20 Stars Who Died Way Too Young – More
While it is a tragedy when a young person dies, when stars die before their time, the ripple can be felt around the world. celebrity deaths in particular serve as an uncomfortable reminder that our time on the planet is finite. none of us will live forever. and none of us, no matter how rich, famous, or talented, are immune from unfortunate circumstances. however, what the following 20 stories of young actresses can teach us is to appreciate the time we have.
o’rourke heather
Sadly, the world will never know if Heather O’Rourke would have become an award-winning actress because she died at the tender age of 12, before her acting career could take off. If you don’t immediately recognize O’rourke’s white blonde locks and blue eyes, you might remember her from her famous line in Steven Spielberg’s Poltergeist: “They’re heeeere!” O’rourke also made guest appearances on various television shows, including Happy Days. O’Rouke died in San Diego on January 31, 1988, after suffering skeptical shock and cardiac arrest due to a misdiagnosed congenital intestinal stenosis. she died on the operating table.
young lee thompson
Best known for his lead role in Disney Channel’s “Famous Jett Jackson,” Lee Thompson Young showed great promise as an actor, even earning a Young Artist Award nomination. He stars in several movies and TV shows, including “Friday Night Lights” and the TNT drama “Rizzoli & Islands”, but the success of his career was not enough to keep Young’s chronic depression at bay. Young, who had been seeking help for his bipolar disorder, was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment on August 19, 2013. An investigation confirmed that the 29-year-old had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. his death was ruled a suicide.
brad renfro
brad renfro made his acting debut at the age of 11, when he starred opposite susan sarandon and tommy lee jones in the critically acclaimed client. Renfro had been cast in the role due to his convincing ability to play a “tough” boy who had “grown up too fast”. Perhaps art was imitating life, because soon after Renfro ran into trouble with the law. he was only 15 years old when he was first arrested for drugs and was arrested several more times for drug and theft related charges over the next 10 years. Despite his problems with substance abuse, Renfro managed to complete more than 20 films, including The Cure and Sleepers. Tragically, Renfro never lived to see 30; He died of an accidental heroin overdose on January 15, 2008. He was only 25 years old.
brittany murphy
Although Brittany Murphy won high praise for her roles in Girl, Interrupted and 8 Mile, she’ll always be best known for playing the lovable airhead Tai Frasier in the 1995 teen comedy Clueless. When Murphy died on December 20, 2009, rumors circulated that the 32-year-old star suffered from anorexia and cocaine addiction. However, according to the coroner’s report, Murphy’s death was due to natural causes: pneumonia and anemia. In a strange and sad twist, Murphy’s husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, died five months later, also of pneumonia and anemia. coincidence? Some people, including Murphy’s father, speculate that Murphy and Monjack may have been poisoned.
aaliyah
Singer, actress and model aaliyah first rose to fame at the age of 10, when she acted in “star search”. she signed her first record deal two years later, launching a career that would include such hits as “Are You That Someone?” and a spot on vh1’s top women in music list. Music critics speculate that she could have been the next Whitney Houston or Janet Jackson; she was that talented. director michael rymer described aaliyah as a woman with “such clarity about what she wanted. nothing was going to stand in her way. no ego, no nervousness, no manipulation. there was nothing to stop her.” Nothing, that is, until August 25, 2001, when Aaliyah boarded a plane in the Bahamas; a plane that crashed on the airport tarmac moments after takeoff, killing the singer and all on board. aaliyah was only 22 years old.
natasha richardson
As the daughter of five generations of British stars, Natasha Richardson could be said to have been born to be an actress. During her nearly 40-year career, Richardson won several prestigious theater awards, including a Tony for her performance in the Broadway musical Cabaret. She also starred in several movies, including The Handmaid’s Tale, The Parent Trap and The Handmaid in Manhattan. richardson’s life was tragically cut short in march 2009 during a ski trip in quebec, when ella richardson fell and hit her head. Although she seemed fine in the hours after the accident, her fall caused a traumatic brain injury that later proved fatal. Ella Richardson died in a Manhattan hospital at the age of 45.
marvin gaye
for a singer of romantic classics like “how sweet it is (to be loved by you)” and “let’s do it”, the circumstances surrounding gaye’s death were surprisingly violent. Gaye was fatally shot by her own father, Marvin Gaye Sr., when he tried to break up a fight between her parents. Gaye died on April 1, 1984 at the age of 44. He posthumously received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
corey monteith
Actor Corey Monteith, who played heartthrob jock Finn Hudson on Glee, was just 31 years old when he died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol on July 13, 2013. Montheith’s death was particularly tragic given that, in At the time, Monteith was actively trying to stay clean. He checked into rehab in April 2013, just three months before he was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room.
ledger
When news broke on January 22, 2008 that Heath Ledger had died from an accidental prescription pill overdose, fans were shocked. The 28-year-old Australian actor, who played the Joker in The Dark Knight, was more than just a pretty face, he was a real acting talent, as evidenced by his highly regarded performances in Back Mountain and The Patriot. Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his role in The Dark Knight.
paul walker
although paul walker rose to fame playing a street cop in the movie fast & furious movies, it was a ride in the passenger seat that would lead to his untimely death. On November 30, 2013, Walker and his friend Roger Rhodes were killed instantly when their car hit a utility pole and burst into flames. The 40-year-old star was not only known for his baby-faced good looks, but also for his humanitarian efforts. In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, for example, Walker personally flew to both countries to help the victims. Walker Fast co-star Vin Diesel named his daughter Pauline, after his late friend.
amy winehouse
Soul singer Amy Winehouse didn’t live a long life, but she lived a full one, becoming the first British woman to win five Grammy Awards. Ironically, the “rehab” singer was famous for her intoxicated performances and rambling interviews, but her friends and family remember her as a generous spirit. winehouse donated much of her wealth and her time to charity. she once covered the entire medical expenses of a sick man she met on the beach in st. Lucia Winehouse was found dead at her home in London, England, on July 23, 2011. She died of alcohol poisoning at the age of only 27.
jeff buckley
Although Buckley only lived long enough to produce one album, Grace left his mark on great songwriters like Bob Dylan, who called Buckley “one of the great songwriters of this decade.” David Bowie once told Pulse magazine that Grace would be one of the albums he would want to have with him if he was stranded on a desert island. Buckley’s career was cut short on May 29, 1997 when he drowned during a makeshift overnight swim. No drugs or alcohol were found in Buckley’s system and, according to eyewitnesses, Buckley appeared to be in good health and mental condition when he entered the water, fully clothed. his death was ruled an accidental drowning.
notorious big
rapper christopher wallace, or notorious big.i.g. As he was most famously known, he was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 1997 in California. the shooting remains unsolved today. In a strange foreshadowing, Wallace had called his second and final album “The Afterlife”. he died at the age of 24 and his album was released just two weeks later.
robin williams
Unlike the other celebrities on this list, Robin Williams, who was 63 at the time of his death, did not die young. Williams had a successful career and family life, starring in more than 50 films, one of which earned him an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and fathering three children. however, william’s tragic death left audiences with the nagging feeling that while his film career had been complete and remarkable, it ended abruptly and too soon. Although Williams had suffered from addiction in the past and was clinically depressed at the time of his death, his suicide was thought to be caused by Parkinson’s disease, which resulted in anxiety, paranoia, and dementia.
selena
Mexican-American singer Selena was once named by Billboard magazine as the “Best Latin Artist of the ’90s” and the “Best-Selling Latin Artist of the Decade.” On March 31, 1995, when Selena was just 23 years old, the singer, songwriter and “queen of Tejano music” was shot to death by the founder of her fan club at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. After her death, she released her first crossover album in English, achieving record sales and winning awards, including “Female Pop Album of the Year” at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. if selena had lived, she probably would have come far. She was a pioneer and paved the way for other Latin pop singers, including Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
steal knox
Child actor Rob Knox, who played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, died in 2008 outside a London pub at the young age of 18. Despite the location, Knox was not the victim of an overdose or addiction. . knox was killed; stabbed while trying to protect her younger brother from him during a fight. Tragically, he died at the start of what could have been a promising career. He had been acting in small television and film roles since he was 11 years old and was set to reprise his role as the potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
otis redness
Although Otis Redding was recognized as a gifted soul singer when he released the 1962 hit “These Arms of Mine,” it wasn’t until “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” hit the airwaves in the late 1960s. .that redding became a household name. Unfortunately, however, Redding was not around to see his dream of superstardom come true. On December 10, 1967, just a month before the single’s release, 26-year-old Redding died in a plane crash. “the dock of the bay” sold four million copies worldwide and won two grammy awards.
tupac shakur
although tupac shakur was only 25 years old when he was killed in a drive-by shooting, he had already accomplished more than most do in a lifetime. In the five years since the start of his music career, Shakur has recorded five studio albums and acted in seven films. Rolling Stone named Shakur “one of the greatest artists of all time” and his record sales have earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s best-selling rap artist. To date, Shakur has sold 75 million records and continues to break records even in death. seven of his 11 platinum-selling albums have been released posthumously; putting shakur on the forbes list of highest earning deceased celebrities.
michael clarke duncan
michael clarke duncan worked in hollywood for years before he started acting, mainly in security. Prior to his starring role in the 1998 film Armageddon, he served as a bodyguard to Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Notorious Big, among others. But after the mysterious murder of the Notorious B.I.G in 1997, Duncan quit and turned his attention to acting, starring in such blockbusters as The Whole Nine Yards and Planet of the Apes. He was even nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his role as the lovable recluse John Coffey in The Green Mile. At the age of 54, Duncan’s career came to an abrupt end when he suffered a heart attack. Despite attempts at CPR from his girlfriend, Duncan passed away at a Los Angeles hospital on September 3, 2012.
phoenix river
when actor river phoenix, 23, had drug-induced seizures outside the viper room in hollywood, people were shocked. the stand-by actor had a clean image for me. he had recently been nominated for an academy award and was a highly publicized vegan and environmental rights activist. a drug overdose just hadn’t shown up in his letters. And yet, on October 31, 1993, shortly after leaving the famous Hollywood nightclub, Phoenix collapsed. he died on the sidewalk of cardiac arrest. Before Phoenix’s death, all signs pointed to a long and successful career; he had gotten papers in interview with a vampire and milk, among others. There were even rumors that he would star in the basketball dailies, a role that would become one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s breakout roles.
