Ray Sharkey(1952-1993)

At his worst his cocaine and heroin addiction cost him $400 a day. He was also involved in four drug-related car wrecks (two required microsurgery on his eyes). He ended up dropping 40 lbs. from his 5' 8" frame and is believed to have caught the AIDS virus through sharing dirty needles.

[on becoming an actor]: I was kind of bored and didn't know what to do. It was either join the Marines and ship out for Vietnam, or go down to acting school in the Village. So I opted for the latter, and the rest is history.