The cause of death of one of the first outbreak stars of reality TV has been announced.
The New York medical investigator’s office confirmed to the Post yesterday that MTV’s “True Life” star Charlie Balducci admitted to “acute drug poisoning” from a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs.
Oxycodone, hydrocodone and Alprazolam – the anti-anxiety drug commonly known as Xanax – were found in the bloodstream of the 44-year-old native New Yorker, who was responding on July 25 at his home in Staten Island. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The flamboyant entertainer, better known as ‘Charlie B’, was a proud pioneer of the reality TV genre after starring in ‘True Life: I’m Getting Married’ in 2001. He allowed MTV cameras to follow him for four months while he prepared for marriage to his fiancée, Sabrina.
The series featured one of the most infamous moments in MTV history: When the limo driver was late on Balducci’s wedding day, he promised, ‘I’ll gut your gut like the piece you’re and your hunting down like cattle. ”
Unfortunately, Balducci – dressed in a funny white suit – arrived at his wedding two hours late.
The resident of Great Kills was proud to introduce the ‘guido’ lifestyle to the masses, saying that the residents of the district had to roll with the jokes – while at the same time digging a bit at MTV’s’ Jersey Shore ‘children who, according to him, ripped off his scandal.
“It’s clear that these people are playing on the stereotypes of Staten Island,” he said in 2009. “It’s just funny to me how actors do that when they’re trying to create the authenticity of a guido or a guide. ‘
He later landed several roles, including a role as a talk show host in the Derrick Simmons film ‘Nobody’s Perfect’, and as the narrator of the indie film ‘Staten Island’. He also had a brief appearance in the ABC soap opera ‘All My Children’ and was a guest role in ‘The Ricki Lake Show’.
In real Life Balducci founded the State-based 501c3 organization NYC Arts Cypher in 2005, which is dedicated to creative programs aimed at young people at risk. He was at the forefront of everything from sanctioned graffiti murals to anti-bullying campaigns to break-up dance programs, with an outspoken mission to keep children out of trouble on the streets.
He had been married to his wife Sabrina for more than a decade, but they were allegedly split at the time of his death. His two are survived by their two sons, Louis (19) and CJ (17).
At the time of his unexpected death, Balducci’s mother told TMZ the last words he spoke to her were that “he is happy to have his sons.”
