Natasha Richardson
For many of us, actors become a big part of our lives. We watch them, in many cases, grow up right in front of our very eyes—and we develop attachments to these people who have no idea that we even exist. Sometimes, these attachments form bonds for many of us, as simply watching them brings us entertainment and sometimes even comfort.
So, when you learn that the person you felt a connection with and whose work you love and respect has suddenly passed away before their time—it’s a devastating shock. In remembrance of the legacies of these people, let’s take a look at some of the actors who left us too soon.
Maid in Manhattan, The Parent Trap, and The White Countess are just a few movies that actress Natasha Richardson starred in. She passed away tragically in 2009 after an accident she had while skiing. The actress fell and hit her head but appeared to be fine after. It was not until later when she got a severe headache that she sought medical help.
Unfortunately, the fall resulted in a brain injury that was ultimately fatal. She was married to fellow actor Liam Neeson at the time of her passing and was only 45 years old. She left two children behind.
Natalie Wood
Before Natalie was 25, she had already received three Oscar nominations, making her one of the best actors of her time. Not only did she star in Miracle on 34th Street, but her resume also included Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Gypsy.
She was 43 when she was found to have drowned off the coast of Catalina Island. It was ruled as an accident, but there were several unknown circumstances surrounding Natalie’s passing. What we do know is that she drowned, but no one, including her husband, knows how it happened. When her body was found, there were several bruises on her body and arms, as well as an abrasion on her left cheek.
Michelle Thomas
Best known for playing the role of Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show and then Myra Monkhouse on Family Matters, Michelle Thomas was landing role after role on family sitcoms. She led a very healthy lifestyle, having never smoked or drank a day in her life, as well as adopting a vegan diet. That’s why, her cancer diagnosis, especially at such a young age, took many by surprise.
In August 1997, she was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer and underwent surgery to remove the lemon-sized tumor. In October 1998, she underwent a second surgery after another cancerous growth was found. Just a few days before Christmas, she passed away, surrounded by her family and friends.
Sharon Tate
Hailed as one of Hollywood’s most promising newcomers, Sharon Tate started out with small television roles before earning Golden Globe Award nominations for her acting chops. She would later marry Roman Polanski, a director she met while starring in one of his films.
On August 8th, 1969, just two weeks before she was to give birth, she and three friends Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Wojciech Frykowski passed away. Their lives were taken by Charles Manson’s family. The coroner’s report noted that she had been stabbed 16 times. She was 26 years old.
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher’s career was long and successful despite her struggles with substance abuse and mental illness. The star overcame a great deal and was still acting in movies and on TV when she died.
While on a plane, she stopped breathing and was placed on a ventilator when the flight landed. However, she passed away four days later at the hospital. Coroners determined that it was due to cardiac arrest. Sleep apnea was part of the reason for her immediate passing, including illegal substances in her system. Her last film was released in 2019 after her passing.
Jayne Mansfield
Film and television actress Jayne Mansfield was a Playboy Playmate before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols. Beyond her acting career, she was well known for having several wardrobe malfunctions and for allegedly being involved with both Robert and John F. Kennedy.
On the evening of June 29, 1967, Mansfield, her driver Ronnie Harrison, and her attorney Sam Brody, as well as her three children, crashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer. The trailer had been shrouded by fog. The adults in the front did not survive, but the children survived with minor injuries.
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was one of the most popular actresses of her time and had a career that spanned almost 40 years, being part of the original Charlie’s Angels, The Burning Red, and Small Sacrifices. She was an icon and inspired the hairstyle still known today as the Farrah hairstyle. She won five Emmy Awards and was nominated for six Golden Globe Awards, among other things.
In fact, she was still working at the age of 62 until her passing. She was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 and continued to fight until 2009, even trying various alternative treatments to heal from the disease.
Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner was known for her remarkably hilarious character on the classic comedy skit show Saturday Night Live. She was one of the seven original cast members and had won an Emmy Award for her performance. She also appeared in many other comedy films until her health started to wane. She started to experience pain in her upper legs, including suffering severe fatigue.
Radner sought numerous medical help, but they all had misdiagnosed her. It wasn’t until a year later, on October 21, 1986, that she discovered she had stage IV ovarian cancer. She had a long fight before she lost the battle and passed away at the age of 49 in 1989.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jean Mortenson, died at the age of 36. Born in poverty, Monroe made herself into a star, but it all ended at the height of her fame. On August 4, 1962, she was found lifeless on her bed in her Los Angeles home by her housekeeper.
Her toxicology reports stated that the cause of her passing was an acute barbiturate overdose. She will forever be known as one of the greatest symbols of the ’50s and ’60s, and to this day, she continues to be a popular cultural icon.
Lana Clarkson
Actress and fashion model Lana Clarkson is best known for her roles in several fantasy epic films, including Deathstalker, Barbarian Queen, and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II. She had also appeared in several commercials for Mercedes-Benz, Nike, and Mattel.
In February 2003, she rode on the limousine of record producer Phil Spector and went over to his mansion after working at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. She would later be found to have been shot. The driver had heard the gunshot and saw Spector exit the house through his backdoor while holding a gun. He was reported to have said, “I think I just shot her.” Clarkson was 40.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah’s life, music, and movies are still being celebrated, despite her losing her life nearly twenty years ago. Although she was a more successful artist than an actress, her performance in The Queen of The Damned stunned audiences around the world. Her untimely passing just after shooting a scene for a music video was just as surprising.
The star was 22 years old when she lost her life on August 25, 2001, after boarding a flight to the Bahamas. Shortly after take-off, the plane crash-landed on the runway of the airport and no one survived.
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was only 26 years old when she passed away. But before she left, was also one of the biggest movie stars in the world, surpassing Joan Crawford who held the top spot. Nicknamed the original “Blonde Bombshell,” she appeared in several films, including Red-Headed Woman, Dinner at Eight, Reckless, and Suzy in the 1930s.
In 1937, she suffered several illnesses, including influenza, which she contracted while traveling, and sepsis after multiple wisdom tooth extraction. While she recovered from these, kidney failure ultimately took her life as she was already in the final stages.
Robin Williams
Robin Williams and the many movies he’s starred in, such as Jumanji, Dead Poets Society, and Good Will Hunting, will forever be remembered by his fans as some of the best movies in Hollywood.
The star, who suffered from a range of mental illnesses (depression, paranoia, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, anxiety, and more), took his own life while still at the height of his career. Reports stated the cause of his passing is asphyxia.
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith was a model and reality TV star whose life wasn’t nearly as glamorous as it appeared to be. She rose to fame after becoming Playmate of the Year in 1993. But her life was plagued by court cases, alleged addictions, multiple publicized and scandalous relationships, and a personality disorder, among others.
And in February of 2007, she was found lifeless in her hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Her toxicology reports stated that it was accidental illegal substance intoxication.
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze’s name was on everyone’s lips after he starred in the iconic Dirty Dancing movie alongside Jennifer Grey. In the following years, he would keep appearing on screens and even on TV too. However, the star was plagued by health issues, namely his difficult battle with pancreatic cancer.
He seemed to be responding well to treatment, even removing a part of his stomach for his health but was given weeks to live in July 2008. He managed to defy the odds and lived another year before losing his fight at the age of 57 on September 14, 2009.
Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy is an actress that the world lost way too soon. She lost her life on December 20, 2009, due to pneumonia, secondary to multiple illegal substance intoxication and iron-deficiency anemia. She had been transported from her home after collapsing in the bathroom after her heart had stopped.
Before her passing, she made appearances in Freeway, Girl Interrupted, and A View from the Bridge. Let’s not forget her breakout role in the 1995 Clueless. She was only 32 when she passed away.
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, and his passing at age 54 was a shock to many. His lifeless body was discovered in a jacuzzi in his Los Angeles residence. Initial reports hinted at a possible drowning, but TMZ reported that first responders were called to the home for cardiac arrest.
There were no illegal substances found at the scene, and no foul play was suspected. However, despite his success, Perry struggled with addiction to alcohol and Vicodin abuse, which began after a Jet Ski accident in 1997.
River Phoenix
Actor River Phoenix was the brother of Joker actor Joaquin Phoenix. He had been partying with some friends at Johnny Depp’s nightclub, The Viper Room, before being rushed to the hospital. However, he lost his life to heart failure on October 31, 1993.
His toxicology reports showed high amounts of illegal substances. His mother published an open letter about his passing nine days later.
Glenn Quinn
If you’re fan of ’90s sitcoms, you should remember Glenn Quinn who portrayed Becky’s delinquent boyfriend, Mark Healy, in Roseanne. Despite his character’s limited screen time, he left an impact and was exceptional in his role. Another notable television show under his belt is Angel, where he played the role of a half-demon named Allen Francis Doyle.
When he passed on December 3, 2002, the show Roseanne paid tribute to him in one of its episodes titled Eggs Over, Not Easy. He had struggled with substance abuse throughout his career. He was only 32 when he found lifeless at a friend’s home in North Hollywood, California. It was said that he had lost his life due to overdose on illegal substances earlier the day.
Bruce Lee
The legendary Bruce Lee made a name for himself as one of the most influential martial artists of all time after starring in a string of films in the early 1970s. In May of 1973, he complained about having a series of seizures and headaches that forced him to seek medical assistance. On the day of his passing, he had a headache and received a painkiller from a friend before lying down.
The martial arts star would never wake up again despite numerous efforts at resuscitation. It was revealed that the cause was his sensitivity to the aspirin he was given the night he passed.
Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve will forever be known as one of the first people to play Superman. Unfortunately, those superpowers didn’t save him from a life of health problems, including asthma, alopecia, and allergies.
In the early 2000s, he suffered from a series of infections that doctors say started in his bone marrow. He went into cardiac arrest after receiving an antibiotic for his infection. On October 10, 2004, 18 hours after falling into a coma, he passed away at the age of 52.
Matthew Garber
British child actor Matthew Garber became an overnight star after starring as Michael Banks in Disney’s 1964 Mary Poppins. Just a year later, he was back on screen, this time in Disney’s The Gnome Mobile, again alongside Karen Dotrice. This would be his last film.
In 1976, after spending time in India, he unknowingly contracted hepatitis. By the time it was discovered, it had already begun to affect his pancreas. On June 13, 1977, Garber passed away at the age of 21 due to hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis.
Luke Perry
Luke Perry enjoyed a long, successful career in TV and film after initially being a teen idol since starring in Beverly Hills, 90210. His last project was The CW’s Riverdale. He was on break when he suddenly suffered a massive stroke on February 27, 2019.
He was placed on life support and another stroke followed. His family removed him from life support after his medical team advised them to, and he passed on March 4, 2019.
Paul Walker
Paul Walker became everyone’s favorite street-racing cop, Brian O’Conner, in the Fast & Furious franchise and was scheduled to appear in at least three more films before his passing. In a twisted joke, he died in the very same way that he made most of his money: by being in a very fast car. The vehicle crashed into a lamppost and caught on fire.
As it turns out, the actor was not the one driving at the time but his friend, Roger Rodas, who also lost his life. Walker passed away tragically from a combination of the burns and the trauma of the accident.
Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac was one of the best comedians of his time, but he was suffering from inflammation in his body’s tissues during his last three years alive. The disease, sarcoidosis, would often attack his lungs. After being hospitalized in 2008, doctors were unable to treat him successfully, and he went into cardiac arrest a week later. He passed in the early hours of August 9, 2008.
He had several films that were released posthumously, including Soul Men, Old Dogs, and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. A television special showing a tribute to the actor was aired on the day of his funeral.
James Dean
Acting icon James Dean died in a car accident before he even turned 25. He was a huge racing fan and hoped to take part in the Indy 500 one day. However, he died on September 30, 1955, after slamming into a Ford Tudor and sustaining many serious injuries, the most serious of which was a broken neck.
He is one of the few actors who has been nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award posthumously; he became the very first to achieve this. During his short life, he starred in several prominent films, perhaps most notably Rebel Without a Cause.
Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman became an icon because of his roles as Arnold Jackson in the hit show Diff’rent Strokes. The star appeared in movies after its last episode but suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2010 at the age of 42. Afterward, he fell into a coma and was eventually removed from life support on May 28, 2010.
Not much is known about the star’s health prior to his passing except that he suffered from kidney disease. It was also revealed that he suffered more than one seizure before being admitted to the hospital.
Dustin Diamond
Saved by the Bell had a collection of stereotypical collection of characters, and Dustin Diamond played the lovable dork named Sam Powers, nicknamed Screech. He was only a supporting character, but Diamond displayed a comedic talent that made him memorable. However, in spite of this, he struggled securing roles outside of the TV sitcom.
Diamond was also entangled in controversies, including the book he published titled titled Behind the Bell, where he exposed alleged secrets and disharmony among his Saved by the Bell co-stars. He later admitted that the ghostwriter had fabricated much of the content in the book. In early January 2021, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer before passing away at the age of 44 in February 1, 2021.
Heath Ledger
Many hearts broke the day that the Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger passed away. The Australian native starred in several movies from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, including 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, and Monster Ball.
In 2008, at the age of just 28 years old, he was found unconscious by his housekeeper. Despite attempts to revive him, he did not survive and passed away. Toxicology reports confirmed that the star died accidentally of a mixture of prescribed medications. He was such a beautiful, gifted soul, and the world was lessened on the day of his passing.
Chadwick Boseman
Award-winning actor Chadwick Boseman had a two-decade-long career in acting and had been a notable member of the Marvel movies. While he had several other movies under his belt, he is most popularly known as Black Panther in the movie of the same name.
Boseman was already diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, but he kept his condition private and only a handful of his family members knew about it. He continued acting, but his illness eventually worsened and progressed to stage IV before 2020. He was 43 when he lost the battle against cancer and passed away on August 28, 2020.
Anton Yelchin
Anton Yelchin is most known for his performance as Chekov in the Star Trek reboot. However, after just getting his career started, he lost his life in a freak accident in the driveway of his home. He was pinned between his car and a brick pillar gate outside his house before he passed due to blunt traumatic asphyxia.
After his passing, his parents planned to sue the manufacturers of the vehicle that caused their son’s life after it came to light that a series of roll-away accidents had occurred. The parties settled out of court.
Corey Monteith
Cory Monteith rose to fame when he landed the role of Finn Hudson on Glee. Unfortunately, his prior history with illegal substances came back to haunt him in 2013. He went to rehab in April of that year but succumbed in July when he accidentally overdosed. He was found lifeless in a hotel room in Vancouver.
Following his passing, there was a tribute to him at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. The actor was also featured in the In Memoriam portion of the 56th Grammy Awards.
Michael Clarke Duncan
You may remember Michael Clarke Duncan’s face from his amazing performance in The Green Mile alongside Tom Hanks. Fans surely did, especially when news of his sudden passing hit the media. He suffered a heart attack in September of 2012 and lost his life despite CPR attempts made by his then-girlfriend and hospital staff.
Almost every memorial held for him featured his infamous line from The Green Mile, “Heaven. I’m in Heaven.” Sadly, drama followed after his passing when his longtime girlfriend Omarosa was accused of changing his will.
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee, son of the legendary Bruce Lee, lost his life tragically when he was just 28 years old. Before the fateful day, the star had already made appearances in a few movies and TV shows. It was an art he started practicing at the age of thirteen, just five years after his dad had passed away. One day, he was filming on the set of The Crow when he was shot.
Members of the props crew had placed what appeared to be dummy bullets into the gun. When it was fired, the bullet fired like a regular one hit him in his abdomen. Unfortunately, the injury was fatal.
Chris Farley
Christopher Farley, who you probably know for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live as well as starring in Cone Heads and Beverly Hills Ninjas passed away at the age of 33 on December 18, 1997. For much of his life, he struggled with alcohol and illegal substance addiction, which caused his suspension from SNL on several occasions.
It is reported that he sought treatment for his problems on 15 separate occasions. He was already lifeless when his brother found him. His autopsy revealed that he passed due to a combination of illicit substances.
Lee Thompson Young
Lee Thompson Young frequented the Disney channel as “The Famous Jett Jackson,” a teen secret agent. He even landed a role on television on the show Friday Night Lights and then Rizzoli & Isles on TNT years after. But he suffered from chronic depression (and bipolar disorder), and his career wasn’t enough to keep those struggles away.
On August 19, 2013, he was found lifeless at his LA apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. He had taken his own life. A three-hour memorial was held for him, followed by the launch of a foundation in his name to remove the stigma of mental illness.
James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini’s face appeared on TV screens around the world as mob boss Tony Soprano. He was even still working on projects at the time of his shocking passing. While in Italy, vacationing with his family, he was found unconscious on his bathroom floor. He was taken to the hospital but it was already too late.
The autopsy confirmed that it was because of a heart attack. Numerous organizations, actors, directors, and even politicians including Broadway and John McCain honored the actor after his passing.
Brad Renfro
Brad Renfro’s name was on everybody’s lips from the time he starred in The Client at the young age of 11. He went on to star in more than 20 films after that. Unfortunately, his troubles with the law started at 15, when he was arrested for illegal substance possession. It would soon become a pattern over the next decade.
Unfortunately, he lost this battle with addiction and lost his life after overdosing in 2008. He was only 25, and his passing brought about the need for protecting child actors in Hollywood.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman won numerous awards for his amazing acting skills, and at 46 years old, he had a lot left in him. That is, until his passing. On February 2, 2014, the actor was found lifeless in his apartment. The cause was due to acute intoxication of illegal substances.
After his passing, Broadway dimmed their lights for one minute and the LAByrinth Theatre held a candlelight vigil. Actress Cate Blanchett also dedicated her BAFTA trophy to him.
Ryan Dunn
TV personality, actor, and comedian Ryan Dunn was best known for being one of MTV’s reality show heroes, where he and the rest of the cast performed stunts that should not have been attempted by anyone. Viewers often questioned the safety of the things that they were doing, and some people expected that something would have gone wrong while filming.
On July 20th, 2011, Dunn and one of the assistant producers, Zachary Hartwell, had the vehicle he was driving veer off the road. It struck a tree and almost immediately burst into flames.
Corey Haim
Canadian actor Corey Haim became a household name after starring in The Lost Boys, alongside Corey Feldman. Together, the two Coreys starred in a total of seven films together, solidifying their spots as some of the most famous actors in the 1980s. Later on in his career, Haim struggled with illegal substance addiction, and it was thought to be the cause of his passing in 2010 until an autopsy was conducted.
After he was pronounced deceased, police discovered over 500 prescription pills at his residence. However, the coroner ruled that the cause was due to pneumonia as there was water in the lungs and his heart enlarged.
Carl Switzer
Carl Switzer was once a famous child actor who is best known for the role of Alfalfa in the series Our Gang (otherwise known as Little Rascals on the big screen) from the 1930s to the 1940s, and for the dance scene in It’s a Wonderful Life. Because of his prominent role as Alfalfa, Switzer found it difficult to land meaningful roles, so he became a dog trainer instead.
After settling a repayment for a lost dog that Switzer was supposed to train, the actor thought that the owner, Moses Stiltz, should repay him the reward fee. According to Stilz, they got into a fight and, after Switzer pulled out a hunting knife, Stiltz shot him, which ultimately ended the actor’s life.
Cameron Boyce
Cameron Boyce starred in numerous Disney projects, including the comedy series Jessie, the Descendants movies, and Grown Ups, among others. He was suffering from a medical condition, which he had been receiving treatment for.
However, on July 6, 2019, Boyce suddenly had a seizure while in his sleep. It was due to epilepsy, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The star’s body was cremated before his ashes were given to his family.
Andy Whitfield
Andy Whitfield was an up-and-coming actor after landing the lead role in Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand. After successfully filming 13 episodes of the hit show, however, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which delayed the production of the show’s second season.
By June 2010, he was declared cancer-free, but a routine medical check in September showed that he had relapsed. He abandoned the role, which was later given to Liam McIntyre. He lost his battle with cancer in September 2011, just 18 months after he was diagnosed.
Johnny Lewis
Johnny Lewis’s passing was one that stumped fans all over the world. He and 81-year-old landlady Catherine Davis were found lifeless in said Davis’s villa. The actor had a history of illegal substance abuse, but during the time of the incident, his system was said to have been clean.
After an investigation, it was alleged that Lewis beat Davis, including her cat, until they lost their life. He even dismembered it. It was also determined that he either jumped or fell off Davis’s roof. No one is certain though. This one didn’t leave too soon. He should stay deceased.