They weren’t around long, but their lights keep shining brightly. The planet has been graced by magnificent talents who left us so early, whether they be rock gods or screen goddesses. The most famous musicians and actors who have died tragically young are here.
Many prominent actors stay forever young despite their premature deaths, including Heath Ledger, whose shocking death shook the world in 2008, to Kurt Cobain, who joined the tragic fraternity of stars who died at the age of 27 (including Jimmy Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Brian Jones).
Age | Name | Info | Died |
---|---|---|---|
15 | Anne Frank | Famous for her diaries. Died in a concentration camp. | 1945 |
17 | Ritchie Valens | A professional singer for only 8 months, he recorded “La Bamba”. Died in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly (age 22) and the Big Bopper (age 28). Other early rockers to die young include Johnny Burnette (30), and Eddie Cochran (21). | 1959 |
18 | Ryan White | Infected with HIV via a blood transfusion, Ryan’s case did much to raise awareness about AIDS before his death due to AIDS-related pneumonia. | 1990 |
20 | Billy the Kid | Famous outlaw shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. | 1881 |
21 | Sid Vicious | Sex Pistols star died of a heroin overdose. | 1979 |
21 | Aaliyah | Famous R&B; singer died in an aircraft crash. | 2001 |
22 | Freddie Prinze | Comedian, Actor, and father of movie star Freddie Prinz Jr died in a possible suicide. | 1977 |
22 | Robert Wadlow | At 8’11”, the tallest man ever died of an infection caused by an ill-fitting knee brace. | 1940 |
23 | River Phoenix | Hollywood actor died of a drug overdose. | 1993 |
24 | Notorious B.I.G. | Famous East Coast rapper shot to death in a drive-by shooting, possibly as retaliation for earlier killing of Tupac Shakur. | 1997 |
25 | Tupac Shakur | Killed in a drive-by shooting. | 1996 |
27 | Kurt Cobain | Nirvana lead singer died after gunshot and lethal dose of heroin. Presumed suicide. | 1994 |
27 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician died of a sleeping pill overdose. | 1970 |
27 | Janis Joplin | Singer died of a heroin overdose. | 1970 |
27 | Jim Morrison | Doors singer died of a heart attack due to possible drug overdose. | 1971 |
27 | Pat Tillman | Football player who left the NFL to join the Army Special Forces. Killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, which the military tried to cover up. | 2004 |
28 | Brandon Lee | Actor and son of Bruce Lee accidentally shot and killed when prop gun malfunctioned on set of “The Crow.” | 1993 |
29 | Hank Williams | Country musician died of accidental overdose of morphine and alcohol. | 1953 |
29 | Percy Shelley | Romantic poet died of drowning under mysterious circumstances. | 1822 |
31 | Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes | Singer died in car accident. | 2002 |
32 | Bruce Lee | Martial arts actor died of unknown causes in Hong Kong. | 1973 |
32 | Srinivasa Ramanujan | Brilliant self-taught mathematician died of tuberculosis. | 1920 |
33 | Jesus | Founder of Christian religion crucified in the Middle East. | 33 |
33 | John Belushi | Actor and comedian died of overdose of cocaine and heroin. | 1982 |
33 | Eva Peron | Actress and Argentina first lady died of cancer. | 1952 |
33 | Chris Farley | SNL star died of cocaine and heroin overdose complicated by obesity. | 1997 |
34 | Owen Hart | Professional wrestler died after fall while being lowered to ring during live televised event. | 1999 |
34 | Jesse James | Legendary outlaw shot in the back. | 1882 |
34 | Charlie Parker | Jazz saxophonist died of pneumonia and ulcer, brought on by drug abuse. | 1955 |
35 | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Composer died of rheumatic fever. The movie “Amadeus” suggested he was driven to death by rival composer Antonio Salieri. | 1791 |
36 | Bob Marley | Reggae musician died of melanoma which started in his toe and spread to lung and brain. | 1981 |
36 | Marilyn Monroe | Actress and pin-up died of a drug overdose. | 1962 |
36 | Lord Byron | Famous poet and lover died of fever while fighting in the Greek War of Independence. | 1824 |
37 | Lou Gehrig | NY Yankees slugger died of the eponymous disease. | 1941 |
37 | Jam Master Jay | Run-DMC DJ killed by gunshots from an unknown attacker in the recording studio | 2002 |
39 | Martin Luther King | Civil rights pioneer assassinated by James Earl Ray and possible co-conspirators. | 1968 |
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