Actor Anthony Johnson‘s cause of death has been revealed.
Johnson died at 55 from natural causes stemming from excessive alcohol use, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.
The autopsy report shows Johnson died at the hospital from multi-system organ failure. His family disclosed to officials that the “Friday” actor drank alcohol on a regular basis and used narcotics occasionally.
Johnson also tested positive for COVID-19, though he didn’t present any symptoms of pneumonia. No alcohol or drugs were found in Johnson’s system at the time, but the medical examiner ruled the death to be “chronic ethanol use.”
The “House Party” actor died in September.
Obituary: Anthony Johnson, ‘Friday’ actor and comedian, dies at age 55
His rep, LyNea Bell, confirmed the news to USA TODAY at the time, calling Johnson an “iconic legend of stage and screen.”
“The world of comedy has truly been shaken, again,” Bell said. “He has left with us amazing memories of his laughter, dynamic acting skills, but most of all his enormous personality and heart of gold. We will be in constant prayer for his entire family including his wife Lexis, 3 children, brother Edward ‘Peanut’ Smith, sister Sheila, and lifetime manager and friend Mike D. Please give them the time they need to process and grieve such a huge loss.”
Johnson, who was also known to fans as A.J. Johnson, appeared in several movie roles including as E.Z.E. in 1990’s “House Party” and Ezal in the 1995 Ice Cube-Chris Tucker classic “Friday.”
Johnson’s other acting credits include 1993’s “Menace II Society,” 1997’s “B*A*P*S*,” and 1997’s “The Jamie Foxx Show.” More recently, he starred in 2015’s “Office Staff” and 2019’s “I Got The Hook Up 2.”
His death came less than one year after his “Friday” co-star, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, who played neighborhood bully and felon Deebo, died in December 2020 at age 62.
Lister’s manager, Cindy Cowan, said he was found unconscious in his home in Marina Del Rey, California, at the time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Contributing: Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
RIP: Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, who played Deebo in ‘Friday,’ dies at 62
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Johnson: ‘Friday’ actor’s cause of death was natural causes
