Actor Buddy Duress Dies at 38 from Suspected Drug Cocktail

Buddy Duress, an actor known for his roles in the Safdie Brothers' films "Good Time" and "Heaven Knows What," has passed away at the age of 38 from a cardiac arrest induced by a drug cocktail. Duress, whose real name was Michael Stathis, made his film debut in "Heaven Knows What" in 2014 after being discovered by Josh Safdie during a release from Rikers Island on drug charges.

Throughout his career, Duress faced numerous legal and personal challenges, including multiple arrests and a history of substance abuse. Despite these struggles, he continued to work in the film industry, appearing in movies such as "Person to Person," "Beware of Dog," and "Funny Pages." At the time of his death, Duress had two more projects pending release.

Duress is survived by his mother, Jo-Anne, and younger brother, Christopher. His untimely death has left a void in the independent film community where he had made a notable impact with his raw and authentic performances.