Gone too soon

According to reports, a figure from my childhood has died.

Actor Corey Haim, 38, was pronounced dead by officials at the Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., early Wednesday.

According to reports, Haim was found unresponsive at 3:30 a.m. Police were called to the hospital shortly before 4 a.m., to investigate.

Sources close to the investigation called the death an "accidental" drug overdose.

Haim had struggled with addiction for several years.

Born Dec. 23, 1971, in Toronto, Canada, Haim broke into feature film acting in 1985 in the movie "Firstborn," co-starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr.

He also starred alongside Gary Busey in the 1985 film, "Silver Bullet."

He had his breakthrough in 1986 in the movie "Lucas," along with Charlie Sheen and Winona Ryder.

It was at this time that at the age of 13, I saw Haim in a television show called "Roomies," along with Burt Young from "Rocky" fame.

Following a short stint on the television show, Haim sky-rocketed to fame after the release of "The Lost Boys," in 1987. He starred alongside Corey Feldman, Jason Patric and Kiefer Sutherland.

The film was a smash success. I remember seeing it for the first time thinking wow, this movie is amazing.

Haim would go on to work with Feldman in several other films, including teen hits "License to Drive," and "Dream A Little Dream."

During his career, Haim won two acting awards, picking up the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy in 1989 for "License to Drive," and also winning the Young Artist Award for Exceptional Young Actor Starring in a Television Special or Movie of the Week in 1987 for "A Time to Live," also starring Liza Minnelli.

Following his success of the 1980s, Haim's career began to wane.

He starred in several direct-to-video films, including "The Dream Machine," "Prayer of the Rollerboys," "Blown Away," and "Fast Getaway."

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Haim's career started to freefall. But by 2004, he claimed to have overcome his addictions.

In 2006, he was ranked No. 8 on VH1's Greatest Teen Stars.

He attempted a comeback in 2006 with the reality television series, "The Two Coreys," again teaming with Feldman.

The show lasted two seasons and Haim was nominated for a Viewer's Choice Award at the 22nd Annual Gemini Awards in Canada.

My friends and I went through so many phases in the 1980s. After all, we were just hitting the teenage years.

I remember the bright-colored jacket wearing days after "Miami Vice," hit the airwaves.

But I also remember after my friends saw "The Lost Boys," we all wanted to look like those guys. We wanted to have that hair.

While it's not a complete shock, Haim's death is sad. For years, people waited for him to clean himself up and get back on the screen.

He apparently appeared in the film "Crank: High Voltage," with Jason Statham in 2009, and was to appear in several films this year.

And just as his career looked to be taking a turn for the better, this happens.

So sad.