These Surprising Celebrity Deaths Shocked Us to the Core
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.