David Strickland

David Gordon Strickland Jr. (October 14 1969 - March 22 1999) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as the boyish rock music reporter Todd Stites in the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (starring Brooke Shields). He suffered from bipolar disorder and committed suicide at the age of 29.

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His earlier TV roles during the 1990s include Dave's World, Roseanne, Sister, Sister, and Mad About You. He also co-starred in the film Forces of Nature (starring Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock), which had just opened in U.S. cinemas at the time of his death.

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Strickland had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. He was arrested in October 1998 for the possession of cocaine, pleaded no contest in December and was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered into rehabilitation. He was due in court on the day of his death for a progress report.

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News reports of events leading up to his death suggest that he had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder, and that he spent the last three days of his life on an alcohol and drug binge with a friend, actor Andy Dick.

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Strickland checked in to the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas during the early hours of Monday, March 22. He consumed several bottles of beer and then hung himself with a bed sheet over the ceiling beam. His dangling, lifeless body was discovered by a maid.

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He left no note, and no evidence of drugs was found in the room. The Clark County coroner's report stated that his body bore the marks of a previous suicide attempt.

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At the time of his death, he was romantically linked with actress Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (Beverly Hills 90210).

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October 14: October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 78 days remaining....

1969: 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday...

March 22: March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (82nd in Leap years). There are 284 days remaining....

David Strickland related Images and Photos (experimental)

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