Actor Heath Freeman had appeared in a handful of television shows before he was cast as Benjamin Frank in "NCIS." Featured in one 2003 episode, the character was a gemologist and ex-boyfriend of Pauley Perrette's Abby Sciuto. Freeman went on to guest in a number of TV dramas, including the likes of "Bones," "The Closer," and "Without a Trace." By the mid-2010s and early 2020s, however, his credits had shifted to obscure low-budget movies, such as "The Wicked Within" and "Terror on the Prairie." His final onscreen appearance would be the posthumously released 2023 movie "Outlaw Johnny Black."

In 2021, Freeman died at the age of 41. "A brilliant human being with an intense and soulful spirit, he leaves us with an indelible imprint in our hearts," Freeman's manager, Joe S. Montifiore, said in a statement released to CNN. "His life was filled with deep loyalty, affection, and generosity towards his family and friends, and an extraordinary zest for life. He was extremely proud of his recent film work and was very excited for the next chapter of his career."

A few months later, TMZ revealed Freeman's death was the result of an accidental overdose, caused by a toxic combination of liquor and drugs, including alprazolam, cocaine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.

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