Unseen Images Of Celebs From Their Open Casket Funerals
By Juliet Smith
2 years ago
1. Elvis
Image source RedditWhen Elvis died in 1977, aged 43, a photo from his funeral appeared on the cover of The National Enquirer. The picture was snapped on a spy camera by Elvis' cousin Bobby Mann. He had been bribed by a newspaper editor and received $18,000 for the image. Elvis was an icon that was taken too soon.2. James Brown
Image source ShutterstockJames Brown died in 2006, aged 73. He was one of the most influential singers of the 20th century and a number of high profile celebrities paid their respects at the funeral, including Michael Jackson. Thousands gathered around the 24 carat gold coffin in the weeks leading up to the funeral.
3. Hank Williams
Image source Getty ImagesOne of the musical giants of modern country music during his short life, Hank Williams was only 29 when he died. The cause was an overdose of alcohol and morphine, a sad end for this talented man. His body was shown to over 2000 mourners in Montgomery, Alabama.
4. Grace Kelly
Image source Getty ImagesOne of the most beautiful women in the world, actress Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) was 52 when she passed away from a cerebral haemorrhage while driving through Monaco. Her final resting place was in the Grimaldi family vault. Film stars and royalty were in attendance at her funeral in St. Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco.
5. Martin Luther King Jnr.
Image source Getty ImagesAfter his assassination in 1968, aged 39. Martin Luther King Jnr's body was laid in an open casket where it was seen by over 1000 mourners. The civil right's leader lay in state in Memphis and the visible wound in his neck was still visible. Mourners were seen kissing and touching his face.
6. Marvin Gaye
Image source Getty ImagesDescribed as the sound of Motown, Marvin Gaye's career was tragically cut short when his own father shot him dead in 1984. Marvin was only 44 years old. Many performers attended his funeral at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles and there was an outpouring of grief.
7. Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson
Image source Getty ImagesProbably one of the most prominent African American performers of the early 20th century, 'Mr Bojangles' died at the age of 71 from heat failure. Famous American tv personality and long time friend, Ed Sullivan, organised the funeral and thousands filed past the casket to pay their respects.
8. Bruce Lee
Image source Getty ImagesIn 1973, aged 33, Bruce Lee lost his short life to swelling of the brain. He had just completed his final film 'Enter The Dragon' in Hong Kong. Before he was flown back to Seattle to be buried, a public mourning was held and around 20,000 people attended, most of them his avid fans.
9. Mother Teresa
Image source Getty ImagesMother Teresa's passing at aged 87 was regarded as the end of an era, not only by people of faith but also by the millions that she inspired. As her body passed through Calcutta on its way to the Netaji Indoor Stadium, tens of thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects to a remarkable woman.
10. Etta James
Image source Getty ImagesWhen Etta James, the powerful blues belter, passed in 2012, aged73, her body was displayed in an open casket. It was made clear than absolutely no photographs were allowed to be taken but many of the thousands of mourners ignored the request and images were posted on the internet.
11. Abraham Lincoln
Image source Getty ImagesWhen President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, aged 56, his body was taken by train on a tour of five US States. His body was viewed in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois before finally being buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, just outside of Springfield, Illinois.
12. Eva Peron
Image source Getty ImagesAfter Eva Perón's death in 1952 at the age of 33, over two million Argentinians paid tribute to their first lady! Surprisingly, her body went into hiding for almost 20 years, crushed into a very small casket. It was once again out on display in the '70s before being placed in her family's mausoleum.
13. Emmett Till
Image source Getty ImagesEmmett Till was the 14 year old African-American boy who was killed by a group of people because he was thought to be flirting with a white woman, an accusation which was later proved to be untrue. His mother insisted on an open casket funeral to show the world the level of racial injustice in the country.
14. Jesse James
Image source Library of CongressJesse James was one of history's most famous outlaws and was murdered in 1882, aged 34. His mother was reported to have charged people 25 cents to take a pebble from his grave. There were also whispers circulating that he had, in fact, faked his own death.
15. Vladimir Lenin
Image source Getty ImagesVladimir Lenin had one of the most famous open casket funeral in recent memory. The body is still on display nearly 100 years later at the Lenin Mausoleum. There has been an ongoing debate about finally removing it from public view but this has not happened as yet.
16. Nelson Mandela
Image source Getty ImagesWhen former South African President Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013 at the grand old age of 95, his mourners included presidents, dignitaries and thousands of members of Mandela's community. Mourners were allowed to pay their private respect to the anti-apartheid revolutionary at his open casket.
17. Boris Yeltsin
Image source Getty ImagesBoris Yeltsin was a Russian and Soviet politician who served as the first president of Russia from 1991 to 1999. He passed away at the age of 76 in 2007 and was given an open casket service which was attended by many world leaders as well as thousands of mourners.
18. B.B. King
Image source CBCB.B. King is said to be one of the best blues guitarists of all time. His death at aged 89 back in 2015, was marred with drama but the final piece of conflict happened when members of his own family and B.B. King's manager argued about whether the casket should be open at the funeral. It was finally agreed that it should be. 19. River Phoenix
Image source RedditRiver Phoenix was only 23 when he met his untimely death in 1993 due to a drug overdose after partying hard one night. His acting career had just taken off and great thigs were expected of him. His open casket was only allowed to be viewed by family and close friends.20. Hector Macho Camacho
Image source MoguldomHector was an extremely popular Puerto Rican boxer and it shook waves when his many fans found out he had been set upon by 5 thugs and died from being shot in the face, aged 50. His Catholic background meant he would have an open casket funeral and his injured face was carefully arranged so the wound would not be visible.21. Rudolf Valentino
Image source PinterestRudolf Valentino (nicknamed the Latin Lover) died when he was 31 years old in 1926 due to a ruptured ulcer. His open casket funeral in New York City was attended by over 100,000 fans and some of those who idolised literally went crazy with two of them, reportedly, even committing suicide.22. Lou Gehrig
Image source WikimediaBaseball legend Lou Gehrig died in 1941, aged 37. Here he is pictured at his funeral in an open casket with mourner and team mate Babe Ruth standing beside the casket. Ruth himself went on to have a public open-casket funeral himself to which 75,000 people came to pay their last respects.23. Marilyn Monroe
Image source RedditBlonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe was only 36 when she passed away in 1962. Her body was not buried for several days as there were so many people that wanted to honour her memory. She had to wear posthumous makeup, wear a wig and be covered by a veil due to her body being badly damaged during the opening of the casket.24. John F. Kennedy
Image source RedditJ.F. Kennedy was assassinated when he was 46 years old in 1963. The casket was placed on a decorated wooden framework that had previously been used for funerals of the Unknown Soldiers from the Korean War and World War II. Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy declared that the casket would be kept closed for the viewing and funeral but that was overturned as so many people wanted to pay their respect25. Edgar Allan Poe
Image source PinterestClassic writer Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849 aged 40. He is known for being the first author to write detective stores. His death remains a mystery to this day although there are various macabre tales as to how his life ended. He pictured here at his open casket funeral.26. G.C. Allin
Image source RedditG.C. Allin, the punk icon, died aged 46 in 1993. He was known as the 'shock rocker' and he took an accidental fatal heroin overdose. At the funeral his unpreserved corpse was dressed in a leather jacket and jockstrap. There was a microphone in the open casket and a portable cassette player that contained his album 'The Suicide Sessions'. His entire funeral was captured on video.27. Whitney Houston
Image source YouTubeAfter Whitney Houston’s funeral photo was leaked in 2012 when she was 48 years old, her friends and family were absolutely mortified. The magazine that released the image refused to give details as to how they came into possession of it and described it as an image of beauty.28. Mao Tse Tung
Image source RedditAlso known as Chairman Mao, Mao Tse Tung passed away in 1976, aged 82. The Chinese government had ordered a week of national mourning with flags at half mast and all entertainment and music activities were suspended and cinemas were closed. His supporters were seen wailing at his open casket.29. Sam Cooke
Image source RedditSam Cooke had just hit the big time when this soul singer with the smooth voice was shot in the chest at the Hacienda Motel in L.A. in 1964, aged 33. Thousands of his loyal fans flocked to his funeral in Chicago where this now iconic image of the deceased singer was taken.30. Selena
Image source YouTubeRising pop star Selena Quintanilla-Perez was murdered by her own obsessed agent in 1995, aged 23. Rumours were going around that Selena's body was not in the casket so her mother decided to have an open casket funeral so her fans could see her and pay their respects.31. Aretha Franklin
Image source The GuardianThe 'Queen Of Soul' passed away aged 76 in 2018. She had been suffering from pancreatic cancer for many years and after her death, every person who was touched by her music seemed to go into mourning. Aretha was a unique singer, with an effortless power to her voice.32. Michael Jackson
Image source InsiderThe life of Michael Jackson will probably never be revealed in full but, after a childhood of bullying, he underwent extensive plastic surgery to change his appearance. His death at aged 50 in 2009 was due to cardiac arrest following a cocktail of highly dangerous drugs, apparently prescribed by his doctor. Although his funeral was supposed to be a private affair, his casket was opened for a short time for family members to pay their respects.33. John Lennon
Image source Daily MailJohn Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, didn't want her husband, the legend that was part of the 'Fab 4', the Beatles, to have a formal funeral, after his assassination in 1980 when he was only 40 years old. It was reported that his nearest and dearest were allowed to see him briefly before a cremation took place. A waste of a life but his music will always live on.34. Louis Armstrong
Image source LightRocket.comLouis Armstrong died in 1971 from a heart attack, just before his 70th birthday. The most important and influential musician in jazz history, he entertained from the '20s right through to the '50s. Fans literally flocked to pay their respects at his open casket.35. Chris Kelly (Kriss Kross)
Image source Daily MailPart of the duo Kriss Kross, Chris Kelly died from an overdose in 2013, aged 34. He had experienced huge success with his friend Chris Smith and they topped the charts when they were only 13. Kelly was thought to have successfully battled his drug addiction but it was not to be. His family requested an open casket funeral.36. Pope John Paul II
Image source PinterestPope John Paul II was the Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005, aged 84, from septic shock. He had been the first non-Italian Pope in history and crowds of tens of thousands walked past his open casket.37. Mickey Rooney
Image source PinterestMickey Roney passed away, aged 95, in 2014 from natural causes. His career as a singer, dancer, actor, comedian and songwriter lasted over 80 years and he is still regarded as one of the greats. He made many iconic movies, starring alongside many Hollywood icons including Judy Garland.38. Mahatma Gandhi
Image source PinterestMahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, aged 78. He was an Indian lawyer and political ethicist who led a successful campaign for India's independence from Britain. On his death there was an unbelievable outpouring of grief with constant crowds queuing up to touch his face at his open casket.39. Malcolm X
Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, aged 39. He was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the movement of civil rights. Tens of thousands viewed his open casket, many of the crowd openly crying.40. Billie Holliday
Image source PinterestBillie Holliday has been hailed as one of the great jazz and swing vocalists ever. She left this earth in 1959, aged 44 as a result of drink and drug addiction. She was said to have been running away from her demons for her whole life and never enjoyed the adulation that always came her way after her amazing performances. There was a never-ending line of mourners wishing to pay their respects at the open casket.41. Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie and Clyde)
Image source PinterestBoth Bonnie and Clyde died together after being shot multiple times by the police. They had started as criminals involved in robberies but this escalated to around 15 murders over the years. The two lovers went on the run to escape the authorities but were gunned down in 1934 when they were in their early twenties. This image shows Bonnie in her open casket.42. Dinah Washington
Image source PinterestBorn in 1924, Dinah Washington (born Ruth Lee Jones), was an American singer and pianist. She was referred to as 'the most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s'. An autopsy later showed a lethal combination of prescription drugs was the cause of her of death in 1963. Before her death she had requested an open casket at her future funeral.43. Sarah Bernhardt
Image source TwitterSarah Bernhardt, born in 1844, was a French stage actress who starred in many popular French plays in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of which was 'Blas' by Victor Hugo. She passed away after a short illness of complications related to kidney failure in 1923 at the age of 78.
44. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Image source tumblrAleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was a Russian novelist and one of the most famous Soviet dissidents. He was an outspoken critic of communism and helped to raise global awareness of political repression in the Soviet Union. He passed away in August 2008, aged 79, from heart failure and had an open casket funeral.
45. Archduke Franz Ferdinand And Sophie Chotek
Image source PinterestFranz Ferdinand and his wife, a former lady in waiting, were assassinated in 2014. Ferdinand was 50 years old and he and Sophie had open casket funerals. Franz had been next in succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne but, due to ill health, the title was passed to his brother.46. Augusto Pinochet
Image source PinterestPinochet was a Chilean dictator. He persecuted outspoken political activists and cold-heartedly arranged for many to be executed. Widely hated by the masses, there were still some who supported him to the bitter end and they were the ones to pay their respects at his open casket funeral. He died aged 91 from a heart attack.
47. Queen Victoria
Image source Getty ImagesQueen Victoria reigned for 63 years, a record only broken by our present Queen Elizabeth. She was buried with Prince Albert's wedding ring as well as her own, a photo and a lock of hair from John Brown, her trusted horseman and friend. The Queen had a full State funeral where people came from far and wide to pay their respects at the open casket.48. Joseph Stalin
Image source PinterestStalin died aged 74 in 1953 and many were glad to see him go. He was the most ruthless dictator and transformed Russia from an agrarian peasant society into a global super power. The cost was tremendous and Stalin was responsible for millions of deaths of Society citizens. He still attracted a crowd at his open casket funeral.49. Pope Pius X
Image source Getty ImagesItalian Pope Pius X was head of the Catholic Church from 1903 to his death in 1914 at the age of 79. He was known for vigorously opposing new Catholic laws and for promoting reforms. Pope Pius had suffered ill health for some time and carried on his duties for as long as he was able. His open casket was visited by droves of worshippers who became very emotional when seeing him.
50. Chuck Berry
Image source PinterestCharles Edward Anderson Berry was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who was a pioneer of rock and roll. His recognisable voice packed concert halls and stadiums and his wife of nearly 70 years was always by his side. She led the funeral at his open casket service.
51. BB King
Image Source / CBC
BB King was a famous American blues singer and guitarist. He began having health problems in his final tour days, and he passed away in his sleep. His body was flown to Memphis and he had an open casket funeral in Mississippi in 2015.
52. Chris Henry
Image Source / Zimbio
Chris Henry was a famous football player for the Cincinnati Bengals, who died in a tragic accident at just 26 years old. He fell from a pickup truck being driven by his fiancé, and his open casket funeral was attended by his young daughter, here seen in the picture.
53. Bela Lugosi
Image Source / The Horror Zine
Bela Lugosi was an actor famous for bringing the original role of Dracula to life - when you think of the old black and white depictions of the vampire in movies, you think of Bela Lugosi. The actor actually requested to be dressed like a vampire for his open casket funeral.
54. Herman Goering
Image Source / Qunki
Less of a celebrity and more of a monster, Herman Goering was Hitler's second-in-command. He committed suicide using a cyanide pill after being found guilty for his crimes in the Holocaust, and was then displayed in an open casket.
55. Andy Warhol
Image Source / The Wet ArchiveAndy Warhol was a leading American artist who specialised in pop art. He died in 1987 due to complications from gallbladder surgery, and his body was then returned to Pittsburgh for an open casket funeral and burial.56. Tiny Tim
Image Source / YouTubeTiny Tim was one of the most famous ukulele players, but if you don't recognise his name you might recognise his song 'Tiptoe Through the Tulips' (and especially if you're an Insidious movie fan). He died following a heart attack and was buried with a ukulele.57. William S. Burroughs
Image Source / PinterestWilliam Burroughs was a famous author, painter and spoken word performer, whose works included Naked Lunch, and he passed away in 1997 at the age of 83. Kansas artist Wayne Propst took this photo infront of Burroughs' open casket ceremony.58. June Carter Cash
Image Source / KBOEJune Carter Cash was the wife of music legend Johnny Cash and an American singer in her own right. She died at the age of 73 after heart surgery complications, and her funeral was open to the public. Her husband, Johnny, died four months later.59. Edward Smith Fatu (Umaga)
Image Source / GH BaseUmaga (his ring name) was a Samoan American professional wrestler, who died in 2009. He was found unresponsive by his wife in their Texas home and an ambulance was called but he passed away before later having an open casket funeral.60. Bernie Mac
Image Source / GH BaseBernie Mac was an American comedian, who also had a huge screen career, appearing in movies like Oceans Eleven, and he died at the age of 50 in 2008. He had suffered from complications of pneumonia and had a loyal fanbase at the time of his open casket funeral.61. T.B. Joshua
Image Source / GH BaseT.B. Joshua was a televangelist, philanthropost and the Founder of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations. This is a Christian megachurch which is responsible for running the Emmanuel TV station. He passed away in 2021 and had an open casket funeral.62. Frida Kahlo
Image Source / PinterestFrida Kahlo was a Mexican painter, most famous during the mid 1900s, but is still well-known today for her iconic legacy. She struggled throughout her life with pain from a bus injury, and died at the age of 47 years old, with an official cause of death as pulmonary embolism.From Open Caskets, To Horrific Celebrity Autopsy Discoveries... Firstly, Sharon Tate
Image Source: dailyfeedTate was murdered by members of the Manson "Family" and she was stabbed multiple times. At the time, she was eight and a half months pregnant and ready to settle down. Another three people were murdered in her home that night and a long rope that was tied around each of their necks connected them all together when the police arrived at the scene.Johnny Lewis
Image Source: dailyfeedLewis had been a rising actor, but was found dead in the driveway of a villa he was renting. He had either jumped or fallen to his death, with fatal injuries to his skull. The villa's owner had been found strangled and beaten to death. The actor's history of drug abuse was first believed to have played a part in the two deaths, but the autopsy didn't reveal any information of intoxication.Gary Coleman
Image Source: dailyfeedOn the 26th of May, 2010 Gary Coleman suffered serious injuries after falling down the stairs and consequently hitting his head. His critical condition caused his ex-wife to pull his life support and he passed away later the same day. Conspiracy theories started to circulate regarding the death and whether or not his ex-wife Shannon Price had been the one to push him down the stairs. The police quickly ruled out this theory.Princess Diana
Image Source: dailyfeedHer death shook the world and it came as a complete surprise. On the 31st of August 1997, in the early hours of the morning, the news broke that Princess Diana has passed away. The car she was being driven in had crashed, killing her, Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul. Her final words to the firefighter at the scene were "My God, what has happened?".Brandon Lee
Image Source: dailyfeedBrandon Lee's appearance in the cult movie "The Crow" should have been a continuation of an amazing career, but it was cut short when he was accidentally shot on set and unable to be saved during surgery. During the autopsy, it was discovered that a .44-caliber bullet had potentially torn through his abdomen before lodging in his spine. The discovery began huge questions about the use of weapons on movie sets.Prince
Image Source: dailyfeedPrince's body was discovered in an elevator at his home, and the autopsy stated the cause of death as an accidental overdose. The musician had consumed a lethal amount of painkillers, believed to be taken following Prince's hip surgery previously. While 70 micrograms of the drug would certainly be fatal, Prince was found with 450 micrograms in his liver.Michael Jackson
Image Source: dailyfeedHis body was found by his personal physician, Conrad Murray. Murray was then convicted of involuntary manslaughter over Jackson's death, due to the fact that a high amount of serious prescription drugs were found in his system, and that it was suggested only the drugs could have been responsible for his death.Paul Walker
Image Source: dailyfeedThe star of Fast and Furious's death was particularly cruel when it was discovered he died in a car crash. He was a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT was the driver lost control, resulting in the car crashing and bursting into flame. Paul Walker's autopsy revealed that the actor had tried to defend himself by shielding his head and face from the impact of the crash. His official cause of death was trauma and burn injuries. His jaw, collarbone and pelvis was also broken, as well as Walker's body being so burnt it was unsuitable for organ donation.Brittany Murphy
Image Source: dailyfeedBrittany tragically died at age 32, and initially her cause of death was believed to be pneumonia. Apparently her body had been in a weakened immune state and unable to fight off the infection. However, years after her death, her father called for an investigation to be conducted, and it was discovered that there was a presence of heavy metals, implying poison.Robin Williams
Image Source: dailyfeedRobin Williams had been suffering from depression and what was believed to be Parkinson's Disease; he was found in what was believed to be suicide in his California home. The autopsy officially confirmed it was suicide, as well as antidepressants in his system. The autopsy also revealed that Williams didn't, in fact, have Parkinson's, but Lewy Body Disease - a condition easily confused with Parkinson's.Cory Monteith
Image Source: dailyfeedMonteith's body was discovered in his hotel room in Vancouver. The actor had previously been in a rehab center for substance abuse issues. Monteith had been dead for hours by the time his body was found, and evidence suggested that his death came as a result of alcohol and drugs, with two empty champagne bottles, drug residue and a needle.Heather O'Rourke
Image Source: dailyfeedHeather Rourke was famous for her role as the little girl from the Poltergeist movie, a series of films she never got to complete due to her tragic and untimely death. She was rushed to hospital with abdominal pains, and died during emergency surgery. The cause of death had been reported as an abdominal obstruction she had been unknowingly suffering her entire life.Carrie Fisher
Image Source: dailyfeedCarrie Fisher was an icon to many, and the sad news came of her going into cardiac arrest during a flight. She died in hospital after the plane touched down. But despite Fisher's well-known dealing with illicit substances, and drugs being found in her system during the autopsy, her official cause of death was ruled as sleep apnea.David Carradine
Image Source: dailyfeedThe 72-year-old actor was found in a hotel room in Bangkok with a rope around his neck, causing suspicion that he had died of asphyxiation by hanging. Although suicide may be the first thing to come to mine, other evidence from the scene - such as what Carradine was wearing - suggested that the actor actually died from accidental death due to a sex-related act gone wrong.And Now... The Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths We Didn't See Coming - First Up, Paul Walker
Image Source: pinkvillaNot only did none of us expect the abrupt passing of Fast and Furious star Paul Walker, but neither did we expect the shocking news that he'd actually died in a car crash. Paul was co-hosting a charity car show when he got into a Porsche with his friend. Sadly, the Porsche crashed a few minutes later, busting into flames and killing them both instantly.Kobe Bryant And Giana Bryant
Image Source: pinkvillaNBA player and legend Kobe Bryant tragically died in a shocking helicopter crash 2 years ago. He was travelling on his own private aircraft with his 13-year-old daughter, among other passengers, when it caught fire. It then went down and crashed quickly, killing everyone on board.Chadwick Boseman
Image Source: pinkvillaAt the time of Black Panther release, it seemed to everyone that Chadwick Boseman had the rest of his huge career ahead of him. Nobody knew that the actor had in fact been battling cancer behind the scenes, which made his abrupt death all the more shocking. He continued to shoot and star in movies whilst battling with his pain before it took his life.Luke Perry
Image Source: pinkvillaLuke Perry, star of 90210 and Riverdale, tragically died in 2019 in a shocking death, seeing the actor suffering a huge stroke and dying in hospital 5 days later. While no one had expected the young actor to suffer a stroke, at the very least those 5 days meant that he could be surrounded by his friends and family before his untimely passing.Taylor Hawkings
Image Source: pinkvillaFor both fans of the Foo Fighters and the band members themselves, the passing of their drummer Taylor Hawkins was a shock. He died abruptly at a hotel he was staying in during the band's tour earlier this year. While no official cause of death was given at the time, it's said he had many substances in his system and suffered from cardiovascular collapse.Naya Rivera
Image Source: pinkvillaFans of Glee will recognise young actress Naya Rivera, who met a tragic death far too young in 2020. The actress was declared missing after she'd gone on a boat ride out on Lake Piru with her 4-year-old son. Later, her son was found asleep on the boat, but Naya was nowhere to be seen. Her body was later recovered from the lake and her death was ruled accidental drowning.Benjamin Keough
Image Source: pinkvillaBenjamin Keough was the grandson of Elvis Presley and his wife, Priscilla Presley. He was the only son of Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who tragically passed away in July 2020. His death was brought to an abrupt end when he took his own life. In life, he was famous for looking so much like his grandfather, Elvis.Heath Ledger
Image Source: pinkvillaThe death of Heath Ledger came as a double shock, not only because of how young he was but also because he'd only just finished filming his standout role as The Joker without any time to celebrate his performance. He died in 2008 abruptly due to an accidental drug overdose, with his body being discovered in his apartment.Mac Miller
Image Source: pinkvillaMac Miller was a famous rapper who died far too young back in 2018, found in his home in the San Fernando Valley. His abrupt death came after he sadly died of an overdose of not just cocaine, but alcohol and fentanyl, too. His body was found by the LAPD.Kelly Preston
Image Source: pinkvillaKelly Preston, talented actress and the wife of Grease star John Travolta, sadly died in 2020 at only 57 years old. Her death came as a shock after it was revealed she'd been battling breast cancer for 2 years without making the truth known to a lot of people. John Travolta had also recently lost a son with Kelly before she died.Amy Winehouse
Image Source: pinkvillaAmy Winehouse was a standout musical star - even though still so young, the British singer had already made an impression with her recognisable voice and hits like Back to Black and Rehab. She abruptly died before recording her third album, due to alcohol poisoning and substance abuse.Kate Spade
Image Source: pinkvillaKate Spade (also known as Kate Noel Valentine Brosnahan Spade) was a famous entrepreneur and fashion designer from America, whose shocking death came in 2018 when she committed suicide. She co-founded the American fashion house Kate Spade New York, before she took her own life by hanging herself in her Manhattan apartment.Cameron Boyce
Image Source: pinkvillaCameron Boyce was an American Disney Channel star who, at only 20 years old, should have had a long life and successful career ahead of him. He tragically and shockingly died in his sleep in 2019 at home. He had apparently suffered a seizure from epilepsy whilst in bed which tragically took his life.Kurt Cobain
Image Source: pinkvillaThe famous frontman and legendary vocalist of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, died in 1994. The singer of iconic hits like Smells Like Teen Spirit had struggled with depression and substance abuse during his career, but it was still a shock when it was revealed he'd taken his own life after leaving a suicide note.Avicii
Image Source: pinkvillaThe Swedish DJ Avicii was busy producing songs we've all enjoyed at some point in our lives, and we all must have thought he'd be remixing songs for many years to come. But Avicii - real name Tim Bergling - ended up retiring in 2016 due to stress and health, and then went on to shockingly take his own life at the young age of 28.Chester Bennington
Image Source: pinkvillaChester Bennington was the talented singer of Linkin Park, a band many of us grew up with and played In The End on repeat. But the American singer-songwriter sadly took his own life in 2017 in LA in his own home, and his suicide shocked everyone. He had told his family whilst on vacation that he needed to return home, then hanged himself, leaving no note.Brittany Murphy
Image Source: pinkvillaBrittany Murphy was an American actress and singer who seemed to only just be getting started with an amazing career after her standout roles in films like 8 Mile and Clueless. But she sadly died far too young back in 2009, at her home in LA, after an abrupt end caused by heart failure whilst fighting against pneumonia.Chris Cornell
Image Source: pinkvillaChris Cornell was the lead singer of bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, with his recognisable gravelly tones and his talent for both guitar and vocals. If you're a fan of James Bond, you'll also remember his amazing theme hit for the movie Casino Royale. But he died in his hotel room in 2017 after taking his own life - at the same time his band were due to perform on tour in Detroit.Selena Quintanilla
Image Source: Biography (Bio.)Selena Quintanilla Pérez was a talented singer known as the Queen of Tejano music who died far too young, in a tragic murder. She died in Texas back in 1995, shocking fans and the world, when she was shot dead by the president of her own fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Selena accused Yolanda of embezzling funds, and Yolanda's response was to kill her.Steve Irwin
Image Source: pinkvillaIf you grew up with the Crocodile Hunter, then you'll probably remember where you were when you heard the shocking and tragic news that he'd died. The famous Australian wildlife expert was filming for his next adventure when he was caught by the barb of a stingray. He sadly didn't make it and his death came as a shock for everyone.Tupac Shakur
Image Source: pinkvillaTupac Amaru Shakur was one of the most famous American rappers who abruptly died back in 1996. Not only was his death shocking, but the violence of his death even more so, when he was killed during a drive-by shooting. He wasn't only shot once, but several times, and the people responsible for his murder have never been found.Jimi Hendrix
Image Source: pinkvillaJimi Hendrix was a legendary American musician famed in particular for his iconic guitar playing. If you're a fan of rock music from the 60s that's still relevant today, then no doubt you're a fan of Hendrix's music. His death shocked the world when he was found dead in London, due to an overdose of sleeping pills.Alan Rickman
Image Source: WikipediaActors like Alan Rickman seem as though they should be immortal, which makes it all the more shocking when they do pass away. Only a few years after completing his role for the Harry Potter movies - his perfect performance of Severus Snape - the legendary actor died due to cancer, an illness he had only revealed to close loved ones.Grant Imahara
Image Source: YouTubeGrant Imahara was best known for his exciting role on the TV show MythBusters, where the engineer was responsible for building robots and electricals to test myths. His death at the young age of 49 came as a shock when an undiagnosed aneurysm ruptured, killing him. He left behind a world of fans and a fiancé, who all paid tribute to him.Anton Yelchin
Image Source: People.comActor Anton Yelchin was only 27 when he died, which is why nobody saw it coming. The actor's tragic death came due to a freak accident, when he had left his Jeep outside his home only to have it roll back down the incline and pin him against his security fence, crushing him and killing him. He was known for his roles in the rebooted Star Trek and Terminator movies.Phil Hartman
Image Source: IMDbActor Phil Hartman's death was not only out of nowhere, but it was brutal. Phil Hartman was the victim of a murder - by his own wife. The legendary actor and comedian was sleeping when his wife entered the bedroom and shot him twice, before later killing herself. The two apparently had domestic problems and she struggled with anger issues.Philip Seymour Hoffman
Image Source: The New York TimesPhilip Seymour Hoffman was a talented American actor known for his more quirky and eccentric character roles. His death was more unexpected due to the fact he was in the middle of filming the Hunger Games movies when he died. At only 46 years old, he was found dead in his apartment, with the death rule accidental due to mixed drug use.David Bowie
Image Source: WikipediaDavid Bowie was a musician and actor who should have lived forever (but his music certainly will). His death was all the more shocking because he had only just released a new album. He died of liver cancer, but his passing shocked the world after he hadn't revealed his health condition to the public.Bob Saget
Image Source: WikipediaBob Saget was a famous American comedian, actor and TV host, known for roles on shows like Full House and How I Met Your Mother. At 65 years old, Saget was in the middle of a stand-up tour when he was found in his hotel room in Orlando, unresponsive, and declared dead at the scene. The autopsy revealed he'd died in his sleep following blunt head trauma, likely from an accidental fall.John Ritter
Image Source: Disney Wiki - FandomJohn Ritter was an American actor known for standout comedy roles like on Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules. During filming for the hit ABC show, he began to feel ill and complaining of heart problems, and was later pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. If you're a fan of 8 Simple Rules, you'll remember this shocking turn of events when the episode ran with his character written in as suffering a shocking death, too.What To Read Next
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