'The Conners' Actor Michael Fishman Opens Up About His Son's Death from Drug Overdose

Michael Fishman, one of the stars of the ABC comedy series The Conners, is opening up about the death of his son Larry earlier this year.

Larry passed away in June from a fatal drug overdose while Michael was in the process of formally adopting the teenage boy.

Michael said that her first met Larry after the boy’s older sister Camille asked him to be her dad. He previously was in foster care before the adoption process began.

“I feel like I came to Larry maybe later than I wish I could,” Michael said while appearing on The Tamron Hall Show. “I think for parents, you know, you wish you had more time.”

Michael said about Larry‘s use of drugs, “It wasn’t so much a struggle for him. People try things over time, I think, and I don’t really think that was an issue for him overall. He moved to a house in transition after living with his sister for a little while, and he tried drugs that turned out to be bad drugs that multiple people had a very serious reaction.”

Michael says he’s going public with his emotional journey so that he can help others going through similar situations.

“A couple years ago, I probably would have never shared this, to be honest with you,” he said. “The really important part is that you’re brave enough to admit when you struggle and that you need help or that you aren’t strong.”