Prescription for Death

Actor Heath Ledger, posthumous winner of Best Supporting Actor as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," died on January 22, 2008 in his SoHo apartment from an accidental overdose of several prescription medications. (AP)

The February 8, 2007 death of model-actress Anna Nicole Smith was ruled an accidental overdose of a deadly mixture of prescription drugs. (AP)

Prescription medications were a significant factor in the death of legendary musician Elvis Presley in 1977. (AP)

Famous model-actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in 1962 from what was ruled an accidental overdose of sedatives. (AP)

Star of "The Wizard of Oz," Judy Garland, died in 1969 from overdose of sedatives, but cirrhosis of her liver was also a contributing factor. (AP)

In 1973, martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee, died from hypersensitivity to a muscle relaxant, which he had received from a doctor to relieve a headache. (AP)

Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli died in 1998 from overdose of drug withdrawal medication. (AP)

Steve Clark (far right), guitarist for Def Leppard, died from overdose of painkillers, anti-depressants, and alcohol. (Def Leppard)

Dana Plato, child star in 1970s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" faced numerous personal problems after her declining stardom and died from prescription drug overdose in 1999. (NBC)

The manager who made the Beatles famous, Brian Epstein, died from sleeping pill overdose in 1967. (Getty Images)