By Tim Kenneally | Reuters – 15 mins agoLOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Whitney Houston's "Bodyguard" co-star didn't just play her protector on the big screen -- he also tried to keep her safe in real life in his own way.
The "Dances With Wolves" star revealed in an upcoming interview with Anderson Cooper that he reached out to the troubled singer as she struggled with substance abuse by writing to her.
"There are some people that really love Whitney, and a couple times during the last seven, eight years, asked me, would I write her a letter?" Costner tells Cooper. "When someone says, will you write a letter to someone who you know is having trouble ... I did. I don't know if those letters were ever read."
Houston died on February 11 at the age of 48. She was found face down in the tub of her suite at the Beverly Hilton hotel by a member of her personal staff, and efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.
The "I Will Always Love You" singer died of accidental drowning, according to the Los Angeles Coroner, but cocaine -- which she had in her system at the time of her death -- and heart disease were also contributing factors. According to Whitney's final autopsy report, white, powdery residue was found in various places in the bathroom where she died.
Houston had struggled with substance abuse through much of her life.
Asked by Cooper if Houston was struggling with substance abuse while filming "The Bodyguard," which was released in 1992, Costner replied, "Not that I know of, no ... I elected to let Whitney have her life after ‘The Bodyguard.'"
Costner delivered a stirring speech at Houston's funeral. Recalling how Houston was uncertain about her acting abilities while preparing to film "The Bodyguard," Costner said, "Whitney, if you could hear me now, I would tell you that you weren't just good enough; you were great ... a lot of guys could have played part, but you were the only person who could have played Rachel Marron at that time."
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