Richard completed rehab and was ready to get right back into the recording studio. But first, they hit the road. On a European tour, ‘Nationwide’ host Sue Lawley cornered Karen about the anorexia rumor. Richard was shocked, and Karen rebuked the question saying she’s fine, it’s just that touring is exhausting.
Lawley pressed on. As Karen tried to laugh it off as a joke, Richard came to her defense and said, “It’s really not what we’re here for.”
Losing Weight was Always on Her Mind
Cutting back on food was only one approach Karen would use to lose unwanted pounds. She discovered that certain pills caused weight loss by raising metabolism, and others by different means. She took 80 to 90 laxative tablets in one night. She found thyroid medication could speed up her metabolism, so she took those in excess.
The pills overtaxed her organs. Around that time, Karen began seeing psychotherapist Steven Levenkron, who treated her for anorexia. Levenkron specialized in treating eating disorders.
Finding Help for Karen
Karen’s psychologist tried reaching out to her family to gain support for his patient. His message was simple. He asked them to tell Karen they loved her. Agnes bristled at his advice. Then she reprimanded the clinician for addressing her by her first name. She ended the conversation by informing him that’s not the way they do things in their family.
Years earlier, Sherwin Bash tried approaching Agnes. He was very concerned about Karen, but Agnes dismissed his inquiry. She told him it was a family matter. She also rejected the idea that her skinny daughter needed a psychologist, believing they are only for crazy people.
The End of Her Struggle
Karen had withered down to just 80 pounds by the end of 1982. Richard fumed at Levenkron for failing his sister. With the support and help of Richard, Karen moved back home with her parents. Things seemed to be getting better, although she napped more than usual. One time, her housekeeper discovered Karen passed out on the closet floor.
Then, on February 4, 1983, Agnes found Karen on the floor of her wardrobe, lifeless. The autopsy showed she died of poisoning from ipecac, a vomit-inducing drug usually used for overdoses or accidental poison ingestion. The cause of death was determined to be from complications of anorexia nervosa. She was 32 years old.
A Somber Celebration
Karen’s death hit Richard hard. It was no exaggeration when he called it “the worst thing in my life.” Only months later, the Carpenters would be celebrated on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Richard, alone and forsaken, accepted their Hollywood star.
The somber sibling stood with his parents as a 32-piece choir sang “We’ve Only Just Begun.” The Carpenters’ final studio album was released the same day.