Yesterday, we reported on the death of Erin Moran, the actress best known for her work on Happy Days and the short-lived spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.
Moran was just 56 years old.
Sadly, Moran’s final years were characterized by substance abuse, poverty, and a slow, alcohol-fueled descent into mental illness.
Moran and husband Steve Fleischmann lost their SoCal home to foreclosure in 2012, and the couple had been bouncing around the Midwest ever since.
At the time of her death, Moran was living in Corydon, Indiana, having been kicked out of the trailer park home belonging to Fleischmann’s mother due to what sources described as “constant partying.”
Now, it’s believed that Moran’s lifestyle resulted in her early demise.
Though toxicology reports are pending, those who knew Moran best say there’s little doubt that the actress substance abuse played a role in her death.
While it may be several weeks before autopsy results are reported, law enforcement officials in Corydon reportedly believe that Moran drank and drugged herself into an early grave.
Police have left open the possibility of an overdose, as the trailer park that she was living in at the time of her death was known to be plagued by opioid abuse.
However, those closest to Moran do not believe that she overdosed.
Rather, sources say it appears that her death was a result of the cumulative effects of several decades of hard living.
Insiders say that because Moran’s drug of choice was alcohol, they suspect that it was undiagnosed heart or liver disease that claimed her life.
One source tells Radar Online about the brushes with the law and state of semi-homelessness that defined Moran’s final days.
The insider says that ever since she was evicted from the trailer belonging to Fleischmann’s mother, Moran’s life had spiraled out of control:
“Erin was a huge help at first, but then Steve’s mom got fed up with Erin’s nonstop partying and told her to hit the road,” the source tells Radar.
“It was a little hard to tell if it was just alcohol,” the insider adds, detailing a strange final encounter with Moran:
“She didn’t do any drugs or talk about them in front of us. She was definitely a little kooky and acted weird, saying odd things, and even offered to give me a back rub.”
Moran was mourned by many of her famous former colleagues on social media in the hours after her death.
We’ll have further updates on the sitcom star’s cause of death as more information becomes available.