'CSI' star's pals had clue
Dourdan's drug arrest was expected by colleagues, who may step up intervention efforts to get him help
The arrest of Gary Dourdan on drug charges in Palm Springs, Calif., came as no surprise to a number of the actor's ''CSI'' colleagues at the hit CBS forensic drama.
''We have been worried about Gary for some time,'' a key member of the show's production team told me. ''It's just a shame that he wasn't able to get the help he needs before this happened.''
(AP file)
The actor was arrested early Monday in the California desert resort, after a police officer spied him sleeping in his car -- and discovered what appeared to be cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, prescription drugs and paraphernalia in Dourdan's car.
The timing of this arrest couldn't have come at a worse time for the actor, who has played Warrick Brown on ''CSI'' since the show launched in 2000. Though not officially confirmed by either CBS or show spokespeople, Dourdan's departure from the series was reported by Entertainment Weekly in mid-April and confirmed to me Wednesday by two totally reliable ''CSI'' sources.
Apparently, the original plan was for Dourdan to be gone -- period. But after somewhat lengthy negotiations, it was decided his Warrick character would return occasionally next season -- expected by many to be the final one for the long-running series.
• Dourdan's friends on the show also have been so worried about his alleged drug use, there was talk of an intervention -- though that did not take place.
''After this, I think there will be a concerted effort to convince Gary to get help -- before he kills himself,'' said a ''CSI'' staffer, genuinely concerned about Dourdan as a friend.
• Dourdan last snared negative headlines in July of last year, when he went after a paparazzo working for the TMZ celebrity Web site outside a Los Angeles nightclub. A police report was filed, but Dourdan disputed the allegations and nothing came of that altercation.
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