Corey Haim was once one of the most recognizable young stars in America, but his life ended in a heartbreaking collapse far from the Hollywood spotlight that made him famous.
The Canadian-born actor became a household name in the 1980s after starring as Sam Emerson in the 1987 comedy-horror classic The Lost Boys. With his boyish charm, teen-idol looks and string of hit roles, Haim seemed destined for a long Hollywood career.
But behind the fame, the young actor was struggling.
Over the years, multiple accounts have detailed Haim’s battle with drug addiction and the intense pressure he faced as a child star suddenly thrown into the chaos of Hollywood. He later said his role in the 1988 comedy License to Drive marked his “breaking point,” pushing him down a dangerous path of substance abuse.
By the following year, his fame had become overwhelming. During an anti-drug campaign appearance, Haim was reportedly swarmed by hundreds of screaming fans trying to reach him onstage. Security had to rush him out for his own protection.
Haim later admitted the incident left him terrified of appearing in public. He checked into rehab, but his addiction struggles continued.
Soon after treatment, he released Corey Haim: Me, Myself and I, a video meant to show fans a day in his life. Instead, it drew harsh criticism from viewers who claimed he appeared intoxicated throughout the footage.
By the 1990s, Haim’s career and finances were spiraling.
After he allegedly pulled out of the 1996 production Paradise Bar, he was hit with a $375,000 lawsuit from Lloyds of London. The company accused him of hiding his substance dependency on insurance documents, along with an undisclosed medical condition.
The next year, Haim declared bankruptcy.
Then came one of the saddest chapters of his downfall.
By the 2000s, the former teen idol’s situation had reportedly become so desperate that he began auctioning off personal items on eBay, including pieces of his hair and even one of his teeth, just to make money.
The tooth reportedly sold for $150 before the listing was removed because eBay rules prohibit the sale of human body parts.
It was a stunning reversal for an actor who had once been mobbed by fans, starred in beloved movies and seemed to have the world at his feet.
Haim continued to struggle through adulthood. He reportedly entered rehab 15 times and, according to reports, obtained more than 553 prescription pills in the 32 days before his death.
At one point, his weight reportedly climbed to around 300 pounds. He allegedly withdrew from society for years as his health, career and finances continued to unravel.
In 2010, Corey Haim died from pneumonia at just 38 years old. By then, the former teen sensation was reportedly broke, isolated and far removed from the bright lights that had once made him famous.
His death stunned fans who remembered him from The Lost Boys, Silver Bullet, Murphy’s Romance, Lucas, Dream a Little Dream and License to Drive.
What's Up Team