Bollywood Celebrities Who Died Young

1.Divya Bharti: Bollywood lost another starlet with the demise of Divya Bharti at a young age. She was only 19 years old when she died falling from the fifth floor of her Versova apartment. She was a rising talent in films and her death came as a huge shock for the industry. In an interview with idiva, Divya's mother Mita described her as a lovely child who wasn't fond of studying. Divya had married Sajid Nadiadwala at an early age. Speaking about the same, Divya's mother told idiva, “I knew she was married. I’d never have been able to stop her. I supported her so that she’d continue confiding in me and wouldn’t head in another direction.” Reveals Mita in the interview, “They must have had normal tiffs. Sajid and Divya were only together for eight months. Where did they have the time to enjoy life? She was not ambitious. Her aim in life was to marry and have children. She’d joke, ‘I’ll throw my kids in your lap and go to work’.”

2.Smita Patil: She was another one of Bollywood's most loved actresses. Smita Patil had proved her acting prowess with a lot of films, and had a career bejeweled with awards. She was a National Award winner and also a much applauded actress. However her personal life has been debated a lot. She fell in love with Raj Babbar and the two got married. They had a kid, Prateik Babbar. She reportedly died, two weeks after Prateik was born, due to childbirth complications. However things have been strained between Prateik and Raj Babbar. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Prateik said, "Dad was never around while I was growing up. He was always busy with his other family and I had to go and meet him at their house. Why did my mother pass away? It still hurts to come to terms with this reality. Over to movies." While Raj Babbar too has his side of the story, talking to Mumbai Mirror, he said, "So far I've felt that if the truth hurts the people close to you, it is not worth telling. I've always thought about my family. And that surely includes Prateik. The good of my family is my primary concern. However, now everyone feels that it's about time I told my version of the truth. And I agree."

3.Taruni Sachdev: Popularly known as the Rasna girl, Taruni Sachdev passed away in a plane crash in Nepal in 2012. She was only 14 years old then, but had worked in numerous advertisements and had done films too. She was the face of Rasna advertisements, and the cute girl became very popular with it. According to a report in The Times of India, Taruni aspired to become an actress, and had told director Vinayan T G (who introduced her to films in 2004), "Uncle, I want to do the heroine's role in your film." She had also done a remarkable role in Amitabh Bachchan's Paa. Big B was shocked with the news. "Shocked and deeply grieved on learning of the tragic end of Taruni. Taruni, a talented little child, who played much beyond her years, cute, confident and so immensely lovable. My prayers!" Big B wrote on Twitter.

4.Jiah Khan: The death of Jiah Khan created a stir in the industry. This young and budding talent was reportedly found dead at her apartment in Juhu in June 2013. She was just 25. As an immediate consequence of the death, Jiah Khan's alleged boyfriend Sooraj Panscholi was arrested on charges of abetment to suicide. According to a report in The Times of India, a six paged letter allegedly written by Jiah was found by the police and that Jiah Khan's mother, Rabia Khan had questioned the suicide theory. In an interview with The Times of India, Rabia Khan opened up about her daughter, saying, "Reports that my daughter was depressed because of work is all rubbish. She was fine; she was sincere, pure and not manipulative at all. She could not stand lies, deception and lies from the only one she loved the most. I am not being revengeful but telling the truth. She fell for a wrong guy." According to a Mumbai Mirror report, the Pancholis had filed a 100 crore defamation case against Rabia Khan. While the legalities are on, Bollywood remembers Jiah as the sensuous beauty of Nishabd.

5.Aarthi Agarwal, who had made her acting debut at the age of 16, with the Bollywood film, Pagalpan, died of cardiac arrest in a hospital in the US after a failed liposuction surgery. Her manager was quoted in an IANS report as saying that, "Aarthi was battling obesity and pulmonary illness. She was undergoing treatment and due to some complications, she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away." In 2005, she had reportedly attempted suicide after an alleged relationship with a co-star turned bitter and her films did not do well at the box office. After her Bollywood career failed to pick up, Aarthi moved down South. She had made her debut in Telugu films with the hit Nuvvu Naaku Nachav in 2001. She went on to act in hits such as Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu, Indra and Vasantham with stars like Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh and Nagarjuna. However, a source has been quoted in the report as saying that, "From 2008 to 2015 she worked in only four films and was almost forgotten. I think she had put on weight and had decided to undergo surgery."

Like Aarthi, fate was't kind to many Bollywood celebs. Here's taking a look at the celebs whose lives were cut short

10 Bollywood Celebrities Who Died Young

Bollywood stars start their careers at a very young age and go on to become legendary actors. But some of them leave us ahead of their time at a young age. Dealing with showbiz is not that simple, and sometimes it takes the toll on these artists. Let’s take a look at 10 such Bollywood stars who died at a young age:

1.Divya Bharti: Bollywood’s yesteryear budding actress Divya Bharti who entered the industry at a very young age, died under mysterious circumstances. The actress who shot to fame in a really short span of time, died in the year 1993 after falling off from a five storey building in Versova. At the age of only 19, Divya’s death shocked the industry to the core.

2.Jiah Khan: Definitely one of the biggest deaths that shocked the entire Bollywood industry was of actress Jiah Khan. Jiah who committed suicide in the year 2013, passed away at the tender age of 25 leaving the industry in a state of shock. Her suicide letter seemed to indicate failure in this industry as the reason for her huge step. Actor Sooraj Pancholi was also involved in the actress’ suicide investigation case.

3.Aarthi Agarwal: One of the most shocking news of this year was actress Aarthi Agarwal’s death. The cause of actress’s death was said to be a sudden cardio arrest. The 31-year old actress Aarthi Agarwal was fighting obesity and pulmonary illness from a while. Aarthi underwent the risky procedure of liposuction, in order to get in shape for the showbiz and lost her life due to complications in the same.

4.Taruni Sachdev: Bollywood’s cute little angel face star Taruni Sachdev died at a tender age of 14 in a plane crash. The unfortunate mishap took place when the star was travelling back to India from Nepal, and her plane crashed. Best known for her role in the film Paa, Taruni’s death made the whole nation grieve for the young little star.

5.Soundarya: Another actress we lost in plane crash was Soundarya, who was not only a famous face in Bollywood, but also in the Southern film industry. The Suryavanshi actress died near Bangalore in a plane crash, accompanied by her brother who died as well. Soundarya was apparently on her way to Andhra Pradesh when the crash took place. She was only 28 years old.

6.Madhubala: Bollywood’s evergreen beauty Madhubala died at a young age of 39 years after losing a battle to sickness. The actress who is known as the epitome of beauty, is still remembered as an icon and her early death was felt as a loss to the entire film fraternity. Madhubala’s role as Anarkali in the iconic film Mughal-E-Azam is considered legendary.

7.Smita Patil: Another yesteryear beauty whose early death was a huge loss for Indian cinema was none other than actress Smita Patil. National Award and Padma Shri winner Patil passed away at only 31 years due to health problems. Her social work towards upliftment of women in rural India proves that she was one of the most humanitarian stars of her time. Her films also usually were women centric which was a great deal at that time.

8.Silk Smitha: Iconic actress Silk Smitha passed away at the early age of 36 after committing suicide. The actress was found dead in her Chennai apartment. Vidya Balan starrer The Dirty Picture, which was a biopic of Smitha’s life indicates how the showbiz got the best of the actress. Depression and problems in personal life were some of the reasons why Smitha took her life.

9.Abir Goswami: Television actor Abir Goswami died at a very young age of 37 due to cardiac arrest. After making a steady climb in his career with serials like Kkusum and Pyaar Ka Dard Hai, he has also acted in hit films like 2013’s Ugly and Hrithik Roshan starrer Lakshya. Abir passed away in May 2013 after a sudden massive heart attack while he was on a treadmill in his gym.

10.Sanjit Bedi: Popular Television actor Sanjit Bedi passed away recently in June 2015 after losing a battle with prolonged illness. Sanjit was suffering from brain sickness and was in coma for a long time. The actor passed away in June, at a young age of mid forty. Best known for his role in Sanjivani, he also starred in programs like Jaane Kya Baat Hui, Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa and Kasautii Zindagii Kay

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.