Actor Corey Haim dies at 38

LOS ANGELES – Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.

Haim died early Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., authorities said.

“As he got out of bed, he felt a little weak and went down to the floor on his knees,” Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said. His mother called paramedics.

An autopsy will determine cause of death. There was no evidence of foul play, police said.

Haim, who gained attention for roles in “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys,” had flulike symptoms before he died and was getting over-the-counter and prescription medications, police Sgt. William Mann said.

“He could have succumbed to whatever (illness) he had or it could have been drugs,” Mann said.

Haim was taken by ambulance to the hospital from an apartment in Los Angeles near Burbank.

His friend, Corey Feldman, said he wept when he heard the news.

“This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family and best friend,” he said in a statement.

Haim acknowledged his struggle with drug abuse to a British tabloid in 2004.

“I was working on ‘Lost Boys’ when I smoked my first joint,” he told the Sun. “I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack.”

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

The Toronto-born actor got his start in television commercials at 10 and developed a good reputation for his work in such films as 1985’s “Murphy’s Romance.”

His career peaked when he became a heartthrob with his roles in the 1986 movie “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys” in 1987 in which he battled vampires.

In later years, he made a few TV appearances and had several direct-to-video movies.