedding: See Her Stunning Ceremony Years After Tom Brady Split!
Years after breaking up with pro-athlete Tom Brady, Bridget Moynahan is finally happy in her love life.
Many of us remember that after two years together, Moynahan and Brady broke up. Soon after, Moynahan revealed she was three months pregnant with their child, who is now 16.
Moynahan went through her pregnancy as a single mother, but she has found happiness in her life.
In a 2008 interview with *Harper’s Bazaar*, the 52-year-old actress shared her unexpected journey as a single mother. She said, “I never thought I would raise a child alone,” and expressed her hope for a loving partner in her life.
Finding out she was pregnant was a big shock for Bridget Moynahan. As an actress and former model, it was especially challenging for her because she always believed in marriage before having children.
In the same *Harper’s Bazaar* interview, Moynahan explained, “I’m a traditional girl, and I believe in marriage, and I always thought that’s the way I’d be having a family. For a moment, it was hard for me to accept that this was the way it was going to be.”
Her relationship with former NFL star Tom Brady ended “amicably” in early December 2006. Soon after the breakup, Moynahan discovered she was three months pregnant. At that time, Brady had started dating supermodel Gisele Bündchen, which made the situation even more complicated.
Looking back on the “traumatic” experience, Moynahan said she had to go through her pregnancy and have a baby under intense media scrutiny. She admitted, “I’m not sure anyone grows up thinking, I want to be a single mom.”
While Moynahan was busy raising her son, Jack, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen got married in February 2009. Just ten months later, they had their first child, Benjamin, and in December 2012, they welcomed their second child, Vivian. Unfortunately, they divorced in 2022 after 13 years together.
In her memoir, Bündchen admitted that learning about Brady and Moynahan’s baby was difficult for her. She said, “Two months into our relationship, Tom told me that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant. The very next day, the news was everywhere, and I felt my world got turned upside down.”
Despite the challenges, Moynahan found joy in her son, John “Jack” Edward Thomas, who was born in 2007.
In her 2019 book, *Our Shoes, Our Selves*, Moynahan wrote about the struggles she faced during that time, especially feeling overwhelmed by public attention. “Having a baby should have been the most joyous time of my life, but instead, I felt assaulted,” she said.
Despite these difficulties, she embraced motherhood and found it more fulfilling than her modeling and acting careers. Moynahan has often expressed her love for being a mother and the positive impact it has had on her life. “I have become that mother I used to dread. Every time he does something, you think he’s a genius. He’s a genius,” she told *Harper’s Bazaar*.
Moynahan’s personal life took a happy turn when she met Andrew Frankel, 49, through mutual friends. The couple got engaged in April 2015 and had a secret wedding at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York, in October of the same year. Their small, private ceremony celebrated their love, and instead of gifts, they asked guests to donate to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
Moynahan looked back on her beautiful wedding with gratitude, appreciating the special details of her dress and the celebration. Fans were also thrilled for Moynahan, feeling she deserved this happy ending after her public breakup and journey as a single mother.https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uVB25pXV-/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=270&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fhuffbreak.com&rp=%2Fbridget-moynahans-dream-wedding-see-her-stunning-ceremony-years-after-tom-brady-split%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0DJckUlbmeq9vxrD1ps3GA9DsNaErWMJEyGdMvaKFziaAdimyx8TrrLAs_aem_JJWXIwVgNXFuZRpcaQfiXw#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1905.6000000238419%2C%22ls%22%3A1094%2C%22le%22%3A1772.699999988079%7D
Moynahan and Frankel’s blended family consists of his three sons from a previous relationship, creating a loving and supportive environment for Jack.
Despite the unexpected twists in her journey, Moynahan is thankful for the extended family her son has, telling More magazine (via Us Weekly): “My son has two loving parents and an extended family, whether it’s cousins or stepmothers or boyfriends. My son is surrounded by love.”
In sharing her story, it’s clear that Moynahan is someone who embodies resilience and embracing the unpredictability of life. She’s consistently demonstrated the strength of a mother determined to provide love and support for her child, and that’s certainly an admirable trait.
What do you think of Bridget Moynahan? Let us know in the comments!
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