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Actress Margot Kidder's Death Ruled A Suicide
The details of the beloved "Superman" actress' death in May were not specified, but an announcement from the Park County coroner’s office in Montana reveals she took her own life.
The death of actress Margot Kidder, best known for playing Lois Lane in several "Superman" movies, has been officially ruled a suicide.
Margot Kidder died on May 13, 2018 but the specifics of her death were not reported on at the time. Her body had been discovered at her home by a longtime friend, Joan Kesich, on that day. On August 8, the Park County coroner’s office in Montana, Kidder's home state, revealed that the thespian had taken her own life.
A statement from the coroner provided to The Associated Press says that Kidder “died as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose.”
Kidder’s daughter, Maggie McGuane, expressed relief at the announcement.
“It’s important to be open and honest so there’s not a cloud of shame in dealing with this," she told The Associated Press. “It’s a very unique sort of grief and pain. Knowing how many families in this state go through this, I wish that I could reach out to each one of them.”
In her life, Kidder had been an outspoken advocate for mental health and had openly discussed her own struggles. A public breakdown in 1996, during which she wandered the streets of Los Angeles for days, led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, according to The New York Times. Kidder often held frank and honest discussions about her condition.
"I was delusional and it was terrifying," Kidder told Jay Leno in a 1996 interview.
Throughout her career, Kidder appeared in over 130 films and television shows.
Kidder's suicide is one of a series of similar high-profile celebrity deaths including that of designer Kate Spade and food writer Anthony Bourdain.
Kidder is survived by McGuane, her sister, Annie, and two grandchildren, according to the New York Times.
“In her last months, she was herself — same kind of love, same kind of energy,” Kesich said to The Associated Press. “The challenges that she had were very public. I want what I know about her to be out there because it was glorious. She was really a blazing energy.”
Those in suicidal crisis are urged to seek help. The National Suicide Hotline is available 24/7 for free and confidential support and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
[Photo: Margot Kidder by Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images]
