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Divya Bharti Photo Gallery Set 11
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Divya Bharti in Wedding Dress
Divya Bharti - A Subdued Lifestory
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Divya Om Prakash Bharti Or As Known Divya Bharti (Hindi: दिव्या भारती), (25 February 1974 - 5 April 1993) was an Indian Bollywood Actress. Before Her Death She Was Number 3 In The Bollywood Industry Just Behind Madhuri Dixit And Sridevi Sadly Before Her Tragic Death. She started her career in 1990 with Telugu films making her debut in Bobbili Raja. After several other hits in the South she entered Hindi films with 'Vishwatma' in 1992 as her debut Film Which Was Average In The Box Office But She Claimed A Huge Praise in her song Saat Samundar Paar which at the time was an big hit song which made her fame. She appeared in more than 14 Hindi films within a year, the years between 1992 and Mid 1993 which Is known a smashing record at the time for a newcomer which till now is a world record for the most films within a year that no one could ever beat. She married Sajid Nadiadwala In May 1992. Her career was cut short by her tragic death in April 1993 at the age of 19. Her death was left mysteriously unknown as they could not find enough evidence of how she died therefore they closed the case in 1998 as it proved to be difficult to find any solution in how to solve her death.
RELATED STORIES
RELATED STORIES
Early life and background
Divya was born in Mumbai,India, a daughter of Omprakash Bharti, an insurance officer, and Meeta Bharti(Lodhi), a housewife. Divya Bharti(Lodhi) had a younger brother Kunal. Divya's mother was a second wife of Omprakash Bharti.
Divya Studied at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu, Mumbai. There, Divya completed grade 9th. Divya was not keen on acting during her school years. However, She used to take part in fashion shows during the Ganapati festival and she won many awards for this, while still in school.
Divya was good at studies, but she also excelled at extra-curricular activities. Divya and her brother were very good swimmers. They were champion swimmers for the Mumbai's club called Khar Gymkhana. Divya was also an expert driver. She learned to drive at age of fourteen.
Divya Studied at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu, Mumbai. There, Divya completed grade 9th. Divya was not keen on acting during her school years. However, She used to take part in fashion shows during the Ganapati festival and she won many awards for this, while still in school.
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Career
Breakthrough In Bollywood
Divya was in the ninth grade when she began to get film offers. Her face resembled to those days' superstar Sridevi and so got noticed by many directors and producers. At first her parents were hesitant, because even Divya wasn't interested. Till Nandu Tolani offered her Gunahon Ka Devta. Finally, Divya agreed to enter in to showbiz, when her mother told her that she would have to give up her studies, she got so excited. Divya was 14 and half then, In late 1988.Meanwhile, the Bharti learned via a friend that Dalip Shankar wanted a new girl opposite Aamir Khan in Aatank Hi Aatank and Rudra Avtaar. By her parents permission, Divya signed both films. During those time,Kirti Kumar, Govinda's brother noticed the charming Divya at video library. He followed her to her residence and then he called up the director Nandu Tolani, who resides in the next building and asked about Divya.
RELATED STORIES
Radha Ka Sangam Episode
The next thing the Bhartis knew was that Kirti Kumar was eager to sign Divya for Radha Ka Sangam opposite Govinda. Kirti went personally to meet Dalip Shankar and managed to release her from their contract. Kirti quoted in March 1989 in Showtime Magazine "I told Dalip that he could take any girl, but i'd never be able to find another Radha. Kirti changed her name from Divya to Radha. Producer Kirti launched her with much fanfare. He gave interviews on how he had found his perfect Radha after scouring the whole of India for her. And then before the first shot was taken, Divya "Radha" Bharti was out of the film after grooming for two years and replaced by Juhi Chawla. The reasons each side gave for the fall-out were different. Various Magazines wrote different things behind dropped out. Some said "Kirti became over-possessive about her", other said "Lawrence D'souza, who was to direct the film, left the project. Then Kirti decided to take over the film. Being new to direction, he had to drop Divya because he felt he could not handle a newcomer", other magazines wrote "Divya was having an affair with Govinda and Kirti couldn't tolerate that. Others wrote "It was Divya's immaturity, which made her drop out of film.
Re-struggle
Rise to Stardom in Telugu Cinema
And that was the green signal for other film makers to enter the fray. She was screen-tested by big names Boney Kapoor, Mahesh Bhatt, Shabnam Kapoor, Shekhar Kapoor and Subhash Ghai. They all raved about her but no one signed her, there were rumor that it was her childish reputation had preceded her. In magazines, she had earned a name for being wild and crazy. In fact, for his big budget film Prem, Boney Kapoor signed Divya. Eight days later, Divya was out and Tabu was re-signed. Later Subhash Ghai too called her for Saudagar opposite Aamir Khan and 20 days later she was out and he signed Manisha Koirala and Vivek Mushram. By then, the rejection had affected fifteen years old Divya. Since she was already out of school, they would not accept her back. As result, she was forced to sit idle. Fortunately, One of the biggest producer of Telugu cinema, D. Ramanaidu landed up at Divya's doorstep. He offered Divya , Bobbili Raja, a telugu film opposite Daggubati Venkatesh. Immediately, Divya got a Tamil Film and Rajiv Rai approached her for Vishwatma.
After being dropped out of so many Big Projects, Divya got depressed and left Mumbai. On the evening of her return, the producer of Bobbili Raja sent his men over. They wanted Divya to fly down the same night. As Divya quoted in the Nov 1991 "Movie" magazine, "I didn't want to go. I said no but mummy said yes. Imagine, the film became a super-hit and i became a superstar". The move paid off. Bobbili Raja released in the summer of 1990 became a colossal hit. She had captured the south by storm, and she was a goddess there. Even a temple had been built in her name. With more hits, she became a big name in Telugu cinema. In box-office rating, she figured next only to the indomitable Vijayshanti. Her price, according to an insider, had touched a whopping 25 Lakhs per film and 1 lakh per each additional day (If shooting postponed south producers were paying 15 lakhs for 15 days) , which was a big amount in 1991. In Bollywood, only Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi were getting those kinds of price. In 1991 Divya gave back-to-back hits including Rowdy Alludu, Dharma Kshetram and Assembly Rowdy opposite superstars of Telugu cinema including Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna and Mohan Babu. In north India, she was known as the Sridevi of Telugu films. But, that was not what Divya was looking for. She wanted to make it big in Mumbai. And she was back with fresh determination. Meanwhile, She didn't want to disappoint her Telugu audience and she cut down to do one movie per year.
Rise to Stardom in Bollywood
When Divya heard that Rajiv Rai was on the lookout for a new face for his film Vishwatma opposite Sunny Deol, she daringly walked into Rajiv Rai's office with her portfolio. And the same day signed the film. Rajiv was making the sequel to his Blockbuster film Tridev.
The film was produced by Trimurti Films Pvt. Ltd. is one of the biggest and oldest film production. Their films put many now-superstars on the map including Hema Malini in Johny Mera Naam and Amitabh Bachan in Deewar. Vishwatma was launched in the late 1990 with grand mahurat. Film actor Dharamendra gave the mahurat shot. Soon Divya was left for long outdoor shooting in Nairobi. By the time Divya came back, film offers started pouring up in Divya's lap. Without single release so far, Divya signed 14 films. She Was Also Known As Shahrukh Khan's Leading Lady as Shahrukh said she was the one that made him famous in the films Deewana, And Dil Aashna Hai.
2 January 1992 was a big day for Divya. She had many reasons for wanting the film to be successful. vishwatma did do well however the film's success didn't come close to that of Tridev and the film was declared a flop. The film premiere was attended by many film personalities including Amitabh Bachan, Yash Chopra, Jackie Shroff, Juhi Chawla, Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala, Chunky Pandey and many more. Although, "Saath Samundar Paar", which was picturized with Divya, became a hit and even today the audience remembers Divya in that song.
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And, Thus Divya too was deleted from the ranks of the promising newcomers for a while. Then Pehlaj Nihlani's Shola Aur Shabnam came along. The film proved a box office hit and Divya was riding high again. Not only did it present Divya in a noble character, but also gave big boost to Govinda's career and launched David Dhawan as established director.
Four Months later, Raj Kanwar's love story Deewana became the biggest hit of 1992, where she held her own against veteran Rishi Kapoor and the debutant Shahrukh Khan, who later went on to become Bollywood superstar and an icon of Indian Cinema. With the super success of Deewana, Divya got rid of her promising newcomer status and entered the A-list. Her performance in Deewana was highly appreciated. Around that time, Divya's other films Balwaan, with Sunil Shetty, and Jaan Se Pyaara, with Govinda released and did well at the box office. By the end of the year, Hema Malini's Dil Aashna Hai released, in which Divya played a bar dancer, who was looking for her mother. Although the film was a box-office failure, her performance in the film was much appreciated by critics.
Suddenly, with big hits under her belt, Divya had become the hottest property in showbiz. And many predicted that she was poised to hit the number one slot not very far. In fact, In September,'Movie' magazines such as "Movie", "Stardust" an "Filmfare" putnher at the 3rd position actress by the bases of price, popularity and position right after Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. But, destiny had other plans, on the fateful day of 5 April 1993, Divya fell on the compound from her 5th floor apartment, She was only nineteen.
Suddenly, with big hits under her belt, Divya had become the hottest property in showbiz. And many predicted that she was poised to hit the number one slot not very far. In fact, In September,'Movie' magazines such as "Movie", "Stardust" an "Filmfare" putnher at the 3rd position actress by the bases of price, popularity and position right after Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. But, destiny had other plans, on the fateful day of 5 April 1993, Divya fell on the compound from her 5th floor apartment, She was only nineteen.
Personal life
Barely 16, Divya met Sajid Nadiadwala in 1990 at Filmcity, when Sajid dropped by the sets to Meet his friend Govinda. Divya was shooting with Govinda_Ahuja on the sets of Shola Aur Shabnam. It was Govinda who introduced Sajid to Divya. Soon, it became a routine for the unit to see Sajid on sets everyday.
As Sajid quotes in Movie June 1993 issue "Somewhere around 15 January 1992 Divya told me that she wanted to get married. The very next day she was tense because her name was being linked with all heroes. She wanted to marry and put an end to all these controversies. People expect me to have a relationship with everyone, she would complain.
Then on 20 May 1992. Divya got married to Sajid in the presence of her hairdresser Sandhya, the hairdresser's husband and a kazi at Tulsi apartments, Sajid's Versova residence. She converted to Islam and took on a new name, "Sanah". As Sajid quotes "We kept the marriage a secret because her career was at stake. Her producers would have panicked. In retrospect, I wish we had told the truth. Divya wanted to announce that we were married but i kept telling her to wait for a while. I wish I hadn't. Every time she saw the rushes of her films, she would sigh, "This will flop and people will ask me to quit". But that never happened, her films were hits. By the end of 1993, she would have completed all her assignments.v
As Sajid quotes in Movie June 1993 issue "Somewhere around 15 January 1992 Divya told me that she wanted to get married. The very next day she was tense because her name was being linked with all heroes. She wanted to marry and put an end to all these controversies. People expect me to have a relationship with everyone, she would complain.
Then on 20 May 1992. Divya got married to Sajid in the presence of her hairdresser Sandhya, the hairdresser's husband and a kazi at Tulsi apartments, Sajid's Versova residence. She converted to Islam and took on a new name, "Sanah". As Sajid quotes "We kept the marriage a secret because her career was at stake. Her producers would have panicked. In retrospect, I wish we had told the truth. Divya wanted to announce that we were married but i kept telling her to wait for a while. I wish I hadn't. Every time she saw the rushes of her films, she would sigh, "This will flop and people will ask me to quit". But that never happened, her films were hits. By the end of 1993, she would have completed all her assignments.v
Death
Around midnight 5 April 1993, Divya fell to her death off her husband's 5-storey apartment building, Tulsi 2 in Mumbai.There were numerous speculations by the media regarding Divya's sudden demise, including the possibility of accidental death, suicide and even murder. Divya's dress designer is believed to have been present at the apartment at the time of death but the unfortunate event could not be avoided. Police closed the investigation into her death in 1998, but the circumstances of her death still remain murky.
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Her body was released on 7 April 1993 and the funeral took place the same day. About 500 people attended the funeral of then youngest heroine of the silver screen, including Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Kamal Sadanah, Raj Babbar, Yash Chopra, Jimmy Nirula, Sudhakar Bokade, Mukesh Duggal,Mahesh Anand, Aruna Irani, Raza Murad, Vikas Anand, Venkatesh, Ram Mohan, Javed Khan, Raj Kanwar, Nitin Manmohan and Pehlaj Nehlani, maker of her first hit, Shola aur Shabnam. A large number of film personalities, including Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri Urmila Matondkar, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Shilpa Shirodkar, Sonu Walia, Somy Ali, Babita, Karisma Kapoor, Sangeeta Bijlani, Tabu, Manisha Koirala and Asha Parekh, offered condolences to the bereaved family members at their residence. Her family also stated in an interview if my daughter was taking drugs and drinking, how comes she completed 14 films within a year that shows how my divya doesnt drink or take drugs shes perfectly innocent and others too knows that she was a innocent bright talented girl.
She was scheduled to star in movies including Mohra, Laadla, Andolan, Angrakshak ,Kartavya (1995), and Vijaypath before her death; her roles were recast. Divya had almost completed 80% of Laadla before her death but the entire movie was redone with Sri Devi. and footage of her performance on scenes that she had completed was released years later. The movie would have released in 1993 had Divya completed the movie but it was eventually released in 1994.
Divya's two final completed films, Rang and Shatranj, were released months after her death. These films—in addition to several films produced by her husband Sajid Nadiadwala—were dedicated to her memory.
1998
In 1998 they decided to close the case since it proved too difficult to find what had really happened for the real reason that caused her tragic death but till now her death remains a mystery and never be known of how she died but till today is remembered of her brilliant personality and acting and will never be forgotten. Because of her overwhelming performance she is still love & remembered by the people.For More :
Please Visit : Divya Bharti Portal


Forever 27 Club
The 27 Club, also occasionally known as the Forever 27 Club or the Club 27, is a popular culture name for a group of influential rock and blues musicians who all died at the age of 27, sometimes under mysterious circumstances.
Musicians usually included in the 27 Club
There is some debate as to the criterion used to include musicians who died at the age of 27 in the "27 Club". The impetus for the Club's creation were the deaths of a seemingly unusual number of prominent 27-year-old musicians within a two-year period of time, exactly. Lists include Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Morrison and Jones died on the same date two years apart. Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994, was later included by some, probably due to his popularity and his death occurring at the pinnacle of his career. According to the book Heavier Than Heaven, when Cobain died, his sister claimed that as a kid he would talk about how he wanted to join the 27 Club. On the fifteenth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, National Public Radio's Robert Smith said, "The deaths of these rock stars at the age of 27 really changed the way we look at rock music." The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll details the history of the phenomenon.There is a common superstition among the stoner culture that the use of a white lighter is unlucky. This is rumored to have originated from reports that 4 of the 5 members of the 27 club (Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, and Cobain) had a white lighter in their possession at the time of their death.
Name | Date of death | Cause of death | Fame | Aged | |
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Brian Jones | July 3, 1969 | Drowned in swimming pool. | Rolling Stones founder and guitarist / multi-instrumentalist. | 27 years and 125 days | |
Jimi Hendrix | September 18, 1970 | Asphyxiated on vomit after overdose of sleeping pills. | Pioneering electric guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys. | 27 years and 295 days | |
Janis Joplin | October 4, 1970 | Probable heroin overdose. | Lead vocalist and songwriter for Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie Band. | 27 years and 258 days | |
Jim Morrison | July 3, 1971 | Official cause of death listed as "heart failure"; however, no autopsy was performed. | Lead singer, songwriter and video director for The Doors. | 27 years and 207 days | |
Kurt Cobain | c. April 5, 1994 | Officially ruled as suicide by shotgun. | Lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Nirvana. | 27 years and c. 44 days |
Other musicians who died at 27
Some lists include other musicians who died at age 27. Cobain and Hendrix biographer Charles R. Cross writes, "The number of musicians who died at 27 is truly remarkable by any standard. humans die regularly at all ages, there is a statistical spike for musicians who die at 27."Name | Date of death | Cause of death | Claim to notability |
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Louis Chauvin | March 26, 1908 | Neurosyphilitic sclerosis. | Ragtime musician. |
Robert Johnson | August 16, 1938 | Unknown, but typically credited to strychnine poisoning. | Bluesman. Recorded very famous and influential set of 29 songs that influenced many famous musicians after him, considered the first of the unofficial 27 club. |
Nat Jaffe | August 5, 1945 | Result of complications from high blood pressure. | Blues musician. |
Jesse Belvin | February 6, 1960 | Car wreck. | R&B singer and songwriter. |
Rudy Lewis | May 20, 1964 | Drug overdose. | Vocalist of The Drifters. |
Malcolm Hale | October 31, 1968 | Carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty space heater. | Original member of Spanky and Our Gang. |
Alexandra | July 31, 1969 | Car accident. | German singer. |
Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson | September 3, 1970 | Barbiturate overdose, possible suicide. | Leader, singer and primary composer of Canned Heat. |
Arlester "Dyke" Christian | March 13, 1971 | Shot. | Frontman and vocalist of Dyke & the Blazers. |
Linda Jones | March 14, 1972 | Diabetic coma. | R&B singer. |
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan | March 8, 1973 | Gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with alcoholism. | Founding member, keyboardist and singer of the Grateful Dead. |
Roger Lee Durham | July 27, 1973 | Fell off a horse and died from the injuries. | Singer and percussionist of Bloodstone. |
Wallace Yohn | August 12, 1974 | Died in a plane crash along with three other band members. | Organ player of Chase. |
Dave Alexander | February 10, 1975 | Pulmonary edema. | Bassist for the Stooges. |
Peter Ham | April 24, 1975 | Suicide by hanging. | Keyboardist and guitarist, leader of Badfinger. |
Gary Thain | December 8, 1975 | Drug overdose. | Former bassist of Uriah Heep. |
Helmut Köllen | May 3, 1977 | Carbon monoxide poisoning. | Bassist with 1970s German prog rock band Triumvirat. |
Chris Bell | December 27, 1978 | Car wreck; ran into a telephone pole. | Singer-songwriter and guitarist of power pop band Big Star and solo. |
Jacob Miller | March 23, 1980 | Car wreck. | Jamaican reggae artist and lead singer for Inner Circle. |
D. Boon | December 22, 1985 | Lying down in the back of a van when it veered off road, he was ejected from the vehicle and broke his neck. | Guitarist, lead singer of punk band the Minutemen. |
Alexander Bashlachev | February 17, 1988 | Suicide by jumping. | Russian poet, rock musician and songwriter. |
Jean-Michel Basquiat | August 12, 1988 | Speedball overdose. | Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray. |
Pete de Freitas | June 14, 1989 | Motorcycle wreck on his way back from filming a music video. | Drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen. |
Mia Zapata | July 7, 1993 | Murdered. | Lead singer of the Gits. |
Kristen Pfaff | June 16, 1994 | Officially ruled as an accidental heroin overdose. | Bass guitarist for Hole and Janitor Joe. |
Richey James Edwards | c. February 1, 1995 | Disappeared; officially presumed dead November 23, 2008. | Lyricist and guitarist for Manic Street Preachers. |
Fat Pat | February 3, 1998 | Shot. | Rapper and member of Screwed Up Click. |
Freaky Tah | March 28, 1999 | Shot. | Popular rapper and member of the rap group Lost Boyz. |
Rodrigo Bueno | June 24, 2000 | Automobile Accident. | Argentine cuarteto singer. |
Sean Patrick McCabe | August 28, 2000 | Asphyxiated on vomit after ingesting too much alcohol. | Lead singer of Ink & Dagger. |
Maria Serrano Serrano | November 24, 2001 | Plane Crash. | Background singer for Passion Fruit. |
Jeremy Michael Ward | May 25, 2003 | Heroin overdose. | The Mars Volta and De Facto sound manipulator. |
Bryan Ottoson | April 19, 2005 | Prescription drug overdose. | Guitarist for American Head Charge. |
Valentín Elizalde | November 25, 2006 | Murdered. | Mexican banda singer. |
Orish Grinstead | c. April 20, 2008 | Kidney failure. | Founding member of '90s R&B group 702. |
Lily Tembo | September 14, 2009 | Severe gastritis. | Zambian musician. |
'Live Fast, Die Young
In rock music, dying young has famously been described as a good career move. Dead icons often sell more CDs than they ever did when they were alive.
But do rock and pop stars really die young or simply slip from public attention and die decades later, uncelebrated? A team of public health doctors from Liverpool John Moores University put the issue to the test. They assembled a list of 1,064 famous musicians, including Elvis Presley and Eminem. Then they worked out how many had died, and at what age, comparing their mortality with that of a matched sample of ordinary citizens from the US and Europe.
We all know that rock musicians hang up their guitars early, after brief lives fuelled by drink, drugs and a resolute avoidance of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. But, say the authors, led by Mark Bellis, in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health: “Young deaths of popular musicians receive widespread media coverage, yet relatively little attention is paid to numerous premature deaths routinely occurring in the general population.” So the general impression could be a false one.
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
“Musicians can disappear from public attention as they age and deaths in older musicians may go unnoticed, leaving a disproportionate impression of premature deaths,” they say. Of the 1,064 musicians selected, 100 had died by the end of 2005 – almost twice as many as would be expected from an average group of the same age. Deaths are highest in the early years of fame, with US and European musicians alike suffering more than three times as many as would be expected in their first five years.
Elvis Presley
A rock survivor in Europe, more than 25 years after achieving fame, has a death rate slightly higher than a contemporary with a more conventional career, the research indicated. But American musicians continue to die in greater numbers. Over the first 25 years, the risk of dying is 1.7 times higher. A disproportionate number of deaths are caused by drink or drugs. In Europe, these killed 28 per cent of the musicians who had died, with drug or alcohol-related accidents accounting for 7 per cent, and resultant chronic disorders 3.5 per cent. In the US, overdoses caused 15 per cent of deaths, chonic disorders related to abuse 10 per cent, and drink and drug accidents 3 per cent.
Jimi Hendrix
Heart disease accounted for only 3.5 per cent of European musicians’ deaths but 18 per cent among the Americans. Yet the median age of death is lower in Europe - 35 rather than 42. Europeans may start their careers younger and die early of immediate insults to the system, while Americans contract degenerative diseases.
Rock stars who died young:
Sid Vicious 21 Overdosed on heroin
Eddie Cochran 21 Car crash
Buddy Holly 22 Plane crash
Aaliyah 22 Plane crash
Ian Curtis 23 Suicide (hanging)
Tupac Shakur 25 Murdered (shot)
Janis Joplin 27 Overdosed on heroin
Kurt Cobain 27 Suicide (shot himself)
Brian Jones 27 Drowned
Jim Morrison 27 Officially recorded as a heart attack (various cases of death have been offered including drug overdose, respiratory illness and natural causes)
Jimi Hendrix 27 Believed to have asphyxiated on his own vomit after drinking wine and taking sleeping pills
Marc Bolan 29 Car crash
Jeff Buckley 30 Drowned
Patsy Cline 30 Plane crash
Karen Carpenter 32 Heart failure (due to anorexia)
Keith Moon 32 Overdosed on anti-seizure medication taken as part of an alcohol treatment programme
Elvis Presley 42 Heart attack
John Lennon 40 Murdered (shot)
Marvin Gaye 44 Shot by father during argument
Freddie Mercury 45 Aids
Frank Zappa 52 Cancer
John Entwistle 57 Overdosed on cocaine
Ian Dury 57 Cancer
George Harrison 58 Cancer
Dusty Springfield 59 Cancer
Great Artists that Never Reached 30 II
Several performing artists enjoyed long, almost epic in magnitude, careers. But for some, cultural significance was achieved in a short, meteoric explosion. Some fade away, some burn out. If you are a frequent CultCase reader you may have already stumbled the first article in this topic. It was only thank to our devoted readers, who protested the omission of their favorite under-30 dead artists, that we managed to assemble this complementary list. Before we begin, based on 40 examined cases, the following is a non exhaustive list of recommendations for our young, under 30, artistically inclined readers:
If you do drugs not to overdose (8 didn't). Stay away from guns, mainly held by others but also by yourself (7 didn't). Diseases such as Influenza, Tuberculosis and Typhoid often disagree with you (6 didn’t realize it in time). Modern transportation arrangements such as cars and buses (4) or planes (4) can be extremely dangerous, especially when their drivers are heavily sedated or alcohol intoxicated. Avoid fluids in your respiratory system (3 didn't) and try to stay away from wars (2 didn't). Artists can bleed. here they are, 20 more culturally significant artists that never made 30.
Hank Williams (29)
Age: 29
Cause of death: Morphine overdose
If you do drugs not to overdose (8 didn't). Stay away from guns, mainly held by others but also by yourself (7 didn't). Diseases such as Influenza, Tuberculosis and Typhoid often disagree with you (6 didn’t realize it in time). Modern transportation arrangements such as cars and buses (4) or planes (4) can be extremely dangerous, especially when their drivers are heavily sedated or alcohol intoxicated. Avoid fluids in your respiratory system (3 didn't) and try to stay away from wars (2 didn't). Artists can bleed. here they are, 20 more culturally significant artists that never made 30.
Hank Williams (29)
Age: 29
Cause of death: Morphine overdose
Hank Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer and songwriter and musician who has become an icon of country music and one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century. Above Image: Williams on stage at the Midnight Jamboree broadcasting from the Ernest Tubb Record Store.
On January 1, 1953, a 17-year-old chauffeur named Charles Carr pulled over at an all-night service station in Oak Hill, West Virginia and discovered that Hank Williams was dead in the back seat. Controversy has since surrounded Williams' death, with some people claiming Williams was dead before leaving Knoxville on his way to Oak Hill. In the above image: Hank giving a concert from the back of a flatbed truck in his hometown of Georgiana, Alabama. Audrey, Hank's first wife, is the woman in sunglasses in the foreground. Copyright: Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum
Alain Fournier (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: War
Henri-Alban Fournier, who wrote under the pseudonym Alain-Fournier,was born October 3, 1886 at the Chapelle d’Anguillon in France. In 1910, he went to work as a journalist for the Paris Journal and fell in love with Jeanne Bruneau who was later the basis for the character of Valentine in his book "le Grand Meaulnes (The Wanderer)". The creation was first published in the July-October 1913 issue of the "Nouvelle Revue française" and later on as a book. Although nominated for the prestigious Goncourt Prize, The Wanderer narrowly lost the prize to Marc Elder's "Le Peuple de la Mer".
In 1914, Alain-Fournier started work on a new book "Colombe Blanchet", which remained unfinished as he had to join the army in August 1914 and got killed only one month later. His body remained unidentified until 1991, at which time he waslaidtorest in the cemetery of Saint Remy la Colonne. Above: Alain-Fournier, 19 years old.
Bradley Nowell (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Heroin overdose
Bradley James Nowell (February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996) was an American musician who served as lead singer and guitarist of the popular genre transcendent band Sublime. He died at 28 from a heroin overdose shortly before the release of Sublime's self-titled major label debut. Shown above (center) with his Sublime mates and below, young and happy.
Bradley Nowell (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Gunshot while filming
Brandon Bruce Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993) was a Chinese-American actor and the son of the late legendary martial arts film star Bruce Lee. Lee followed in his father's footsteps, starting a promising career in action movies and signing a multi-film contract with 20th Century Fox. He was accidentally shot and killed while filming The Crow (1994). Leading critic Roger Ebert wrote that "Lee clearly demonstrate[d] that he might have become an action star, had he lived."
Heath Ledger (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Toxic combination of prescription drugs
Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian television and film actor. His work includes 19 films, most notably 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), Monster's Ball (2001), A Knight's Tale (2001), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008). In addition to his acting, he produced and directed music videos and aspired to be a film director.
Ledger died at the age of 28 from an accidental "toxic combination of prescription drugs." A few months before his death, he had finished filming his penultimate performance, as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (27)
Age: 27
Cause of death: Cocaine and heroin mix ("speedballing) overdose
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was a Haitian American artist. He gained popularity first as a graffiti artist in New York City, and then as a successful 1980s-era Neo-expressionist artist. Basquiat's paintings continue to influence modern-day artists and command high prices. He died accidentally of mixed-drug toxicity, combining cocaine and heroin, a mix known as "speedballing" at his studio in 1988. Above: Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1987 in a photo portrait by Ari Marcopoulos.
On January 1, 1953, a 17-year-old chauffeur named Charles Carr pulled over at an all-night service station in Oak Hill, West Virginia and discovered that Hank Williams was dead in the back seat. Controversy has since surrounded Williams' death, with some people claiming Williams was dead before leaving Knoxville on his way to Oak Hill. In the above image: Hank giving a concert from the back of a flatbed truck in his hometown of Georgiana, Alabama. Audrey, Hank's first wife, is the woman in sunglasses in the foreground. Copyright: Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum
Alain Fournier (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: War
Henri-Alban Fournier, who wrote under the pseudonym Alain-Fournier,was born October 3, 1886 at the Chapelle d’Anguillon in France. In 1910, he went to work as a journalist for the Paris Journal and fell in love with Jeanne Bruneau who was later the basis for the character of Valentine in his book "le Grand Meaulnes (The Wanderer)". The creation was first published in the July-October 1913 issue of the "Nouvelle Revue française" and later on as a book. Although nominated for the prestigious Goncourt Prize, The Wanderer narrowly lost the prize to Marc Elder's "Le Peuple de la Mer".
In 1914, Alain-Fournier started work on a new book "Colombe Blanchet", which remained unfinished as he had to join the army in August 1914 and got killed only one month later. His body remained unidentified until 1991, at which time he waslaidtorest in the cemetery of Saint Remy la Colonne. Above: Alain-Fournier, 19 years old.
Bradley Nowell (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Heroin overdose
Bradley James Nowell (February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996) was an American musician who served as lead singer and guitarist of the popular genre transcendent band Sublime. He died at 28 from a heroin overdose shortly before the release of Sublime's self-titled major label debut. Shown above (center) with his Sublime mates and below, young and happy.
Bradley Nowell (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Gunshot while filming
Brandon Bruce Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993) was a Chinese-American actor and the son of the late legendary martial arts film star Bruce Lee. Lee followed in his father's footsteps, starting a promising career in action movies and signing a multi-film contract with 20th Century Fox. He was accidentally shot and killed while filming The Crow (1994). Leading critic Roger Ebert wrote that "Lee clearly demonstrate[d] that he might have become an action star, had he lived."
Heath Ledger (28)
Age: 28
Cause of death: Toxic combination of prescription drugs
Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian television and film actor. His work includes 19 films, most notably 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), Monster's Ball (2001), A Knight's Tale (2001), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008). In addition to his acting, he produced and directed music videos and aspired to be a film director.
Ledger died at the age of 28 from an accidental "toxic combination of prescription drugs." A few months before his death, he had finished filming his penultimate performance, as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (27)
Age: 27
Cause of death: Cocaine and heroin mix ("speedballing) overdose
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was a Haitian American artist. He gained popularity first as a graffiti artist in New York City, and then as a successful 1980s-era Neo-expressionist artist. Basquiat's paintings continue to influence modern-day artists and command high prices. He died accidentally of mixed-drug toxicity, combining cocaine and heroin, a mix known as "speedballing" at his studio in 1988. Above: Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1987 in a photo portrait by Ari Marcopoulos.
Nick Drake (26)
Age: 26
Cause of death: Suicide by acute amitriptyline poisoning
Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter and musician best known for his acoustic, autumnal songs. His primary instrument was the guitar, though he was also proficient at piano, clarinet, and saxophone. Although he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime, Drake now ranks among the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years. During the night of 24/25 November 1974 Drake died at home in Far Leys from an overdose of amitriptyline, a type of antidepressant. The cause of death has been stated as a result of "Acute amitriptyline poisoning - self administered when suffering from a depressive illness", and concluded a verdict of suicide.
Age: 26
Cause of death: Suicide by acute amitriptyline poisoning
Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter and musician best known for his acoustic, autumnal songs. His primary instrument was the guitar, though he was also proficient at piano, clarinet, and saxophone. Although he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime, Drake now ranks among the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years. During the night of 24/25 November 1974 Drake died at home in Far Leys from an overdose of amitriptyline, a type of antidepressant. The cause of death has been stated as a result of "Acute amitriptyline poisoning - self administered when suffering from a depressive illness", and concluded a verdict of suicide.
Tose Proeski (26)
Age: 26
Cause of death: Car accident
Todor "Toše" Proeski (January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was a famous Macedonian pop singer. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and further north, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene. Proeski was known for his trademark quote "Ve sakam site" (I Love You All), and was called "Elvis Presley of the Balkans" by BBC News. He died in a car crash in Croatia on October 16, 2007.
Age: 26
Cause of death: Car accident
Todor "Toše" Proeski (January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was a famous Macedonian pop singer. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and further north, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene. Proeski was known for his trademark quote "Ve sakam site" (I Love You All), and was called "Elvis Presley of the Balkans" by BBC News. He died in a car crash in Croatia on October 16, 2007.
Aubrey Beardsley (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Tuberculosis
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (21 August 1872 – 16 March 1898) was an English illustrator and author. Beardsley was active till his death in Menton, France, at the age of 25 on 16 March 1898, of tuberculosis.
John Keats (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Tuberculosis
John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) was an English poet who became one of the key poets of the English Romantic movement during the early nineteenth century. During his very short life, his work received constant critical attacks from periodicals of the day, but his posthumous influence on poets such as Alfred Tennyson has been immense. In 1820, Keats began showing serious signs of tuberculosis, the disease that had plagued his family. On the suggestion of his doctors, he moved into a house in Rome, Italy (today a museum dedicated to his life and work) where despite attentive care the poet's health rapidly deteriorated. He died in 23 February 1821 and was buried in the Protestant Cemetery, Rome.
Randy Rhoads (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Plane crash
Randall William "Randy" Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. Despite his short career, he is cited as an influence by many contemporary heavy metal guitarists. Rhoads was killed instantly in a plane crash along with 2 of his friends, including the pilot of the plane Andrew Aycock who was also the Blizzard of Ozz group tour bus driver. All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and were identified by dental records. It was later revealed in an autopsy that Aycock's system showed traces of cocaine at the time; Rhoads' toxicology test revealed only nicotine.
Age: 25
Cause of death: Tuberculosis
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (21 August 1872 – 16 March 1898) was an English illustrator and author. Beardsley was active till his death in Menton, France, at the age of 25 on 16 March 1898, of tuberculosis.
John Keats (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Tuberculosis
John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) was an English poet who became one of the key poets of the English Romantic movement during the early nineteenth century. During his very short life, his work received constant critical attacks from periodicals of the day, but his posthumous influence on poets such as Alfred Tennyson has been immense. In 1820, Keats began showing serious signs of tuberculosis, the disease that had plagued his family. On the suggestion of his doctors, he moved into a house in Rome, Italy (today a museum dedicated to his life and work) where despite attentive care the poet's health rapidly deteriorated. He died in 23 February 1821 and was buried in the Protestant Cemetery, Rome.
Randy Rhoads (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Plane crash
Randall William "Randy" Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. Despite his short career, he is cited as an influence by many contemporary heavy metal guitarists. Rhoads was killed instantly in a plane crash along with 2 of his friends, including the pilot of the plane Andrew Aycock who was also the Blizzard of Ozz group tour bus driver. All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and were identified by dental records. It was later revealed in an autopsy that Aycock's system showed traces of cocaine at the time; Rhoads' toxicology test revealed only nicotine.
Tupac Shakur (25)
Age: 25
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was also a promising actor and a social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. On the night of September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and was admitted to University of Nevada Medical Center. He died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center. 2Pac became the unlikely martyr of gangsta rap, and a tragic symbol of the toll its lifestyle exacted on urban black America.
2Pac died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center and became the unlikely martyr of gangsta rap, and a tragic symbol of the toll its lifestyle exacted on urban black America.
Cliff Burton (24)
Age: 24
Cause of death: Bus accident
Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was a bassist best known for his work with the American heavy metal band Metallica from 1982 until his death in 1986. As a bassist he made heavy use of distortion and effects (several of which are usually associated with non-bass guitars), best exemplified on his signature piece, "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth".
On the evening of September 26, 1986, Burton was asleep when at several minutes before 7 am (on the 27th), according to the driver, the band's tour bus ran over a patch of black ice, skidded off of the road and flipped onto the grass in Ljungby Municipality, near Dörarp in rural southern Sweden. Burton was thrown through the window of the bus, which fell on top of him causing his death. James Hetfield later stated that he first believed the bus flipped because the driverwasdrunk,claiming he had smelled alcohol on the driver's breath after the accident. Above: Metallica. Left to right - Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (23)
Age: 23
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), best known as Selena, was an American singer who has been called "The Queen of Tejano music". The youngest child of a Mexican couple, Selena released her first album at the age of 12(!). She won Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1987 Tejano Music Awards and landed a recording contract with EMI a few years later. Her fame grew throughout the early 1990s, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.
On the morning of March 31, 1995 at a hotel room, Selena and Yolanda Saldívar - the president of Selena's fan club and the manager of her boutiques - had a fight over some missing financial papers. At 11:48 am, Saldívar drew a gun from her purse, pointing at Selena. As the singer turned and left the room, Saldívar shot her once in the back. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911, with Saldívar chasing her, calling her a bitch. Before collapsing to the floor, Selena named Saldívar as her assailant and gave the room number where she had been shot. After an ambulance and the police arrived on the scene, Selena was transported to a local hospital and died there from loss of blood at 1:05 p.m. She was 23.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (22)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Plane crash
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001), who performed under the mononym Aaliyah, was an American recording artist and actress. Introduced to audiences by R&B singer R. Kelly, Aaliyah became famous during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting-production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland. She found success with her debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, while introducing a "street but sweet" style which would become her trademark throughout her career followed by two more albums, One In a Million and the eponymous Aaliyah.
In addition to Aaliyah's commercial success, collaborations with Timbaland helped shape the sound of R&B in the later half of the 1990s. She also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, appeared in a Victoria Secret ad and starred in two motion pictures, Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned, before she and 8 other people died in a small plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001 after filming the music video for the single "Rock the Boat".
Darby Crash (22)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Heroin overdose
Darby Crash (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980) was an American punk musician who, along with long time friend Pat Smear, co-founded the music band The Germs. Crash committed suicide on December 7, 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on heroin in a suicide pact with close friend Casey Cola, who ended up surviving. She insists that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. As he lay dying, he attempted to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall, but did not finish.
Rebecca Schaeffer (21)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer (November 6, 1967 – July 18, 1989) was an American actress who was best known for her role in the sitcom My Sister Sam. Schaeffer was stalked and then murdered by an obsessed fan, prompting the passage of anti-stalking laws in California. On July 18, 1989, Schaeffer was murdered by Robert John Bardo, an obsessed fan who had been stalking her for three years. Bardo pulled out a gun from a brown paper bag and shot her once at point-blank range in the chest in the doorway of her apartment building in Los Angeles, California. Schaeffer screamed and collapsed in her doorway as Bardo fled. The following day, Bardo was arrested in Tucson, after motorists reported a man darting through traffic on Interstate 10. He immediately confessed to the murder.
Raymond Radiguet (20)
Age: 20
Cause of death: Typhoid fever
Raymond Radiguet (June 18, 1903 – December 12, 1923) was a French author. He associated himself with the Modernist set, befriending Picasso, Max Jacob, Juan Gris and especially Jean Cocteau, who became his mentor. Radiguet also had several well-documented relationships with women. An anecdote told by Ernest Hemingway has an enraged Cocteau charging Radiguet with decadence for his tryst with a model: "Bébé est vicieuse. Il aime les femmes." ("Baby is depraved. He likes women.") Radiguet, Hemingway implies, employed his sexuality to advance his career, being a writer "who knew how to make his career not only with his pen but with his pencil." Above: left - Raymond Radiguet. Right: Jean Cocteau, Georges Auric, Raymond Radiguet at John Russell Bibliothèque Jacques Doucet, Paris.
Age: 25
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was also a promising actor and a social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. On the night of September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and was admitted to University of Nevada Medical Center. He died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center. 2Pac became the unlikely martyr of gangsta rap, and a tragic symbol of the toll its lifestyle exacted on urban black America.
2Pac died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center and became the unlikely martyr of gangsta rap, and a tragic symbol of the toll its lifestyle exacted on urban black America.
Cliff Burton (24)
Age: 24
Cause of death: Bus accident
Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was a bassist best known for his work with the American heavy metal band Metallica from 1982 until his death in 1986. As a bassist he made heavy use of distortion and effects (several of which are usually associated with non-bass guitars), best exemplified on his signature piece, "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth".
On the evening of September 26, 1986, Burton was asleep when at several minutes before 7 am (on the 27th), according to the driver, the band's tour bus ran over a patch of black ice, skidded off of the road and flipped onto the grass in Ljungby Municipality, near Dörarp in rural southern Sweden. Burton was thrown through the window of the bus, which fell on top of him causing his death. James Hetfield later stated that he first believed the bus flipped because the driverwasdrunk,claiming he had smelled alcohol on the driver's breath after the accident. Above: Metallica. Left to right - Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (23)
Age: 23
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), best known as Selena, was an American singer who has been called "The Queen of Tejano music". The youngest child of a Mexican couple, Selena released her first album at the age of 12(!). She won Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1987 Tejano Music Awards and landed a recording contract with EMI a few years later. Her fame grew throughout the early 1990s, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.
On the morning of March 31, 1995 at a hotel room, Selena and Yolanda Saldívar - the president of Selena's fan club and the manager of her boutiques - had a fight over some missing financial papers. At 11:48 am, Saldívar drew a gun from her purse, pointing at Selena. As the singer turned and left the room, Saldívar shot her once in the back. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911, with Saldívar chasing her, calling her a bitch. Before collapsing to the floor, Selena named Saldívar as her assailant and gave the room number where she had been shot. After an ambulance and the police arrived on the scene, Selena was transported to a local hospital and died there from loss of blood at 1:05 p.m. She was 23.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (22)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Plane crash
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001), who performed under the mononym Aaliyah, was an American recording artist and actress. Introduced to audiences by R&B singer R. Kelly, Aaliyah became famous during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting-production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland. She found success with her debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, while introducing a "street but sweet" style which would become her trademark throughout her career followed by two more albums, One In a Million and the eponymous Aaliyah.
In addition to Aaliyah's commercial success, collaborations with Timbaland helped shape the sound of R&B in the later half of the 1990s. She also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, appeared in a Victoria Secret ad and starred in two motion pictures, Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned, before she and 8 other people died in a small plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001 after filming the music video for the single "Rock the Boat".
Darby Crash (22)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Heroin overdose
Darby Crash (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980) was an American punk musician who, along with long time friend Pat Smear, co-founded the music band The Germs. Crash committed suicide on December 7, 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on heroin in a suicide pact with close friend Casey Cola, who ended up surviving. She insists that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. As he lay dying, he attempted to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall, but did not finish.
Rebecca Schaeffer (21)
Age: 22
Cause of death: Murdered by gunshot
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer (November 6, 1967 – July 18, 1989) was an American actress who was best known for her role in the sitcom My Sister Sam. Schaeffer was stalked and then murdered by an obsessed fan, prompting the passage of anti-stalking laws in California. On July 18, 1989, Schaeffer was murdered by Robert John Bardo, an obsessed fan who had been stalking her for three years. Bardo pulled out a gun from a brown paper bag and shot her once at point-blank range in the chest in the doorway of her apartment building in Los Angeles, California. Schaeffer screamed and collapsed in her doorway as Bardo fled. The following day, Bardo was arrested in Tucson, after motorists reported a man darting through traffic on Interstate 10. He immediately confessed to the murder.
Raymond Radiguet (20)
Age: 20
Cause of death: Typhoid fever
Raymond Radiguet (June 18, 1903 – December 12, 1923) was a French author. He associated himself with the Modernist set, befriending Picasso, Max Jacob, Juan Gris and especially Jean Cocteau, who became his mentor. Radiguet also had several well-documented relationships with women. An anecdote told by Ernest Hemingway has an enraged Cocteau charging Radiguet with decadence for his tryst with a model: "Bébé est vicieuse. Il aime les femmes." ("Baby is depraved. He likes women.") Radiguet, Hemingway implies, employed his sexuality to advance his career, being a writer "who knew how to make his career not only with his pen but with his pencil." Above: left - Raymond Radiguet. Right: Jean Cocteau, Georges Auric, Raymond Radiguet at John Russell Bibliothèque Jacques Doucet, Paris.
Radiguet had died December 12, 1923 aged 20, of typhoid fever, which he contracted after a trip he took with Cocteau. In reaction to this death Francis Poulenc wrote, "For two days I was unable to do anything, I was so stunned". Alongside these two novels, Radiguet's works include a few poetry volumes and a play. Above: Portrait de Raymond Radiguet by Jacques-Emile Blanche.
Ritchie Valens (17)
Age: 17
Cause of death: Plane crash
Ritchie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months. During this time, however, he scored several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.
On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as The Day the Music Died, Valens was killed in a small-plane crash in Iowa, an event that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Above: Valens with Bob Keane.
Heather O'Rourke (12)
Age: 12
Cause of death: Cardiac arrest caused by septic shock due / medical misdiagnosis
Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress who played Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist film trilogy and made several television guest appearances. O'Rourke became ill in early 1987, and was misdiagnosed by Kaiser Permanente Hospital as having Crohn's disease. She was prescribed medicine to treat the Crohn's, which allegedly "puffed up her cheeks".
On January 31, 1988 O'Rourke was ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything down. The next morning she collapsed while trying to leave for the hospital and her step-father called paramedics. She suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital, and after resuscitation was airlifted by helicopter to Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego, where she died.
Ritchie Valens (17)
Age: 17
Cause of death: Plane crash
Ritchie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months. During this time, however, he scored several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.
On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as The Day the Music Died, Valens was killed in a small-plane crash in Iowa, an event that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Above: Valens with Bob Keane.
Heather O'Rourke (12)
Age: 12
Cause of death: Cardiac arrest caused by septic shock due / medical misdiagnosis
Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress who played Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist film trilogy and made several television guest appearances. O'Rourke became ill in early 1987, and was misdiagnosed by Kaiser Permanente Hospital as having Crohn's disease. She was prescribed medicine to treat the Crohn's, which allegedly "puffed up her cheeks".
On January 31, 1988 O'Rourke was ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything down. The next morning she collapsed while trying to leave for the hospital and her step-father called paramedics. She suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital, and after resuscitation was airlifted by helicopter to Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego, where she died.
Live Fast, Die Young: 20 Great Artists that Never Reached 30
Live Fast, Die Young: 20 Great Artists that Never Reached 30
The phrase Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse, originally spoken by actor John Derek in Nicholas Ray's Knock on Any Door (1949), emphasizes how unfulfilled promises have always been fascinating and intriguing for many of us. While some great artists lived up to their full potential, sometimes through decades of fruitful careers, others have passed away long before that, leaving many of us wondering which masterpieces might have lost along with their elder years. Following are 20 great artists that enlightened our souls with their art for a short time, but signed-off to rest in peace before reaching the age of 30.
1) Jean Vigo
French film maker Jean Vigo contributed to poetic realism in film in the 1930s and influenced the French New Wave of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He died of Tuberculosis on October 5, 1934 when he was 29.
2) Egon Schiele
Austrian painter Egon Schiele is well known for his twisted body shapes repeating in many of his paintings and drawings. Schiele became one of the notable exponents of Expressionism but died of Influenza on October 31, 1918 when he was 28.
3) Janis Joplin
In 2004 American singer and songwriter Janis Joplin was ranked by the Rolling Stone magazine #46 on a list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. She was a heroin addict and died of heroin overdose on October 4, 1970 when she was 27.
4) Kurt Cobain
American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter Kurt Cobain was co-founder of the Seattle based rock band Nirvana and their leading singer. Even though there are many different versions for what really happened with that shotgun on April 5, 1994 the official version is that Cobain shot himself to death when he was 27.
5) Brian Jones
British musician Brian Jones was a founding member, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of British rock band The Rolling Stones. Jones drowned in his own private swimming pool in Sussex, England on 3 July 1969 when he was 27.
6) Jim Morrison
American singer, poet, songwriter, writer and (frustrated) film director Jim Morrison, also known as The Lizard King and Mr. Mojo Risin', was the founder, leading singer and lyricist of the legendary rock band The Doors. Considered by many as the greatest, most charismatic and influential figure in rock history, Morrison ended up with very few friends and a heart attack while bathing in a Paris hotel room on July 3, 1971. He was 27.
7) Jimi Hendrix
American guitarist, singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix is considered as one of the greatest and most influential guitar artists in rock music history. According to Dr. Bannister who attended the star at the time of his death Hendrix was drowned in his own vomit, almost entirely red wine served at an earlier party. The full circumstances which led to his death, however, have never been fully uncovered. Hendrix was 27.
8) Jean Harlow
American film actress Jean Harlow was one of the most prominent sex symbols of the 1930s. Also known as the Platinum Blonde and The Blonde Bombshell, Harlow starred in several films, mainly designed to showcase her magnetic sex appeal. She died of uremic poisoning and kidney failure on June 7, 1937 when she was 26.
9) Sharon Tate
American film actress and Golden Globe-nominated Sharon Tate was one of Hollywood's most promising upcoming stars even before her marriage to genius film director Roman Polański. She was murdered on August 9, 1969 by the Charles Manson gang. Tate was 26 years old and two weeks from giving birth at the time of her horrific death. This famous photo (from John Gilmore and Ron Kramer's Manson: The Unholy Trail of Charlie and the Family) shows Tate on the murder day.
10) Georg Heym
German poet Georg Heym is known for his outstanding groundbreaking expressionist poetry. He drowned in a frozen lake during a skating trip while trying to save his friend Ernst Balcke. It was January 16, 1912 and the genius poet was just 25.
11) James Dean
Double Oscar-nominated American film actor James Dean became a cultural icon following his roll as Jim Stark in Nicholas Ray's monumental film Rebel Without a Cause. He played two more pantheon rolls (Cal Trask in East of Eden and as the Jett Rink in Stevens' Giant) but was killed in a car crash accident at the age of 24. Dean was one of the most talented and original style actors Hollywood has ever seen. He was the first actor to receive an "after death" Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Actually, Dean the only actor ever received two such nominations.
12) Judy Tyler
American film actress Judy Tyler appeared in the 1957 film Bop Girl Goes Calypso but is mostly remembered for her co-starring with Elvis Presley in the movie Jailhouse Rock. After completing her part of the Presley movie filming Tyler and her husband Greg Lafayette went on a vacation. They were killed July 4, 1957 in a car accident north of Rock River, Wyoming. Tyler was only 24 when she died. She was so young she never got to watch any of her only two films.
13) River Phoenix
American film actor River Phoenix was an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated and was listed on John Willis's Screen World, Vol. 38 as one of twelve "promising new actors of 1986". On the Halloween morning of October 31, 1993 Phoenix died of speedball (mix of heroin and cocaine) overdose outside a Hollywood night club named the Viper Room. He was 23.
14) Ian Curtis
British vocalist and lyricist Ian Curtis joined the new wave band Joy Division in 1976 and quickly became their undisputed leader. Years after his death Curtis is still a major source of inspiration and a subject for many other artists. Curtis hanged himself in his own kitchen on May 18, 1980 after watching Werner Herzog's Stroszek and listening to Iggy Pop's The Idiot. Amongst suggested reasons for his suicide are epilepsy related problems and failure of his marriage. He was 23 years old.
15) Dominique Dunne
American actress Dominique Dunne appeared in several made for television movies, television series, and films but was most known for her role as Dana (the oldest daughter) in Poltergeist (1982). Dunne was strangled into coma on November 4, 1982 by her ex-boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney after she refused to reconcile with him. Sweeney, then a popular Los Angeles chef, strangled Dunne in the driveway of her home. She died a few days later, at the age of 22.
16) Buddy Holly
American singer-songwriter and rock and roll inventor Charles Hardin Holley aka "Buddy Holly" is considered one of the most influential artists in pop music history but only lived to see about one and a half years of success. He was described as "the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll" and in 2004 ranked #13 on a list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by the Rolling Stone magazine. He died in an airplane crash on February 3, 1959 on his way to Fargo, North Dakota. The plane took off in light snow and gusty winds at around 12:55 A.M., but crashed after only a few minutes.
17) Sid Vicious
British punk musician John Simon Ritchie also known as Sid Vicious was the bass player of the Sex Pistols and one of the most prominent prophets of the punk-rock decade. He died of heroin overdose on February 2, 1979 at the age of 21.
18) Charles Sorley
Scottish war poet Charles Sorley volunteered for military service in England during World War I and arrived at the Western Front in France as a lieutenant in May 1915. He ranked Captain at the very early age of 20 but was shot in the head by a German sniper at the Battle of Loos on October 13, 1915 and died instantly.
19) Divya Bharti
Indian film actress Divya Bharti born Divya Om Prakash Bharti was a popular Indian film actress in the early 1990s. Bharti was already a shining star in 1990 when she was just 16 years old. In 1992 she appeared in more than 14 Hindi films which was at the time a record for a newcomer to the Hindi film industry. Bharti's career was ended in April 5, 1993 when she mysteriously accidentally fell off a 5-storey apartment building in Mumbai. She was 19 when she died.
20) Tara Correa-McMullen
American actress Shalvah McMullen, better known with her stage name Tara Correa-McMullen, was mostly famous for her role as gang member Graciela Reyes on the CBS TV series Judging Amy. McMullen had just about enough time to co-star with Martin Lawrence in a first feature film - Rebound - but was murdered on October 21, 2005. She was just 16 when she died.
The Dark Side of Glamour!!!
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2004 01:18:47AM ]
MUMBAI: "Loneliness is a big problem. There are only that many parties you can go to or places you can chill at. After that, it is very lonely. But it's a life I've chosen."
Barely a year after Nafisa said this in an interview to TOI, she lost her battle against loneliness.
Life in showbiz—coloured as it is with career uncertainties, fair-weather friends and no family support system for those from outside Mumbai—is not easy. Some overcome the problems, others barely survive, and a few succumb just as Nafisa did.
The glamour world has witnessed many examples of celebrities breaking down after finally achieving what they struggled so hard for.
Divya Bharti, all of 19, was at the peak of her career after her film Deewana was a box-office hit in 1993. She fell to her death from her fifth-floor balcony soon after, and although it could not be proved, her death was said to be a case of alcoholic depression.
She was married to film producer Sajid Nadiadwala.
A year later, Tamil cinema's sex symbol Silk Smitha, who sizzled up many a Bollywood dance, hanged herself from the ceiling of her Chennai home. A failed love affair had shattered her.
Member of Parliament and former actress Jaya Prada, however, was one of those who picked the pieces of their lives.
Around eight years ago, the beautiful star reportedly consumed an overdose of sleeping pills as her man in her life refused to go through the formality of divorcing his first wife.
Bipasha Basu, who, at 25, is the same age as Nafisa, admits that success is not easy to handle. "Success makes one lonely," says Basu, who came to Mumbai alone over five years ago.
"I have not made new friends after I became successful. All my pals are from the time when I was struggling in Mumbai."
Though she has a steady boyfriend in John Abraham, Basu has decided to move her parents to Mumbai by next year. "You need family and friends around you," she says.
It's not just loneliness—insecurity is another malaise of the modelling world, feels Aditi Govitrikar. "This career is so short-lived that you want to make the most of it in the little time when you are young," she says. "It's worse for those coming from outside Mumbai."
Divya Bharati (1974-1993)- A Tribute !!!

RELATED STORIES
- BIOGRAPHY OF DIVYA BHARTI
- DIVYA BHARTI FUNERAL
- DIVYA BHARTI - MEMORIES
- DIVYA BHARTI - THE DREAM
- FINAL MOMENTS OF DIVYA BHARTI
Divya felt unloved and unwanted and maybe because of that matured beyond her age. When she was 10, she decided to become economically independent and walk out of her parents' house. She hated school and her only other alternative was films. Her father, unsuccessful stage artist himself, pushed Divya to fulfill his dream and make her out to be the golden goose. In a March 92 issue of Stardust, Divya firmly denied the allegations and said with "teary eyes" that she is not ashamed of anything in her life especially her past but she wish she could avoid talking about it because "it is too personal and private". Divya first got her chance when in 9th grade, director Kriti Kumar met her around 1988 in a Mumbai Video Library and approached her to play the lead role opposite Govinda in "Radha Ka Sangam" but was later dropped. But later on, the famed Telugu film director, Mr. D. Rama Naidu, approached for his movie "Bobbili Raja" which went to become a super hit and broke all previous records in the Telugu film industry.


RELATED STORIES
Her tragic end came on April 5th, 1993, when around midnight, she fell from her husband's 5th floor building ending her ever growing successful career and most importantly her life. The circumstances behind her death were considered suspicious by the media with some saying she was pushed to her death, some saying she committed suicide and some saying she was heavily drunk and slipped. However, despite an investigation, police found nothing. To this day her death remains a mystery. Her body was only released on the day of her funeral to taken to her father's house who after hearing of his daughter sudden death, suffered from a mild heart attack and only released from the hospital on the day of her funeral. Her husband, Sajid also fainted and was taken to the hospital and was only released on the day of her funeral and after lightening the pyre, was overwhelmed by emotion and once again collasped. Around 500 people included her funeral with the likes of Anil Kapoor, Amrish Puri, Raj Babbar, Yash Chopra, Jimmy Nirula, Sudhakar Bokade, Mukesh Duggal, Raza Murad, Vikas Anand, Ram Mohan, Javed Khan, Raj Kanwar, Nitin Manmohan, Pehlaj Nehlani, Hema Malini, Karisma Kapoor, Sangeeta Bijlani, Sridevi, Manisha Koirala and Asha Parekh, offered condolences to the bereaved family members at their residence. They were not the only one, the Mumbai streets were filled with fans of the young actress coming from all over India trying to get one last glimpse of the beautiful actress. Despite being only 6, I remember her last photographs of her in a bridal suit in front page of a newspaper.

Please Visit: Divya Bharti Portal

A Work of Art
A Work of Art
by Anton Chekhov
(1860-1904)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasha Smirnov, the only son of his mother, holding under his arm, something wrapped up in No. 223 of the Financial News, assumed a sentimental expression, and went into Dr. Koshelkov’s consultingroom.
“Ah, dear lad!” was how the doctor greeted him. “Well! how are we feeling? What good news have you for me?”
Sasha blinked, laid his hand on his heart and said in an agitated voice: “Mamma sends her greetings to you, Ivan Nikolaevitch, and told me to thank you.… I am the only son of my mother and you have saved my life…you have brought me through a dangerous illness and…we do not know how to thank you.”
“Nonsense, lad!” said the doctor, highly delighted. “I only did what anyone else would have done in my place.”
“I am the only son of my mother…we are poor people and cannot of course repay you, and.… we are quite ashamed, doctor, although, however, mamma and I…the only son of my mother, earnestly beg you to accept in token of our gratitude…this object, which…An object of great value, an antique bronze.… A rare work of art.”
“You shouldn’t!” said the doctor, frowning. “What’s this for!”
“No, please do not refuse,” Sasha went on muttering as he unpacked the parcel. “You will wound mamma and me by refusing.… It’s a fine thing…an antique bronze.… It was left us by my deceased father and we have kept it as a precious souvenir. My father used to buy antique bronzes and sell them to connoisseurs…Mamma and I keep on the business now.…”
Sasha undid the object and put it solemnly on the table. It was a not very tall candelabra of old bronze and artistic workmanship. It consisted of a group: on the pedestal stood two female figures in the costume of Eve and in attitudes for the description of which I have neither the courage nor the fitting temperament. The figures were smiling coquettishly and altogether looked as though, had it not been for the necessity of supporting the candlestick, they would have skipped off the pedestal and have indulged in an orgy such as is improper for the reader even to imagine.
Looking at the present, the doctor slowly scratched behind his ear, cleared his throat and blew his nose irresolutely.
“Yes, it certainly is a fine thing,” he muttered, “but…how shall I express it?…it’s…h’m…it’s not quite for family reading. It’s not simply decolleté but beyond anything, dash it all.…”
“How do you mean?”
“The serpent-tempter himself could not have invented anything worse.… Why, to put such a phantasmagoria on the table would be defiling the whole flat.”
“What a strange way of looking at art, doctor!” said Sasha, offended. “Why, it is an artistic thing, look at it! There is so much beauty and elegance that it fills one’s soul with a feeling of reverence and brings a lump into one’s throat! When one sees anything so beautiful one forgets everything earthly.… Only look, how much movement, what an atmosphere, what expression!”
“I understand all that very well, my dear boy,” the doctor interposed, “but you know I am a family man, my children run in here, ladies come in.”
“Of course if you look at it from the point of view of the crowd,” said Sasha, “then this exquisitely artistic work may appear in a certain light.… But, doctor, rise superior to the crowd, especially as you will wound mamma and me by refusing it. I am the only son of my mother, you have saved my life.… We are giving you the thing most precious to us and…and I only regret that I have not the pair to present to you.…”
“Thank you, my dear fellow, I am very grateful…Give my respects to your mother but really consider, my children run in here, ladies come.… However, let it remain! I see there’s no arguing with you.”
“And there is nothing to argue about,” said Sasha, relieved. “Put the candlestick here, by this vase. What a pity we have not the pair to it! It is a pity! Well, good-bye, doctor.”
After Sasha’s departure the doctor looked for a long time at the candelabra, scratched behind his ear and meditated.
“It’s a superb thing, there’s no denying it,” he thought, “and it would be a pity to throw it away.… But it’s impossible for me to keep it.… H’m!…Here’s a problem! To whom can I make a present of it, or to what charity can I give it?”
After long meditation he thought of his good friend, the lawyer Uhov, to whom he was indebted for the management of legal business.
“Excellent,” the doctor decided, “it would be awkward for him as a friend to take money from me, and it will be very suitable for me to present him with this. I will take him the devilish thing! Luckily he is a bachelor and easy-going.”
Without further procrastination the doctor put on his hat and coat, took the candelabra and went off to Uhov’s.
“How are you, friend!” he said, finding the lawyer at home. “I’ve come to see you…to thank you for your efforts.… You won’t take money so you must at least accept this thing here.… See, my dear fellow.… The thing is magnificent!”
On seeing the bronze the lawyer was moved to indescribable delight.
“What a specimen!” he chuckled. “Ah, deuce take it, to think of them imagining such a thing, the devils! Exquisite! Ravishing! Where did you get hold of such a delightful thing?”
After pouring out his ecstasies the lawyer looked timidly towards the door and said: “Only you must carry off your present, my boy.… I can’t take it.…”
“Why?” cried the doctor, disconcerted.
“Why…because my mother is here at times, my clients…besides I should be ashamed for my servants to see it.”
“Nonsense! Nonsense! Don’t you dare to refuse!” said the doctor, gesticulating. “It’s piggish of you! It’s a work of art!… What movement…what expression! I won’t even talk of it! You will offend me!”
“If one could plaster it over or stick on fig-leaves…”
But the doctor gesticulated more violently than before, and dashing out of the flat went home, glad that he had succeeded in getting the present off his hands.
When he had gone away the lawyer examined the candelabra, fingered it all over, and then, like the doctor, racked his brains over the question what to do with the present.
“It’s a fine thing,” he mused, “and it would be a pity to throw it away and improper to keep it. The very best thing would be to make a present of it to someone.… I know what! I’ll take it this evening to Shashkin, the comedian. The rascal is fond of such things, and by the way it is his benefit tonight.”
No sooner said than done. In the evening the candelabra, carefully wrapped up, was duly carried to Shashkin’s. The whole evening the comic actor’s dressing-room was besieged by men coming to admire the present; dressing-room was filled with the hum of enthusiasm and laughter like the neighing of horses. If one of the actresses approached the door and asked: “May I come in?” the comedian’s husky voice was heard at once: “No, no, my dear, I am not dressed!”
After the performance the comedian shrugged his shoulders, flung up his hands and said: “Well what am I to do with the horrid thing? Why, I live in a private flat! Actresses come and see me! It’s not a photograph that you can put in a drawer!”
“You had better sell it, sir,” the hairdresser who was disrobing the actor advised him. “There’s an old woman living about here who buys antique bronzes. Go and enquire for Madame Smirnov…everyone knows her.”
The actor followed his advice.… Two days later the doctor was sitting in his consulting-room, and with his finger to his brow was meditating on the acids of the bile. All at once the door opened and Sasha Smirnov flew into the room. He was smiling, beaming, and his whole figure was radiant with happiness. In his hands he held something wrapped up in newspaper.
“Doctor!” he began breathlessly, “imagine my delight! Happily for you we have succeeded in picking up the pair to your candelabra! Mamma is so happy.… I am the only son of my mother, you saved my life.…”
And Sasha, all of a tremor with gratitude, set the candelabra before the doctor. The doctor opened his mouth, tried to say something, but said nothing: he could not speak.
by Anton Chekhov
(1860-1904)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasha Smirnov, the only son of his mother, holding under his arm, something wrapped up in No. 223 of the Financial News, assumed a sentimental expression, and went into Dr. Koshelkov’s consultingroom.
“Ah, dear lad!” was how the doctor greeted him. “Well! how are we feeling? What good news have you for me?”
Sasha blinked, laid his hand on his heart and said in an agitated voice: “Mamma sends her greetings to you, Ivan Nikolaevitch, and told me to thank you.… I am the only son of my mother and you have saved my life…you have brought me through a dangerous illness and…we do not know how to thank you.”
“Nonsense, lad!” said the doctor, highly delighted. “I only did what anyone else would have done in my place.”
“I am the only son of my mother…we are poor people and cannot of course repay you, and.… we are quite ashamed, doctor, although, however, mamma and I…the only son of my mother, earnestly beg you to accept in token of our gratitude…this object, which…An object of great value, an antique bronze.… A rare work of art.”
“You shouldn’t!” said the doctor, frowning. “What’s this for!”
“No, please do not refuse,” Sasha went on muttering as he unpacked the parcel. “You will wound mamma and me by refusing.… It’s a fine thing…an antique bronze.… It was left us by my deceased father and we have kept it as a precious souvenir. My father used to buy antique bronzes and sell them to connoisseurs…Mamma and I keep on the business now.…”
Sasha undid the object and put it solemnly on the table. It was a not very tall candelabra of old bronze and artistic workmanship. It consisted of a group: on the pedestal stood two female figures in the costume of Eve and in attitudes for the description of which I have neither the courage nor the fitting temperament. The figures were smiling coquettishly and altogether looked as though, had it not been for the necessity of supporting the candlestick, they would have skipped off the pedestal and have indulged in an orgy such as is improper for the reader even to imagine.
Looking at the present, the doctor slowly scratched behind his ear, cleared his throat and blew his nose irresolutely.
“Yes, it certainly is a fine thing,” he muttered, “but…how shall I express it?…it’s…h’m…it’s not quite for family reading. It’s not simply decolleté but beyond anything, dash it all.…”
“How do you mean?”
“The serpent-tempter himself could not have invented anything worse.… Why, to put such a phantasmagoria on the table would be defiling the whole flat.”
“What a strange way of looking at art, doctor!” said Sasha, offended. “Why, it is an artistic thing, look at it! There is so much beauty and elegance that it fills one’s soul with a feeling of reverence and brings a lump into one’s throat! When one sees anything so beautiful one forgets everything earthly.… Only look, how much movement, what an atmosphere, what expression!”
“I understand all that very well, my dear boy,” the doctor interposed, “but you know I am a family man, my children run in here, ladies come in.”
“Of course if you look at it from the point of view of the crowd,” said Sasha, “then this exquisitely artistic work may appear in a certain light.… But, doctor, rise superior to the crowd, especially as you will wound mamma and me by refusing it. I am the only son of my mother, you have saved my life.… We are giving you the thing most precious to us and…and I only regret that I have not the pair to present to you.…”
“Thank you, my dear fellow, I am very grateful…Give my respects to your mother but really consider, my children run in here, ladies come.… However, let it remain! I see there’s no arguing with you.”
“And there is nothing to argue about,” said Sasha, relieved. “Put the candlestick here, by this vase. What a pity we have not the pair to it! It is a pity! Well, good-bye, doctor.”
After Sasha’s departure the doctor looked for a long time at the candelabra, scratched behind his ear and meditated.
“It’s a superb thing, there’s no denying it,” he thought, “and it would be a pity to throw it away.… But it’s impossible for me to keep it.… H’m!…Here’s a problem! To whom can I make a present of it, or to what charity can I give it?”
After long meditation he thought of his good friend, the lawyer Uhov, to whom he was indebted for the management of legal business.
“Excellent,” the doctor decided, “it would be awkward for him as a friend to take money from me, and it will be very suitable for me to present him with this. I will take him the devilish thing! Luckily he is a bachelor and easy-going.”
Without further procrastination the doctor put on his hat and coat, took the candelabra and went off to Uhov’s.
“How are you, friend!” he said, finding the lawyer at home. “I’ve come to see you…to thank you for your efforts.… You won’t take money so you must at least accept this thing here.… See, my dear fellow.… The thing is magnificent!”
On seeing the bronze the lawyer was moved to indescribable delight.
“What a specimen!” he chuckled. “Ah, deuce take it, to think of them imagining such a thing, the devils! Exquisite! Ravishing! Where did you get hold of such a delightful thing?”
After pouring out his ecstasies the lawyer looked timidly towards the door and said: “Only you must carry off your present, my boy.… I can’t take it.…”
“Why?” cried the doctor, disconcerted.
“Why…because my mother is here at times, my clients…besides I should be ashamed for my servants to see it.”
“Nonsense! Nonsense! Don’t you dare to refuse!” said the doctor, gesticulating. “It’s piggish of you! It’s a work of art!… What movement…what expression! I won’t even talk of it! You will offend me!”
“If one could plaster it over or stick on fig-leaves…”
But the doctor gesticulated more violently than before, and dashing out of the flat went home, glad that he had succeeded in getting the present off his hands.
When he had gone away the lawyer examined the candelabra, fingered it all over, and then, like the doctor, racked his brains over the question what to do with the present.
“It’s a fine thing,” he mused, “and it would be a pity to throw it away and improper to keep it. The very best thing would be to make a present of it to someone.… I know what! I’ll take it this evening to Shashkin, the comedian. The rascal is fond of such things, and by the way it is his benefit tonight.”
No sooner said than done. In the evening the candelabra, carefully wrapped up, was duly carried to Shashkin’s. The whole evening the comic actor’s dressing-room was besieged by men coming to admire the present; dressing-room was filled with the hum of enthusiasm and laughter like the neighing of horses. If one of the actresses approached the door and asked: “May I come in?” the comedian’s husky voice was heard at once: “No, no, my dear, I am not dressed!”
After the performance the comedian shrugged his shoulders, flung up his hands and said: “Well what am I to do with the horrid thing? Why, I live in a private flat! Actresses come and see me! It’s not a photograph that you can put in a drawer!”
“You had better sell it, sir,” the hairdresser who was disrobing the actor advised him. “There’s an old woman living about here who buys antique bronzes. Go and enquire for Madame Smirnov…everyone knows her.”
The actor followed his advice.… Two days later the doctor was sitting in his consulting-room, and with his finger to his brow was meditating on the acids of the bile. All at once the door opened and Sasha Smirnov flew into the room. He was smiling, beaming, and his whole figure was radiant with happiness. In his hands he held something wrapped up in newspaper.
“Doctor!” he began breathlessly, “imagine my delight! Happily for you we have succeeded in picking up the pair to your candelabra! Mamma is so happy.… I am the only son of my mother, you saved my life.…”
And Sasha, all of a tremor with gratitude, set the candelabra before the doctor. The doctor opened his mouth, tried to say something, but said nothing: he could not speak.
Labels:
Anton Chekov,
devotion,
friendship,
Ideal,
love,
Sacrifice,
short stories,
Story,
true
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