Scotty Beckett | Suspected Barbiturate Or Alcohol Overdose Death

On May 10, 1968, Scotty Beckett was found dead in Los Angeles, California. He was 38 years old. News reports at the time claimed Beckett died due to a barbiturate overdose, although an official cause of death may never be determined.

Beckett was a child star whose later life was marred by multiple arrests and substance abuse. Few interviews or accounts exist of Beckett’s mindset during and after his career. 

However, his early exposure to show business and declining career as an adult may have been factors in his death.

Scotty Beckett’s Career & History Of Substance Abuse

Born Scott Hastings Beckett in Oakland, California, Beckett made his acting debut around the age of 4. During his career as a child actor, Beckett made many appearances on long-running comedy shorts Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals.

Beckett’s teenage acting career during the 1940s included significant roles in Dante’s Inferno, The Charge of the Light Brigade, A Date with Judy, The Jolson Story, and The Happy Years. 

Famous Hollywood actors he starred alongside included Jane Powell, Marilyn Monroe, and Dickie Moore. Beckett may not have taken on acting work from the mid-1950s onward.

Beckett may have been involved in crime after the end of his acting career. Charges he amassed included drug possession, drug trafficking, suspected robbery, fraud, and drunk driving. Beckett’s unstable post-acting career may have had a role in his eventual death.

How Scotty Beckett Died

On May 10, 1968, Beckett was found dead in a Los Angeles nursing home. He had checked into the home 2 days prior to receive medical care. An official cause of death may never be determined, although rumors of either barbiturate or alcohol overdose circulated after his death.

Beckett’s fatal drug overdose was not his first drug-related incident. 

He attempted suicide after a bout of binge drinking in 1962, and was arrested for possession of stimulants on multiple occasions. Beckett was also permanently injured as a result of a 1959 drunk driving accident.

Beckett was survived by his wife, Margaret C. Sabo, as well as his son, Scott Beckett Jr. Beckett Jr. was Beckett’s son from his second marriage, to actress Sunny Vickers.

Did Scotty Beckett Go To Rehab?

It is unknown whether Beckett tried to get help for his drug and alcohol abuse. One source on Beckett’s life stated he vowed to give up drinking after a 1963 domestic violence charge. However, few reports may exist on Beckett’s battle with substance abuse.

Recovery Is Possible

Drug and alcohol abuse can hurt your mental health, increase your risk of injury, and affect your relationships with your loved ones. If you or someone you know are abusing drugs or alcohol, help is out there and recovery is possible.

To learn how we can improve your long-term recovery chances, please contact us today.