Here is a list of the most unexpected, sensational, and sad deaths of world famous celebrities. Find out which of them died from a car accident, suicide, or murder. Why some Stars just fade and disappear, while others are famous even decades after their deaths?
We all know Stars have a habit of burning brightly and then vanishing just as suddenly as they once shone. Some celebrities, however, seem to disappear inexplicably in the middle of the night and leave us curious as to what exactly happened. Conspiracy theories abound, and we search for answers to explain a way such strange Star-studded disappearances. Car accidents, consequences of excessive lifestyle, murder, and suicide seem to be the main culprits for these tragic events, yet for some, the final curtain call seems altogether more mysterious and downright scary. Just what lets some of our most alluring role models to check out so early?
We will count down from number 10 in this gallery of misfortune and tragedy. So, without further ado, let's find out who burned so bright but disappeared so suddenly. In this episode of The Infographics Show “The Most Surprising Historical Celebrity Deaths”.
10. Brian Jones (1942-1969)
Coming in at number 10 is Brian Jones. Jones is one of the founding members of The 27 Club – a posthumous group of musicians who all died at the age of 27. He was the founding guitar player of the Rolling Stones and he was discovered floating dead in his own swimming pool, following a party he'd had the same night. Brian had been a strong swimmer in his youth but he’s certainly swam for the last time that night. He’d clearly had people over, that, perhaps, he shouldn't have, but hey, this was the 60s and free love could turn messy fast.
9. Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Number 9 is novelist and poet Edgar Allan Poe. He was found on a rainy Baltimore night in 1849, delirious and dressed in somebody else's clothing, lying in the gutter. He was taken to the hospital where he drifted in and out of consciousness. During violent outbursts, Poe screamed the name “Reynolds”. Reynolds was believed to be Henry R. Reynolds – a judge at the tavern polling station, a location Poe was supposed to be shortly before his death. One theory is that Poe was kidnapped, forced to binge drink, vote repeatedly, and each time dressed in different clothes before being tossed out penniless and delirious onto the Baltimore streets. Poe died later in the hospital, having never recovered enough to tell anybody quite what had happened.
8. Jim Morrison (1943-1971)
Number 8 is another member of The 27 Club – Jim Morrison. Jim was discovered dead in a bathtub in Paris. The Door's singer had been taking some time off from the limelight to exercise his more literary and poetic aspirations in the City of Light when he collapsed in a nightclub of a possible heroin overdose. His pals carried him to his apartment and laid him in cold water, but even that wasn't enough to resurrect “the Lizard King” who had finally met the end.
7. Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)
Number 7 is a double billing of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. Tupac was shot dead first in Las Vegas in a car, while his bodyguards surrounded him and his Label Boss who was driving. Neither the bodyguards, nor the Label Boss were harmed. Six months later, the Notorious B.I.G. died in eerily similar circumstances in LA, leading to strong rumors of a hip-hop conspiracy killing.
6. Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
At number 6, yet another member of the legendary 27 Club Kurt Cobain. Kurt rewrote the 1990s music scene with his Seattle band Nirvana and went on to record “Never Mind” – an instant classic and commercial triumph across the world. Years touring, and Kurt was spent. He went into a semi-reckless existence and on April 15, 1994, he committed suicide, leaving a wife, child, and millions of shocked fans to wonder where it all went wrong.
5. James Dean (1931-1955)
Number 5 is James Dean, the 24-year-old Hollywood actor was on a fast track to major stardom and with only three movies, including Rebel Without a Cause under his belt, Dean looked set to conquer the world. And hit with critics and fans alike, the 24-year-old died in a car accident on September 30, 1955. A car lover, Dean was speeding in his new Porsche when he struck another car and died instantly, leaving many industry insiders and fans dumbstruck.
4. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
Number 4 is John F. Kennedy. The 35th President of the United States was the second youngest ever, at 43 years of age, to take office in the White House. On November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, Kennedy was traveling in a motorcade when shots were fired and the president was hit and fatally injured. In a strange twist, the man charged for killing the president, Lee Harvey Oswald, was himself assassinated before his trial by Jack Ruby, who died of cancer before he himself was sentenced.
3. Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
Number 3 is the king himself Elvis Presley. Elvis was a pioneer of rock-n-roll and, perhaps, the most famous American ever to have lived with an image recognizable worldwide. Presley drew his last breath while on the toilet in his Memphis estate on August 16, 1977. Elvis, who was a slightly more portly version of his previous self, was engaged in a heavy Vegas schedule towards the final curtain. Originally thought to have died of a heart attack, owing to his religious cheeseburger diet, it was later discovered that the 42-year-old entertainer had been all shook up on prescription medication for a long time. Over 100,000 fans showed up to the public viewing of Elvis's body at the Graceland estate.
2. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)
At the number 2 spot, is possibly one of the most legendary female Hollywood icons ever to have graced the big screen. Like Elvis, her image is immortalized by pop artist Andy Warhol and her beauty preserved in films, such as “Some Like It Hot” and “The Seven Year Itch”. The actress Marilyn Monroe was found naked and dead in her home at Helena Drive in LA on August 5, 1962, from a presumed suicide. She was lying on her stomach, surrounded by empty pill bottles, with a telephone receiver in one hand. The 36-year-old had become a recluse up until her final days and, following her death, numerous rumors have materialized. Some were trying to establish a link between her demise and that of #4 on our list – John F. Kennedy.
1. Princess Diana (1961-1997)
And, finally, number 1 is none other than Princess Diana. Diana Spencer became Princess of Wales on July 29 1981, when she married Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne. Having divorced Charles on August 28, 1996, she still retained her title of Princess, being mother of the future heir to the throne, when she began to date Dodi Fayed, the son of Harrods millionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. The princess was with Dodi and their driver when they were killed in a vehicle crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, while attempting to shake off paparazzi pursuers. Her funeral was viewed by millions of people around the world and, for some, she will always be the “Queen of Hearts” and the “People's Princess”. She was the first royal in a long time that had connected with the people. She engaged in countless charity and PR events across the world and was championed for compassion and pragmatism.
So, that's our Top-10 list of Historic Celebrity Deaths. Some honorable mentions that didn't make the list go to Aryton Senna, Amy Winehouse, River Phoenix, Buddy Holly, Natalie Wood, John Candy, Magic Jordan, and Rudolph Valentino.
