Actress Lisa Robin Kelly, best known for her role on "That '70s
Show," passed away Wednesday night (August 14). She was just 43 years
old.
According to TMZ.com, Kelly died in her sleep while staying at a rehab facility in California for alcohol.
The actress' agent said she had just voluntarily checked herself in
for treatment for alcohol abuse this past week and was determined to
clean herself up. "She had been fighting demons for a while and finally
lost her battle," stated Kelly's agent.
Kelly had long struggled with alcohol, and was arrested at least four
times in the past three years for DUI, spousal abuse and assault.
Reports said she had been in and out of rehab centers hoping to kick
her alcohol problem, but most recently fell off the wagon following a
dispute with her estranged husband Robert Gilliam, who beat her up last
May to obtain residual money from her show. He would be convicted of
domestic battery last month and sentenced to three years probation and
35 days in jail
Kelly's new boyfriend brought her to rehab again on Monday (August
12), but she went into cardiac arrest late Wednesday night and passed
away.
Lisa Robin Kelly dead at 43: 'That '70s Show' actress dies during rehab stint after suffering cardiac arrest, according to report
The star, who played Eric Forman's older sister on the sitcom, reportedly passed away in her sleep at a rehab facility after long fight against alcoholism
Lisa Robin Kelly pictured in 2000.
Lisa Robin Kelly, an actress best known for her long-running role as Laurie Forman on "That '70s Show," died at age 43 on Wednesday.
Kelly had been staying at a rehab facility in California when she passed away in her sleep, according to TMZ.
The gossip site was told she went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved.
Kelly's agent told TMZ that the actress had voluntarily checked herself into treatment during the past week.
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| Kelly Mug Shot |
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Supplied by PacificCoas/Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dep
'That 70's Show' star Lisa Robin Kelly after an arrest for assault. The actress died in her sleep at a California rehab facility at the age of 43.
"Last night she lost the battle. Cause of death has not been issued yet and no death certificate has been issued either."
Connecticut-born Kelly debuted in an episode of "Married..with
Children" in 1992. She also appeared on television shows "Murphy Brown"
and "Charmed," as well as TV movie "Amity Dollhouse." Kelly's best
known part was on "That '70s Show," on which she played the older sister
of Topher Grace's character Eric Forman. When she left "the FOX sitcom
after five years, she was replaced by actrss Christina Moore.
The cast of 'That '70s Show.' Lisa Robin Kelly, far right, who starred as Laurie Forman, died Thursday.
In an interview with ABC News, Kelly opened up about her struggles with substance abuse after she left the show.
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"I had lost a baby," Kelly said. "As a result of that I lost it. I lost everything and I was abusing alcohol."
"With 'That '70s Show' I was guilty of a drinking problem, and I ran," she added.
Kelly had been arrested several times in the past three years for a string of incidents. In 2010, Kelly pled guilty to misdemeanour drunk driving, earning her a night in jail and a year of unsupervised probation.
In March 2012, Kelly was arrested on a count of spousal abuse, though
charges were later dropped. In November of the same year, Kelly and her
husband Gilliam were both arrested for assault. In June of this year,
the actress was arrested again on suspicion of driving under the influence.
In June Kelly had filed for divorce from Gilliam, citing irreconcilable differences for as the cause of their split.
