Child Stars That Tragically Died

1. Jonathan Brandis.

Jonathan Brandis was a model before landing the starring role in Steven Spielberg’s Seaquest DMV which also led to him working as a writer and producer. Unfortunately after a long struggle with depression Brandis hung himself at 27.

2. Matthew Garber

You might remember Garber from the classic Disney film Mary Poppins. He also featured in two more Disney movies before retiring. At 21 he died due to complications of Pancreatitis in 1977.

3. Michelle Thomas.

Thomas is best known as an actress on Family Matters and The Cosby Show. She died of stomach cancer in 1998 at age 29.

4. River Phoenix.

Definitely one of the most famous child star deaths of all time, Phoenix was being touted as one of the next big actors in Hollywood, appearing in Stand By Me and Running on Empty. On Halloween night 1993, Phoenix suffered a drug overdose and died outside the Viper Room on The Sunset Strip in front of his brother Joaquin and sister Rain.

5. Lee Thompson Young.

Young was an actor on the rise who had a lead role in Friday Night Lights but suffered from Bipolar disorder which led to him committing suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2013, aged 27.

6. Judith Barsi.

Barsi was in The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go To Heaven. Unfortunately she was in an extremely abusive domestic environment and was eventually murdered along with her mother by her father in 1988. She was only 10-years-old.

7. Josh Ryan Evans.

Evans was in Baby Geniuses and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He would often play characters much younger than himself because he was born with Achondroplasia which is a type of dwarfism. He was 17 at the time of his biggest role when he played a child in Passions. He died in 2002 during an operation for a congenital heart condition.

8. Christopher Pettiet.

Pettiet was most famous for his role as Christina Applegate’s younger brother in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. He died of an accidental drug overdose in 2000 at the age of 24.

9.  Ashleigh Aston Moore.

Moore started acting when she was four and her most notable role was in the film Now and Then. She retired from acting in 1997 but eventually went the way of many child stars and died of a heroine overdose in 2007.

10. Rob Knox.

Knox landed a role in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. He was supposed to reprise the role in the final film however he was stabbed to death during a fight while trying to protect his younger brother when he was just 18.

11. Heather O’Rourke.

O’Rourke played Carol Anne in the iconic 1982 film Poltergeist. She was selected by Steven Spielberg himself for the part and spouts the now iconic line “they’re here”. Following the film she was diagnosed with Intestinal Stenosis in 1988 and died due to complications from an operation at the age of 12.

12. Justin Pierce.

Pierce was a British actor that played Casper in the film Kids and starred alongside Ice Cube in Next Friday. He was found hanging in his hotel room by a security guard in 2000 at the age of 25.

13. Bridgette Anderson.

This adorable child star was in Savannah Smiles, Family Ties, Fever Pitch and The Parent Trap II. However, she was another star that suffered addictions to alcohol and heroine, was estranged with her family and died following an overdose in 1997 at the age of 21.

14. Brad Renfro.

You might remember Renfro from his breakout role in The Client which led to his involvement with 21 other films in his short but illustrious career. He battled alcoholism and and a heroine addiction which ended up costing him his life at the young age of 25.

15. J. Madison Wright Morris.

The young actress from The Burning Zone and Safety Patrol struggled with health her whole childhood. She fought through multiple bouts of pneumonia, was diagnosed with Restricted Cardiomyopathy and had a heart transplant at 15 which only allowed her to reach the age of 21 before she suffered a heart attack and died one day after returning from her honeymoon.

10 Most Tragic Star Deaths

Hollywood stars may seem larger than life to their fans, but of course, they are just as vulnerable to life’s tragedies as the rest of us, including the chance of dying at a young age. And while the unexpected loss of a loved one is always a mournful occasion, the loss of a young person is particularly heartbreaking. Sadly, there have been quite a few Hollywood child stars who have died young. Here are 10 beloved child actors who passed away far too soon.

1. Gary Coleman (1968-2010)

Gary Coleman became a child star through his role as the wisecracking Arnold Jackson on the 1980s hit television series Diff’rent Strokes. On the show, Coleman played one of two African-American brothers that are adopted by a wealthy white widower. The show turned the diminutive actor into a pop culture phenomenon, thanks to his character’s memorable catchphrase: “What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” While Coleman was a child when he first starred on the show, he remained short-statured throughout his adult life due to multiple chronic health problems that permanently stunted his growth and kept his height at 4 feet, 8 inches.

Unfortunately, despite the fame that Diff’rent Strokes brought him, Coleman was plagued with money problems for most of his life. As an adult, he discovered that his parents and agent had misappropriated his childhood earnings. After a successful lawsuit, Coleman was awarded $1.3 million, as reported by Jet magazine. As he got older, Coleman gained further tabloid notoriety for multiple altercations with fans.

He was also cited for disorderly conduct for several incidents involving actress Shannon Price, his girlfriend and wife. Tragically, Coleman’s many health issues likely contributed to his early death at the age of 42. On May 28, 2010, after sustaining injuries due to a fall in his home, the troubled actor passed away from a brain hemorrhage at a hospital in Utah.


2. Corey Haim (1971-2010)

If you watched movies in the 1980s, you are probably familiar with Corey Haim. The young actor starred in many popular teen movies throughout the decade, often alongside real-life friend Corey Feldman. Haim made his feature film debut in 1984’s Firstborn, a movie about an abusive drug addict that also starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey, Jr., and Peter Weller. A slew of other film appearances soon followed, including starring roles in Silver Bullet and made-for-TV drama Lucas (alongside a young Winona Ryder). In 1987, Haim starred in the teen horror film The Lost Boys alongside many other notable young 1980s stars. The success of the film made Haim a household name and led to many other teen movie roles.

Unfortunately, even while his acting career was taking off, Haim’s personal life was spiraling out of control. As noted in Feldman’s memoir Coreyography, both actors were introduced to hard drugs like cocaine at a young age. Feldman also claimed that they were both sexually abused as children by people in the movie industry, and that the trauma of that abuse likely fueled Haim’s self-destructive behavior. As Haim’s popularity began to wane in the early 1990s, his drug addictions became even more serious, despite multiple attempts to get clean with stints in rehab.

On March 10, 2010, an unresponsive Haim was found by his mother in the apartment that they shared. After being transported to a hospital, the 38-year-old Haim was pronounced dead. According to Access Hollywood, the coroner determined that the cause of death was due to pulmonary congestion and not a drug overdose, as many people initially assumed. However, it is widely believed that Haim’s years of drug abuse indirectly contributed to his death by taking a toll on his overall health.


3. River Phoenix (1970-1993)

River Phoenix was a promising young actor and musician who earned his fame at an early age thanks to his breakout role in 1986’s Stand By Me. Although Phoenix was best known for his acting work, this talented star was also a musician who sang and played lead guitar for Aleka’s Attic, a band he formed with his sister Rain. Phoenix’s well-received performance in Stand By Me soon led to additional roles in major motion pictures, including The Mosquito Coast, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and Little Nikita.

In 1988, Phoenix garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of a counterculture couple’s son in Sidney Lumet’s Running on Empty. The following year, he had a small role as a young Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In 1991, Phoenix delivered yet another critically acclaimed performance as a narcoleptic street hustler in Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho.

While it appeared that this young actor was well on his way to becoming a major movie star, sadly, this was not to be. In the early morning hours of October 31, 1993, Phoenix collapsed outside of a nightclub in Los Angeles in front of his brother Joaquin and sister Rain. Phoenix was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. As noted by The New York Times, the coroner reported finding “deadly levels of cocaine and morphine” in his system. He was only 23 years old.


4. Paul Walker (1973-2013)

While Paul Walker is primarily remembered today for his starring role in The Fast and the Furious films, this actor also appeared in multiple TV shows and movies as a child. His big break came when he was cast in 1986’s Monster in the Closet, a horror comedy movie that also featured Stacy Ferguson (of Black Eyed Peas fame), Howard Duff, and John Carradine. As a child actor, he appeared in several TV series, including Highway to Heaven and Throb.

However, his greatest career success came as an adult, when he was cast as Brian O’Conner in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious. The box office success of The Fast and the Furious led to roles in other major motion pictures, including Timeline, Into the Blue, and Flags of Our Fathers. He reprised his role as Brian O’Conner in five sequels to The Fast and the Furious, including 2015’s blockbuster Furious 7.

On November 30, 2013, Walker left a benefit event for his Reach Out Worldwide charity in a Porsche driven by a friend. The driver soon lost control of the car, and the subsequent fiery crash killed both men. According to investigators cited by CNN, the cause of the accident was “unsafe speed for the roadway conditions.” Walker had recently turned 40 years old.

5. Brittany Murphy (1977-2009)

Brittany Murphy appeared in several TV sitcoms and commercials before getting her big break with a role in the 1995 hit comedy film Clueless. In the film, Murphy portrayed an “ugly duckling” high school girl who is given a transformative makeover by a more popular girl, played by Alicia Silverstone. Loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, Clueless garnered critical acclaim and led to Murphy getting other roles in major motion pictures such as Girl, Interrupted; 8 Mile; and Sin City. She also lent her voice talents to Mike Judge’s animated TV show King of the Hill for the character of Luanne Platter.

On December 20, 2009, Murphy was taken to the hospital by emergency services after collapsing in her home. She was pronounced dead after going into cardiac arrest. According to the autopsy report obtained by CNN, Murphy had “acute pneumonia” and was suffering from a “chronic iron deficiency.” The report also noted the presence of multiple cold medications in Murphy’s system that may have contributed to her death. Murphy was only 32 years old.

Although Murphy’s death was ruled accidental, various conspiracy theories have emerged that blame her death on everything from toxic mold to harassment by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as reported by The Huffington Post. The mystery surrounding this young star’s untimely death only deepened after Murphy’s husband, Simon Monjack, died under similar circumstances five months later in the same house.


6. Heather O’Rourke (1975-1988)

Heather O’Rourke was a child actor who is most famous for her role in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist and its two sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III. In the first film, the angelic-looking O’Rourke plays the role of Carol Anne Freeling, the youngest daughter in a family whose home is plagued by a supernatural apparition. The Poltergeist movie poster that features O’Rourke with her hands on a television screen transmitting static is perhaps one of the most iconic ever created, while the “They’re here” line that she delivers in the movie is so well known that it was included on The American Film Institute’s list of top movie quotes from the last 100 years.

Sadly, Poltergeist III was to be the last film that O’Rourke would ever make. Several months before filming began, O’Rourke became ill and was misdiagnosed as having Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately, the misdiagnosis was not discovered until it was too late. On January 31, 1988, O’Rourke collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. According to the Los Angeles Times, doctors at the hospital where she was brought found that her illness was caused by a longstanding bowel obstruction. An attempt to surgically remove the blockage led to septic shock and caused her to suffer a cardiac arrest. O’Rourke was just 12 years old when she passed away.

7. Brad Renfro (1982-2008)

Brad Renfro was a child actor who is perhaps best known for his big-screen debut in the critically acclaimed 1994 thriller The Client, based on a John Grisham novel of the same name. In the film, the 11-year-old Renfro plays the lead role of Mark Sway, a young boy who witnesses the suicide of a mob-connected lawyer. Renfro’s well-received performance led to roles in other major motion pictures, including Tom and Huck, The Cure, Sleepers, and Apt Pupil. Unfortunately, Renfro’s promising acting career was soon derailed by his increasing drug use.

After having already been cited for drug possession in the late ‘90s, Renfro earned further notoriety when he was arrested in 2000 for attempting to steal a yacht, as reported by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. In 2002, he was ordered into a three-month rehab program following an arrest for public intoxication. In 2005, Renfro was arrested for attempting to purchase heroin from an undercover police officer in Los Angeles. On January 15, 2008, the 25-year-old Renfro was found dead of a heroin overdose by his friends.


8. Dana Plato (1964-1999)

Like Gary Coleman, Dana Plato found fame as a child actor on the 1980s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. From 1978 to 1986, Plato played the role of Kimberly Drummond, the teenage daughter of a wealthy white widower who adopts two African-American brothers. Plato struggled with drug usage at an early age and was known to be abusing alcohol and Valium when she was only 14 years old, according to People magazine. In 1984, Plato was dismissed from the show after becoming pregnant, although she made several appearances in the final 1985-1986 season.

Despite the fame she achieved as a star on Diff’rent Strokes, Plato found it difficult to find quality work after leaving the show. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, she starred in several forgettable B-movies and posed for Playboy magazine. Around the same time, Plato was beset by several personal tragedies when her husband divorced her, her mother passed away, and an accountant stole most of her money. She also lost custody of her son due to her ongoing drug and alcohol problems. In 1991, Plato hit rock bottom when she was arrested for a comically inept video store robbery that earned her five years of probation and a stint in a rehab program.

Unfortunately, Plato was never able to fully kick her drug habit. On May 8, 1999, the 34-year-old Plato was found dead of a drug overdose by her fiancé in their Winnebago motor home. According to People magazine, a medical examiner ruled her death a suicide.


9. Bobby Driscoll (1937-1968)


Although he may not be a familiar face to many people today, Bobby Driscoll was once a major child star.  As a young boy, Driscoll starred in several early Disney live-action films such as Song of the South, So Dear to My Heart, and Treasure Island. Driscoll also turned in a critically acclaimed dramatic performance as a witness to a murder in the 1949 film noir The Window, which earned him a juvenile Academy Award. However, Driscoll’s most famous role is one that never saw him appear onscreen. Driscoll was the voice actor and reference model for the titular character in Disney’s 1953 animated classic Peter Pan.

Unfortunately, Driscoll found it difficult to shed the child star image even after Disney terminated his contract when he got older. After a difficult stint at a public high school, Driscoll began abusing drugs and was eventually jailed in 1961. Unable to find work in the mainstream movie industry after his release, Driscoll headed to New York, where he appeared in Piero Heliczer’s experimental film Dirt and briefly joined Andy Warhol’s art community known as the Factory.

On March 30, 1968, two children discovered Driscoll’s body in an abandoned tenement building in New York. After no came forward to claim the body, the city buried him as a “John Doe” in an unmarked grave. Driscoll’s fate wasn’t discovered until over a year after his death, when his mother made inquiries about his location and postmortem fingerprints were used to identify him. Driscoll was 31 years old when he died.

10. Rob Knox (1989-2008)

Rob Knox was a young English actor who appeared to be on the cusp of a promising career after securing the role of Marcus Belby in the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Although his portrayal of Belby in the sixth Harry Potter film is his most famous role, Knox had previous acting experience through appearances on multiple British TV shows, as well as a small part in the 2004 film King Arthur.

On May 24, 2008, Knox was stabbed five times in the chest outside a bar in London as he was trying to defend his brother from an attacker, reported the BBC. Knox was only 18 years old when he died. His attacker — Karl Bishop — was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 20 years in 2009.

Stars Who Died Too Young

Celebrity is fleeting and there are times when our favorite actors, musicians, and other shining stars are extinguished too soon in the height of their careers. Here are some of the famous faces who died all too young.

1. Paul Walker
The sudden death of this charismatic Fast & Furious actor shocked the world. After leaving a charity event in California, Walker got a lift from race car driving friend, Roger Rodas. Both were killed in the fiery crash – for Paul, at just 40 years old while his career was taking off.

2. Cory Monteith
This popular character on the FOX TV show Glee was often in a battle with addiction and depression; an abrupt end to his career at the age of 31.

3. Heath Ledger
It is often said that only the good die young. This rising star passed away at age 28 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Heath died just before the hugely successful movie, The Dark Knight, was released to theaters. In his starring role as the Joker, Heath won a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

4. Brittany Murphy
Brittany enjoyed fame as the Clueless star. She had a brilliant career ahead of her when she died at a young age from complications of anemia and pneumonia.

5. Jim Morrison
Fans adored and worshipped this popular rock idol and “Doors” singer. It is believed that he died at age 27 from a heart attack, which may have been brought on by a possible drug overdose.

6. Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana made music history as one of the greatest music groups ever. Although his death at age 27 is listed as a suicide, many people have wondered if foul play was involved.

7. John Ritter
John Ritter, who starred opposite Suzanne Somers in his role as Jack Tripper on ‘Three’s Company,’ was taken from us at the age of 54. An aortic dissection was the cause of his sudden death.

8. Whitney Houston
She was one of the greatest singers of all time. In her later years, Whitney struggled with addiction and died at age 48; she drowned in a hotel bathtub from an apparent drug overdose.

9. Bruce Lee
He was taken from us too soon. Bruce Lee’s fame as a martial artist was matched only by his amazing worldwide popularity as a movie star. When he suddenly died at age 32 from a brain swelling, the entire world mourned his death.

10. Brandon Lee
He followed in his father’s footsteps in too many ways. Like his dad, Bruce Lee, Brandon was a rising film star and martial artist. A freak accident while filming the The Crow took his life at age 28.

11. Natasha Richardson
Natasha Richardson was a brilliant British film and Broadway stage actor and the beloved spouse of Liam Neeson. A skiing accident cut her life short at age 45.

12. River Phoenix
This popular rising film star died of heart failure at the young age of 23, while he was outside a West Hollywood nightclub, The Viper Room. It is believed an overdose of drugs and alcohol led to his death.

13. Natalie Wood
It was reported that this beautiful star drowned in a tragic boating accident at age 43. Officially, the cause of her death is listed as “drowning and other undetermined factors.” Recently, however, new information has come to light that has led some people to believe that her death may have involved foul play.

14. Aaliyah 
This brilliant R&B singer and rising film star had her life and career cut short at age 22 in a tragic plane crash. Fans around the world mourned her sudden death.

15. Lisa ‘Left-Eye’ Lopes
As a former member of the female R&B group, TLC, Lopes was very popular with fans. She was only 30 years old when her life was taken from us in a tragic car crash.

16. Jim Henson
He was the creator of The Muppets and beloved by millions of children and their parents around the world. Henson’s brilliant career and life was cut short at age 53. His death was caused by toxic shock from a powerful streptococcal infection.

17. John Belushi
John Belushi was a comic genius, who became famous on NBC’s successful Saturday Night Live show. His fame and popularity grew even more after he starred in films like the Blues Brothers and Animal House. Belushi’s tragic death at age 33 was the result of a drug overdose.

18. Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales, was married to Prince Charles, the heir apparent and oldest son of Queen August 31,1997, Diana was fatally injured in a car crash when her limo driver tried to lose the paparazzi that were tailing her car. She was 36 at the time. Her sons are Prince William and Prince Harry.

19. Marvin Gaye
This world-famous Motown singer was fatally shot by his father on April 1, 1984. While his parents were in a heated argument, Marvin tried to intervene on his mother’s behalf. Ironically, the gun that killed him was the same gun Marvin had given to his father to protect their home from intruders. He died at age 44.

20. Amy Winehouse
This amazing singer was truly destined for super stardom until she tragically died of alcohol poisoning at the young age of 27 years. Winehouse had battled with addiction for years. The world of music lost a great talent.

21. Selena Quintanilla Perez
She was one of the hottest and most talented Mexican-American music stars with millions of fans around the world. Sadly, Selena was fatally shot on March 31, 1995, a mere two weeks before she turned 24. The shooter was her fan club President, Yolanda Saldívar.

22. John Lennon
Along with Paul, George and Ringo, John Lennon made music history with the Beatles. Tragically, while still only 40 years old, he was fatally shot on December 8, 1980 by Mark David Chapman. Imagine all the songs he could have written if he were still alive today.

23. James Dean
Actor James Dean was your classic Hollywood “bad boy.” During his brief film career, which lasted only 5 years, before a car accident took his life at a mere 24 years of age, Dean managed to star in such blockbuster films as East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant.

24. Jonathan Brandis
This talented young actor seemed destined for Hollywood stardom, yet fate threw him a curve and his career didn’t take off as many had expected. This may have lead to his depression and eventual suicide at age 27.

25. Corey Haim
Corey Haim was a rising young star when his career was abruptly cut short by a deadly bout with pneumonia at age 38. Many people believed an addiction to painkillers may have played a role in his death as well.

26. Tupac Shakur Tupac was already a famous rapper when he was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. Six days later he was dead at age 25. To this day, his name and his legend carry on.

27. Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace
Known as Biggie, the Bad Boy Records rapper was also shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997. He was just 24 years old when he died.

28. Michael Clarke Duncan
Most audiences will remember Michael Clarke Duncan for his Oscar-nominated role as John Coffey in The Green Mile. Starring opposite Tom Hanks, Duncan held his own with a performance that any actor could be proud of. He died of a heart attack on July 2012 at 54 years of age.

29. Philip Seymour Hoffman
This Academy Award winner was a brilliant actor. He was destined for greatness. Sadly, he died of a drug overdose at 46 years of age.

30. James Gandolfini
The Sopranos TV show made Gandolfini famous. His acting was dead on! This Emmy winner’s career was on a path to greatness when he died at 51 of a sudden heart attack while on vacation with his family in Italy.

31. Michael Jackson
His music career will never be matched. Michael Jackson was one of this century’s greatest entertainers. Tragically, Jackson was only 50 when he died from complications with prescribed drugs. A controversy continues to surround his death.

32. Marilyn Monroe
She redefined the classic blonde bombshell. There will never be another actress like her. And like so many other stars, Marilyn died of a drug overdose. She was only 36 when she died in 1962.

33. Chris Farley
Like John Belushi before him, comedian Chris Farley got his start on Saturday Night Live with his hugely popular SNL characters and as Tommy Callahan in the film Tommy Boy. Like so many other stars, he died of a drug overdose. He was only 33.

34. Matthew Garber
Known for his role as Michael Banks in “Mary Poppins,” Garber passed away at the age of 21 in 1977 from Hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis, caused from contracting hepatitis in India the previous year.

35. Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer
The curse of the original Little Rascals cast runs deep, and the precocious Alfalfa was no stranger to untimely death. At 31, following an argument of $50, he was shot and killed.

Celebrities Who Lost Their Battle With AIDS

Still today, HIV remains a frightening reality. While many are living long and healthy lives with the disease, AIDS-related diseases felled 1.5 million people in 2013. Once thought to only affect certain people, HIV and AIDS do not discriminate when it comes to income, race, or sexuality. The stories of the following 23 individuals taught many that lesson, and many of these celebrities made it their mission to inform as many as possible about HIV's universal threat.

Anthony Perkins (1932-1992)
Perkins is best known for his portrayal of Norman Bates, the cross-dressing, homicidal hotel owner in Hitchcock’s classic Psycho. But by the time he played Bates, Perkins had already been nominated for a Tony and an Academy Award, and had won a Golden Globe award as New Star of the Year.  Throughout his life, he was known to have close, romantic relationships with both women and men, including, reportedly, Stephen Sondheim. "There are many who believe that this disease is God's vengeance," Perkins said in a statement before his passing, "but I believe it was sent to teach people how to love and understand and have compassion for each other.” He died in 1992 of AIDS-related pneumonia, with his wife, Berry Berenson, and his two sons by his side.  

Rock Hudson (1925-1985)
Hudson was Hollywood's ultimate leading man throughout the 1950s and '60s, romancing some of the industry’s most beloved actresses on-screen, such as Doris Day, Julie Andrews, and longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor. He was briefly married in order to mask his homosexuality. Hudson died of AIDS-related complications in 1985. His death caused a mini-panic in Hollywood, as one of his last roles, on the prime-time soap Dynasty, required a long kiss with co-star Linda Evans (Evans was, obviously, fine and not angry at Hudson for not disclosing his HIV status). Hudson was the first major Hollywood star to die of the illness. In response to the loss of her beloved friend, Taylor cofounded the American Foundation for AIDS Research and later the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Arthur Ashe (1943-1993)
Ashe was the first African-American tennis player to be selected to the U.S. Davis Cup team, and the only black man ever to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open. Ashe reportedly contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during heart surgery, and he announced his illness in 1992, before founding the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993. After Ashe’s death, President Bill Clinton honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts to eradicate HIV and AIDS, and for his battle to end discrimination in sports.

Liberace (1919-1987)
Flamboyant performer Liberace was known best for his piano prowess, virtuoso performances, and extravagant wardrobe, homes, and cars. At the height of his fame, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the business, playing for celebrities and dignitaries and headlining a very successful Las Vegas show. Throughout his career there were rumors of his affairs with men, prompting Liberace to file numerous libel suits against publications in an effort to mask his sexuality. He died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1987, but he and his personal physician had tried to hide his AIDS diagnosis from the public. However, the official cause of death was confirmed on the coroner's certificate filed by the Riverside County, Calif., coroner.

Freddie Mercury (1946-1991)
Mercury, the front man for the widely successful British rock band Queen, was known as bisexual to many in the music industry. Shortly before his death, a very gaunt Mercury joined his band mates for one final video, “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” a song in which the singer reminiscences about his younger days. Mercury died of bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS in 1991, only one day after he publicly acknowledged he had the disease. In 2010, Rolling Stone named him number 18 on its list of the 100 greatest singers ever.

Gia Carangi (1960-1986)
Carangi has been dubbed the “World’s First Supermodel,” having appeared on the cover of four international editions of Vogue, in five editions of Cosmopolitan, and in advertisements for Armani, Versace, and Christian Dior, all before turning 23. She openly loved women, having flings with female photographers, makeup artists, and designers. Sadly, at 26, Carangi became one of the first famous women to die of AIDS-related complications, having reportedly contracted it through injection drug use. HBO Films later paid tribute with an Emmy-winning 1998 drama, Gia, starring up-and-comer Angelina Jolie.

Elizabeth Glaser (1947-1994)
Glaser became a leading AIDS activist after she received an HIV-contaminated blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter Ariel. Ariel later died after contracting the illness through breast-feeding, and Glaser’s son Jake contracted it in utero. After Ariel’s death in 1988, Glaser cofounded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to raise awareness about HIV in children. At the time of Ariel’s death, Glaser told The New York Times, "She taught me to love when all I wanted to do was hate. She taught me to help others when all I wanted to do was help myself." Glaser died in 1994 of AIDS-related complications, but her legacy lives on. The foundation reached an estimated 20 million women worldwide, testing 17 million, and enrolling more the 2.2 million in its HIV care and support program.

Perry Ellis (1940-1986)
Ellis is best known for his casual American style of sportswear. His use of khakis, hand-knitted sweaters, and oversize jackets led The New York Times to proclaim that he “glorified the clean-cut, all-American look.” At the time, his cause of death was listed as viral encephalitis, but rumors of Ellis’s HIV-positive status made news after it came to light that his lover and business partner, Laughlin Barker, died of Kaposi’s sarcoma, an AIDS-related cancer. The Los Angeles Times ran a 1986 series on journalistic ethics and whether it was appropriate to include AIDS rumors in news stories, with Ellis serving as the focus.

Pedro Zamora (1972-1994)
Most famous for his appearance in the third season of MTV’s The Real World, Zamora was diagnosed with HIV at 17. He became the first out, HIV-positive man to appear on mainstream television, as the breakout star of The Real World's 1994, San Franciscon-set season. Zamora dated AIDS educator Sean Sasser while living in the Real World house, and the two exchanged vows in the first-ever televised same-sex commitment ceremony. Sadly, Zamora died hours after the groundbreaking finale aired. Pedro, a 2008 movie written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, dramatized Zamora's life.

Ryan White (1971-1990)
In the 1980s, Indiana-born Ryan White became the poster child of the AIDS epidemic. He was a hemophiliac and contracted the disease through contaminated blood. Because of mistreatment by adults in his community and bullying by peers at school, White and his family set out to educate people on the facts of the disease. In the process, White made many A-list friends, including John Cougar Mellencamp, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and Greg Louganis, and won the hearts of millions of Americans. White died at age 18 of an AIDS-related respiratory infection. The Ryan White CARE Act, the largest federally funded program for people living with HIV or AIDS, was passed by the U.S. Congress shortly after his death.

Amanda Blake (1929-1989)
Blake was an American actress, best known for her role as Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. How she contracted HIV remains a mystery, but listed on her death certificate as a partial cause of death was CMV hepatitis (cytomegalovirus), an AIDS-related condition. Her fourth and last husband, Mark Spaeth (1944-1985), also died of AIDS-related complications.

Lance Loud (1951-2001)
Loud became part of one of the world's first reality shows when PBS aired An American Family in 1973. Lance, the eldest son of the Loud family, came out to an estimated 10 million viewers during the second episode and changed the television landscape forever. Later, Loud moved from California to New York, formed a band called the Mumps, and eventually settled into his status as a gay icon. Loud died in 2001 of liver failure caused by hepatitis C and HIV.  In 2011, HBO films made Cinema Verite, a film about the making of the original PBS documentary series, starring Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, James Gandolfini, and Thomas Dekker as Lance. 

Steve Rubell (1943-1989)
Brooklyn-born Rubell, along with business partner Ian Schrager, opened famed disco Studio 54 in 1977. The club was known for excess and as a place where everyday people could party with the beautiful ones. Just a few of the regulars were Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, Halston, Calvin Klein, Truman Capote, Diana Ross, Madonna, and Cher. Top music stars of the '70s were also known to take the stage; the Village People, Donna Summer, and Gloria Gaynor all entertained revelers.  After Rubell was convicted of tax evasion in 1979, nightclub watchers said the club scene in New York was never the same. Even though he was taking AZT, Rubell died in 1989 of AIDS complications, including hepatitis and septic shock.

Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993)
This Soviet-born dancer was known to celebrate both classical ballet and modern dance in the same performance. He defected to France in 1961 and eventually met his longtime love, Danish dancer Erik Bruhn. The two stayed together until Bruhn’s death in 1986. According to The New York Times, “Nureyev was afraid of revealing his illness before his death because he thought it might limit his career. The dancer learned that he had H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, in 1984, when he was still much in demand around the world. He was concerned that some countries, mainly the United States, might refuse him entry if he were known to be H.I.V. positive.”

Derek Jarman (1943-1994)
This forward-thinking British director shook up cinema in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Jarman's gay-themed, politically driven work took on everything from the monarchy to Shakespeare classics to the scourge of AIDS. His cinematic style could be described as experimental, but it always came with a strong opinion and a definitive point. Jarman's Edward II is seen by many scholars as a modern classic, and it helped propel actress Tilda Swinton to stardom. Jarman never hid his sexuality or his HIV diagnosis, which would fell him in 1994.

Klaus Nomi (1944-1983)
The German performer remains adored thanks to his highly original performances, beautiful singing voice, and trendsetting costumes. After becoming a sensation in his native country, Nomi won over the crowds at various New York City nightclubs during the end of the disco era. He sang backup for David Bowie on Saturday Night Live, influenced drag legend Joey Arias, and even appeared in films. Sadly, in 1983, Nomi became one of the first celebrities to die of AIDS complications.

Brad Davis (1949-1991)
This actor found fame as one of the stars of the unflinching film Midnight Express, which told the story of Americans tortured in a Turkish prison. Davis, who was straight, was respected for having the courage for taking on gay roles, specifically in Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart and the film Querelle. Before becoming sober, Davis used intravenous drugs, which he and his wife believe were responsible for his infection. Davis tested positive for HIV in 1985, but kept it quiet so he wouldn't be blacklisted in Hollywood.

Tom Fogerty (1941-1990)
Fogerty and his brother John were founding members of the Southern-influenced rock band Creedence Clearwater Revivial. CCR is known for megahits like “Proud Mary,” “Born on the Bayou,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son.” Unfortunately, the brothers had a falling out in the early 1970s, which was the beginning of the end for the band. Sadly, Fogerty’s attempts at a solo career never saw the success that Creedence achieved. He died in 1990 of AIDS-related complications, having contracted the disease during a blood transfusion. The brothers were never able to reconcile.

Keith Haring (1958-1990)
The work of this kind-hearted, Pennsylvania-born artist would come to represent much of the visual aesthetic of the 1980s. After moving to New York City, Haring painted his joyful, faceless creatures on the city's subways. His work began getting national attention as the decade progressed, as galleries began showcasing his work and he developed friendships with high-profile figures like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Madonna. Haring's images took on more political dimensions as he began rallying against apartheid and the ravages of AIDS, to which he eventually succumbed. Before his death in 1990, Haring shared his artwork on school buildings and hospital walls, and established a foundation devoted to providing funding for AIDS efforts.

Peter Allen (1944-1992)
This Australian import was best known for his Oscar-winning song, “Arthur’s Theme” (written in collaboration with others), and for serving as songwriter for Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon, and Frank Sinatra, to name only a few. Allen, discovered by Judy Garland, later married her daughter, Liza Minnelli, but the couple parted ways after seven years. After their divorce, Allen came out and lived with his long-term partner, model Gregory Connell, until Connell’s death from an AIDS-related illness in 1984. Allen died in 1992 from an AIDS-related throat cancer. Hugh Jackman would later star in a musical about Allen's life, The Boy From Oz.

Eazy-E (1963-1995)
Eazy-E was part of the influential rap/hip-hop group NWA, rhyming alongside Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. During the time when NWA was gaining popularity, Eazy-E invested in Ruthless Records and became known as the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap.” After a falling out, the group disbanded and Eazy went on to have a moderately successful solo career. Eazy died in 1995 of AIDS complications, only a month after his diagnosis. Shortly before he died, he released a statement to fans saying, “I've got thousands and thousands of young fans that have to learn about what's real when it comes to AIDS. Like the others before me, I would like to turn my own problem into something good that will reach out to all my homeboys and their kin. Because I want to save their asses before it's too late. I have learned in the last week that this thing is real, and it doesn't discriminate. It affects everyone.”

Lance Loud (1951-2001)
Loud became part of one of the world's first reality shows when PBS aired An American Family in 1973. Lance, the eldest son of the Loud family, came out to an estimated 10 million viewers during the second episode and changed the television landscape forever. Later, Loud moved from California to New York, formed a band called the Mumps, and eventually settled into his status as a gay icon. Loud died in 2001 of liver failure caused by hepatitis C and HIV.  In 2011, HBO films made Cinema Verite, a film about the making of the original PBS documentary series, starring Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, James Gandolfini, and Thomas Dekker as Lance. 

Steve Rubell (1943-1989)
Brooklyn-born Rubell, along with business partner Ian Schrager, opened famed disco Studio 54 in 1977. The club was known for excess and as a place where everyday people could party with the beautiful ones. Just a few of the regulars were Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, Halston, Calvin Klein, Truman Capote, Diana Ross, Madonna, and Cher. Top music stars of the '70s were also known to take the stage; the Village People, Donna Summer, and Gloria Gaynor all entertained revelers.  After Rubell was convicted of tax evasion in 1979, nightclub watchers said the club scene in New York was never the same. Even though he was taking AZT, Rubell died in 1989 of AIDS complications, including hepatitis and septic shock.

Dominique Dunne: November 4, 1982

Just four months after appearing in the 1982 blockbuster supernatural thriller, Poltergeist, 22-year-old actress Dominique Dunne was strangled by her ex-boyfriend, sous-chef John Thomas Sweeney, at her West Hollywood home. The attack put her in a coma for five days until she was declared brain dead and taken off life support.

Dunne was the daughter of heiress Ellen Griffin and Dominick Dunne, a film producer, writer, investigative journalist, and television host, and the niece of novelists Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. Her first break as an actress came when she was cast in the 1979 movie, Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. She soon appeared in the hit '80s television shows, Lou Grant, Hart to Hart, and Fame, before landing her first feature film role in the Steven Spielberg-produced supernatural thriller Poltergeist.

The trouble with her boyfriend Sweeney began shortly after the two moved in together, just weeks after meeting. A few months prior to her murder, two altercations occurred, one being his first attempt on her life by strangling. In 1983, Sweeney was acquitted of the second-degree murder charge, but was still found guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and also convicted of a misdemeanor assault for a previous attack. He was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison, but only served three years and seven months.

Phil Hartman: May 28, 1998

Cocaine use and alcohol reportedly contributed to Brynn Hartman's decision to shoot her husband, actor Phil Hartman, at point-blank range with his own Smith & Wesson .38 as he slept in the bed they shared in their Encino, Calif. home. She shot him twice in the head and once on his side.

Hartman, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, NewsRadio, and for voicing several characters on The Simpsons, had reportedly threatened to divorce his wife of 11 years, during an argument over her drug use. Along with her drug problems, which resulted in two stints in rehab, Brynn also suffered from depression. She was taking the antidepressant drug, Zoloft, at the time of the shooting.

Shortly after admitting to a friend that she killed her husband in the early morning hours of May 28, 1998, Brynn climbed into the couple's bed where Phil's dead body still lay and sitting up against the headboard she put the gun in her mouth and fired her own fatal shot. When police arrived, they found Brynn's dead body slumped over that of her husband, orphaning the couple's two children. In 1999, Hartman's estate filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the antidepressant drug that Brynn was taking, as well as her psychiatrist. Pfizer settled.

Bonnie Lee Bakley: May 4, 2001

Though out of the public eye for some time, Robert Blake — star of Truman Capote's 1967 film In Cold Blood, and the 1970's show Baretta — became a household name again after he was charged with murdering his wife of one year, Bonnie Lee Bakley.

The high profile trial intrigue centered on Bakley's background and the couple's strange history. She was widely known as a con artist and for allegedly swindling men for money and had been arrested for writing $200,000 in bad checks, along with having more than 30 fake identifications. She served jail time before meeting Blake in 1999 and becoming his wife after a paternity test proved he was the father of her daughter, Rose, which she initially named Christian Shannon Brando after claiming Marlon Brando's son, Christian, was the father.

On May 4, 2001, the couple had dinner at a restaurant, and upon leaving the restaurant, Blake claimed to have realized that he left his revolver in the restaurant and returned to retrieve it. When he came back to the car, he found his wife dead with a gunshot wound to her head. Blake was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances, two counts of solicitation of murder, and one count of murder conspiracy. He was acquitted in 2005, but found liable for the wrongful death of his wife in the civil case filed by Bakley's children and ordered to pay $30 million in restitution.

Stars Who Died Too Soon

1. YouTube star Logan Bratayley died in October, 2015. He was 13.

2.Jim Carrey’s on-again/off-again girlfriend Cathriona White was found dead on September 28, 2015

3.Simone Battle of G.R.L. was found dead on September 5, 2014

4.‘American Idol’ alum Michael Johns died in August 2014

5.Peaches Geldof — the 25-year-old daughter of iconic music mogul Bob Geldof — died in April 2014

6.Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment on July 23, 2011. She was 27.

7.Whitney Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hills hotel room on February 11, 2012. She was 48

8.Jenni Rivera died in a tragic plane crash on Dec. 9, 2012. She was 43.

9.Robin Gibb passed away following a long battle with cancer on May 20, 2012

10.Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 50 in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009

11.DJ AM — whose real name was Adam Goldstein — was found dead in a NYC apartment on August 28, 2009. He was 36.

12.TLC singer Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez was killed in a car accident in Honduras at age 30 on April 25, 2002

13.Queen of R&B, Aaliyah, died in a plane crash in the Bahamas at the age of 22 on August 25, 2001

14.America’s golden boy, John F. Kennedy Jr. lost his life in a plane crash on his way to Martha’s Vineyard on July 16, 1999. He was 38 years old.

15.Beloved folk artist John Denver passed in a plane crash at age 53 on October 12, 1997

16.West Coast hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur had his life taken in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at age 25 on September 13, 1996

17.Diana, the Princess of Wales, lost her life in an automobile accident at 36 years old on August 31, 1997

18.The East Coast rap superstar Notorious B.I.G. was shot down in LA at the age of 24 on March 9, 1997

19.Prince of Motown, Marvin Gaye left us at the age of 44 after being shot by his father on April 1, 1984

20.‘Nirvana’ front man Kurt Cobain’s struggles with addiction led to his end with a bullet to the head at 27 years old on April 5, 1994

21.Leader of the Revolution, iconic musician John Lennon was shot at the age of 40 by an alleged stalker in front of his apartment building on December 8, 1980

22.Elvis “The King” Presley died on August 16, 1977 in his Graceland mansion. The cause of death was a cocktail on 10 prescription drugs. He was just 42 years old.

23.Famed ‘Doors’ front man Jim Morrison passed away in his Paris hotel room at the age of 27 on July 3, 1971

24.Known as the best guitarist in history, Jimi Hendrix died due to an overdose at age 27 on September 18, 1970

30 Actors Who Lost Their Lives Way Too Soon.

Here are stars whose lives were tragically taken too soon.

#1. Bridgette Andersen

The "Savannah Smiles" star died in 1997 at the age of 21 from a drug overdose.

#2. Gary Coleman

The star of "Different Strokes" known for saying, "What you talkin' about Willis?" passed away at the age of 42 from a brain hemorrhage.

#3. Judith Barsi

She starred in "Jaws: The Revenge" and was the voice of "The Land Before Time." She was murdered by her father and then he committed suicide. She was only 10 years old.

#4. Lee Thompson Young

Young committed suicide at the age of 29 in 2013. The Disney star had suffered from bipolar disorder.

#5. Heather O'Rourke

She played Carol Anne in Speilberg's 1982 movie "Poltergeist" and sequels, "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" and "Poltergeist III."

In 1988, during the filming of 'Poltergeist III', Heather suffered flu-like symptoms that were the result of congenital intestinal stenosis. She went into cardiac arrest and died on the operating table at the age of 12.

#6. Brad Renfro

Renfro was one of main stars of "The Client." He died in 2008 at age 25 of an accidental heroin overdose.

#7. Carl Switzer

Alfalfa from 'Our Gang' was played by Carl Switzer. He was shot during a fight with a man who believed owed him money. He was only 31 years old.

#8. Dana Plato

Dana played in the television series "Different Strokes." She died at the age of 35 in 1999 after taking a fatal dose of lortab and valium.

#9. Jonathan Brandis

The "Ladybugs" star died in 2003 at age 27. Brandis was found alive after trying to hang himself. He died from injuries.
Jonathan Brandis

#10. Anissa Jones

Sadly, the main character of "Family Affair" died in 1976 at 18. She received her $70,000 trust when she became a legal adult and got into a life of drugs. She died of an overdose of barbiturates, phencyclidine, and cocaine.

#11. Corey Haim

The star of 80's teen films like the "Lost Boys," "Lucas," and "License to Drive" turned to drugs when his career slowed down. He was 38 when he died of complications due to pneumonia.

#12. Justin Pierce

He was best known for his role as Casper in "Kids." Justin never got his acting career off the ground. He appeared in few episodes of "Malcolm in the Middle" and in "Next Friday." He hung himself in Las Vegas at the age of 25.

#13. J. Madison Wright Morris

Morris, who is best-known for her role in "Grace Under Fire," died in 2006 at age 21. She received a heart transplant at the age of 15. The actress died from a heart attack one day after coming back from her honeymoon.

#14. River Phoenix

The child and teen star of "Stand by Me" and "Explorers" died in 1993 at age 23. He collapsed outside of the Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles. He died from an overdose of cocaine and morphine.

#15. Bobby Driscoll

Bobby Driscoll started in several Disney productions, "Song of the South," "So Dear To My Heart," and "Treasure Island." He was also the voice of Peter Pan. As an adult, he had trouble finding work and started using drugs. His body was found in a New York tenement on March 30, 1968.

#16. Christopher Pettiet

The popular teen star of "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead" died of drug overdose in in 2000.

#17. Brittany Murphy

As a young teen, Brittany appeared in "Blossom" and "Drexel's Class." Her first big screen appearance was in "Clueless." She also had a role in "Girl Interrupted" and starred with Ashton Kutcher in "Just Married." She had a promising career ahead of her, but her life was cut short at the age of 32. She went into cardiac arrest and was found in her bathroom. Her husband, Simon Monjack, died five months later, also from cardiac arrest. Her family suspects foul play.

#18. Matthew Garber

Matthew, known for his role in "Mary Poppins," passed away at the age of 21 in 1977. The cause of death was acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

#19. Tara Correa-McMullen

Tara starred in "Judging Amy" as a character who was killed by gang members. She met a similar fate when she was killed by a shotgun blast at the age of 16.

#20. Rob Knox

The actor from "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" tragically died in 2008 at the age 18 while trying to defend his brother from an attacker.

#21. Scotty Beckett

Another child star from "Our Gang" passed away at the age of 38 in 1968. The death was caused by an overdose of barbiturates.

#22. Dana Hill

Dana played Audrey Griswald in National Lampoon’s "European Vacation." At a young age, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She slipped into a diabetic coma in May of 1996, suffered a massive stroke in June, and died in July at the age of 32.

#23. Lucille Ricksen

The silent movie star died at the age 14. Lucille fell ill during a filming and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1925.

#24. Josh Ryan Evan

Josh had notable guest spots on "Ally McBeal," "7th Heaven," and "Poltergeist: The Legacy." He also starred as Timmy on the soap opera "Passions." In 2002, Josh died died from complications related to a congenital heart condition

#25. Billy Laughlin

Little Froggy from "Our Gang" died in 1948 at the age of 16. He was a passenger on the back of a motor scooter and was hit by a truck.

#26. Michael Cuccione

The star of TV movie "2gether" died in 2001 just 8 days after his 16th birthday of pneumonia. At the age of 9, Cuccione had survived Hodgkin's disease after rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

#27. Ashleigh Aston Moore

At the age of 26, the "Now and Then" actress died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2007.

#28. Sammi Kane Kraft

The star of the "Bad News Bears "remake died in 2012 from injuries sustained in a car accident. She was a passenger in a car that was rear-ended by a semi-truck.

#29. Norman Chaney

The child actor who played Chubby from "Our Gang" died in 1936 at age 21. Chaney died from complications during surgery for his glandular disorder.

#30. Michelle Thomas

The popular star who played the role of Myra Monkhouse of "Family Matters"died at the age of 30 in 1998. She was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer and had two surgeries for it. She died shortly after being released from the hospital after the 2nd surgery.

Famous People Killed by the Illuminati

List of famous people killed by the Illuminati, with information about of each death and sacrifice. The Illuminati is a secret society that is rumored to control all world events. The Illuminati and members of their organization are especially influential in the entertainment industry. It is alleged that members must make a blood sacrifice to the clan in order to gain fame and reach higher ranks. Many famous people have allegedly been killed by the Illuminati for failure to comply with the plan. Still others were killed as part of one of these Illuminati blood sacrifices and for the greater good of the organization.

1. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, just days before his comeback concerts were scheduled to take place in London. Jackson is thought to have been a member of the Illuminati until he started speaking out against them. Before his death, Jackson began to speak out against the powers that be and their need to control everything in the music industry. He also stated that there was a conspiracy to defame him by labeling him a “freak” and a “child-molester.”

2. John Lennon

John Lennon was seen as a threat to many people in power. The INS even attempted to deport him, and the FBI had him under surveillance. Lennon frequently spoke out against the evils of industry, and it is believed that his assassin Mark David Chapman was under Illuminati mind control when he killed John Lennon.

3. John F. Kennedy

It is believed that John F. Kennedy was previously working with the Illuminati. When he began to resist, the Illuminati orchestrated his assassination.
John F. Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963, and his assassination has been the subject of many conspiracy theories for decades.

4. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was seen as a great threat to the Illuminati as he was a very influential man.
When he began speaking out against the Vietnam war, which had great financial benefits for many corporations, the Illuminati orchestrated a scenario in which it would be easy for King to be killed. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

5. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln saw big business and corporations as a big threat to him and the Southern Confederacy. The Illuminati planned Lincoln’s assassination to stop him from speaking out against them, and it was carried out on April 15, 1865.

6. Kurt Cobain

The Illuminati wanted to use Kurt Cobain as a mind-control tool, but Cobain was very reluctant to participate in fame He was seen as a threat to the Illuminati, so they orchestrated his death. Kurt Cobain died from a gun shot would on April 5, 1994. The death was labeled a suicide, but many people have doubted and debated the circumstances.

7. Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was fascinated with the occult, and many believed him to be a reptilian member of the Illuminati. His death was believed to have been constructed by the Illuminati, although other people believe that Morrison is still alive and well, and the Illuminati helped him to fake his death.
Morrison supposedly died of a heart attack on July 3, 1971. His death wasn’t reported in the media until three days later, and many people have claimed to have seen Morrison in seedy places all over the world since then.

8. John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Many people believe that John F. Kennedy, Jr., like his father, was killed by the Illuminati. Rumor has it that JFK, Jr. had information that proved that the CIA and George H. W. Bush were directly involved in the assassination of his father. Allegedly, Kennedy was preparing to publish this information at the time of his death. He died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999.

9. Robert F. Kennedy

Like Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy was seen as a great threat to the Illuminati’s plans for a war in Vietnam. After his brother's assassination, it was common belief that he will be the next US President. He was killed on June 6, 1968, by a lone gunman.

10. Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a very influential man and a great threat to the Illuminati. He spoke frequently, promoting a revolt against the “power structure” by using “extreme measures.” Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965.

11. Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa frequently spoke about TPTB using mind control in music, film, news, and politics. The first attempt on Zappa’s life came in 1971, when he was attacked during a concert. Many believe that he was purposefully injected with cancer, which killed him on December 4, 1993.

12. Bob Marley

Bob Marley was seen as an influential figure by many all around the world. Through his music, he promoted love, happiness, and togetherness, all things that do not fit into the Illuminati’s agenda. Many believe that Marley was injected with a rare form of cancer by people who wanted to silence him. He died on May 11, 1981.

13. Diana, Princess of Wales

The British "royal" Family is a very prominent family in the Illuminati. When Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated, it was an embarrassment for the Royals. Princess Diana was beloved amongst the people of England and the world, and since she was no longer associated with the Royals, she had to go.

She was killed in a car accident on August 31, 1997. There is strong evidence that she was sacrificed at the order of the British "royal" Family and the execution was carried out by the SAS. Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of Dodi Al-Fayed (Lady Diana's lover), has openly accused the British "royal" Family of assassinating his son and Lady Di.

Lady Diana also knew about the true nature of the "royal" family’s genetic history and the reptilian control. Her nicknames for the Windsors were “the lizards” and “the reptiles” and she used to say in all seriousness: “They’re not human”. - Reference (Also read David Icke's book "The Biggest Secret")

14. Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee often spoke of being watched by a demon. His death was suspected to have been an Illuminati sacrifice. Bruce Lee died suspiciously of an allergic reaction to prescription pills on July 20, 1973.

15. Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was labeled a subversive person by the U.S. government, which employs many members of the Illuminati. He was very paranoid in the days leading up to his death, and he often spoke about dying before he reached the age of 30. Jimi Hendrix died after choking on his own vomit on September 18, 1970.

16. Tupac Amaru Shakur

Tupac was probably the most loved rapper of all times and one of the very few who exposed the Illuminati. How did he (or others) knew so much about the Illuminati and the fake music industry? And if he was co-opted by them, then why did he exposed them, eventually? The only logical explanation is that he was co-opted by them on his way up and, it must have been fun for a while, until he understood that these parasites are inhumane and responsible for most of the world's problems.

In fact, Tupac is responsible for the term Killuminati, which means the Killing of the Illuminati. And because he was so fervently against them, the Illuminati killed him on the night of September 7, 1996. But the strangest thing about Tupac was his name. Tupac Amaru means "Shining Serpent" in Incan, and refers to the great creator god of the pre-Inca and Inca cultures, Viracocha.

In his human form, Viracocha was a very tall Aryan, with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. In his non-human form, he was a human-eating reptilian. Sounds familiar?

Viracocha was known throughout the Central and South America under many names, depending on the culture: Quetzalcoatl (by the Aztecs), Kukulkan (by the Mayas), Votan (in Palenque), Zamna (in Izamal) or Gucumatz (by the K'iche Maya).

All of the above names translate the same: the Feathered Serpent, which meant that this reptilian god had the capability of flight. He was also described as shining. You can read more about it here, here and here.

So, whatever happened to Tupac in his life, he was definitely knowledgeable of the occult.

10 Actors Who Tragically Ended Their Lives

Although their lives seem exciting and appealing, and though their screen personas have brought joy and wonder to the rest of us, the lives of film, television, and stage actors are not always easy. In some cases, failed relationships, deaths in the family, or health problems may drive them to an early grave—at their own hands. Inspired by the recent suicide of the beloved Robin Williams, this list is a collection of 10 other beloved actors who tragically ended their lives.

1 Charles Boyer

This acclaimed French actor with the instantly recognizable face was the absolute picture of success. Boyer’s career spanned over 50 years and some 80 films, and he garnered four Academy Award nominations. But it was the 1930s and 1940s that were his golden times. Classic films like The Garden of Allah, Algiers, Love Affair, and the thriller Gaslight captured his sensuous appeal as a romantic leading man and a talented thespian.

Although he was born in a small French town in 1899 and didn’t know a word of English, Boyer refused to allow that to stifle his creativity. He made a name for himself in French cinema beginning with his first film, L’Homme du Large, and later moved to Hollywood to further his career. Over the years, he starred opposite voluptuous beauties like Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, and many more.

Boyer was known not only for his films, but also his television appearances, his advocacy for French-American relations, and for inspiring the legendary animated character Pepe le Pew. He retired from his career in the 1970s to take care of his first and only wife, Pat Paterson, who was afflicted with cancer at the time. Her death in 1978 proved too much for Boyer to handle, though, and he ended his life two days after by ingesting a lethal dose of barbiturates.

2 Brad Davis

With a torturous start in life at the hands of a sexually abusive mother and an alcoholic father, Brad Davis learned destructive habits early in life. However, acting was his dream, and after winning a music talent contest in his teenage years, he worked at Theatre Atlanta and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.

After appearing in theater productions, soap operas, television movies, and the mini-series Roots, he won acclaim with his film debut, 1979’s Midnight Express, for which he won a Golden Globe Award along with several other nominations. He also starred in the drama Querelle, a landmark film for the gay community.

His adult career, however, was marred by his arrests and wild behavior, with accounts of him shooting framed portraits of himself, spreading his own feces on hotel walls, and, in one instance, ripping his shirt off at a Hollywood party and shouting, “Who’s got the drugs?” After reportedly sobering up from his long-time struggle with alcohol and cocaine abuse, Davis learned that he had AIDS, most likely either due to his drug abuse or alleged bisexual lifestyle. Frightened of having people discover his affliction, he ended his life with the aid of some close friends.

3 David Rappaport

Standing at just 119 centimeters (3’11”) tall, the English actor David Rappaport was one of the finest dwarf actors of his generation. Although obviously much shorter than his contemporaries, he was a recurring actor in television shows like L.A. Law and The Wizard, and a knockout in films like The Bride and the comedy classic Time Bandits, in which he acted alongside Sean Connery and John Cleese. He was even chosen to appear in Star Trek: The Next Generation in a role that can be seen on the Season 3 Blu-ray collection.

However, over his lifetime, he claimed that he battled depression because of intolerance and prejudice due to his appearance. In an interview, he confessed, “I look at boring people every day, and I say, ‘God, I wish I could be like that,’ but my lot is to be unique, special, so I have to put up with it.”

After a failed suicide attempt in March 1990 by inhaling automobile exhaust, he succeeded that May in Laurel Canyon Park, where the police found his body after he shot himself.

4 Brian Keith

Born in New Jersey to a family of actors, it didn’t take long for the acting bug to bite Brian Keith. His film debut was at the age of three, and while he lent himself to radio and stock productions, he decided to serve with the United States Marine Corps beginning at the age of 19. Although he was awarded an Air Navy medal for his service, Keith’s true calling was always acting. Back on home ground, the robust, gruff actor started off on Broadway in plays like Mister Roberts, and it didn’t take long for major studios to notice him.

Starting in 1953 with a career that would last some 35 years, Keith went on to star in a host of wildly popular sitcoms and TV shows such as Family Affair, Hardcastle and McCormick, and the eponymous The Brian Keith Show. His film career also left little to be desired, as the adaptable actor portrayed anything from family men to cowboys to detectives and starred in classics like The Wind and the Lion and The Parent Trap.

Unfortunately, he was later diagnosed with cancer and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his California home in 1997.

5 Steven Keats

When speaking about television and film of the 1970s, it would be remiss not to mention Steven Keats, a talented actor of both mediums who was raised in Brooklyn, although both of his parents were Jewish immigrants from Denmark. After an education at the Yale School of Drama and Montclair State College, and after serving with the Air Force in Vietnam, he decided to try his hand at acting. His Broadway debut was in 1970 with Oh! Calcutta.

It was his later performances in films like Hester Street, Death Wish, and The Gambler that caught the attention of the public and brought him acclaim. His Emmy-nominated performance in the miniseries Seventh Avenue in 1977 as ruthless clothing entrepreneur Jay Blackman, though, was perhaps his finest work.

Despite his success in film and television, his three failed marriages and other unknown conditions left him in a dejected state, and in May 1994, he was found dead from suicide in his Manhattan apartment.

6 Richard Farnsworth

Starting out as a humble stunt man and continuing in that field for 30 years, doubling for giants like Henry Fonda and Roy Rogers, this brilliant yet unassuming man finally turned to acting at the ripe age of 57. Although already an older man, he took his work seriously and eventually received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1978’s Comes a Horseman. Although he established himself after that in other major roles in films like The Grey Fox and Tom Horn, his greatest achievement was portraying real-life Alvin Straight in The Straight Story, for which he received an Academy Award.

During that time, however, Farnsworth had been diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and found himself unable to walk. He was later partially paralyzed after a surgery. At the age of 80, frustrated and depressed, Farnsworth wrote a suicide note and shot himself in his home.

7 Sammee Tong

Born in San Francisco, Tong was educated in Hawaii before embarking on a career in Hollywood. Starting in the 1930s, he appeared in uncredited bits in many films, although he was credited with roles in classics like It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In 1959, he appeared along with John Forsythe as a regular on his first television show, Bachelor Father. Known for his fondness for comedy, the Chinese entertainer also toured nightclubs as a singer and a comedian.

After some 25 years performing in films and on television, while starring alongside Mickey Rooney in the sitcom Mickey, Tong was found dead in his home with an empty bottle of sleeping pills close to his body and the note, “I have taken my own life. No one is to blame.” Other than the assumed dissatisfaction with his life, no motive for his self-inflicted drug overdose could ever be determined.

8 Freddie Prinze

The father of Freddie Prinze Jr. and one of the funniest stand-up comics of his time, Prinze broke ground for Hispanic actors like no one before him. Best loved for his performance in the 1970s television show Chico and the Man, he also performed for president Jimmy Carter and cracked up Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.

The man who had made $2 an hour as an usher for Broadway suddenly had a bright future ahead of him. However, although he had signed contracts with NBC and Caesar’s Palace that would’ve secured him over $7 million and was negotiating with film studios like Warner Bros. and Universal, his addiction to cocaine and Quaaludes and his impending divorce depressed him. On January 28, 1977, in Los Angeles, Prinze wrote a suicide note, put a gun in his mouth, and sent a .38-caliber bullet through his head.

9 Spalding Gray

Praised as the greatest American storyteller of his generation as much for his unique style of writing and acting as his ability to touch an audience with insightful and profound comments about life, Spalding Gray made theatrical monologues popular with his performances of such classics as Monster in a Box and Swimming to Cambodia, both of which were adapted to film. He also starred in supporting roles in many classic comedy films, such as Kate and Leopold, King of the Hill, and Beaches.

It was in Ireland in 2001 that the car Gray was in collided with a van, crushing his hip and shattering part of his skull. After the accident, Gray struggled with depression. Whether it was due to brain damage, tragic events like his mother’s suicide, or something else entirely remains unknown. He began to talk about suicide, and even attempted it several times, although some that believe it was a viewing of Tim Burton’s Big Fish that finally convinced him to attempt the big one. On January 10, 2004, Gray allegedly jumped off the Staten Island Ferry. His body was found two months later.

10 George Sanders

With his sophisticated mannerisms, charming persona, and silky, deep voice, it didn’t take long for George Sanders to take Hollywood by storm as the villainous and smarmy scoundrel, which he showcased wonderfully in films like Rebecca, All About Eve, and The Picture of Dorian Grey. He even lent his voice to Shere Khan in the animated film The Jungle Book.

Even after garnering much acclaim, receiving an Oscar, and romancing several female celebrities, Sanders was not known for his happiness. In his autobiography, he wrote, “I am a disagreeable person. I am a hateful person.” He also remarked that women should be beaten and were worth very little, advocating a 25 percent tax for actresses so they wouldn’t make as much as male actors. Late in life, he was afflicted by an incapacitating stroke that affected his speech, along with several other health problems.

In 1972, Sanders checked into a hotel in Spain and overdosed on prescription drugs, leaving behind a suicide note that read in part: “Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored.”