Actress Shelley Long Attempts Suicide
by Kevin Caruso
November 26, 2004
Beautiful actress, model, and comedian Shelley Long attempted suicide on November 16, 2004, by taking an overdose of painkillers.
She was taken to the UCLA Medical Center, where she stayed for a week, and was released on November 23, 2004.
Shelley had been suffering from depression since the breakup of her 23-year marriage to Bruce Tyson.
She is 55.
"She's OK," said Tyson. He also said that he was optimistic about Shelley's future but did not want to
discuss the matter any further.
Shelley met her husband on a blind date in 1979, and the two have a 19-year-old daughter.
The couple is now divorcing and she is living alone. (Shelley had to move out of their Hollywood home
after it was sold because of divorce proceedings.)
"For 18 months she's been getting more and more depressed. It's like seeing someone falling off of a cliff," a friend said. "She felt like she had nothing to live for."
Shelley also became reclusive and lost a significant amount of weight.
"She stayed in bed a lot and never wanted to eat," said one friend.
"A week ago, Shelley, who lives alone, kept the curtains drawn," said another friend. "She wasn't eating. She has always been thin, but she was almost skeletal."
"The last time I saw Shelley, I couldn't believe how much weight she had lost," said another friend. "She is so thin. And she never seems happy anymore.
She just doesn't look like herself."
"It is very sad to see this beautiful woman, who is only 55, looking like she is turning 90," said another friend.
Eddie Doyle, the bartender at the Bull & Finch Pub in Boston, which was the bar that "Cheers"
was based on, said: "I'm just really surprised and hope she's going to be all right."
Shelley's manager, Martin Mickelson, in an apparent attempt to cover up the suicide attempt, said:
"[Shelley] took an extra pain pill for an injury she sustained on her back several years ago when she slipped on the set of 'Cheers.'
She had a bad reaction to the extra pill and went to the hospital...but she is now home and she is fine.
She had a nice Thanksgiving."
When asked if Shelley was depressed or attempted suicide, Mickelson would not comment.
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Shelley Long
Shelley Long is a tremendously talented and beautiful actress, model, and comedian. She won a Best Actress Emmy Award and two Golden Globes for her role as waitress Diane Chambers on the sitcom "Cheers," and has starred in several movies, including "The Brady Bunch Movie," "Irreconcilable Differences," "The Money Pit," and "Outrageous Fortunes."
And she is a wonderful person.
Shelley has a favorite saying that she loves to share with other people, and this is it:
Let Love and Light Prevail
And Shelley -- your fans, friends, and family now say to you:
Let Love and Light Prevail
We love you Shelley.
Shelley Long
Shelley Long
Shelley Long
Shelley Long
Beautiful Actress, Model, and Comedian
Shelley Long
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Let Love and Light Prevail
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Anyone can attempt suicide or die by suicide - anyone.
Sadly, because of the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide, oftentimes people will not reach out for help when
they are depressed or suicidal.
The number one cause for suicide is untreated depression, and depression is the most common mental illness.
There is NO shame in having depression or being suicidal.
Depression is an illness and needs to be treated -- just like any other illness.
Please click below to learn more about the symptoms of depression and how depression can lead to suicide:
Depression and Suicide
If you are depressed, please make appointments with a medical doctor and a therapist so you can be evaluated and treated.
Please click below to learn about suicide warning signs:
Suicide Warning Signs
Please click below to learn about the causes of suicide:
Suicide Causes
Shelley Long was apparently deeply depressed because
of her divorce. And it is extremely common for people to experience depression -- and suicidal feelings -- because
of a divorce.
Please click below to learn more about divorce and suicide:
Divorce and Suicide
And if you are suicidal, please call someone who can help you.
If you are in the United States, please call 1-800-SUICIDE.
If you are not in the U.S., please call a local emergency number or a friend.
You are not alone and people want to help you.
And please remember that suicide in never the answer.
Getting help is the answer.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
