Jeff Conaway, the American actor best known for playing 'Kenickie' in the classic musical-movie 'Grease', is in a critical condition in hospital following an apparent painkiller overdose, reports the UK's Daily Mail. Jeff Conaway was found unconscious at his home and is now unresponsive at the Encino Hospital Medical Centre.
Initial reports had suggested that the actor was hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia, but his representative has since confirmed that the situation is more serious, saying, "He is unresponsive at this time. He turned his head two days ago, but nothing since". His manager Kathryn Boole said the outlook was not good, saying, "The doctors are not optimistic and he is fighting for life right now. We're hoping he will pull through, but he is still in a coma". The 60-year-old, who was found unconscious on 11th May 2011, fell down a flight of stairs and broke his hip and arm in January 2010. Though Conaway became a household name following his performance in 'Grease', his career began to flounder in the 1980's and 1990's, largely due to his substance abuse. He recently appeared on the hit U.S. reality show 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew'.
Jeff Conaway married Olivia Newton-John's sister Rona in 1980, but the couple divorced five years later having had a son called 'Emerson'.