Johnny Lewis played a beloved character on Sons of Anarchy. His actions offscreen were extremely dark.

Johnny Lewis is a name not many will know, but a face several Millennials will remember. 

He was best known for acting in the hit show Sons of Anarchy, film Raise Your Voice starring Hilary Duff and also The O.C.

Lewis even dated Katy Perry from 2005 to 2006, with Perry's hit song 'The One That Got Away' reported to have been based on her relationship with him.

But as a representative from her team said to US Weekly per Page Six: "She had to separate from him to get ahead and focus on her career. He was in trouble then and she couldn't help him. A lot of her songs were partially inspired by him. She could never help him and couldn't [let herself] go in that direction."

And she was right.

Because in September 2012, he was found dead in the driveway of a property he was renting in Los Angeles. And the circumstances were murky.

Watch: Look back at the trailer for Sons of Anarchy. Post continues below.

Lewis grew up in Los Angeles, his parents practising Scientologists. When Lewis finished school, he left home at 18 to pursue an acting career.

Eventually, it led to him securing the role of Kip 'Half-Sack' Epps in Sons of Anarchy, which premiered in 2008.

It was a successful show right from the start – an American action crime drama television series chronicling the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in California's Central Valley. The themes throughout the show were graphic at best – plenty of betrayals, vigilantism, murder and violence. 

For Lewis, his acting role then began to mirror real life in a way.

In 2011, Lewis sustained head injuries following a high-speed motorcycle crash. Lewis was arrested three times between 2011 and 2012. 

In one case, he struck two men in the head with a bottle while engaged in a fight. Another came about when Lewis was accused of attempting to break into a woman's home. 

Lewis also had a history of drug abuse, reportedly struggling with alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic drugs. He had been prescribed anti-psychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well, but his father said he refused to take it.

This #longread is the top read story on @LA_mag now: The Secret Life of Actor Johnny Lewis http://t.co/r1FJNByznH pic.twitter.com/eMQjdwGics

— Los Angeles Magazine (@LAmag) October 5, 2015

As reported by L.A. Magazine, Lewis subsequently bounced in and out of jails, psychiatric wards and rehab. Judges, therapists, family members, friends, and former co-stars tried to intervene, but to no avail.

After one short jail stint, Lewis was released in September 2012. Only five days after, his landlady was found dead at the home Lewis was staying in.

It was a 1927 Spanish-style mansion known as 'the Writers' Villa', located in the Los Feliz Hills in Los Angeles. Elderly real estate broker, Cathy Davis, had opened her doors to generations of playwrights, screenwriters, novelists and actors while they developed their talents and adjusted to Hollywood life.

Lewis' father had rented out the villa for his 28-year-old son, hoping it would set Lewis on the right track following his list of violent assaults. But it ended badly.

On September 26, 2012, Lewis' 81-year-old landlady Cathy Davis was found dead. 

Police had been called following pleas from neighbours to intervene after Lewis violently attacked two people at the property next door who came to investigate after hearing Davis' screams. 

Her body was found inside the villa, beaten and strangled to death. Her pet cat was also found dead in a bathroom.

Image: Getty/TMZ.

As for Lewis, police found his body in the driveway of the villa, his skull cracked in half. 

Investigators later said Lewis either fell or jumped from the roof, garage or patio of Davis' villa. Initially, they assumed Lewis was under the influence of drugs or alcohol just prior to his death and the murder he committed, but a toxicology report showed no evidence of such. A doctor did however note he reportedly had signs of brain trauma, prior to his death.

Lewis' death was officially ruled an accident, not a suicide.

Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter said about the circumstances surrounding Lewis' death: "It was a tragic end for an extremely talented guy, who unfortunately had lost his way. I wish I could say that I was shocked by the events last night, but I was not.

"I am deeply sorry that an innocent life had to be thrown into his destructive path. It's a day of mourning."

LAPD spokesman Andrew Smith told People in the aftermath of Davis' murder: "It's a terrible tragedy as far as we're concerned."

Lewis's lawyer told CBS News that following signs of psychosis, Lewis' family had tried to get him to seek help and professional psychiatric assistance, but had been unsuccessful.

"I give a lot of credit to his parents. They were really strong in trying to help him out. They really went to bat for him, but I guess they just couldn't do enough."

In the wake of Davis' murder, a number of actors from the Hollywood scene expressed their condolences, many of whom had once stayed at her property.

"Hollywood legend. A near saint. And a kind and loving mother to so many, including me," actor Taylor Negron said, telling stories of Val Kilmer once residing at the Writer's Room Villa, and George Clooney coming over for parties there too.

"The door was always open. Actors and writers put their best face forward as Cathy demonstrated to them that their dreams were not far from reach," he said. "She was much more important to Los Angeles culture than her killer. We must all keep telling our stories of her generous spirit and her magical Villa."

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 

If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after reading this story, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Feature Image: Binge/Getty.