Overdose of Drugs Killed Actress’ Son

Jason McCallum, the adopted son of actress Jill Ireland, died from the “ingestion-injection of drugs,” the Los Angeles County coroner reported Tuesday.

The 27-year-old, who had a history of drug and alcohol addiction that was extensively depicted in Ireland’s recently published book, “Life Lines,” was found dead in the bathroom of his Laurel Canyon apartment in the Hollywood Hills earlier this month.

Toxicological tests showed “acute multiple drug intoxication,” coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher said. “It’s listed as an accident, not a suicide or a homicide.” The names of the drugs involved will not be available for another week, he added.

McCallum was adopted in 1962 by Ireland and her husband at the time, actor David McCallum, star of the former TV series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” After the couple divorced, Ireland married actor Charles Bronson, and McCallum was one of seven children they raised. At times, McCallum also used Bronson as a last name.

In her book, Ireland said she learned many years after the adoption that her son’s biological father had been an extensive drug user. The young McCallum had recurring struggles with heroin, cocaine and alcohol starting in his teens, and Ireland wrote that his failures to conquer his addictions were more painful to her than her ongoing battle with cancer.