Celebs who died young On the 10-year anniversary of
R&B star Aaliyah's untimely and tragic death, we take a look back at other stars whose lives were taken too soon.
Amy WinehouseDate of death: July 23, 2011The "Rehab" singer was known for her public struggles with drugs and alcohol and died alone in her bed shortly after returning from a treatment facility.
Amy Winehouse dies age 27. the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home, police said.
She was 27.
Winehouse shot to fame in 2006 with the album "Back to Black," whose blend of jazz, soul, rock and classic pop was a global hit. It won five Grammys and made Winehouse — with her black beehive hairdo and old-fashioned sailor tattoos — one of music's most recognizable stars. But her personal life, with its drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders and destructive relationships, soon took over her career.
Nate DoggDate of death: March 15, 2011The seasoned rapper had suffered several strokes leading up to his untimely passing. Dogg was credited with pioneering the West Coast G-funk sound.
nate dogg dies at 41. Hip-hop star Nate Dogg died Tuesday, according to reports.
Despite being around seemingly forever, Nate real name Nathaniel Dwayne Hale was just 41 and had battled serious health issues for several years.
Nate survived strokes in 2007 and 2008. His smooth vocal collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Warren G., Dr. Dre and others led to many hits.
Mike StarrDate of death: March 8, 2011Best known as a member of Alice in Chains, Starr appeared on the third season of this reality show and was arrested (find out why) shortly before he was found dead in Utah.
mike starr dead at 44. Former Alice in Chains Bassist
Mike Starr Dead at 44 former Alice in Chains bassist and 'Celebrity Rehab' participant, was found dead in Utah on Tuesday, TMZ.com reports. Police tell the website the rocker's body was found in a Salt Lake City home around 1:45PM. The cause of death is still unknown. Starr was 44.
Gary ColemanDate of death: May 28, 2010Remembered as the adorable kid on this TV show who had his own catchphrase, he later battled depression, twice trying to commit suicide. He suffered from a disease his entire life, undergoing two transplants. In the end, it was another medical problem that took his short life.
gary coleman dies at 42 Former child star Gary Coleman, who rose to fame as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Jackson on the TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" but grew up to grapple with a troubled adulthood, has died. He was 42.
"We are very sad to have to report Mr. Gary Coleman has passed away," his spokesman, John Alcantar, said in a statement Friday afternoon. "He was removed from life support; soon thereafter, he passed quickly and peacefully. By Gary's bedside were his wife and other close family members."Coleman died after being stricken with a brain hemorrhage following an accident at his home in Santaquin, Utah, on Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was rushed by ambulance to a Provo hospital, Coleman's spokesman had said earlier Friday.
He was then taken to another hospital -- Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo -- later Wednesday night.
In the late '70s and early '80s, Coleman was one of television's brightest stars, the personality around which NBC's "Strokes" -- the story of two inner-city children who are taken in by a wealthy businessman, his daughter and their housekeeper -- was built.
"There was a touch of magic and a different stroke in Gary Coleman. He was the inspiration behind his show's title," said producer Norman Lear, whose company oversaw the show.
Corey HaimDate of death: March 20, 2010A fixture in the 1980s for his teen movies and his friendship with this other Corey, he later struggled with drug addiction and tried to get back on track by appearing on this reality show. Many rumors swirled about his death, but he died from a common disease.
Corey Haim dies at age 38 Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.
Haim died early Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
“As he got out of bed, he felt a little weak and went down to the floor on his knees,” Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said. His mother called paramedics.
Alexander McQueenDate of death: Feb. 11, 2010His daring and outlandish designs made him a fashion designer to the stars, most notably this singer. He received this prestigious award in 2003. He was found dead in his home due to an apparent suicide.
Alexander McQueen dies at 40 Fashion designer Alexander McQueen, whose funky avant-garde designs have influenced Lady Gaga among others, has died, a spokesperson for the designer confirmed to MTV News. The BBC reported that paramedics were called to his London home Thursday morning (February 11), where he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, McQueen's death is not being treated as suspicious.
Brittany MurphyDate of death: Dec. 20, 2009While speculation ran rampant, the "Clueless" star appeared to have died of natural causes. Five months after her death, tragedy struck again for her family.
Brittany Murphy dies at 32 Brittany Murphy died early this morning after she went into full cardiac arrest and could not be revived.Murphy starred in such films as "Clueless," "8 Mile," and "Don't Say a Word." Murphy was reportedly fired from last film, "The Caller," after reports she was problematic on set.
Michael JacksonDate of death: June 25, 2009Michael Jackson had announced a comeback tour before he died. His music topped the charts again after his death.
+Michael Jackson dies at age Michael Jackson, the pop superstar who dazzled the world with his dancing but also led a strange private life that included a child-molestation charge, died suddenly Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 50.
Jackson was taken to hospital Thursday afternoon after going into cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home, said brother Jermaine Jackson at an evening news conference. A personal physician who was with the icon at the time was unable to resuscitate him despite an hour-long attempt.
Heath LedgerDate of death: Jan. 22, 2008Heath Ledger won an Oscar after his death. What was his last movie and what was his famous quote?
+Heath ledger dies at age.Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said.
The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28.
Ledger was found naked and unresponsive, facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, said police spokesman Paul Browne.
AaliyahDate of death: Aug. 25, 2001The R&B star's tragic death shocked her fans and the world. She died along with eight others in a plane crash after filming a music video in the Bahamas.
Aaliyah dies at 22.Actress-singer , Aaliyah 22, dies in plane crash in Bahamas while shooting video AaliyahBiggie SmallsDate of death: March 9, 1997The Notorious B.I.G., who was seen as Tupac Shakur's rival, died in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His murder remains unsolved.notorious
BIG dies at 24.It's hard to believe, with all the impact he had in his short life, not to mention his fearsome appearance, but Biggie Smalls AKA the
Notorious BIG was only 24 years old when he died in 1998.
The Brooklyn representative recorded an incredible amount of
classic music, and launched the careers of many other artists in his short time on earth, after overcoming childooh troubles and time spent on the wrong path, in the streets. His life was chronicled, albeit through somewhat rose-colored glassed, in the hit movie Notorious last year. Along with
Tupac Shakur, he is known as one of the two most tragic losses in hip-hop history, of stars lost right at the height of their success.
Notorious BIG allbums continue to sell consistently years after his death, especially the
classics Ready to Die and Life Affter Death.The 24-year-old rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was shot just after midnight by unknown assailants in a vehicle as he sat in the passenger seat of a GMC
Suburban at a stoplight in
downtown Los Angeles, according to a police statement. He was hit several times, including at least once in the head, and died shortly afterward at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The Notorious B.I.G. was the East Coast's biggest response to the West Coast-born genre of gangsta rap...
Notorious BIG Was 24 Years Old When He DiedTupac ShakurDate of death: Sept. 13, 1996Rapper-actor Tupac Shakur starred in three films. He had six albums released after he was gunned down in 1996. His murder remains unsolved.
+Tupac Shakur dead at 25SelenaDate of death: March 31, 1995Tejano music star Selena was only 23 when she was shot and killed. Her killer was found guilty of first-degree murder in 1995.
+Selena died age 23 of murder by gunshot Kurt CobainDate of death: April 5, 1994Kurt Cobain's name became synonymous with the Seattle grunge scene of the 1990s with the success of his alternative rock band, Nirvana. He took his life after checking out of a rehab facility, leaving behind a suicide note.
Kurt Cobain dead at 27.Nirvana frontman Cobain rallied a generation with his 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' anthem and ushered in a new wave of rebellious teens during the Seattle grunge era in the early '90s. With sophomore record 'Nevermind' in 1991, Cobain changed the shape of the music industry and left an indelible mark on music history. His tumultuous relationships with fame, wife Courtney Love and heroin addiction culminated in his shocking suicide by self-inflicted gun wound, but over a decade later, Cobain's still revered as one of the most gifted voices of the 20th century.
River PhoenixDate of death: Oct. 31, 1993River Phoenix was hailed by critics for his performance in a coming-of-age tale and a classic adventure film. He died of heart failure and a Heroin overdose.
River Phoenix dies at age 23.River Phoenix a great actor, died October 31st, 1993 at the age of 23, he died outside of the VIPER ROOM, Johnny Depp's club. River Phoenix died of a drug overdose and he was surrounded by his Sister, Brother, and his girlfriend at the time of his death.
Jim MorrisonDate of death: July 3, 1971Though his life was short, Morrison's impact on rock music in the 1960s and early '70s with the Doors was considerable and long-lasting. He was found dead in a bathtub in an apartment in Paris. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery.
jim morrison age 27Jimi HendrixDate of death: Sept. 18, 1970During his short life, Hendrix became a guitar superstar and is widely considered one of the best instrumentalists in rock. He died in London after taking sleeping pills and choking in his sleep.
jimi hendrix dies at 27Marilyn MonroeDate of death: Aug. 5, 1962Marilyn Monroe(watch clips of her) had won a Golden Globe Award and sung "Happy Birthday" to the president among other accomplishments, by the time of her untimely passing. Her death remains a source of conspiracy theories.
marilyn monroe death at 36.Marilyn Monroe’s death at 36, family and close friends held an intimate funeral with only 31 mourners, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The actress died of an apparent sleeping pill overdose in her Brentwood home on Aug. 5, 1962. Monroe had a meteoric rise to stardom, particularly in the 1950s with her roles in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “The Seven-Year Itch” and “Some Like it Hot.”
But the star was as famous as she was notorious. Married and divorced three times, Monroe’s troubled private life was often thrust into the public eye. In 1954, she had a short marriage to New York Yankees star Joe DiMaggio.
Buddy HollyDate of death: Feb. 3, 1959Rock 'n' roller Buddy Holly's career was just taking off during the year before his death. Yet he became a legend for his music and is seen as a major influence on popular groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, among others. His life ended on what is called the Day the Music Died in a plane crash that also took the lives of the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.
+buddy holly death age 22 Buddy Holly died in a plane crash at age 22 in 1959James DeanDate of death: Sept. 30, 1955The embodiment of the American bad boy, James Dean became a cultural icon with his impassioned performances in films like "Rebel Without a Cause." He famously died in a car crash driving his new Porsche 550 Spyder.
james dean dies at 24.On this day in 1955, movie star James Dean dies at age 24 in a car crash on a California highway. Dean was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed "Little Bastard," headed to a car race in Salinas, California, with his mechanic Rolf Wuetherich, when they were involved in a head-on collision with a car driven by a 23-year-old college student named Donald Turnaspeed. Dean was taken to Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m. Wuetherich, who was thrown from the car, survived the accident and Turnaspeed escaped with minor injuries. No charges were ever filed against him.
James Byron Dean was born February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. He studied drama at the University of California, Los Angeles, before moving to New York City, where he appeared in plays and TV shows and took classes at the Actors Studio with legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg.
Dean rose to stardom in 1955 with his role as Cal Trask in East of Eden. He reportedly beat out Paul Newman for the part. Dean's performance in the film, based on the John Steinbeck novel, earned him a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. It was the first time in Oscar history that an actor was nominated after his death. The young actor's next film was "Rebel Without a Cause," also released in 1955, in which he played a rebellious teen named Jim Stark. The film, which co-starred Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo, turned Dean into the poster boy for disaffected youth and cool. Dean’s final film "Giant," released in 1956 after his death, was an epic tale of a Texas cattle rancher and his family. Dean starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson and was nominated posthumously for a second Oscar for his performance as Jett Rink.
Janis JoplinOverdose (October 4, 1970)Hippie Joplin grew up in Texas but moved to San Francisco and joined the band Big Brother and the Holding Company in the '60s. Despite her truncated life, she managed to record classics 'Me and Bobby McGee', 'Mercedes Benz', 'Piece of My Heart' and four albums with her backing bands. Heavily into drugs, she went through periods of getting clean but inevitably succumbed to heroin addiction when she died at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Los Angeles of a heroin overdose. Joplin paved the way for women in rock music and leaves behind her distinct blues/psychedelic rock vocals.
Robert JohnsonMurder (August 16, 1938)Considered to be one of the best guitarists of all time and an early purveyor of rock 'n' roll, Delta bluesman Johnson influenced everyone from Eric Clapton to the Stones. The details of his biography are fuzzy, but according to myth he made a deal with the devil at a crossroad in Mississippi in exchange for learning how to deftly play guitar. Known to be a ladies man, one night Johnson flirted with a married woman at a dance and allegedly the jealous husband slipped poison into a bottle of whiskey that Johnson drank. He leaves behind blues staples 'Love in Vain' and 'Sweet Home Chicago.'
D. BoonCar accident (December 23, 1985)Dennes Boon formed the influential punk band Minutemen with Mike Watt in 1980. Unlike a lot of punk bands during that time, Boon didn't employ distortion with his guitar but instead pumped up the treble. While riding in the back of a van in Arizona, the van ran off the road and the seatbeltless Boon was thrown out of the back door and killed. Through four records, Boon exemplified a new breed of punk rock and would influence paeans of punksters for decades to come. After Boon's demise, Minutemen disbanded but Watt has since dedicated every project he's worked on to his friend Boon.
PigpenGastrointestinal hemorrhage (March 8, 1973)Ronald "Pigpen" McKernan was a founding member of celebrated jam band the Grateful Dead playing everything from the organ to the harmonica. Despite the druggy nature of the band, Pigpen eschewed drugs for his vice of alcohol. Years of imbibing led him to experience symptoms of biliary cirrhosis (liver disease). Shackled with the ailment, Pigpen quit touring and made his final appearance with the Dead at the Hollywood Bowl in '72. A few months later, he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera, California. His tombstone reads, "Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead."
Kristen PfaffOverdose (June 16, 1994)Pfaff moved from Minneapolis to Seattle when she joined Hole to record 'Live Through This.' Since heroin was the drug of choice in the city, it was soon after moving there that she became hooked. She entered rehab for addiction in 1993, then took a hiatus from Hole a year later to tour with her other band, Janitor Joe. The night before she was suppose to move back to Minneapolis to focus on Joe, she relapsed and died of a heroin overdose in her bathroom -- two months after her close friend Cobain had died.
Mia ZapataMurder (July 7, 1993)Zapata formed her punk group the Gits at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1986 then moved the band to Seattle in 1989 to capitalize on the fledging music scene there. Later heralded as a pioneer in female punk, Zapata and the band released one album and were on the verge of breaking out with a sophomore record when the unspeakable happened. While heading home from a bar one night, she was ambushed by an unknown man who raped and killed her. Several years after her death, the police finally caught her assailant, Jesus Mezquia. Zapata's legacy continued when admirer Joan Jett reformed the Gits under the name Evil Stig (the Gits backwards) and held benefit concerts to raise money for her murder investigation.
David AlexanderAlcoholism (February 10, 1975)Michiganians Iggy Pop and the Stooges guided the wave of punk rock in the late '60s and early '70s with their self-titled debut and subsequent Fun House and Raw Power albums. The Stooges bassist, David Alexander, wrote a lot of the Stooges seminal tracks including 'Little Doll' and 'Dirt' but was fired from the group in 1970 because he was too drunk to play the Goose Lake International Music Fest in Michigan. Zander's excessive drinking resulted in pancreatitis and pulmonary edema, where heavy fluid accumulated in his lungs.
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