Pubdate: Mon, 25 Feb 2002
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Lorenza Munoz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

FRIENDS UNAWARE OF DIRECTOR'S HEART PROBLEM

Death: After Coroner Finds Cocaine In Ted Demme's System, Acquaintances Say 
They Didn't Know The Severity Of His Condition.

Friends of director Ted Demme, who was found to have small traces of 
cocaine in his system at the time of his death, said they were aware he 
occasionally used the drug but that they did not know his heart condition 
was so delicate.

The official cause of Demme's death, announced over the weekend by the Los 
Angeles County medical examiner, was a heart attack, with coronary artery 
disease listed as a contributing factor. The metabolized cocaine could have 
played a part in bringing on the heart attack, the medical examiner said.

The 38-year-old director had thickened heart arteries and died when a blood 
clot formed in a heart vessel, the coroner said. "There is a history of him 
having problems with his heart--hypertension and high blood pressure," said 
Scott Carrier, a spokesman for the medical examiner. "The use of the 
cocaine is a contributing factor."

But some of his friends said the director may not have realized how serious 
his heart condition was. "He clearly didn't know he had a heart problem; 
otherwise I know he would not have done that," said one friend who asked to 
remain anonymous. "I know that he was a guy who liked to party, but not any 
more than lots of other people who do cocaine and every other drug and are 
still alive and kicking."

Demme, father of a 2-month-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, was pronounced 
dead Jan. 13 at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center after paramedics rushed 
him to the facility in full cardiac arrest.

Demme, the nephew of director Jonathan Demme, was playing in an NBA 
Entertainment League game at Crossroads School in Santa Monica at the time 
of the attack. He collapsed shortly after leaving the court and sitting 
down on the bench, sources said.

Acquaintances said they were not aware Demme had a history of heart or 
health problems and that he played basketball with friends as often as five 
times a week.

Screenwriter Richard LaGravenese said he was not aware that Demme used 
drugs and regretted the fact that his autopsy report could tarnish his 
reputation.

He was, LaGravenese said, "a wonderful father and partner and friend." 
Being a cocaine user "is the last thing in my mind I would ever refer to 
him as. I wouldn't even think of referring to him as that. It's kind of 
hurtful."

Ironically, Demme's last movie was "Blow," the story of George Jung, a 
small-town kid from New England who became Colombian drug lord Pablo 
Escobar's right-hand man in the United States during the 1970s. The film 
starred Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

But LaGravenese said Demme was attracted to Jung's story because of its 
tragedy, not the cocaine use or fast lifestyle. "'Blow' was a about a guy 
caught in the wrong path who loses his daughter, the thing he loves most," 
LaGravenese said. "That was what appealed to him. It wasn't about the drugs 
or how great drugs are."

The bearded, outgoing Demme worked in the entertainment industry for more 
than a decade, both as a producer and director. Much of his best-known 
work, including episodes of "Homicide: Life on the Street" and the films 
"Blow," "Monument Ave." and "The Ref" combined gritty, urban stories with 
offbeat, sharp-edged humor.

At the time of his death, Demme was working on pilot programs for two 
networks, and he was seen as a promising film director. His gregarious 
personality also made him a fixture in some of Hollywood's most famous 
hangouts.

Dan Tana's restaurant renamed a popular dish in the director's honor a day 
after his death. The Chicken Parmigiana Ted Demme, a breaded, deep-fried 
breast of chicken smothered in mozzarella and marinara sauce, was the 
director's favorite item on the menu, assistant manager Nada Palikovic said.

Palikovic said Demme came to the restaurant two or three times a week and 
nearly always ordered that dish. "He was a steady customer," she said.
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