As we have seen all too often, a significant number of these entertainers from the 60s and 70s and even before, tend to not live very long or die quite prematurely, in this case, early sixties for Rafferty. There have been others recently, as well, (names escape me for the moment).
"Burning the candle at both ends"(drugs and alcohol along with related premature health issues), and often sometimes abrupt end to careers and not preparing for the future is too much to handle for many of this group. They thought the fame and money was going to last forever.
Very sad.