Jeff Conaway

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Biography

American stage and film actor

  • Primary profession
  • Actor·soundtrack·writer
  • Country
  • United States
  • Nationality
  • American
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Birth date
  • 05 October 1950
  • Place of birth
  • New York City
  • Death date
  • 2011-05-27
  • Death age
  • 61
  • Place of death
  • Encino· Los Angeles
  • Cause of death
  • Natural causes

Movies

TV

Books

Trivia

He is a middle child and is survived by two sisters, Carla Shreve and his younger sister, Michele Conaway.

Stepfather of Emerson Newton-John, a professional race car driver born in 1974. Emersons mother is Rona Newton-John , sister of singer Olivia Newton-John.

Is a (step)grandfather (grandson Brin born January 1997). (Admitted this on NBCs "Later with Greg Kinnear" , July 6/98, with guest host Rita Considine ). Also has a granddaughter, Valerie.

Wanted to be an astronaut when he was little.

While filming Grease , had to walk slightly stooped so John Travolta would appear taller.

Though he played Kenickie in the movie version of Grease , he appeared in the Broadway production as Danny Zuko.

Appeared in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" ("Birds of a Feather") as an Off-Broadway actor from New York who had been "mostly a cab driver" - a reference to his role in the TV series, "Taxi" .

Saw an episode of "Babylon 5" on TV and liked it so much he went down to the production studio to see the show being filmed. He was spotted and used for a bit part, which grew into a recurring character and, eventually, a full-time role in the series.

Was an acting teacher and coach, with his students including James Evans , Joey Sylvester and Najarra Townsend.

Having struggled with addiction for many years, Jeff had been trying to treat himself with pain killers and cold medicine in May, 2011. He was found unconscious in his home on May 11, 2011. He remained in a coma until his family terminated life support on May 27, 2011.

Played guitar and sang lead as a teenager for a rock band called "The 3 1/2". The band released four singles for Cameo Records in 1966 and 1967, one of which was produced and written by Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits.

Upon his death, he was cremated.

He studied for a year at the North Carolina School of the Arts and transferred to New York University in New York City.

He is survived by his girlfriend of seven years, Victoria Spinoza; his two sisters, Michele Conaway and Carla Conaway; a stepson, Emerson Newton-John and two step-grandchildren.

Although he struggled with addiction problems throughout most of his adult life, many of Conaways coworkers said he was always the consummate professional on the job. After Conaways death, fellow "Babylon 5" star, Bruce Boxleitner , stated publicly that he had never seen Conaway in any state but sober at work, and always arrived on-time and prepared.

Ex-stepfather of Tottie Goldsmith.

(January 2008) Took place in the documentary, "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" , alongside Mary Carey , Chyna , Jaimee Foxworth , Brigitte Nielsen , Jessica Sierra , Daniel Baldwin and Ricco Rodriguez.

Grease was the film on which actor Jeff Conaway became addicted to drugs. While playing Kenickie, he was shooting the "Greased Lightning" musical number, and he was accidentally dropped, hurting his back. He started taking pain killers, eventually then abusing prescription drugs, starting Conaway on the downward spiral into drug addiction until he died in 2011 at age 60.

He personally despised "Taxi" co-star Andy Kaufman more than anyone. At the Golden Globes, he personally punched Kaufman in the face believing Andy thought he was better than the rest of his co-stars. After that, Kaufman never participated in any of the other cast-and-crew get-togethers ever again.

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