New details have emerged about the circumstances surrounding the death of actor and model Ethan Browne, the son of songwriter Jackson Browne.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s full autopsy report exclusively obtained by Us on Wednesday, July 22, reveals the scene that medical personnel discovered when they arrived at the 52-year-old’s Culver City residence.
Ethan was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his roommate on November 25, 2025, at approximately 8:24 a.m., according to the report.
When paramedics arrived, they discovered Ethan holding a straw and lighter in his hand with several narcotics, drug paraphernalia and medications littered throughout his bedroom.
“A glass pipe with crystalline substance and brown residue along with a burnt piece of aluminum foil were found on the nightstand” next to his body. Vaping devices, “whip-it” cartridges and “multiple prescription medications” were found at the scene.
The report also noted that the medical personnel discovered a box on Ethan’s bed “which contained apparent illicit drugs and paraphernalia.” They declared him dead at the scene.
His roommate recounted his last moments with Ethan, revealing he “seemed off” and was “possibly under the influence of drugs” at around 8 p.m. the night before his death.
Ethan was last known to be alive at 10:30 p.m. when he went to bed.
The medical examiner confirmed in January that Jackson’s son died from the “effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine and lidocaine.” His death was ruled an accident.
The latest report revealed that Ethan had “no history of diagnosed medical conditions or suicide attempts.”
While the toxicology report noted several drugs in his system, it showed no traces of alcohol, indicating that Ethan was not drinking before he died.
Jackson, 77, shared the news of his son’s death on November 26.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share that on the morning of November 25, 2025, Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, was found unresponsive in his home and has passed away,” read a statement shared via the songwriter’s Facebook at the time. “We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time. No further details are available at this moment.”
Jackson welcomed Ethan with his then-wife Phyllis Major in 1973. Major died by suicide in 1976 at age 30. Jackson went on to marry model Lynne Sweeney in 1981. The pair, who divorced in 1983, share one son.
Ethan had started a family of his own, too. Years before his death, Jackson got candid about seeing his son raise a little girl.
“Ethan is a great father. He’s a great son, a great man. I love seeing him with his kids,” Jackson gushed in a May 2022 interview with Tru Rock Revival. “When I see him in his movies, modeling, with his daughter, and being such a great dad, it makes me very proud. It makes me feel I’ve done something really right in my life.”
Ethan made his film debut in the 1995 movie Hackers. He also made appearances on the 2002 TV series Birds of Prey and in the 2004 film Raising Helen, which starred Kate Hudson, John Corbett and Joan Cusack.
When he wasn’t acting on screen, Ethan tried his hand at modeling. He previously worked with iconic fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
