The late celebrities highlighted in this article played some pretty iconic roles in the television, movie, and music industries. Unfortunately, their lives were cut short, and many of these famous faces received very little press about their passing…
James Avery
Uncle Phil, played by the beloved James Avery, in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was naturally a fan favorite as a heartfelt father-figure for Will Smith. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 68.
Natasha Richardson
Who doesn’t recognize this wonderful face from The Parent Trap? Natasha was married to fellow actor Liam Neeson. She sadly passed away after a skiing accident in 2009 at just 45-years-old.
Richard Griffiths
Even though “Uncle Vernon” was not a fan favorite in the Harry Potter books and films, fans of the series and the cast still mourned over the loss of Richard Griffiths when he passed away in 2013.
Taylor Negron
Taylor Negron starred in acclaimed shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Friends, Seinfeld, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He lost his battle with cancer in 2015 at the age of 57.
Gary Coleman
Although his adult life was riddled with scandal and public financial problems, when Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman passed away in 2010 fans of the beloved sitcom mourned his loss.
Lisa Robin Kelly
Eric Foreman’s wild sister, Laurie, on That ’70s Show was played by Lisa Robin Kelly. Lisa had a troubled personal life, though, which was unfortunately exposed to the public. She ended up passing away in 2013 due to multiple drug intoxication at 43.
Ben Woolf
Ben has had a myriad of other roles, but his most famous roles were playing Meep in American Horror Story: Freak Show and Thaddeus Montgomery in AHS: Murder House. Many fans don’t know this, but Ben passed away from a freak accident in 2015 after being hit in the head by a side-view mirror of a car.
Rose Siggins
Rose’s claim to fame was playing Legless Suzi on American Horror Story: Freak Show. Unfortunately, Rose passed away after complications with a kidney stone surgery in 2015.
Sawyer Sweeten
Sawyer Sweeten played the role of Geoffrey Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond alongside his twin brother, Sullivan, and older sister, Madylin. Sadly, he took his own life in 2015, at just 19-years-old.
Marcia Wallace
You may remember Marcia better as Edna Krabappel in The Simpsons or her role in the 80s film Teen Witch. She passed away tragically from pneumonia and sepsis in 2013.
Sarah Danielle Madison
This starlet was very popular in the mid-2000s. She was a familiar face in 7th Heaven, 90210, House, and Jurassic Park III. She passed away in her sleep in 2014 of what was described as “natural causes.”
Harold Ramis
Harold was most notable for his role in Ghostbusters but he was also known for the iconic films Groundhog Day, Animal House, and Caddyshack. He passed away at the age of 69 in 2014.
Carl Switzer
Carl Switzer played the ever-favorite Alfafa in The Little Rascals franchise. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1959 when he was killed in a physical altercation over money at the age of 31.
Chris Penn
Chris Penn was made famous for his role as Nice Guy Eddie in Reservoir Dogs. Sean Penn’s brother was 40 when he passed away from cardiomyopathy in 2006.
Rob Knox
Rob Knox played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He was set to continue his role as Marcus in the follow-up film but ended up dying in 2008 after a fight at the young age of 18.
Heather O-Rourke
Most know of the adorable little girl in the cult classic film Poltergeist, but the young actress who played the iconic role passed away in 1988 when she was just 12-years-old. Her gravesite is now a popular attraction on the Haunted Hollywood tour.
Dana Plato
Dana Plato found fame in playing Kimberly Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes. After the show, Dana struggled with serious substance addiction. She did an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 1999 and received hate-filled calls from former “fans.” She sadly committed suicide the day after at age 34.
Judi Barsi
You may not recognize her little face, but her voice is still iconic to this day. Judith’s voice was featured in The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven. In 1988, however, Judith was killed by her father, and those two films were released posthumously.
Thuy Trang
Most 90s kids will recognize Thuy as the Yellow Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Her life was cut short after a car accident when she was just 27.
Dana Hill
Dana Hill was a popular voice actress with roles in Rugrats, Goof Troop, and Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures. She also played Audrey Griswold in National Lampoon’s European Vacation. She passed in 1996 at 32 from complications from diabetes.
Glenn Quinn
Glenn Quinn was a popular character on the sitcom Roseanne. Glenn, unfortunately, suffered from addiction and overdosed in 2002 when he was 32.
Skye McCole Bartusiak
Skye shot to fame as Mel Gibson’s daughter in The Patriot. Her career was really taking off, but everything came to a halt when she passed away from an accidental drug overdose at 21-years-old.
Jonathan Brandis
After The NeverEnding Story II, Jonathan Brandis became a household name and teen heartthrob. After the film, though, he never had another major opportunity. Sadly, he committed suicide in 2003 at the age of 27.
David Graf
David Graf was a popular character in Police Academy and West Wing. He passed away in 2001 when he was 50 after a sudden heart attack at a family member’s wedding.
Windell Middlebrooks
Windell Middlebrooks is a familiar face to many from his days on Hannah Montana and Suite Life On Deck. He also had a reoccurring role in Scrubs. In 2015 at the age of 36, he died from a pulmonary embolism.
Nathaniel Marston
Nathaniel was best known in the soap opera world from As the World Turns and One Life to Live. He got into a horrific car crash in October of 2015 and passed away two weeks later.
Lynne Thigpen
Lynne was a familiar face on children’s shows like Bear in the Big Blue House and Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Lynne passed away in 2003 due to a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 54.
Trevor Goddard
Trevor Goddard played Krano in the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie. He also had small parts in Gone in 60 Seconds and Pirates of the Caribbean, but he passed away from a drug overdose in 2003 when he was 40.
Wendie Jo Sperber
Wendie Jo lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. She was known for her role in Back to the Future, but her last role, voicing a character on American Dad!, ended up honoring her by renaming the character that she voiced to Wendie Jo.
Dave Legeno
Dave Legeno played Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf who supported Voldemort in the last three Harry Potter movies. He passed away in 2014 after a hiking accident in Death Valley.
Misty Upham
Misty Upham had wonderful roles in Frozen River and August: Osage County. Unfortunately, her career was cut short after she went missing in October 2014. Her body was found a week and a half later. Her death was reported as an accident, but many believe it was foul play.
Adam Yauch
Adam Yauch was a founding member of the Beastie Boys. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and three years later lost his tough battle to the disease.
Greg Giraldo
Greg was a stand-up comedian known primarily for his roasts. He died in 2010 from an accidental prescription drug overdose at age 44.
Michael Jeter
Michael was a popular face from major films like The Green Mile, Jurassic Park III, and Waterworld. He passed away from a seizure in 2003.
Randy Savage
“Macho Man” Randy Savage had lots of success in the wrestling world, winning 20 wrestling championships. He even earned himself a small role in 2002’s Spider-Man. Randy tragically passed away in 2011, though, after a heart attack.
Gregory Hines
Gregory found the spotlight as a successful tap dancer but made it to the big screens with parts in Will & Grace and The Muppets Take Manhattan. He passed away in 2003 from cancer.
John Spencer
Leo McGarry was killed off on The West Wing because actor, John Spencer, passed away in real life from a heart attack at the age of 58.
James Rebhorn
James Rebhorn was one of the biggest actors of his time, with over 100 appearances on stage and screen. He was most popular in Homeland and Independence Day. He passed away in 2014 after losing his battle with melanoma at 65.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah was just 22-years-old when she died in a plane crash in 2001. She and her crew were filming a music video in the Bahamas and everyone aboard the flight was tragically killed in the accident.
Chris Farley
Chris Farley was a famed comedian who struggled with addiction. He passed away from an overdose in 1997 at the age of 33.
Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes
The R&B world came to a halt when Lisa Lopes died suddenly in a car accident. TLC was insanely popular at the time and Lopes was only 30-years-old.
Chyna
On April 20th, 2016, famed WWF wrestler and bodybuilder dubbed “the ninth wonder of the world” Chyna died of an accidental overdose.
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee’s death was an extreme shock to the world. He was only 32 when he suffered from cerebral edema while on a film set.
Brandon Lee
Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon, ended up dying as well when he was accidentally shot while on set for The Crow. He died in 1993 at the age of 28.
Selena
Selena’s tragic death truly shocked the world. She was murdered by family friend Yolanda SaldÃvar on March 31st, 1995 at just 23 in the height of her music career.
John Belushi
Famed actor and comedian John Belushi died in 1982. His trainer found him dead in a hotel. He was only 33-years-old.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
The famous actor was found dead after overdosing, passing away in 2014 at the age of 46.
Natalie Cole
The daughter of Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole had a quite successful music career herself. She passed away on December 31st, 2015, due to congestive heart failure.
River Phoenix
The brother of Joaquin Phoenix, River Phoenix was also a talented actor. River collapsed outside of The Viper Room after mixing too many drugs during a night out. He was only 23-years-old when he died.
Tupac
Everyone remembers hip-hop star, Tupac. Shakur died after being shot back in 1996. He was just 25 at the time.
Amy Winehouse
It’s no secret that Amy Winehouse struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. She tragically died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye, the famed singer, died in 1984 after his own father shot and killed him. He was 44 at the time.
Brittany Murphy
The world lost Brittany Murphy far too soon. She died in 2009 from pneumonia, although many people have speculated that there was much more to her death than just an illness.
Matthew Garber
Well-known for his role in Mary Poppins, Matthew Garber died from hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis in 1977 at 21-years-old.
Heath Ledger
The acting world was shocked to learn that Heath Ledger passed away in 2008 from an accidental drug overdose. He was iconic and irreplaceable as the Joker in Batman.
Michelle Thomas
Family Matters star Michelle Thomas was an actress and comedian. She died in 1998 due to cancer at the young age of 30.
Jim Henson
The famed Muppets creator died from Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes bacterial pneumonia at the age of 53.
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood’s death is another suspicious one. She drowned in 1981 at the age of 43. There have been conflicting witness statements.
Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey of The Eagles passed away in 2016 due to complications from arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia.
Kurt Cobain
Nirvana singer, Kurt Cobain, was found dead in an apparent suicide back in 1994. He was only 27. There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding his death, especially since many believe his wife, Courtney Love, did it.
Marilyn Monroe
The famed Hollywood starlet was found dead of an overdose in 1962. She was only 32. Even to this day, she inspires body positivity.
Biggie
The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in 1997 after a drive-by shooting, and to this day no one knows the reason behind his death or who actually pulled the trigger.
David Bowie
Superstar David Bowie died of cancer in 2016. He was only 69 years old but left an incredible musical legacy behind him.
Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman played the beloved Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. He died in 2016 from pancreatic cancer.
Corey Haim
Corey Haim was a successful child star but eventually fell from grace because of it. He died in 2010 from his struggles with addiction.