My Love Letter to Fellow Entertainers

Dear fellow actors, musicians, filmmakers and entertainers of all kinds,

I hardly know where to begin when I write this because there are so many things flying through my head right now and weighing on my heart.  I suppose I'll start with what prompted this letter.  The recent passing of an incredible actor who I've spent my life mesmerized by, one who I've had the utmost respect for and always hoped to work with: Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Today, his name and photos have been splashed all over our televisions and computer screens.  We've lost one of our own.  And what's worse is that it was preventable.  Philip Seymour Hoffman died of what is believed to be a drug overdose.  But folks, he's not the only one.  So many of our fellow entertainers have lost their lives to drugs.  It's an epidemic.  We've lost the talents of Cory Monteith, Kurt Cobain, Lenny Bruce, Jim Morrison, Billie Holiday, Jimi Hendrix, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Chris Farley, Whitney Houston, John Belushi, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, Brittany Murphy and sadly, the list goes on.  

We must band together to make sure this  never happens to one of our fellow artists and dreamers again.  We need to love ourselves and love each other enough to say "stop", to seek help, to find a way out of this.  I have seen too many people ruin their lives after turning to drugs, entertainers and otherwise.  Even when they haven't lost their lives to drugs, I've seen countless careers trashed because of them.  PLEASE stand up for yourself, stand up for your friends and get the help needed; be the person another can come to for help.  

If you are reading this right now and know you have an addiction, or if you know someone who does, make today count.  Do something to end the epidemic.  Go to your best friend, your band mate, your acting coach, your parent... come to me.  Even if I don't know you.  And I'll be honest, I don't know a thing about rehab or drug counseling, but I guarantee you I'll figure it out and help get you there.  

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Please, don't let yourself or your loved one become another name on this tragically long list.  DO SOMETHING TODAY.  Be remembered for how you turned your life around, how you showed other people the way, for your talents and not your tragedy.  Let's keep building the amazing community of artists that we have and be there for each other, inspire one another, be a support system, a safety net.  

You are worthy.  You are talented.  You are loved.

Love,
Nicole