When we know someone who passes away, there are a lot of emotions we need to deal with, such as anger, loss, frustration and sadness. Then there is the death of famous people, musicians, and TV or movie stars who we have grown up watching and loved dearly. It’s even worse when we get to know from the internet or newspaper obituaries that our favorite celebrity is no more.
Here’s a list of all the beloved stars who have lost in the past. Some of them were way too young, many died due to medical emergencies and a few suffered from severe depression and ended their lives. Although they may not be with us anymore, they have left behind their legacy and we can always visit websites online or watch their full movies or TV shows to catch a glimpse of them...
Richard Attenborough – Heart Disease
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Gandhi, Jurassic Park, Brighton Rock and The Great Escape, are only some of the movies Richard Attenborough is known for. The Academy Award winner was not just an actor but also a filmmaker and entrepreneur. The fact that she served in the Second World War in the Royal Air Force, and he was the older brother of naturalist Sir David Attenborough, made him even cooler!
Richard has been suffering from heart problems and battling deteriorating health for a long time, and he even sold off the Attenborough family estate and moved into a senior living home with his wife, Sheila. He died peacefully, just 5 days before his 91st birthday in 2014 , and it was said that he had drawn up his legal papers and last will and testament just a few days prior to that.
Brittany Murphy – Multiple Drug Intoxication, Anemia and Pneumonia
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A bright in Hollywood was forever dimmed in December of 2009 when 32-year-old actress Brittany Murphy died suddenly and under rather mysterious circumstances. The happy-go-lucky 8 Mile, Uptown Girls and Clueless star collapsed at home and was taken to the hospital, where she passed away.
There had been plenty of rumors of her husband’s odd behavior which isolated Brittany from everyone, including Hollywood, and she was always stuck in her home, taking care of her mother and husband. The coroner’s report read that she died due to “Multiple Drug Intoxication, Iron Deficiency and Pneumonia.”
Amanda Peterson – Morphine Overdose
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Many were shocked when Amanda Peterson passed away at the young age of 43. The actress is most famous for the 1987 romantic comedy Can't Buy Me Love, where she starred opposite Patrick Dempsey.
Peterson has long struggled with drug addiction, and somehow her cause of death is related to a drug, specifically morphine. According to her autopsy report, the 80s star died from respiratory depression because of a morphine overdose. She's also famous for the movie Explorers and the Emmy Award-winning miniseries A Year in the Life.
Alan Rickman – Cancer
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Seasoned British actor Alan Rickman left everyone in tears when it was announced that the 69-year-old had passed away in early 2016 due to cancer. Neither he nor his family had revealed that he was suffering from cancer, so his passing really jolted everyone.
Alan, who always worked in theatre, got his first international break acting as the villain Hans Gruber in 1988’s Die Hard, and followed it up with hits such as Rasputin, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Love, Actually and his most famous movie yet, the Harry Potter series.
Pat Morita – Natural Causes
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One of the most beloved characters on TV and films has to be those portrayed by actor and comedian Pat Morita. After started off his career as a stand-up comic and making small appearances in sitcoms, he landed his breakthrough role as Arnold on Happy Days.
And yet, Pat is best remembered for the movie that got him an Oscar nomination, The Karate Kid, where he played the role of the wise Mr. Miyagi, and he was immortalized in popular culture. Sadly, in November 2005, his wife Evelyn announced that Pat had passed away due to natural causes at 73.
Matthew Perry – Drowning
Matthew Perry, beloved for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends," captured hearts with his impeccable comedic timing and dry wit. His portrayal of the sarcastic, lovable character made him a household name throughout the show's 10-season run.
While Matthew had notable roles in films like "The Whole Nine Yards" and "17 Again," it was his work on "Friends" that left a lasting impression. He openly discussed his struggles with addiction, inspiring many with his honesty and strength. Sadly, Matthew passed away on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, after being found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home, reportedly due to drowning.
Liam Payne – Fell Off a Balcony
Liam Payne became famous as a member of One Direction, captivating millions with his smooth vocals and magnetic charm. After the band took a break, Liam found success as a solo artist, with hits like "Strip That Down" and notable collaborations. His career continued to thrive, showcasing his talent beyond the boy band era.
On October 16, 2024, Liam passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. His death shocked fans worldwide and sparked online speculations. He left behind several successful solo albums, countless sold-out concerts, and a massive social media following that celebrated his every move.
Tina Turner – Natural Causes
Tina Turner didn't just sing; she set stages on fire with her powerhouse voice and signature hair flip. In the 1960s, she ripped it up alongside Ike Turner—"Proud Mary" was a ride no one could forget. Then, like the legend she is, she left Ike in the dust and went solo, giving us unforgettable hits like "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "Private Dancer."
With a voice that could move mountains, she was a beloved among fans. At 83, Tina passed away on May 24, 2023, at her home in Switzerland. Her legacy? Twelve Grammys, a hit Broadway show, and a career that redefined rock 'n' roll.
Stephen "tWitch" Boss – Gunshot
From "So You Think You Can Dance" to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Stephen "tWitch" Boss lit up every stage he stood on. After snagging second place on the dance show in 2008, he went on to flex his moves in the "Step Up" franchise.
But it wasn't just the dancing—his upbeat attitude made him the perfect DJ and co-host for Ellen, where he became a fixture of daytime TV. Tragically, tWitch passed away on December 13, 2022, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He left behind a loving wife, three children, and an unforgettable legacy in entertainment that continues to inspire dancers everywhere.
Aaron Carter – Drowning
Aaron Carter became famous as a teen pop sensation in the late 1990s, making waves with catchy tracks like "Aaron’s Party" and "I Want Candy." He had all the charm, the dance moves, and the looks. His pop star days made him a household name, but life after the limelight was not as sweet.
Aaron struggled with personal demons, including addiction, and his career never quite hit those same highs again. In a heartbreaking turn, he was found dead in his home on November 5, 2022. He drowned, and drugs were involved, marking a sad end to his once-bright journey.
Anna Nicole Smith – Prescription Drug Overdose
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Becoming 1993’s Playmate of the Year catapulted model and actress Anna Nicole Smith to infamy, and helped her bag some huge modeling deals in the future. She was also in the news for her second marriage to an 89-year old billionaire, who died 13 months into their marriage and she was caught in a legal battle with his kids over the family estate.
In 2007, she was reeling from the death of her son a year ago, and the birth of her daughter just a few months apart, when she was found dead in her hotel room. The cause of death was a fatal prescription drug overdose and it was an addiction which she harbored for a long time. Anna was just 39 at the time.
Romi Koch – Unknown causes
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The 2014 movie Dead Doll featured a very creepy-looking Romi Koch, a beautiful actress otherwise, who played the role rather convincingly. As creepy as the movie was, Romi Koch’s death was even more creepier. She was found dead in Canada and the cause of death was never revealed.
Romi only ever starred in the one movie, after which she dropped off the radar, so there is very little information about her, in general. Although, there have been no reports about the official cause of death, but there have been plenty of rumors about her reported drug abuse issues. Till date, her death remains a mystery to all her fans.
Justin Pierce – Suicide
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We would never know what went so wrong with actor Justin Pierce’s life, that he took such a drastic step of taking his own life, by hanging himself in his Las Vegas hotel room. It was said that his Press Assistant found him and there were two suicide notes reportedly discovered on the scene, but never released to the media.
As a young British boy, his parent’s divorce impacted him a lot and he started stealing little things, carrying drugs and even dropped out of school. He landed up in US as a young skateboarder and was cast in the controversial movie, Kids. No one noticed any signs of depression in Justin as he had even gotten married in 1999 in Las Vegas. But just a year later, he committed suicide.
Zoe Lund – Prolonged Cocaine Use-induced Heart Failure
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The late Zoe Lund was a New York-born musician, actress, screenwriter, model and author who passed away young at the age of 37. As mentioned in the press release drafted by her law firm, Zoe was battling drug addiction for many years and did not make any attempt to get counseling or admit herself into a treatment centre or drug rehab facility.
Ultimately, she died due to prolonged use of cocaine, when she attempted to stop using heroin, and that led to heart failure. You can still watch Zoe in her movie Bad Lieutenant (she also wrote the screenplay for this film) and in Ms. 45. After separating from her husband she moved all the way to Paris for her new boyfriend, and it was in the French capital that she was found dead.
Trevor Goddard – Drug Overdose
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Mortal Kombat was a very popular fighting-based video game back in the day when only cable TV existed. It was later adapted into a movie of the same name and starred British actor Trevor Goddard in it, in the villous role of Kano, who had half a metallic face. He then starred in the popular courtroom/military drama, JAG, too.
When news broke that he had passed away at the age of 41 in 2003, there were a few people who assumed that he had committed suicide because of a painful relationship. But after the medical doctors conducted his autopsy, his management team reported that there were multiple drugs found in his system such as heroine, Vicodin and cocaine. If only he had gotten some much-needed help at a drug rehab centre, he could have been with us now.
Barney Martin – Cancer
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Although Barney Martin was primarily a comedy writer and actor, not many people would know the fact that he was also a former detective with the NYC Police Department. His big break in front of the camera was in the movie called The Producers, but that is not the role he is most remembered for.
Martin was cast in the popular TV show, Seinfeld and played the important character of Jerry Seinfeld’s dad, Morty. At the age of 82, in 2005, he passed away in Los Angeles as his cancer had spread very aggressively. It was said that because the cancer was diagnosed at a later stage and because of his advanced stage, it was too late to receive cancer treatment.
Antoine Ashley – Heart Failure
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Antoine Ashley, took on the name and persona of Sahara Davenport ever since she became a drag queen when she was in her teens. Being a famous dancer and reality TV personality, she wore the most gorgeous sparkly dresses and a wigs with various hair colors. You must have spotted Antoine/Sahara on the second season of the popular TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race.
On the show, she discussed her usage and addiction to various designer drugs and that she never tried going to rehab to rid the habit. In the October of 2012, Sahara was taken to Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital and soon died because of heart failure. She was very young, only 27, and her death was said to be drug abuse-related.
Andrew Koenig – Suicide
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Even though Andrew Koenig started off his acting career as a young boy in the TV show Growing Pains, he later decided that he would also dabble in the business of writing, film direction, and activism. He even went all the way to China where he was arrested under civil disobedience charges, but thankfully his lawyers got him out on bail.
Andrew was not the first actor in the Koenig family, as his dad, Walter Koenig, has appeared in the TV show Star Trek. In 2010, Walter and his wife had reported their son missing, but after a search was conducted, they received some very tragic news. Andrew was found hanging from a tree in a Vancouver park, and his death was declared a suicide.
J. T. Walsh – Heart Attack
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J. T. Walsh was an actor who had the distinction of playing the bad guy or bully in almost all the movies he has done in his lifetime. Some of his trademark performances can be seen in movies like Sling Blade, Breakdown The Negotiator, and Good Morning, Vietnam. After all, he wasn’t dubbed “everybody’s favorite scumbag” for nothing.
In 1998, at age 54, Walsh suddenly took gravely ill and collapsed. He was rushed and admitted to California’s Grossmont Hospital and at first, nobody would have imagined that he was suffering from something life threatening. But in the next moment, he suffered a heart attack, which proved fatal.
Paul Gleason – Lung Cancer / Pleural Mesothelioma
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The 1980 hit movie The Breakfast Club saw actor Paul Gleason play the role of Assistant Principal Richard Vernon and that was one character which the late actor is most remembered by. The movie made Paul famous and offered him more acting jobs on similar lines, making sure that he was financially very well off.
Already diagnosed by his medical doctors with pleural mesothelioma, he was receiving the best medical care in California. For those who don’t know, pleural mesothelioma is a kind of lung cancer which is associated with asbestos. The Gleason family could have involved asbestos lawyers and sued! Paul underwent cancer treatments such as chemotherapies, but did not live to celebrate his 68th birthday.
Robert Evans – Undisclosed Cause Of Death
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Sadly, the man who have us legendary movies like The Godfather franchise, Chinatown, Popeye and the ever-scary Rosemary’s Baby, passed away at the age of 89 in October of 2019. Saying that Hollywood producer Robert Evans was rich is an understatement, as his net worth was pegged at $120 million at the time of his death.
Robert’s health saw a steady decline ever since he suffered a stroke in 1998 and could not talk or be mobile after the health emergency. He eventually did recovered in his retirement and was seen hale and hearty and that’s why his sudden death was even more shocking. His family and spokespersons never did disclose his cause of death.
Len Lesser – Pneumonia Induced by Cancer
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Len Lesser was an actor who the newer generation would be more familiar with, since he essayed the role of Jerry Seinfeld’s uncle on his TV sitcom Seinfeld. Apart from the show, he can be seen on Kelly’s Heroes, Everybody Loves Raymond and a slew of movies and TV shows, since he has acted in over 180 of them in his decades long career.
At the age of 88 in 2001, the seasoned actor breathed his last in California, due to cancer-related pneumonia. All of Len’s old co-stars and friends, such as Seinfeld himself, described him as the nicest guy. The day he passed away, the internet blew up with condolences messages from several huge TV and movie stars.
Michelle Thomas – Stomach Cancer
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Cancer is a frightening disease, because one’s chances of survival depends on the stage it is diagnosed in and how well they respond to their treatment. But for a vegetarian, non-smoker and non-drinker like actress Michelle Thomas to get stomach cancer at a rather young age (30) and then pass away, was shocking to us all.
We know Michelle from The Cosby Show and later, as Urkel’s girlfriend from the sitcom Family Matters. In 1998, she was starring in the popular TV show The Young and the Restless when she was forced to go on medical leave and undergo surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her stomach. She flew home to New Jersey from Los Angeles to spend Thanksgiving with her loved ones, but died before Christmas, surrounded by family.
Dana Hill – Paralytic Stroke/Diabetes
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Voice artist and actress Dana Hill is best remembered for playing the role of Audrey Griswold from the comedy flick National Lampoon’s European Vacation and also acted in Cross Creek and Shoot the Moon. The kids might remember her voice from that of Max Goof in the cartoon show Goof Troop.
When she was 10, she was running a race at school when she collapsed and was diagnosed with having diabetes, which affected both her height and her health, all her life. In 1996, she slipped into a coma because of her diabetes and even suffered a huge stroke. In July, 1996, at age 32, Dana Hill passed away in a hospital.
Michael Jeter – Fatal Epileptic Seizure
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Award-winning actor Michael Jeter is best known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as Patch Adams, The Green Mile (for which he received a SAG nomination), Jurassic Park III and Fisher King. The acting and voice projects were piling up for him, but he died suddenly in 2003.
His long-time partner, Sean Blue revealed that he was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home, and although he was HIV positive, he was still very healthy. Jeter had previously ditched his addictions and was living a detoxed lifestyle, until a lethal epileptic seizure claimed his life.
Holly Lewis – Unknown Causes
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Here’s another case of a mysterious death that we never got to learn any details of, as there was hardly any news of actress Holly Lewis’ death in 2012. Born in 1965 in Nebraska, Holly would go on to establish herself as an actress, writer and producer in Los Angeles.
She started off doing bit roles in TV shows and movies and has even appeared in and produced the 2004 short film, Oscar. Holly also dabbled in voice acting projects, lending her voice to the video game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.' All her future acting jobs would have to be cancelled as she passed away at the age of 46, and we never got to know what happened to her!
Jason Robards – Lung Cancer
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A beloved Hollywood icon, Jason Robards had been in show business for many decades and has a lengthy credits list, thanks to movies such as All the President’s Men and Once Upon a Time in the West. Although the actor has bagged an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony, it may not be the coolest thing he has achieved.
Robards was a decorated military man — a World War II veteran at that — having served in the US Navy. With age, he might have been taking on fewer acting jobs, but his last credited role was in the 2000 released movie Going Home. The same year, at the age of 78, Jason passed away as his lung cancer had spread at an alarming rate and even the medical doctors could not help save him.
Teena Marie – Unknown Causes
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Teena Marie, whose real name is actually Mary Christine Brockert, was a singer-songwriter and producer. Her trademark genre of music was Soul and R&B, and to her credit, she had been dubbed as the Ivory Queen of Soul. The three-time Grammy nominee has given us hits like Lovergirl, Lead Me On and Ooo La La La, just to name a few of her chart-topping hits.
We may have assumed that Teena would be entertaining us with her music for many more years to come, but she passed away in 2010, aged 54. She was found lifeless by her own daughter in their Pasadena home, and not some hotel and her lawyers later clarified that she died of natural causes, without revealing anything specific.
Kenneth Baker – Chronic Lung Condition
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The name Kenneth Baker may not ring a lot of bells to many people, since he wasn’t the biggest name in Hollywood, but to each and every Star Wars fan, he was the real deal. That’s because Kenneth, who suffered from a form of dwarfism, was the only one tiny enough to fit into the R2-D2 suit from the cult classic sci-fi movies!
The English actor did not have any lines in that movie, but proved that he can act in plenty of others, including The Elephant Man, Flash Gordon, Labyrinth and Amadeus. Baker died in 2016 and it was suspected that a chronic lung condition was the cause. He passed away exactly 11 days before his 82nd birthday.
James Rebhorn – Melanoma
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There was a time when every major American TV series and movie had actor James Rebhorn’s name in their credits, because he has starred in more than 100 such projects! Movies like Scent of a Woman, Meet the Parents and My Cousin Vinny and TV shows such as White Collar and Homeland, would not have been complete without him.
Although James had been diagnosed with Melanoma, a type of cancer, in 1992, he had been receiving hospice care and treatment at his own home. It was there where he passed away at the age of 65. He left behind his grieving wife and two daughters, but probably knew that end was near, since he penned his own obituary.
Pete Burns – Cardiac Arrest
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Dead or Alive was a famous, highly talented and bizarre band that gave us their most famous hit You Spin Me Round. The group’s founder, vocalist and songwriter, Pete Burns kept up the group’s bizarre quotient with his crazy hair color, elaborate dresses and his addiction to plastic surgery.
Pete was very open about his many face and body altering cosmetic surgeries which even drove him to financial ruin and bankruptcy! Eventually, he messed his health up to such an extent that he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away in 2016 when he was 57-years-old. As Pete never had any kids, we wonder who inherited his wealth.
Ben Woolf – Stroke
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Prior to becoming an actor, Ben Woolf was a pre-school teacher and we’re glad he made that all-important career switch. He is famous for his work, mostly in the horror genre, being featured in movies such as Haunting Charles Manson, Dead Kansas and Insidious, apart from playing Infantata and Meep on two different seasons of the TV show, American Horror Story.
Although Ben suffered from a condition called pituitary dwarfism that stunted his height at 4 feet and 4 inches, it did not cause any health issues that were profound. At age 32 in 2015, Woolf was struck on the head by a car’s sideview mirror when he was attempting to cross the road. The impact caused a fatal stroke that resulted in his death.
Ashleigh Aston Moore – Pneumonia
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Ashleigh Aston Moore was exactly 4 years old when she started appearing in various TV commercials and eventually landed a role on the children’s show The Odyssey. She also starred in the coming-of-age movie Now and Then, and in a few TV series before she completely dropped off the radar.
Her last credited role was in a 1997 episode of Touched by an Angel, after which she did not take up any acting jobs. Even if she was planning to make a comeback to acting, we would never get to see Ashleigh on screen again as she died at the young age of 26 due to Pneumonia and Bronchitis in British Columbia in Canada, as reported by her family.
David Graf – Heart Attack
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The movie series Police Academy saw the ever-hilarious character of Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry being brought to life by the talented actor David Graf. Even as a young school-goer from Columbus, Ohio, Graf knew that he wanted to be an actor, so he dropped out after a few days in university to do what he does best, make us all laugh.
Even though we can still watch his performances in the movies The Dukes of Hazzard and Four Friends, we can never see in new movies and TV projects because he passed away in 2001 due to a heart attack, when he was attending a family wedding. What’s even more sad is that he was just 9 days away from his 51st birthday.
Teddy Parker – Unknown Causes
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We all knew Teddy as a German pop star, radio presenter and folk song singer who gave the world hits like "In Copacabana," and "Nachtexpress nach St. Tropez.” He was also one of the founders of Bayern 3 and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Thomas Gottschalk.
It is said that Teddy passed away on 17th June 2021 after his family published an obituary under his real name, Claus Herwig. He was 83 at the time of his passing, and the cause of death was not revealed. Due to the pandemic, the family had a small funeral for Teddy.
Kimbo Slice – Congestive Heart Failure
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Kevin Ferguson developed a larger-than-life onscreen persona as Kimbo Slice, the MMA fighter who had revolutionized pro wrestling and helped make street fighting more mainstream. The mixed martial artist and occasional actor is also credited for bringing street fighting to the internet which was watched by masses of fans, internationally.
Slice was rushed to a Florida hospital in 2016, where he eventually died of heart failure. The medical doctors giving him treatment at the medical centre also found a mass on his liver, which Kimbo may not have been aware of. He left behind a huge legacy, 6 children, his long-time girlfriend and hopefully no mortgages and loans.
John Cazale – Lung Cancer
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To us fans, actor John Cazale will always be the man playing the iconic characters in blockbuster movies like Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather and The Deer Hunter, the last of which starred his lady love, actress Meryl Streep. An absolute delight to watch on screen, we wonder how many more amazing performances he would have delivered had he not died young.
In 1978, at age 42, John Cazale passed away when even the best medical doctors could not save him from lung cancer which had spread to his bones. The cancer was most likely due to his chain smoking habit not due to an improper diet. Because Cazale passed away before The Deer Hunter was completed, the movie’s release was pushed back, but we’re sure insurance took care of the delay.
Peter Vaughan - Natural Causes
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British actor Peter Vaughan may not have known that his popular role of the wise Maester Aemon Targaryen on the hit TV series Game of Thrones would not only make him popular with the current generation, but it would also be his last credited role.
With a career spanning 4 decades, Peter turned out to be quite the charismatic actor, and got bumped up to lead roles from the smaller bit ones he used to initially get. In his later years, Peter became blind, but continued working until his death in 2016, when he was a ripe 93-years-old. There was no news of who inherited his properties and what was included in his last will and testament.
James Avery – Complications From An Open Heart Surgery
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What would Will Smith’s famous TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air be without Uncle Phil, who was kind enough to take in his nephew into his home? The role of Uncle Phil was played by the very talented veteran actor James Avery, who has to be one of our most favorite TV dads - not the kind of dad who only gives investment advice, but he was fun, too!
Suffering from many ailments by the time he turned 68, he underwent an open heart surgery, but developed some serious complications and passed away in 2013. As per his last wishes, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Leslie Carter – Drug Overdose
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Although young Leslie Carter’s musical career did not really take off the way she had hoped, she did get to taste stardom, thanks to her more famous younger brothers, Nick Carter (from the group the Backstreet Boys) and Aaron Carter. From a young age, Leslie suffered from depression and anxiety and found comfort in her drug use habit.
On the mend for the sake of her daughter, Leslie, with Aaron’s help, was planning to admit herself into a drug rehabilitation centre, but it was not meant to be. After suffering a fall in her shower, she was complaining of feeling ill and later found unresponsive in her father’s house. On being rushed to the hospital, the doctors declared her dead and attributed her death to a drug overdose.
Jill Gascoine – Advanced Alzheimer’s Disease
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Spider-Man 2 and Frida actor Alfred Molina announced his beloved wife, British actress Jill Gascoine’s passing in April of 2020. He said that the ‘cowardly disease’ Alzheimer’s took Jill’s life at age 83, and after a decade of struggling with the disease, she had to be shifted to a special care home in Los Angeles, where she passed.
Jill is best remembered for her TV shows, and she kicked off her career playing small roles on General Hospital, Z-Cars and Rooms. Her big break was playing Private Detective Maggie Forbes on the show The Gentle Touch and it’s subsequent spinoff, C.A.T.S Eyes.
Marie Fredriksson – Cancer
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If you grew up in the 90s, you probably sang along when the hits of the pop rock duo Roxette played over the stereo. The group was composed of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, who are both Swedish. Some of the top hit songs of Roxette are Dangerous,The Look, Listen to Your Heart, and Fading Like a Flower.
Sadly one of the members of the group, whose powerful voice gave life to Roxette's many hits, died on December 10, 2019, after fighting cancer for 17 long years. Fredriksson was initially diagnosed to be suffering from a brain tumor in 2002, from which she even recovered after medical treatments.
Richard Griffiths – Complications From A Heart Surgery
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Richard Griffiths has been an theatre, TV and movie actor for many many years in England, but nothing made him an overnight celebrity internationally, as his role in the Harry Potter movies did. He seemed like the perfect actor to play Harry’s cruel and annoying Uncle, and he made us hate him with his amazing acting skills.
Griffiths can also be seen in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and in Richard Attenborough’s award-winning movie, Gandhi. At the age of 65, the actor went under the knife when his medical doctor diagnosed him with heart conditions that needed extensive medical care. Unfortunately, he never made it out of the surgery alive.
River Phoenix – Drug Overdose
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Hollywood lost a shining star when actor River Phoenix died at the young age of 23. He started acting at the age of just 10 and at the time of his death, had garnered 14 acting credits, and an Oscar nomination! Some of his movies are The Body, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho.
The manner in which River was lost was just very sad. In 1993, was about to perform at a club, and his sister, girlfriend Samantha Mathis and brother, The Joker actor Joaquin Pheonix were there, too. River overdosed on a cocktail of drugs and collapsed, with Joaquin calling 911. River would die at the hospital later that day.
Leonard Cohen – Fall
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A Canadian Rock and Roll icon, Leonard Cohen was not just a gifted singer, but he was a good songwriter, novelist and poet, too. In fact, he wasn’t launched as a singer until he was 33! His music was eclectic, with each of his albums being influenced by folk, jazz and even oriental music.
His work often revolved around the themes of love, politics, isolation and of course religion, since he gave us the ever-popular song, Hallelujah. In 2016, at the 82, he suffered a fall at his home, and later passed away in his sleep. It was also revealed that Cohen had leukemia and was receiving cancer treatment at the time. We are sure he had invested in a good life insurance and health cover.
Nicole Dehuff – Complications from Pneumonia
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Actress Nicole DeHuff was a hugely talented American actress, and she is best known for her part in the Ben Stiller movie Meet The Parents. She has also starred in multiple TV shows such as Monk, CSI: Miami, and The Court. With her stars shining bright, she was getting meaty acting jobs, but sadly she passed away due to a wrong medical diagnosis.
Nicole’s family should have hired medical malpractice lawyers but they decided against it, as she was misdiagnosed and sent home with just Tylenol and antibiotics, when she in fact, had pneumonia and needed serious emergency medical care. At the young age of 30, she collapsed at home and died before she reached the hospital.
Alan Thicke – Heart Attack
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Alan Thicke may today be known as the father of Blurred Lines singer Alan Thicke, but in his heydays, he was THE Alan Thicke. Being a TV actor (remember him in Growing Pains?), comedian, songwriter and TV show host helped him gain massive popularity, more so with the ladies, given how handsome he was.
Alan was doing just fine in his later years, and he as last seen playing ice hockey with his son before he collapsed. He even joked to his horrified son, that he should take pictures as he was being led to the hospital in a stretcher. He would eventually die in the hospital in 2016 at the age of 69 because of a massive heart attack.
Gary Coleman – Head Injury
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Best known for his character Arnold Jackson in the TV sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, actor Gary Coleman’s fame would start to fade post the show, although he got a few roles in movies such as Jimmy the Kid, and An American Carol. He would then have to declare bankruptcy despite suing his business advisor and his own parents for misappropriating funds.
Later in his life, Coleman worked as a security guard to support himself. Apart from a congenital kidney disease that stunted his height at 4 feet and 8 inches, he faced a host of health issues and surgeries such as heart surgery and 2 unsuccessful kidney transplants. In 2010, he suffered a fall from his home’s staircase and a head injury caused his death due to internal bleeding (subdural hematoma). Coleman was 42 when he passed away.
Bill Paxton – Stroke
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Fans who have watched the movies The Terminator, Commando, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, Apollo 13, Titanic, andVertical Limit know that these are huge blockbusters. A quick internet search on your smartphone or laptop would tell you that the common thread between these films is actor Bill Paxton, who has appeared in all of them and 100 other movies!
Being known as a ‘nice guy’ by everyone who had worked with him, it was a shocker to everyone who heard of the news that he suddenly died in 2017, aged 61. He died of a fatal stroke just 11 days after Bill had undergone an open heart aorta surgery as his medical doctors had diagnosed him with extensive heart damage, an issue that plagued him ever since he was a boy.
Anton Yelchin – Traumatic Asphyxia
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Anton Yelchin was such a cute baby that people started casting him in movie and TV shows even before he turned 10. But it was through his role in the Steven Spielberg mini-series by the name of Taken, that Anton was able to get into the acting game, while he was still quite young.
Nothing had prepared him for the kind of fans and wealth he would gain from playing the role of Pavel Checkov in 3 famous Star Trek movies. But Star Trek Beyond, would be his last movie, as Anton died in 2016 due to a freak accident involving his Jeep that rolled over and crushed him. There was no need for the Yelchin family to hire any auto accident lawyers, as the incident was deemed an accident and no one was to be blamed.
Corey Haim – Pneumonia and Enlarged Heart
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When we look at late actor Corey Haim’s life, it certainly played out tragically, like the lives of most child actors and actresses in Hollywood. The Canadian actor started out on screen at the young age of 10, and his role with another Corey, actor Corey Feldman, in the movie The Lost Boys, made him an overnight star.
As he grew up, it became difficult for Haim to break away from his past teenage days, and his acting jobs simply dried up. His drug abuse problem wasn’t helping his wellbeing, and he could not kick the habit. He used to share an apartment with his mom, who was suffering from breast cancer, and it was she who called 911 in 2010, when she found him unconscious, and he was later declared dead. Although drugs may have helped speed the process, but Corey died due to an enlarged heart and pneumonia.
Laura Branigan – Ventricular Brain Aneurysm
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Laura Branigan was a musical force to be reckoned with in the 80s. Having been featured in the soundtrack of famous movies, such as Ghostbuster and Flashdance, she was killing it in the music scene with her hits Gloria (a platinum hit) and Self-Control. But she was snatched away from us in 2004, way too soon.
Medical doctors usually ask us to stay alert and not ignore signs of ill health and get tests done on time, not to rip us off, but rather to ensure our wellbeing. We wish Branigan had taken her intense headaches more seriously and visited a treatment centre for it. At 52, she died at her home due to a ventricular brain aneurysm, but had she used her medical insurance and received treatment, she could have been saved.
Garry Marshall – Pneumonia
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Gary Marshall, the producer, screen writer and actor who gave us the TV show Happy Days, and hit movies such as Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Beaches, The Princess Diaries and many more; sadly passed away in 2016, aged 81, due to pneumonia, while he was being treated for a stroke.
Starting his career from writing jokes for other comedians, he moved all the way to Hollywood, Los Angeles to start writing sitcoms (The Lucy Show, Laverne & Shirley), even acting in a few. He later focused on writing and directing movies, which proved to be his big ticket. He leaves behind a rich legacy and huge shoes to fill.
Bob Peck – Cancer
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English stage and film actor Bob Peck was a hit import in 90s Hollywood and his big break came with being cast as the evil gamekeeper Robert Muldoon in the massively popular movie, Jurassic Park. He then cemented his place in show business by starring in a slew of TV movies and shows such as Edge of Darkness.
Sadly, his last credit movie, 2000's The Miracle Maker, would be released after his death in 1999. Bob had been diagnosed with cancer in 1994 but kept it a secret from practically everyone, and even sparking HIV rumors! All the expensive cancer treatments, diet control and medication could not save the 53-year-old.
Harold Ramis – Autoimmune Inflammatory Vasculitis
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The movies Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II had a bunch of extremely talented actors in it’s cast, and one of those decorated artists was Harold Ramis. The writer, director and actor played the role of Egon Spengler in the movie, but he has also expertly directed Groundhog Day and Analyze This.
Ramis contracted an undisclosed infected in 2010, but nobody ever imagined that it would lead to serious health issues cause by autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis. With proper medical care and plenty of tablets, he started recovering, but in 2014, the infection returned and he passed away the same year. He was 69-years-old then.
Natasha Richardson - Injury to Head while Skiing
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The year 2009 was turning out to be a good year for Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan actress Natasha Richardson, who was the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and wife of Taken star Liam Neeson. Liam, Natasha and their two kids had been visiting Montreal in March for a family holiday.
It was here that the actress sustained a head injury when taking skiing lessons and only agreed to seek medical help after two hours of enduring a splitting headache. She was flown to a New York City hospital, but sadly passed away two days later in 2009 at the young age of 45.
Thuy Trang – Car Accident
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Isn’t it sad that a simple thing as an auto insurance quote can pay off the damages of a car when it gets into an accident, but no money or insurance in the world can bring back the people lost in it. That’s what happened to Vietnamese-born actress Thuy Trang, who lost her young life in an auto accident.
Thuy played the original Yellow Power Ranger, Trini Kwan, in the TV show Power Rangers, which was a staple of kids and teens growing up in the 90s. Having moved to California, she found a lot of fame and many acting jobs in the late 80s and became a hit with teens and kids alike. After her fatal crash, there was some gossip that she was driving under the influence of alcohol, but these remained unconfirmed.
Jonathan Brandis – Suicide
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We will always remember child model and actor Jonathan Brandis for his little boy avatar. His well-known face appeared in many teen magazines back in the day, as he was famous for starring in SeaQuest DSV and The Neverending Story II. Brandis then shifted his focus to directing and screenwriting, later in his career.
All that potential and talent was wasted when Jonathan decided to end his life by hanging himself, and did not even leave behind a note explaining why he took his own life. His friends and family said that there were no alarms about drug abuse, alcoholism or even signs of depression, which is why they couldn’t understand his drastic step.
Joanie Laurer (Chyna) – Overdose of Drugs and Alcohol
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The life inside a fighting ring can never be easy, as the late wrestler and model Joanie Laurer would have told you. Popularly known as Chyna in the wrestling circuit, Joanie had suffered many injuries over the years but could not have hired a personal injury lawyer, since they were all an occupational hazard.
Behind her glitzy lifestyle, Chyna was hiding signs of depression and a frightening drug dependence habit. In 2016, her manager grew suspicious when he wasn’t getting any updates from her from a few days and she was not active on social media, which was unlike her. So he went to her California apartment and found her dead there. Her autopsy revealed that she had a cocktail of drugs in her system, mixed with a lot of alcohol, which eventually killed her.
Emma Chambers – Natural Causes
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Remember Honey, the spikey haired sister of Hugh Grant’s character in the famous movie Notting Hill? That role was brilliantly essayed by the actress Emma Chambers, who was the perfect mix of awkward, star-struck and endearing on screen. The British actress is also remembered for her role in TV's The Vicar of Dibley.
Unfortunately, she would no longer be able to entertain us or make us laugh as Emma died in February, 2018 at the age of 53. She leaves behind her loving husband, actor Ian Dunn. Emma's agent was the one to announce her death to the public, and said that she died of natural causes.
Florence Henderson – Heart Failure
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With an acting career that lasted 6 decades, Florence Henderson had been famous for a very long time! But it’s hard to think that she suffered from stage fright and was exhibiting signs of depression and that she needed hypnotherapy treatment to get over her issues. Her fame skyrocketed when she was cast as Carol Brady, the chief matriarch, on the TV show, The Brady Bunch.
Although Florence passed away at the ripe age of 82 in 2016, it still came as a shock to her loved ones, since she was not suffering from any serious illness. In fact, just a few days before her death due to heart failure, she had visited her on-screen daughter and co-star Maureen McCormick on a recording of the TV show Dancing with the Stars!
Bill Nunn – Leukemia
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One of the notable African-American actors from the 80s and 90s was actor Bill Nunn who has had a long and illustrious movie career and has portrayed more than 70 roles! You can still catch his performance in the Spiderman trilogy movies and in filmmaker Spike Lee’s movie, Do the Right Thing.
What we will miss is seeing him in any new roles on the small and big screen since Bill passed away a couple of years ago in 2016, when he was 62 years old. In his last few red carpet appearances he was looking rather slim, but everyone just assumed that Nunn was on a new diet that led to the massive weight loss. His wife confirmed after his death that he was suffering from Leukemia, but we are not sure if he was receiving cancer treatment.
Suzanne Crough – Cardiomyopathy
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Looking at Suzanne Crough's grown-up images would not ring many bells, as she did not become a celebrity recently. Rather, she was most famous as a little kid, playing the role of Tracy Partridge in the hit TV series The Partridge Family. Hollywood wasn’t very kind to Suzanne after the show ended, and she hardly found any decent acting jobs as she grew up.
Her last on screen appearance was in the film Children of Divorce, that released in 1980. In 2010, at a The Partridge Family reunion interview on The Today Show, Crough was revealed to be an OfficeMax manager, living in Arizona. She died rather abruptly at the age of 52 in 2015, at her home in Nevada. The Las Vegas Police at the time revealed the cause of death to be cardiomyopathy.
Glenn Quinn – Heroin Overdose
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Irish actor Glenn Quinn could have been saved and his death by heroin overdose, avoided, if he had only taken help of treatment centers and admitted himself to a good drug rehabilitation centre. He lost his battle with illegal substances and was found dead on his friend’s couch.The autopsy revealed that it was caused by an accidental heroine overdose.
Born in Dublin, Glenn moved to the US in the 90s and started his showbiz career by appearing in music videos and commercials. He was later cast in the TV shows Roseanne and Angel, both contributing to his massive success. He was only 32 when he died, but had he lived, his potential was limitless.
Sunny Johnson – Burst Blood Vessel in Brain
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Flashdance may have given us actress Jennifer Beals in the leading role, but there was another fan favorite character that stole our heart, Jennie, who was portrayed by actress Sunny Jackson. She also appeared in the TV show Barett and guested on the show Charlie’s Angels, which is a very big deal for the young actress.
Sunny would have reached even higher career milestones, had she not passed away in 1984. Just a year after her movie Flashdance was released, she was found unresponsive and taken to a medical facility for emergency treatment. Sadly, she was diagnosed as “clinically dead” by medical doctors and the next day, her parents took the difficult call of taking her off life support.
Zsa Zsa Gabor – Heart Attack
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The original movie Moulin Rouge saw eccentric actress Zsa Zsa Gabor as the epitome of grace, poise and ostentatious living, but it may have been this ostentatious living that later got her into trouble. Her financial managers had to eventually help bail her out of bankruptcy and pay back huge debts.
In her later years, she suffered from many health complications after an auto accident that left her with partial mobility and she even suffered strokes, and a leg amputation. She wished to return to her native Hungary to live out the rest of her days, while her 9th and last husband wanted to throw her a grand party on her upcoming 100th birthday. Sadly, in 2016, she died just 50 days before turning 100, due to a cardiac arrest.
John Ritter – Aortic Dissection
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Comedian and actor John Ritter was perhaps destined to make it big, given the fact that his dad was western movie star (and 'Singing Cowboy') Tex Ritter. John is most known for his role in the sitcom Three’s Company, and the movies Problem Child and Problem Child 2. He was last seen on the TV show, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
In 2003, Ritter was rehearsing for 8 Simple Rules… when he was taken ill and complained of chest pains. Doctors who provided treatment said that he suffered a heart attack, but also diagnosed him with a tear in the aorta that needed immediate surgery. While the surgery was underway to fix the aortic dissection, Ritter passed away on the operating table, just six days before he would have turned 55.
Lee Thompson Young – Suicide
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Lee Thompson Young started acting on screen, with Disney no less, ever since he was an adolescent. He was a talented young man who made everyone take notice of him and his craft and was last seen in the TV show Rizzoli & Isles, where he played an important character.
One day, in 2013, Young did not turn up to the sets of his TV show and the production team sent the police to check on him. There, at his Los Angeles apartment, they found Lee dead with a gunshot wound. His death was ruled a suicide, which may have been a result of his history with bipolar disorder and depression.
Julie Gibson - Natural Causes
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For a long time, Julie Gibson has maintained the title of the 'Oldest Living Hollywood Golden Age Celebrity', since the actress and singer had lived to the ripe old age of 106. Sadly, Gibson, who was born on Feb. 1, 1938, died peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 2, 2019 from natural causes, as was reported at the time.
The actress starred in classic films like Going My Way, The Clock, Hail the Conquering Hero, and The Feminine Touch, wherein she was seen singing at a nightclub scene. Aside from singing and acting, Gibson also worked as a studio representative and dialogue coach.
Cory Monteith – Accidental Overdose
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Canadian actor Cory Monteith started out doing minor roles in TV shows before he was cast as Finn Hudson in the musical TV show Glee. That show really put him on the map and opened other doors for him, and he also landed roles in TV’s Monte Carlo and Sisters & Brothers.
Cory started abusing drugs when he was a teen and even went to rehab at 19. His addiction would catch up to him again, and in 2013, he was said to have sought professional help again for treatment. But, sadly, the same year in July, at the age of 31, he was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room due to an accidental overdose and alcohol consumption.