Stars Who Died Tragically Young

As Robert De Niro said to his son in Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale, “one of the saddest things in life is wasted talent.” When it comes to creative folk such as actors, painters and writers, the same talent that drives their ability can also trigger tragedy.

Success for these type of people can result in a situation where the darker demons of celebrities are enabled to a much greater extent than if they lived a relatively normal life outside of the limelight, without a fortune and idle time to pursue potentially destructive behavior.

Some of the most dramatic examples of creative talent leading to tragedy happen when young celebrities, such as actresses and actors, engage in destructive substance abuse patterns that result in addiction, overdose and death.

Occasionally, rising stars perish early simply because they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught in a terrible plane crash, car wreck or another type of deadly accident that cuts their lives short.

This list showcases actors and actresses that passed away far too early, tragically taking them and their talents from the world during what should have been the prime of their lives.

1. James Dean

Born in Marion, Indiana in 1931, James Dean initially studied law at Santa Monica College before pursuing his true passion by enrolling at UCLA to study theatre.

After moving to New York, he quickly established himself as a talented thespian in the theatrical production of The Immoralist before making his mark in the movies East of Eden, Giant and most notably, as an iconic badass in Rebel Without a Cause.

His stardom was rising to feverish levels when he passed away in a car crash in 1955. Dean’s talent and charisma earned him two posthumous Academy Award nominations – making him the only person to be nominated twice after their death.

2. Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger was fast becoming known as one of the best actors of his generation, with a career-defining portrayal of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight under his belt.

He rose to superstardom for his role in Brokeback Mountain as a ranch worker who has a clandestine love affair with a rodeo rider, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. It was this role that earned notice from critics and audiences alike, and he received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations along with winning the best actor honor from the San Francisco Film Critics and New York Film Critics.

At the very height of his career, and in the midst of filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Ledger died. The cause was listed as an accidental combination of sleep aids and other prescription drugs. It was believed he became emotionally and physically exhausted after his psychotic portrayal of The Joker the year before.

3. Paul Walker

Born in Glendale, California, Paul William Walker IV became a huge action star when he acted in The Fast and the Furious, a series of action-packed car chase movies with death defying stunts.

He also appeared in shows such as Touched by an Angel, Varsity Blues, Who’s the Boss? and The Young and the Restless as well as feature films like Eight Below, The Skulls and Into the Blue.

In a case of horrible dramatic irony, Walker – at the height of his Fast and Furious fame – was involved in a terrible car wreck on his way to a charity event to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The Porsche his friend was driving lost control, struck a tree and burst into flames.

4. Chris Farley

Chris Farley was one of the funniest actors of his generation, with a grace and ease of movement that belied his large physicality.

A star of Saturday Night Live for six years, his performances were some of the best that came out of the 1990s, earning him starring roles in movies that he single-handedly made watchable, such as Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja and Black Sheep.

He was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1964 and studied theatre during his stint at Marquette University. He died of a drug overdose in 1993, falling victim to his severe addiction problems and over-the-top lifestyle.

5. Brandon Lee

Theories of the curse of Bruce Lee resurfaced when his son, Brandon Lee, was accidentally shot and killed while on set filming The Crow. Apparently, instead of blanks, the gun had a live round hidden deep in the chamber, fatally wounding Brandon in 1993.

Brandon was born in Oakland in 1965 and starred in action movies such as Showdown in Little Tokyo and Rapid Fire before his big role in The Crow. Like his father, he studied martial arts and acting.

Tragically, he was to marry Eliza Hutton less than two months before his death, which was blamed on a film crew using an unapproved weapon during the creation of the film.

6. Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is still the biggest martial arts name that humanity has ever known, single-handedly developing new martial arts systems and bringing the genre to Hollywood and North America.

He was born in 1940 in San Francisco and lived in Hong Kong, where he starred in various roles as a child actor, before returning to the Unites States where he was a passionate teacher of Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do styles of fighting.

He passed away in 1973, with doctors suggesting the official cause of death being an edema of the brain due to a bad reaction to prescription painkillers. Many bizarre theories surround his death, some stating that he was murdered or died due to a curse.

7. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, nee Norma Jeane Mortenson, was born in Los Angeles in 1926. She’s one of the most enduring sirens of the silver screen, surviving a horrifying family life and childhood to eventually become one of the biggest sex symbols the Earth has ever known.

She starred in features such as The Seven Year Itch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Some Like It Hot, which propelled her to the status of an icon and living legend.

Despite her fame and fortune, she suffered from serious mental illness and addiction issues stemming from her troubled upbringing. Monroe died of a drug overdose in 1962, leaving behind a legacy that few actresses have achieved since.

8. River Phoenix

Born on a farm in Madras, Oregon, to free-spirited parents, River learned his craft as he traveled the world, eventually landing in Florida where his talents were beginning to get noticed.

With an Academy Award nomination for his work in Running on Empty and a memorable breakthrough role in Stand by Me, River Phoenix appeared destined for a long, successful career as one of the most talented young actors to ever grace the screen.

Just as his star was on the rise, he tragically died of an overdose in 1993 at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California, devastating his family and fans. His brother Joaquin and sister Rain tried to help but were doomed to witness their beloved brother pass away.

9. Cory Monteith

Born in Calgary, Alberta in 2013, Cory Monteith was one of the megastars of Glee, playing Finn Hudson, a quarterback  reluctantly recruited to the school’s glee club. His voice, charm and good looks won him a legion of fans, including Taylor Swift.

His feature film credits include Final Destination 3, Sisters & Brothers and Monte Carlo, adding to appearances on other shows such as The Simpsons, Smallville and Supernatural.

He battled addiction with the support of his girlfriend Lea Michele and by checking into a rehabilitation facility. He passed away in 2013, succumbing to the demons of substance abuse in a hotel room in Vancouver. His cause of death was an overdose of heroin mixed with alcohol.

10. Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy was born in Atlanta in 1977 and rose to stardom in her role alongside Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. She secured her star as an actress in Girl, Interrupted and 8 Mile. She also played Luanne in King of the Hill and starred in Sin City.

Brittany passed away suddenly due to cardiac arrest late in 2009, with the coroner initially suggesting she died of natural causes – a diagnosis difficult to believe at such a young age.

Since her death, a variety of bizarre and troubling evidence has emerged suggesting that she and her husband may have been murdered deliberately, as part of a shadowy, unknown plot.

11. Skye McCole Bartusiak

Skye McCole Barthusiak shot to fame in her movie roles The Cider House Rules, Don’t Say a Word and as Mel Gibson’s daughter in The Patriot. She parleyed this success into solid, consistent gigs such as a recurring role on 24 and appearances in House M.D., CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Lost, Touched by an Angel and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Born in Houston, Texas in 1992, Skye died in 2014 due to an accidental overdose of medication she was taking to help deal with her epileptic seizures. According to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the mix of hydrocodone, difluoroethane and carisoprodol caused her to pass away in her sleep.

12. Christopher Pettiet

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1976, Christopher Pettiet started his career at a young age as a child actor in various television series. As a teenager, he starring in movie hits such as Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead and Point Break, eventually earning his own show playing Jesse James on The Young Riders television program.

However, despite his success, Christopher struggled with massive addiction issues, which started to erode his health and acting opportunities.

In the year 2000, he ended up overdosing a couple of months after his birthday at the young age of 24. This was after repeated attempts to get help. Posthumously, his manager started a scholarship under his name.

13. Lee Thompson Young

An actor ever since he played Martin Luther King in a play when he was ten, Lee Thompson Young was born on February 1st, 1984 in Columbia, South Carolina.

He found success playing the title character in The Famous Jett Jackson, expanding into roles on other shows such as Friday Night Lights, Scrubs, FlashForward, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, South Beach and Rizzoli & Isles.

Sadly, Lee suffered from bipolar disorder, diagnosed with the mental illness as a teenager. He struggled with the disease while he grew his career, attending therapy sessions and taking medication to help cope. Ultimately, he was overwhelmed by the condition, taking his own life in 2013 with a single gunshot.

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009)

Brittany Murphy was suddenly found dead in her home on December 20, 2009, but it's still hard to believe that she's actually gone. For someone who lived such a short life, she managed to impact so many people with her work. For me, watching some of my favorite movies, like Clueless and Uptown Girls, is truly not the same knowing Murphy's no longer with us. But now, Lifetime is attempting to bring Murphy back to life with their unauthorized biopic, The Brittany Murphy Story — and the results are probably going to be disastrous.

And despite the fact that Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, is furious that the movie has been made, even to the point of unrightfully harassing Amanda Fuller, who plays Murphy in the film, it's still happening. There's no telling how accurate (or not) the movie might be, especially since it was created without the help or approval of those close to the beloved actress. So before the movie premieres on Saturday and gives its version, here's everything we know for sure about Murphy's death.

Murphy's death was sudden & unexpected


Murphy was only 32 when her mother, Sharon, found her unconscious in the shower in the early morning of December 20, 2009. Murphy's mother immediately called 911, and the heartbreaking audio of the call was released later. Despite the attempts of Murphy's mother and husband to revive her, Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Murphy suffered from anemia and was battling a case of pneumonia at the time, which would later be ruled the official cause of her death.

The coroner's report showed no alcohol abuse or illegal substances in her system

Two months after her death, autopsy results done by the Los Angeles Coroner confirmed that her body showed no signs of alcohol abuse or illegal substances at the time of her death, and that there could be no other cause for her death than pneumonia. According to People, they did find elevated traces of Vicodin and over the counter cold medicine — unsurprising, considering that Murphy wasn't feeling well at the time of her death. The coroner called her death "accidental but preventable," and stressed that there was no evidence of foul play.

Murphy was laid to rest in a small, private funeral

On Christmas Eve 2009, a small group of Murphy's closet family and friends came together to say goodbye at Hollywood Hills' Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where guests sang "Amazing Grace." Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, spoke tribute, and family friend Alex Ben Block gave the eulogy.
Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, died just five months later

Shockingly, Monjack was found dead on May 23, 2010 at his Hollywood home after the Los Angeles County Fire Department was called. At the time of his death, Monjack was only 40, and his mother, Linda Monjack, had told People earlier in the year that he had suffered a heart attack shortly before Murphy's death. Later that year, the assistant chief coroner announced that Monjack's death was ruled "pneumonia, just like Brittany."

Monjack was later buried beside Murphy, and a rendition of "Smile" sung by Murphy with Monjack accompanying her on the piano played as they closed the casket. It's difficult to imagine a more heartbreaking scenario for their friends and family to have to deal with.
Coroners Have No Plans To Reopen Murphy's Case.

Bertolli obtained DNA samples from Murphy for further testing and reportedly received results that said there were 10 types of heavy metals found in Murphy's system at the time of her death. "It's very suspicious," Bertolli said, according to CNN. "I feel she was poisoned and there's no question about that. She was murdered."

However, the Los Angeles Coroner told the Huffington Post that they plan to stand by their original reports. As of November 2013, the coroner's office had never been sent any third-party lab results, and so her case remains closed.


Buried Evidence

Brittany had died of ‘natural causes’ following an autopsy performed on December 21st 2009, even though certain toxicology samples were not examined, most notably her hair, tissue and fingernails. In addition, we learned that a Mees’ line examination was not conducted during the autopsy due to the polish that was still present on Brittany’s fingernails.

Mees’ lines, are prominent horizontal marks that can appear on a person’s fingernails when they’ve died due to toxic heavy metal poisoning. It is often listed that renal failure (kidney failure) has occurred when Mees’ lines are present on a body after death, particularly, acute kidney failure giving a person the appearance of ‘shock kidneys’ from the traumatic septic shock they have undergone.

Even though Brittany is said to have suffered from diabetes and hypoglycemia, it is clearly listed in the apparently leaked autopsy report, that she had shock kidneys according to the coroner, suggesting the strong possibility that she could have died from poisoning.

If Brittany did display acute trauma to her kidney’s, why wouldn’t the coroner perform a Mees’ lines examination, as the sudden shock to her kidney’s could have suggested a different cause of death?

In February of 2010 the The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner once again concluded that  Brittany died of community acquired pneumonia, citing – pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication. It should be stated that No illegal drugs were found in her system, as the substances in her blood were consistent with medicine taken for cold and respiratory infections. Here is a passage from the apparent autopsy report that confirms the types of over-the-counter medications in her system at the time of her death:

If this autopsy passage above is real, then what was behind the massive push to portray Brittany as a drug addict, claiming she was hooked to a number of illegal substances, surely the coroner’s office could have set the media straight with these facts following her death?

It’s well-known that the dead circus that is Hollywood media, likes to cook-up trashy headlines and bloated tabloid features – but in the case of Brittany Murphy, it appears as though there was a blatant disregard of facts contained within her autopsy.

The House and Molding - The Story

Brittany’s mother, Sharon Murphy sold the Hollywood Hills property formerly owned by the film star, which narrowly avoiding foreclosure after claims of toxic mold being in located somewhere in the house. She subsequently filed suit against her attorney’s after apparently not being made aware of the possibility that Brittany and Simon Monjack could have died from mold.

What’s odd here, is that L. A. County coroner Ed Winter, put the toxic mold queries to rest following Brittany’s autopsy, stating they specifically looked for evidence of mold in the death of both celebrities and did not find that it was a factor in either person’s death.

You have to wonder why was Sharon trying to sue for wrongful death, when there clearly seemed to be no case for it?

And why has she tried to put to rest theories about her daughter’s death, when there seems to be evidence of foul play?