Coping with a loss is never easy. Do you remember where you were when you found out Michael Jackson had passed away? What about Prince or Robin Williams? Even if you didn't personally know these familiar faces, their tragic deaths still made waves across the nation.
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the last 20th century. Her contributes to fashion and culture ranked her among the most influential Latin artists of all time; she is credited for helping redefine Latin music and several of its subgenres.
Quintanilla was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, who was appointed as a manager of one of her boutiques in early 1994. Saldívar later became her registered agent. Employees expressed their concern for Saldívar's erratic behavior and lack of management skills. It was then discovered that Saldívar had embezzled over $30,000 from the boutiques. Despite this, Selena wanted to continue their friendship.
Her Death
Saldívar shot Selena in the back as she attempted to flee from a hotel room after Selena demanded financial papers disclosing records necessary for tax preparation. After a 9-hour standoff, Saldívar was arrested. Selena died from blood loss on the operating table. Selena's death was mourned by millions of fans and her funeral drew 60,000 mourners from all over the world.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah rose to stardom at an early age after she appeared on the TV program Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. She was mentored by R. Kelly, who helped her write and produce her debut album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. There were many rumors of an illegal marriage between Kelly and Aaliyah, who was only 15 at the time.
On August 25, 2001, 22-year-old Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash along with all others on board. The pilot, Luis Morales, had forged his FAA license, and a toxicology report found traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system.
Fondly Remembered
Shortly after her death, German newspaper Die Zeit published excerpts from an interview in which she described a recurring dream: "It is dark in my favorite dream. Someone is following me. I don't know why. I'm scared. Then suddenly I lift off. Far away. How do I feel? As if I am swimming in the air. Free. Weightless. Nobody can reach me. Nobody can touch me. It's a wonderful feeling."
Cory Monteith
Glee star Cory Monteith's death stunned longtime viewers of the program. Monteith had been vocal about his struggles with substance abuse and alcohol addiction. On July 13, 2013, the 31-year-old actor was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room after overdosing on heroin and alcohol.
Shining Star
After Monteith's death, Glee paid tribute to his character Finn Hudson in an episode dedicated to his loss. Lea Michele, Monteith's co-star and girlfriend, wrote that Monteith would "forever be in [her] heart." Glee fans even raised money to "name a star" in honor of Monteith, inspired by a scene from the show featuring his character.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant
Kobe Byrant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were two of the nine passengers who died in a tragic helicopter crash near Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Bryant entered the NBA directly out of high school. He became an 18-time All-Star and a 15-time member of the All-NBA time; Bryant remained with the Los Angeles Lakers throughout the duration of his career, which spanned two decades. Gianna, nicknamed "Gigi," was extremely close to her father.
Grieving Their Loss
"This kid, man... I'm telling you, the best thing that happens is when we go out, and fans will come up to me, and she'll be standing next to me, and they will be like, 'You gotta have a boy, you and [Vanessa] gotta have a boy, man, to have somebody carry on the tradition, the legacy.' And [Gianna] is like, 'I got this!'" Bryant said. "That's right. Yes, you do. You got this."
Princess Diana
On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana of Wales died tragically in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris. The driver of the vehicle, Henri Paul, was intoxicated at the time. Many conspiracies surround the death of Princess Diana to this day, one of which had to do with an eerie letter Diana gave to her butler right before her death.
Predicting the Future
"I am sitting here at my desk today in October, longing for someone to hug me and encourage me to keep strong and hold my head high," she wrote. "This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous. [...] is planning 'an accident' in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for Charles to marry."
Is it possible that Princess Diana's gut instincts were right?
Anthony Bourdain
Days after the suicide of Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain took his life on June 8, 2018. The celebrity chef and travel documentarian was lauded for his exploration of international culture and cuisine. Bourdain's body was found seventeen days before he would have turned 62.
Treasure to the World
The death of Anthony Bourdain deeply impacted those who loved and admired him. "Bourdain understood that the point of journalism is to tell the truth, to challenge the powerful, to expose wrongdoing," wrote David Klion for The Nation. "But his unique gift was to make doing all that look fun rather than grim or tedious."
Kate Spade
On June 5, 2018, 55-year-old fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead in her New York City apartment. Spade's husband Andy released a statement regarding her tragic suicide: "She was actively seeking help and working closely with doctors to treat her disorder. There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock."
Frances Valentine
Frances Valentine, one of Spade's design houses, honored her legacy with a collection titled "Love Katy." "Frances" was the name of Spade's daughter, grandfather, father, and brother; "Valentine" was Spade's grandfather's middle name because he had been born on Valentine's day. Spade legally had "Valentine" added to her full name in 2016.
In the wake of her death, the Kate Spade New York line has continued to execute her designs and inspirations.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston was one of the most awarded female artists in history and remains one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, even posthumously. Houston's albums have all become certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold by the Recording Industry Asociation of America. Houston's drug use and turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown were often the subjects of media scrutiny.
Gone Too Soon
On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She had drowned due to drug intoxication; her manner of death was listed as an accident. The Grammy-winning vocalist and actress was mourned by other musical legends like Dolly Parton and Aretha Franklin. Houston was only 48 when she passed away.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was considered a pioneer of the reggae genre. Over the course of his career, Marley achieved the status of a Rastafarian icon through his spiritual music. Marley was always an outspoken propopnent of legalizing marijuana, which many believed to be controversial. Even after his death, Marley remains a global symbol of Jamaican culture and identity.
Early Death
At the age of 36, doctors found a malignant form of melanoma under his toenail. He refused to have the toe amputated despite his doctors' advice because it would have hindered his performances. The cancer spread to the rest of his body, including his lungs and brain. His last words to his son Ziggy were, "Money can't buy life."
River Phoenix
River Phoenix was the older brother of Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix. He reached the status of "teen idol" throughout the span of his life after appearing in films like Stand By Me (1986) and My Own Private Idaho (1991). On October 31, 1993, Phoenix collapsed on the sidewalk outside of The Viper Room in West Hollywood, dying of combined drug intoxication following a drug overdose. He was 23.
Tragedy
On November 24, River's mother Heart Phoenix published an open letter in the Los Angeles Times pertaining to her son's life and death. "How many other beautiful young souls, who remain anonymous to us, have died by using drugs recreationally? It is my prayer that River's leaving in this way will focus the attention of the world on how painfully the spirits of his generation are being worn down," she wrote.
Natasha Richardson
For those who grew up knowing Natasha Richardson as Elizabeth James in 1998's The Parent Trap, her death was a tragic loss. After a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada, Richardson sustained a head injury, but refused medical attention. Two hours later, Richardson complained of a severe headache. She died from an epidural hematoma two days after the accident. At the time, she was working on The Wildest Dream (2010).
Stop and Be Thankful
"They say the hardest thing in the world is losing someone you love," her husband Liam Neeson wrote. "My wife died unexpectedly. She brought me so much joy. We have to stop and be thankful for our spouses. Because, one day, when you look up from your phone, they won't be there anymore. What I truly learned most of all is, live and love every day like it's your last. Because, one day, it will be."
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher was best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. She passed away at the age of 60 on December 27, 2016 after experiencing a medical emergency on an international flight four days prior. Her cause of death was officially listed as a heart attack, but sleep apnea and drugs were both contributing factors.
Learn to Open Up
Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd stated that her mother had "battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life [and] ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases... I know my Mom, she'd want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles."
Natalie Wood
The circumstances surrounding Natalie Wood's death remain unclear to this day. The West Side Story actress was found in the water about a mile away from her husband Robert Wagner's yacht. Wood, who was reportedly "terrified" of water all her life, was unlikely to have left the yacht of her own volition.
Mysterious Drowning
Wood's death is officially listed as "drowning and other undetermined factors" as of 2012. In 2018, Christopher Walken was named a person of interest in the ongoing investigation surrounding her death. Walken, Wood's co-star at the time, was onboard the yacht with her and Wagner the night of her death.
Sonny Bono
Sonny & Cher were once a one-of-a-kind married musical duo, most recognized for their 1965 hit single I Got You Babe. Years after the two divorced, Bono was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent California's 44th congressional district. The United States Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 was named in honor of Bono after his death.
Unforgettable
On January 5, 1998, Bono hit a tree while skiing near South Lake Tahoe and died. Cher eulogized Sonny at his last wife Mary's request.
"When I was young, there was this section in the Reader's Digest," said Cher. "It was called 'The Most Unforgettable Character I've Ever Met.' And for me, that person is Sonny Bono. That person will always be Sonny for me."
James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini was best known for playing the role of Tony Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos, for which he earned three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe award. Gandolfini's performance as Tony Soprano has been hailed among the most exceptional acting performances in television history.
Sudden Death
At the age of 51, Gandolfini was discovered in the hotel bathroom by his 13-year-old son Michael on June 19, 2013. The family had spent the day sightseeing in Italy; it was sweltering outside. Gandolfini was pronounced dead at the hospital. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered all New Jersey State buildings to fly at half-mast when his body was returned to the United States.
Cameron Boyce
Cameron Boyce died tragically young. The Disney Channel alum, known for his role as Luke Ross in Jessie from 2011 to 2015, was only 20 years old when he had a seizure in his sleep and passed away on July 6, 2019. It was reported that Boyce had suffered an ongoing medical condition that caused the seizure.
Brightest Light
"The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him," the Boyce family said in a statement. The Descendants 3 included a heartfelt tribute to the young actor and philanthropist. The Cameron Boyce Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles that provides creative outlets for young people who are often exposed to violence and negativity, was founded in the wake of his death.
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith was the former wife of 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall and 1993 Playmate of the Year. Following Marshall's death in 1995, Smith engaged in a lengthy legal battle over his share of the estate which eventually reached the supreme court. In the months leading up to her death, Smith became the subject of press coverage surrounding the death of her son and the custody battle over her newborn daughter.
Dead at 39
On February 8, 2007, Smith was found dead in a Florida hotel room. An investigation led to her cause of death being ruled "combined drug intoxication" with chloral hydrate, a sleeping medication, found to be the "major component." However, the 11 drugs in her system were all prescribed to her boyfriend Howard K. Stern.
John F. Kennedy
Since his father's assassination on November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was deeply scrutinized by the media. On July 16, 1999, Kennedy lost control of his Piper Saratoga light aircraft. Kennedy was traveling with his wife and sister-in-law to attend a cousin's wedding. Their bodies were recovered from the ocean floor several days later.
Father and Son
On the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination, the New York Daily News re-ran the famous photograph that depicts young John Jr. saluting his father's coffin during the funeral procession. The photographer who took the photo, Dan Farrell, called it "the saddest thing I've ever seen in my whole life.
Mac Miller
Mac Miller was an American rapper and musician who started his career in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2007 at the age of 15. Miller's debut studio album, Blue Slide Park (2011), was the first indie album to top the US Billboard 200 since 1995. Miller openly struggled with substance abuse and depression.
Blue Slide Park
On September 7, 2018, Miller was found unresponsive by his personal assistant. He was pronounced dead the following morning. A toxicology report determined that Miller passed away from an accidental drug overdose after ingesting fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol. Thousands of fans held a vigil in Miller's honor on September 11, 2018, at Pittsburgh's Blue Slide Park. The site remains a place of remembrance for Miller's fans.
Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman was a universally celebrated actor, perhaps best known for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film adaptations. Only Rickman's closest friends and knew that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. When Rickman, 69, finally broke the news, fans were devastated.
Special Man
On January 14, 2016, Rickman died at age 69. The final two films in which he performed, Eye in the Sky and Alice Through the Looking Glass, were dedicated in his honor. Emma Watson, Rickman's Harry Potter co-star, wrote, "I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor."
Debbie Reynolds
The day after her daughter Carrie Fisher's death, Debbie Reynolds suffered a stroke while planning burial arrangements. She died later that afternoon. According to her son Todd Fisher, immediately before the stroke, Reynolds had said, "I want be with Carrie."
On January 5, 2017, a joint memorial was held for both Fisher and Reynolds. Fisher's ashes are held inside of a giant, novelty Prozac pill.
Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin was once known as the Crocodile Hunter, but the animal responsible for his death at at 44 was actually a poinsonous stingray. Irwin was filming a documentary called Ocean's Deadliest.
Despite Irwin's notoirously dangerous lifestyle, the news of his untimely death was met with an outpouring of grief. "Australia has lost a wonderful and colorful son," said John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia.
Robin Williams
Robin Williams, despite the comedic joy he brought to the world, suffered from mental illness and substance abuse throughout his life. On August 11, 2014, Williams, age 63, took his own life.
Williams' daughter Zelda was devastated by the sudden death of her father, stating that "the world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence."
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. He was hailed the "King of Rock and Roll" or, more simply, "The King." On August 16, 1977, 42-year-old Presley was found unresponsive by his girlfriend. His consistent abuse of prescription drugs had caused him to go into cardiac arrest while on the toilet.
After news of his death reached the public, President Jimmy Carter noted that Presley "permanently changed the face of American popular culture."
Philip Seymour Hoffman
On February 2, 2014 the Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment. Hoffman, who died of a heroin overdose, had admitted to a long battle with drug addiction. He was only 46.
Hoffman's death was regarded as a considerable loss for the film industry. He left his $35 million fortune to Mimi O'Donnell, trust her to distribute the money to their children.
Luke Perry
Luke Perry was only 52 years old when he suffered a massive stroke. The 90210 star never regained consciousness and passed away on March 4, 2019. At the time of his death, Perry was filming Riverdale, and the show dedicated its season premiere and all subsequent seasons to Perry. Perry's 90210 co-stars also paid him tribute in the recent reboot.
Paul Walker
At the time of his death, 40-year-old Paul Walker was filming The Fast and the Furious 7 (2015). On November 30, 2013, the actor and his friend, Roger Rodas, were speeding down a city street following a charity event. Rodas' Porsche collided with a concrete pole and burst into flames. Neither drugs nor alcohol was found in their systems.
The film, released in 2015, was dedicated in Walker's honor. Co-star Vin Diesel shared a tribute, saying that Walker would "always be in our hearts."
James Dean
James Dean was a cultural icon that embodied the the concepts of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement. He was best known for his roles as Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955). Sadly, Dean was killed in a car accident while traveling to compete at a racing event. He was only 24 years old.
Dean became the first actor receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor posthumously. He remains the only actor to have been nominated for two posthumous acting awards.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was the guitarist and frontman of Nirvana. On April 8, 1994, Cobain's body was found by his electrician. He had shot himself in the head three days earlier. The coroner report stated that Cobain had a high concentration of heroin in his system. Cobain's death came only a month after his first suicide attempt, during which he had overdosed on champagne on Rohypnol.
The 27-year-old musician was touted as a Generation X icon and considered to be one of the most influential rock artists in the history of alternative music.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's death was a national tragedy. At the age of 50, Jackson went into cardiac arrest and passed away on June 25, 2009. After a rigorous investigation, it was determined that Jackson's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray gave the musician propofol to help him sleep—but the drug ended up killing him.
Jackson's death was ruled a homicide. His sister Janet was "grief-stricken and devastated at the sudden loss of her brother."
Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac was a popular stand-up comedian and actor who starred in a number of roles, perhaps most famously as the face of his eponymous show, which ran for five years between 2001 and 2006. Mac earned two Emmy Award nominations for his performance on the series.
In the final years of Mac's life, he disclosed that he was suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that causes tissue inflammation which frequently attacked his lungs. He was admitted to the hospital in 2008 and went into cardiac arrest from pneumonia complications.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was famous for playing "blonde bombshell" characters in the 1950s and early 1960s; she also became an emblem of society's shifting attitudes toward sex and sexuality. Monroe committed suicide by ingesting a fatal amount of barbituates. Prior to her death, Monroe's doctors said that she had been ""prone to severe fears and frequent depressions" with "abrupt and unpredictable mood changes." They also claimed that Monroe had overdosed a number of times in the past.
In the decades following her death, many conspiracy theories have speculated that Monroe was murdered. Despite this, no evidence of foul play was ever found.
John Ritter
John Ritter was described by Don Knotts as the "greatest physical comedian on the planet." On September 11, 2003, the Three's Company star was rehearsing for a sitcom when he collapsed on set. Doctors diagnosed Ritter with an aortic dissection, but unfortunately, it was too late—he passed away during surgery.
Ritter's Three's Company co-star Suzanne Somers said, "I'm so sad for the family. We lost a good one, it was so unfinished."
John Lennon
John Lennon gained fame and notoriety as the founder of the Beatles. After the Beatles disbanded in 1970, Lennon embarked on a career as a solo artist. On December 8, 1980, Lennon autographed a copy of Double Fantasy for Mark David Chapman. Shortly afterward, as he was returning his apartment with Yoko Ono, Chapman shot him four times in the back.
"There is no funeral for John," Ono said in a statement issued the next day. "John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him."
Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy's death remains something of a mystery to this day. The 32-year-old Clueless star died on December 20, 2009 after collapsing in her home. Her death was ruled "natural" after determining the cause to be cardiac arrest—but family members disagree.
In fact, Murphy's husband Simon Monjack was found dead at their house five months later on May 23, 2010 from similar "natural" causes.
Prince
On April 21, 2016, Prince died suddenly at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park residence in Chanhassen, Minnesota after an accidental fentanyl overdose. It is unclear whether Prince obtained the drug illicitly or via prescription. His ashes were placed into a custom, 3D-printed urn shaped like his estate.
"We have lost our greatest living musician, but his music will never die," said Justin Timberlake.
Heath Ledger
Ledger's death was ruled an accidental drug overdose, but it is often speculated that it had something to do with foul play. On January 22, 2008, Ledger was found in his Manhattan apartment. He had dealt with drug addiction in the past and recently finished filming The Dark Knight, in which he played Joker.
Ledger was afforded a number of posthumous awards for the performance, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Amy Winehouse
After a long and painful battle with drug and alcohol addiction, Amy Winehouse passed away on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27. The British soul singer was found dead in her apartment from alcohol poisoning. Winehouse was known for her unique sound, expressive contralto vocals, and diverse mix of musical genres.
Following Winehouse's death, her father said, "Goodnight, my angel. Sleep tight. Mummy and Daddy love you very much."
Bill Paxton
Fans were shocked by the sudden death of Bill Paxton. The Twister actor appeared to be in perfect health, but on February 25, 2017, Paxton died of a stroke at 61 years old. He was recovering from a successful open-heart surgery—Paxton had suffered from rheumatic fever as a child, causing permanent heart damage early in his life.
Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman was best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986). Despite his success as a childhood star, Coleman struggled financially due to the misappropriation of his money at the hands of his parents and business adviser. In 1989, he successfully won a lawsuit against them, but he filed for bankruptcy only 10 years later.
On May 28, 2010, Coleman passed away after months of rapidly declining health. Two days prior, Coleman fell down the stairs and hit his heading, causing an epidural hematoma which eventually led to his death.
Judith Barsi
Judith Eva Barsi was a child actress from the 1980s whose life and career were tragically cut short. Barsi made appearances in numerous commercials and TV series as well as in big feature films like Jaws: The Revenge, The Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go to Heaven. By the time she was in fourth grade, Barsi's income had increased to $100,000 per year. As she became more successful, her alcoholic father, József, would constantly threaten to kill himself and his family.
Despite his increasingly unhinged behavior, the police did not intervene. On July 28, 1988, Judith, József, and her mother Maria were found dead in a murder-suicide perpetrated by József.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was a world-famous theoretical physicist, comsologist and author. At the time of his death at age 76, Hawking served as the director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Hawking "died peacefully" at his home in Cambride, England.
Hawking was born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo's death and ont he 139th anniversary of Einstein's birth. His life was depicted in The Theory of Everything, in which he was played by actor Eddie Redmayne.
Avicii
Tim Bergling, known professionally as Avicii, was a Swedish DJ and electronic musician. Bergling rose to fame in 2011 with his hit single "Levels," and his debut studio album True (2013) broke top ten in over fifteen countries and topped international dance charts. In 2016, he retired from touring due to health problems. Bergling had suffered from stress and mental health issues for many years.
On April 20, 2018, Bergling committed suicide at the age of 28. He was buried in Stockholm, his hometown. Bergling's third album, Tim, was released posthumously in 2019.
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett rose to fame as P.I. Jill Munroe in the first season of Charlie's Angels. Her 1976 swimsuit poster sold more than 12 million copies, making it a record-breaking bestseller. Fawcett's prolific acting career spanned from the 1960s until her death from cancer on June 25, 2009. Unfortunately, the impact of Fawcett's death was dwarfed by media coverage of Michael Jackson's death, who passed hours only a few hours earlier.
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was best known as one-third of the R&B girl group TLC; she received more co-writing credits than either Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Lopes won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC. On April 25, 2002, Lopes was killed in a car accident. At the time of her death, she had been doing charity work in Honduras while working on a documentary, which was later released on VH1 as The Last Days of Left Eye in May 2007.
Chris Farley
Chris Farley was known for his gregarious personality and loud, in-your-face style of comedy. Farley rose to fame on Saturday Night Live bewteen 1990 and 1995. He then pursued a film career, starring in movies like Coneheads and Black Sheep. On December 18, 1997, Farley's young brother found him dead of a drug overdose in his apartment. He was 33 years old.
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore was best known for her roles in the sitcomcs The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977). Moore was also a known philanthropist and the International Chairman of the JDRF (previously the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Moore passed away at the age of 80 on January 25, 2017 after a number of health problems culiminated in cardiac arrest conmplicated by pneumonia.
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell was the frontman of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell was viewed as one of the cornerstones of the 1990s grunge movement, known for his extensive songwriting credits, four-octave vocal range, and powerful vocal belting. Cornell publicly struggled with mental illness and substance abuse. A bad PCP trip led him to experience panic disorder and agoraphobia.
On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead in the bathroom at the MGM Grand Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. He had committed suicide by hanging himself with an exercise band.
Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington was the lead vocalist for Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Dead by Surprise and Grey Daze. Bennington rose to prominence after Link Park's debut album Hybrid Theory (2010) became certified diamond, making it both the best-selling album of the decade and one of few albums to ever hit that milestone. On July 20, 2017, Bennington was found dead in his home in California. He had committed suicide by hanging.
Bennington died on what would have been Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday; the two were close friends and Chris died by the same method of suicide.
Tom Petty
Tom Petty was the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He recorded several hit singles both as a solo artist and alongside the Heartbreakers. Petty sold over 80 million records worldwide over the course of his career. Petty passed away from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs on October 2, 2017. Petty's wife and daughter said he was suffering from an array of medical issues, including a severely fractured hip and emphysema.
"[It] is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his overuse of medication," read a statement on his official website. "We feel confident that this was, as the coroner found, an unfortunate accident."