Lisa Spoonauer was an American actress who rose to fame for her role as Caitlin Bree in the cult comedy film Clerks, directed by Kevin Smith. She also reprised her role in an episode of Clerks: The Animated Series. Sadly, Spoonauer passed away at the age of 44 on May 20, 2017. Her death shocked and saddened many fans and co-stars, who paid tribute to her on social media. But what was the cause of her death? And what else do we know about her life and career? Here are some facts you need to know about Lisa Spoonauer’s cause of death and more.
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A Tragic Overdose
According to TMZ, Spoonauer died from an accidental overdose of a powerful painkiller, which she was taking to help with several other illnesses that were plaguing her. The actress was battling cancer, anemia, lung disease, and immune deficiency. All of these contributed to her death.
The painkiller that Spoonauer overdosed on was hydromorphone, a generic brand of the narcotic Dilaudid. Hydromorphone is a potent opioid that can cause respiratory depression, coma, and death if taken in excess or mixed with other substances. It is also highly addictive and can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.
Spoonauer’s death certificate listed her manner of death as natural, meaning that it was not intentional or violent. However, it also stated that she died of acute and chronic intravenous use of hydromorphone, indicating that she had been injecting the drug for a long time.
A Long Struggle with Illness
Spoonauer had been suffering from a chronic illness for many years before her death. Her brother Mike revealed that she had been seeing “countless other specialists” over the last seven years and that she had traveled to the Mayo Clinic in 2014 for treatment.
On a fundraising page for Patient Advocate Foundation Inc., Mike wrote that his sister had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disorder that affected her ability to breathe and swallow. He also said that she had undergone multiple surgeries and procedures, but none of them had improved her condition.
Mike described his sister as a fighter who never gave up hope and always tried to live a normal life despite her illness. He also thanked everyone who supported her and asked for donations to help other patients in need.
A Short but Memorable Career
Spoonauer’s acting career was brief but memorable. She only appeared in two films and one TV show, but she made a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike.
Spoonauer was discovered by Kevin Smith when she was attending an acting class at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey. Smith was looking for someone to play Caitlin Bree, the ex-girlfriend of Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) in his low-budget debut film Clerks. He offered her the role and a script, and she accepted.
Clerks was released in 1994 and became a surprise hit, earning rave reviews and cult status. It also launched the careers of Smith and his frequent collaborators, such as Jason Mewes and Ben Affleck. Spoonauer’s performance as Caitlin Bree was praised for its realism and humor. She also shared a memorable scene with Jeff Anderson, who played Randal Graves, Dante’s best friend and co-worker.
Spoonauer began dating Anderson in 1993 and they got married in 1998. However, their marriage only lasted for one year and they divorced in 1999. According to Smith, Anderson proposed to Spoonauer on the set of Clerks.
Spoonauer’s only other film credit was for the 1997 film Bartender, directed by Gabe Torres. She played a waitress named Wendy who falls in love with a bartender named Doug (Cameron Dye).
In 2000, Spoonauer returned to voice Caitlin Bree in an episode of Clerks: The Animated Series, a short-lived cartoon based on the film. The episode was titled “The Clipshow Wherein Dante And Randal Are Locked In The Freezer And Remember Some Of The Great Moments In Their Lives” and featured flashbacks to scenes from the film.
After that, Spoonauer retired from acting and pursued other interests. She married her second husband Tom Caron and moved to Jackson Township, New Jersey, where she became a restaurant manager and event planner. She also had a daughter named Mia with Caron and a stepson named Tyler from Caron’s previous marriage.
A Legacy of Love and Laughter
Spoonauer’s death was mourned by many people who knew and loved her, especially her Clerks co-stars and director. Brian O’Halloran, who played Dante Hicks, wrote on Facebook that he was “truly gutted” by the news and that he would always remember Spoonauer as “a great person and friend”.
Marilyn Ghigliotti, who played Veronica Loughran, Dante’s current girlfriend in Clerks, also posted on Facebook that she was “very saddened” by Spoonauer’s passing and that she was “a sweet person and talented actress”.
Kevin Smith, who directed Spoonauer in Clerks and Clerks: The Animated Series, shared a lengthy tribute to her on Instagram and on his podcast Hollywood Babble-On. He recalled how he met Spoonauer at the acting class and how he was impressed by her talent and charisma. He also praised her performance as Caitlin Bree and thanked her for being a part of his film career .
Smith also revealed that he had recently contacted Spoonauer to ask her to reprise her role in Clerks III, a sequel to Clerks and Clerks II that he had written and planned to direct. He said that Spoonauer politely declined, saying that she was no longer interested in acting. Smith said that he respected her decision and wished her well .
Clerks III, which was released in 2022, is dedicated to Spoonauer’s memory. The film features a scene where Dante and Randal visit Caitlin Bree’s grave and pay their respects to her. The film also includes a montage of clips from Clerks and Clerks: The Animated Series featuring Spoonauer.
Spoonauer’s legacy lives on through her family, friends, fans, and films. She will always be remembered as a talented actress, a loving mother, a loyal friend, and a brave fighter. She will also always be Caitlin Bree, the girl who made us laugh and cry in Clerks. Rest in peace, Lisa Spoonauer. You will be missed.
