Fans of That ’70s Show were left with broken hearts in 2013 when news broke that Lisa Robin Kelly, the actress who played Laurie Forman, disappeared at the age of 43. It was devastating news, not only for fans of what was his biggest gig, but for the entertainment world as a whole. An incredible talent with a very promising future had been lost. Looking back, we look at his short-lived career as well as the real cause of his death.
Life of Lisa Robin Kelly – Biography
Lisa Robin Kelly came into the world on March 5, 1970. She was born to Thomas Carl Kelly and Linda Diane (née Grimm) Kelly, who lived in Southington, Connecticut.
Acting was a subject that Kelly was very passionate about. As her cousin John Kelly would come to reveal after his death to the Record-Journal, Lisa would often come home during the Christmas holidays to update the family on the progress of her journey to Hollywood stardom.
Kelly began her acting career when she became an adult, aged 21 in 1992. Her first role was in an episode of the television show. Married with children. Lisa was then seen in small parts of TV shows like Silk Stalkings and Renegade as well as the TV movie, Unheard of Crying: The Donna Yaklich Story, all in 1994. The same year, she made her debut in the crime thriller, Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes
In the mid-90s, Lisa Robin Kelly appeared in films like Amityville Dollhouse and the lesser known Performance Anxiety (1997). Kelly was more active on the small screen, however. During the same period, she starred in several television shows, including Platypus Man, Sisters, The X-Files, and Days of Our Lives. She returned to Married with Children in 1997, playing a different role from the original role.
After a busy ’90s, Lisa Robin Kelly finally got what would become her big hit in 1998. She landed the recurring role of Laurie Forman on the FOX period sitcom, That ’70s Show which quickly garnered a lot of traction. No already established stars were featured on the show. Thus, after his success, all his main productions have been more widely recognized.
While on the show, she appeared in a 1999 episode of Charmed, as well as the television movie, Late Last Night released the same year. Lisa Robin Kelly quit The That ’70s Show in 2003 due to endless personal issues. Unfortunately, death cut short her career and Lisa was unable to book another major gig after That’70s Show.
Death – How did she die?
Lisa Robin Kelly died on August 13, 2013 from multiple drug poisoning. A few days before her death, Kelly had moved into the Pax Rehab House in Altadena, California. Sadly, the actress died in her sleep from accidental poisoning by multiple oral drugs.
Kelly’s drinking problems had lasted at least a decade before his death. It was his alcohol abuse that cost him the role of Laurie Forman in That ’70s Show. As a result, her character was written off by the third season. Kelly returned for the fifth season but it appeared she still needed to prepare as she was quickly replaced by Christina Moore in season six.
Things got worse for Lisa Robin Kelly. By mid-2010, she had been booked for DUI. In 2012, Kelly would reveal to ABC News that she had lost her role in the 70s due to the alcoholism she had plunged into after losing a baby.
She had a few more run-ins with the law in 2012, including one with her husband, Robert Joseph Gilliam, whom she married in November 2012, were arrested on misdemeanor assault charges. Prior to the arrest, Kelly took to social media to say how sober she was and was getting ready to return to acting. It was in that same post that she revealed she was married to Gillian, who is around 20 years old.
However, it only took time to reveal that all was not as rosy as Kelly seemed to make it out to be. In June 2013, the day after another DUI book, Lisa Robin Kelly revealed on Twitter that she had divorced Gillian.
When she died in the rehab center, her ex-husband filed a lawsuit against the center, alleging negligence. The terms of the settlement remain unknown to the media.
