Actor Verne Troyer—famous for portraying Mini-Me in the “Austin Powers” films—died last week at the age of 49. Although the official cause of death has not been released, he had reportedly just been hospitalized for alcohol abuse, depression and being suicidal.
Jill Messick, executive producer for the films “Masterminds” and “Baby Mama,” committed suicide on February 8 after becoming embroiled in the Weinstein scandal. Her family told the press she had bipolar disorder and depression.
Tony Scott was an English film director and producer who died by suicide on August 19, 2012, by jumping off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, Calif.
World-famous actor and comedian Robin Williams died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63, after suffering from depression and struggling with chemical dependency, according to his family.
The list of people in the entertainment industry who have killed themselves or attempted suicide is a long one, but represents just the tip of the iceberg of the population as a whole.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a 75-year-old nonprofit based in Los Angeles, provides free mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention services to over 70,000 low-income children and adults per year at 11 locations and 100 schools throughout LA County. Their 60-year-old Suicide Prevention Center and Crisis Line received over 100,000 calls and texts in 2017—a number that has tripled since 2008, paralleling an increase in U.S. suicide rates during that time.
On April 26, the Didi Hirsch group held its annual “Erasing the Stigma” Leadership Awards fundraising dinner gala at The Beverly Hilton. Malibu resident, singer-songwriter and actor Rick Springfield was one of this year’s honorees, and recieved the Beatrice Stern Media Award for using the “constructive power of media to erase the stigma.”
In an interview with The Malibu Times, Springfield said the Didi Hirsch group had reached out to him because of the autobiography and memoir he wrote in 2010 titled “Late, Late at Night,” a bestseller that Rolling Stone named as one of “The 25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time.”
The Amazon description of the book says, “In a searingly candid memoir, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression. He once seemed to have it all: a megahit single in “Jessie’s Girl,” sold-out concert tours, sales of over 17 million albums, and 12 million avid daily viewers of General Hospital swooning over his portrayal of the handsome Dr. Noah Drake. Yet lurking behind his success and unstoppable drive was a moody, somber, and dark soul filled with depression and insecurity.”
“Didi Hirsch decided to bring me into the fold,” Springfield said. “I’ve always been open about my depression, but I still have a life, and it’s part of my life.”
Three Malibu residents serve on the Didi Hirsch Board of Directors or Committees: Christopher J. Harrer as board chair; Charlotte W. Fletcher, PhD, as board vice chair; Charlotte and her husband, Jeremy B. Fletcher, as 2018 leadership co-chairs; and Harrer as event co-chair.
Harrer told TMT that his mother had been a personal friend of Didi Hirsch and served on the board for 20 years. He followed in her footsteps and is proud of the fact that the organization is “making a difference to people that are struggling and need help.”
“We’re taking suicide out of the shadows and offering hope,” he said.
Also honored with a leadership award was Cynthia Germanotta, president of the “Born this Way Foundation,” which she co-founded with her daughter Stefani Germanotta—better known as Lady Gaga—(also a Malibu resident) in 2012. The group helps young people find the services they need for mental issues they may be facing. Born this Way also sponsors research on developing effective mental health interventions for youth. It all began with Lady Gaga’s admission that she suffers from PTSD, anxiety and depression.
The Didi Hirsch suicide prevention crisis line is 800.273.8255 with speakers available in English, Spanish and Korean. The Teen Line, staffed by teens from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, is at 310.855.4673 or text TEEN to 839863 (the regular crisis line answers during all other hours). For jobs, volunteers, donations and services, go to didihirsch.org. Many staff members and volunteers have lost friends or loved ones to suicide, or attempted suicide themselves.
