An autopsy report was released on Wednesday detailing Friday star Anthony Johnson’s cause of death.
According to TMZ, the medical examiner cited “chronic ethanol use” after the 55-year-old was drinking excessively for years. However, the cause of death was natural.
The coroner’s office noted that Johnson did not have any alcohol or common drugs in his system after a toxicology test was conducted. However, officials did confirm that Johnson recently tested positive for COVID-19, though no signs of pneumonia were detected.
Johnson’s widow, Lexis Jones Mason, told the outlet that she plans to create a foundation in his name to honor the comedian’s legacy. In addition, she wanted to publicly release her late husband’s cause of death report to highlight the deadly effects of alcohol consumption.
Mason has volunteered at churches to discuss the dangers of alcohol with youth members in the community. After losing Anthony, she revealed that she has other friends who have lost their children to substance abuse.
As Sis2Sis previously reported, the BAPS actor’s death was confirmed by his nephew after he was reportedly found unconscious in a Los Angeles store in early September. Johnson was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Though the comedian has appeared in more than 44 films, he is best known for his roles in Friday, BAPS, and The Player’s Club.
Rapper and actor Ice Cube wrote, “Sad to wake up to the news about AJ Johnson passing away. Naturally funny dude who was straight outta Compton at the same time. Sorry I couldn’t bring your character Ezal back to the big screen in Last Friday….”
Shortly after his death, Johnson’s widow created a GoFundMe to help cover burial and funeral service fees.
“We’re raising money because I have to pay for this all out of pocket,” she told TMZ at the time. “I’m asking for help, but if I don’t get it, that’s fine. I’m not leaving my husband in there like that. We’re gonna have a service. I’m gonna do everything I know he would have done for me. It’s just hurtful, you know. I would not be asking if we had it or if we had a policy.”
