Joey Kovar
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Joey Kovar | |
|---|---|
 Kovar on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew | |
| Born | July 24, 1983 Evergreen Park, Illinois, United States |
| Died | August 17, 2012 (aged 29) Chicago Ridge, Illinois, United States |
| Occupations | Model, reality star |
Joseph Eugene Kovar (July 24, 1983 – August 17, 2012) was an American model and reality television star and bodybuilder who first appeared in the twentieth season of MTV's The Real World, The Real World: Hollywood, in 2008.[1][2]
In 2010, Kovar appeared as a patient on the VH1 reality show, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, for treatment of addictions to alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and steroids.[3][4]
Kovar was a native of Evergreen Park, Illinois, where he continued to reside after appearing on The Real World: Hollywood and other shows. He battled addiction to alcohol and other drugs before appearing in television.[1]
Career
Kovar, a former personal trainer, was discovered at age 24 by a talent scout on a Chicago street.[1] In 2008, Kovar was cast in the twentieth season of the long-running MTV series, The Real World.[2] Kovar believed he was cast for The Real World: Hollywood due to his personality and openness about past partying and drug use.[1] In a 2009 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Kovar elaborated, "We kind of have an 'I don't give a [bleep]' attitude. What you see is what you get...People want edgy. People want attitude. People want in-your-face, and that's what Chicagoans bring. The attitude we have is what's going to draw the ratings."[1] Kovar became increasingly addicted to alcohol and other drugs while filming The Real World. Due to erratic behavior and substance abuse, he was asked to leave the show to pursue treatment.[3]
Kovar next appeared in the third season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which premiered in November 2009. Other cast members for the season included Dennis Rodman, Mackenzie Phillips, and Heidi Fleiss. On the show, he was treated for addictions to alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and steroids.[3] In an on-camera discussion about his addiction to cocaine with Dr. Drew Pinsky, the show's host and addiction medicine specialist, at the end of the season Kovar stated, "I want this, but at the same time, I'm not going to make any false...promises...I'm not going to tell you. 'I'm going to be sober', 'cause I don't know."[2]