Celebrities slain by admirers and your everyday average folks
Mike Todd, an American theater and film producer, married Taylor in 1957. He was her third of seven husbands. Unfortunately, Todd's life was cut short in a 1958 plane crash.
Dion eventually returned to performing following her husband's death, as well as embarking on other projects.
Jefferson made a promise to his wife that he would never remarry. However, there are reports that he had children with Sally Hemings, a slave.
See also: Famous widows–celebrated women and their life after death
The controversial director lost his second wife, Sharon Tate, in 1969.
Elizabeth Hurley lost her ex, film producer Steve Bing, after he reportedly took his own life on June 22, 2020. Bing, 55, who was also the father of her son Damian, is said to have jumped off a Century City building.
His widow enjoyed a hugely successful film career. Her private life was often mired in controversy, but in her later years she was applauded for her HIV/AIDS activism. She died in 2011.
In 2020, John Travolta's beloved wife, actress Kelly Preston, passed away on the morning of July 12, following a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 57 and left behind two children, 20-year-old Ella and 9-year-old Benjamin. Travolta shared the news on Instagram, thanking everyone who had helped Preston in her cancer battle, adding, "I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don't hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal."
Fashion designer Tom Ford lost his husband and partner of 35 years, the fashion editor Richard Buckley. Buckley reportedly died peacefully at home after a long illness, with Ford and their son Jack by his side. Ford and Buckley's love story began when they met in an elevator at a fashion show in 1986. According to Ford, it was love at first sight. By the end of the elevator ride, he already knew: 'You're the one.' That's it. Click. Sold." Friends and members of the fashion industry took to social media to pay tribute to the late Richard Buckley and offer their condolences to Ford.
In 1994, J. Howard Marshall, a wealthy oil magnate aged 89, married 26-year-old model Anna Nicole Smith. The union lasted just 14 months, until his death in 1995.
The legendary music executive Clarence Avant suffered a devastating loss on the morning of December 1, 2022. His wife, the former model and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home. Police received a call about the incident at 2:23am and arrived at the scene to find Jacqueline fatally wounded and no suspects in sight. However, a man believed to be the killer was arrested the day after the incident. Police say that 29-year-old Aariel Maynor was apprehended during a second burglary attempt after accidentally shooting himself in the foot. Maynor has an extensive criminal history including robbery and inflicting great bodily injury. He was on parole at the time of the killing. Jacqueline Avant was 81 years old and is survived by her husband of 54 years and their two children.
Singer Kelis tragically lost her husband, photographer Mike Mora, who died after a battle with stage 4 stomach cancer at just 37 years old. In a statement to ET, Kelis' management team confirmed the news: "Sadly, it’s true that Mike Mora has passed away. We would ask all to respect Kelis and her family's privacy as of right now. Thank you," said Steve Satterhwaite, of Red Light Management. Kelis and Mora share a young daughter who they welcomed in September 2020, as well as their son, Shepherd, while Kelis is also mother to son Knight, whom she shares with ex-husband Nas.
Country music star Hank Williams Jr. suffered a terrible loss as his wife of 32 years, Mary Jane Thomas, was reportedly taken from the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Florida to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. This is not the first tragedy the Williams family has suffered in recent years. Williams Jr. and Thomas' daughter, Katie Williams-Dunning, died in a car accident in 2020 at the age of 27. Thomas is survived by her husband, her son, and her three grandchildren.
In a terrible twist of fate, 'X Factor' alum Tom Mann lost his fiancée on the day they were supposed to be married. "I can’t believe I am writing these words but my darling Dani—my best friend, my everything and more, the love of my life—passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning, 18th June," the singer wrote on Instagram on June 20. "On what was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives ended in irreversible heartbreak."
"I feel like I have cried an ocean. We never made it to the altar; or got to say our vows, or dance our first dance, but I know you know that you were my entire world and the best thing that has ever happened to me, Danielle."
Mann, who competed on the UK version of the reality television show, and Dani Hampson share a son who was just eight months old at the time of loss. "I honestly don’t know where to go from here, but I do know I need to use any strength I can muster for our little boy," he wrote.
Rapper 600Breezy tragically announced on Instagram that his girlfriend of two years, Raven, took her own life. He posted a tribute to her, writing, "Baby why would you do this to me, why would you do this to us," and asking, "You kno [sic] how many people love you raven? [...] My woman my wife my life." He added in another post that it was "the best 2 years of my life," and continued, "God I need you please help me please. What did I do to deserve this ? you took my friends and my girl ???" He also shared screenshots of what appear to be her last note, and wrote in the caption, "My baby was hurting and I did everything I could to show her nothing but love and keep her going [...] Please when your loved ones are showing signs of any mental damage or health please take them serious. This is real."
Porter and Combs had three children together, but separated in 2007.
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Losing your partner is heartbreaking. However, grief can often inspire courage and hope. Some of these widowed stars achieved greatness after loss. Yet others found the mourning process more difficult to deal with. Browse this gallery of prominent celebs who managed to go on with life after losing their significant others.