New details have been released about the cause of David Gail’s death.
Actor — known for his roles in Port Charles and Beverly Hills, 90210 — died Jan. 16 at age 58 of anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by a lack of blood, after resuscitation following cardiopulmonary arrest due to drug poisoning from substances including amphetamines, cocaine, ethanol and fentanyl, according to a statement by Gail’s publicist on behalf of his family.
In a statement, Gail’s mother, Mary Painter, shared her heartbreak over her son’s death.
“It breaks my heart to learn that my son died this way,” Painter said. “David became reliant on medication many years ago, after multiple operations on his hands and wrists. He lived in enough pain to keep him from working for nearly a decade, relief achieved only through total disability, physical therapy and pain medication.”
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David Gail.
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“He struggled to get off his medication and did so before turning to Eastern pain management, including acupuncture and natural remedies,” she continued. “I can only assume that his previous opioid addiction played a role in his self-medication from uncontrolled sources.”
Painter went on to express her hope that David’s death will help raise awareness of the dangers of drug addiction and the fentanyl epidemic.
“David’s death shines a light on the countless innocent victims of drug addiction and the fentanyl epidemic that has claimed so many of our sons and daughters,” she added in a statement. “Please keep David and others struggling with pain or addiction in your thoughts and prayers.”
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Gail’s sister, Kathryn Gail, first broke the news of his death on Instagram on Jan. 20, calling him her “best friend” and “a wonderful, fierce human being.”
“There was hardly a day in my life when you weren’t by my side, always my companion, always my best friend ready to face anything and anyone with me,” Kathryn wrote alongside a photo of the siblings hugging.
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David Gail 2010.
Charley Gallay/WireImage
Painter later issued a statement about her son’s death while thanking fans for their messages of condolence.
“We are extremely touched by the outpouring of love from David’s devoted fans and colleagues,” she said. “We are grateful for all the support we have received during this very difficult time.”
David, a native of Florida, began his acting career in the early 1990s with roles in series including Growing pains and Doogie Houser, MD, according to his IMDB page. He played Stuart Carson, the fiance of Shannen Doherty’s Brenda Walsh Beverly Hills, 90210and Dean Collins inside savanna.
From 1999 to 2000, he played Dr. Joe Scanlon in more than 200 episodes General Hospital spinoff Port Charles.
Gail is survived by his mother, sister and son Guthier.
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