Joey Kovar: ‘Real World’ Star Found Dead, Family Suspects Drug Overdose

Joey Kovar, star of MTV’s The Real World, has been found dead at age 29, and family members believe drugs are to blame.

The troubled star — who was forced to leave halfway through his Hollywood season of The Real World due to drug and alcohol abuse — was found dead at a friend’s house near Chicago, Fox News reported.

The news, which first broke on TMZ, was met with sadness but not much surprise. Joey Kovar was open about his struggles with substance abuse and appeared on season 3 the reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in an attempt to straighten out.

Joey Kovar’s representative told TMZ that the 29-year-old’s body was discovered by a female friend early on Friday morning. Kovar was unconscious and had blood coming from his ears and nose. The woman called 911, but, by the time police and paramedics reached the scene, he was pronounced dead.

Though there is no official word yet on the cause of Joey Kovar’s death, his family told TMZ they suspect that the drug abuse he battled for nearly all of his adult life was what ultimately killed him.

Halfway through the 2008 season of Real World: Hollywood, Kovar entered rehab for drugs and alcohol, admitting to his roommates that he had struggled with substance abuse for many years. By the time he entered Celebrity Rehab, Joey Kovar was still battling addiction to cocaine and ecstasy.

Kovar is not the first cast member of Celebrity Rehab to die. Actor Jeff Conaway and Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr both died as well.

Aside from his stints on reality television, Joey Kovar also worked as a personal trainer, bodybuilder, and aspiring actor.