LOS ANGELES -- Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob for his roles in "Lucas" and "The Lost Boys" whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.

Haim died at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

An autopsy will determine the cause of death and there were no other details, she said. Police Sgt. Michael Kammert said there's no evidence of foul play.

Haim had flulike symptoms before he died and was getting over-the-counter and prescription medications, Police Sgt. William Mann said. The cause of death is unknown, Mann said.

"He could have succumbed to whatever (illness) he had or it could have been drugs. Who knows?" Mann said. "He has had a drug problem in the past."

Haim was taken by ambulance to the hospital from an apartment in Los Angeles near Burbank. The enormous complex is known as Oakwood and is popular with young actors, Kammert said.

Haim acknowledged his struggle with drug abuse to The Sun in 2004.

"I was working on 'Lost Boys' when I smoked my first joint," he told the British tabloid.

"I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack," he said.

Haim said he went into rehabilitation and was put on prescription drugs. He took both stimulants and sedatives such as Valium.

"I started on the downers which were a hell of a lot better than the uppers because I was a nervous wreck," he said. "But one led to two, two led to four, four led to eight, until at the end it was about 85 a day."

In 2007, he told ABC's "Nightline" that drugs hurt his career.

"I feel like with myself I ruined myself to the point where I wasn't functional enough to work for anybody, even myself. I wasn't working," he said.

The Toronto-born actor got his start in television commercials at 10 and earned a good reputation for his work in such films as 1985's "Murphy's Romance" and his portrayal of Liza Minelli's dying son in the 1985 television film "A Time to Live."

His career peaked and he became a teen heartthrob with his roles in the 1986 movie "Lucas," and "The Lost Boys," in which he battled vampires.

In later years, he made a few TV appearances and had several direct-to-video movies. He also had a handful of recent movies that have not yet been released.

But in 1997 he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing debts for medical expenses and more than $200,000 in state and federal taxes.

His assets included a few thousand dollars in cash, clothing and royalty rights.

In recent years, he appeared in the A&E reality TV show "The Two Coreys" with his friend Corey Feldman. It was canceled in 2008 after two seasons. Feldman later said Haim's drug abuse strained their working and personal relationships.

In a 2007 interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Haim called himself "a chronic relapser for the rest of my life."

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lost-boys-actor-corey-haim-dead-in-burbank-at-38/37192?nc

Sad, but not truly unexpected.

Really sad, I LOVED those 80's movies, absolutely loved em. Unfortunately he was living a druggy messed up life since then, he had lots of personal problems, it's sad.

80 movies where the best

Yeah, very sad to hear that.

Wow, really? I just saw him a week or two ago in an interview with his friend the other Corey. They were talking about the good ol' days.

If true, this IS a shocker.

Saw this on MSN this morning. Sad, but as Jeff said, not entirely unexpected. Drugs are a difficult beast to kick on your own, even w/ rehab.

Here's the link http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=487384&GT1=28101

SAD

LATEST UPDATE:

LOS ANGELES – Authorities said Friday they had recovered four prescription drug bottles bearing the name of actor Corey Haim but found nothing illegal while investigating his death.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter declined to identify the drugs. Haim was battling flulike symptoms in the days before he died.

Winter said an autopsy was done Thursday, but his office was awaiting the results of toxicology tests that could take two months before determining a cause of death.

Haim died Wednesday at age 38 after collapsing at his mother's apartment. The actor battled drug addiction for years.

He earned fame for roles in the 1980s films "Lucas" and "The Lost Boys." He recently completed several film projects.

"Access Hollywood" reported on its Web site that Judy Haim had been told by the coroner's office that her son had an enlarged heart and his lungs were filled with water.

Winter confirmed his office had called Judy Haim, but he declined to say what they discussed.