Richard Hillman dead?

Initially, it's easy to think the failure of Teenage Caveman is what catalyzed the death of Richard Hillman.
The movie either ruined or postponed the natural trajectory of many careers.
Think about that from a Producer's or Director's perspective.
How your movie, being as bad as it is, will ruin lives.

While we have many exemplary films that mark the rise of a director or actor.
We rarely reflect on those that mark the fall of those directors or actors.
That's a little too real for Hollywood.

Then, there are those rare instances as seen with Heath Ledger where a film marks both the rise and fall of a star and their death is viewed as the ultimate sacrificial offering on the alter of Entertainment where they are both mourned and idolized.

It's hard to assess blame here, because even though Teenage Caveman did mess up so many careers and lives, There are those who managed to keep their careers afloat.
Hillman probably didn't see the need in struggling to regain respect as an actor and just gave up. I'm sure his phone stopped ringing, and people he thought were his friends disappeared and those that stuck around filled his head with even more negativity. However, since he'd already been on the junk it's anyone's guess whether he was going to stop, regardless of success or failure.
Success might have even prolonged it. So, if somehow Teenage Caveman was a Box Office smash, his life might have still ended tragically short. Nobody can say.

Mad props to the actors who've kept themselves and their careers alive after this piece of crap movie.