Hollywood is full of stars, beauty and drama, and that includes some tragic deaths.
It’s simple to overlook the fact that, despite their fame and money, celebrities are real people when the cameras aren’t rolling. Because their work speaks to us, we develop attachments to performers and artists, which makes celebrity deaths heartbreaking. Here we look at some of the most tragic Hollywood deaths.
Robin Williams
Robin’s jokey and happy persona made millions of people smile for years, yet no one knew his internal struggles. He was severely depressed and shocked the world when he committed suicide in 2014, drawing needed attention to mental health issues.
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick played Black Panther and was battling colon cancer behind the scenes. He tragically lost his battle in 2020 age 43. He was a multi-award-winning actor with a career spanning two decades. His other films included Captain America: Civil War and Message From the King.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn worked in a factory during WW2, married at just 16, and went on to become a worldwide pin-up model. Her bubbly personality, immense talent and striking beauty made her one of the most famous Hollywood stars. She sadly died from a sleeping pill overdose in 1962, aged just 36.
Brittany Murphy
Brittany was a successful actor and singer, famous for Clueless and 8 Mile, amongst many other films. She tragically died at just 32 years old after collapsing in her home in December 2009. The cause of death was pneumonia and drug intoxication.
James Dean
In 1955, James Dean was just 24 when he died after a fatal car accident. He was a movie star, style icon and racer, inspiring people worldwide, even today. His films included: Rebel without a Cause and East of Eden.
River Phoenix
River was a famous actor, starring in films such as Stand By Me and Explorer. River died tragically young, at just 23, in 1993. The cause of death was acute intoxication. He had just spent a few months sober and in recovery after battling his addictions, but the night he died saw his relapse. He went out on a binge to the well-known club, The Viper Room, with famous friends but was thrown out by a bouncer. He then began convulsing and collapsed due to overdosing on heroin and cocaine.