Celebrities whose deaths took us by surprise

Actor and comedian Bob Saget died on January 9, 2022, at the age of 65. He was best known for his role as Danny Tanner on 'Full House.' He died alone in a hotel following a comedy gig. The autopsy revealed that he had hit his head, most likely in a fall, and passed away from the injuries in his sleep.

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Chadwick Boseman -

The 'Black Panther' (2018) star died at the age of 43 in August 2020 after secretly battling colon cancer for four years. He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.

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Kurt Cobain -

The lead singer of the iconic grunge band Nirvana battled depression and addiction before taking his own life at the age of 27 in April 1994.

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Naya Rivera -

The 33-year-old former 'Glee' star died in July 2020, following a boating incident where she went missing. She took a boat out on Lake Piru near Los Angeles with her four-year-old son, Josey, who was found asleep and alone. Her body was found in the lake following an extensive search and recovery effort.

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Amy Winehouse -

The British soul singer was found dead in 2011 in her London apartment. After a history of substance abuse, Winehouse’s death was the result of overconsuming alcohol. She was only 27 years old.

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George Michael -

The British singer died with a weakened heart and a damaged liver in December 2016 at age 53. He was found in his home on Christmas Day by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz.

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David Bowie -

The legendary star died at his home on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, following a private 18-month battle with liver cancer. He released his album 'Blackstar' just two days before his death.

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Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher -

The 'Star Wars' actress died at the age of 60 on December 27, 2016, from cardiac arrest. The next day, her mother, known for her role in 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), passed away at age 84, following a stroke.

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Robin Williams -

The beloved comedian and Oscar-winning actor died in August 2014 at age 63. Williams took his own life after years of battling depression.

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Princess Diana - The beloved People's Princess was killed in a car crash in 1997 while fleeing the paparazzi in Paris. She was taken to the hospital, but died shortly after. The crash also resulted in the deaths of her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

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Heath Ledger -

The Hollywood star, known for 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005) and 'The Dark Knight' (2008), was found dead in his New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, following an accidental overdose. He was 28 years old.

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Mac Miller -

The rapper died in 2018 at age 26 from an apparent overdose in his home in the San Fernando Valley. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Aaliyah -

The Grammy-nominated R&B singer died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in August 2001. She was only 22 years old when she passed.

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Prince -

The iconic singer died at his residence in Minnesota in 2016, at 57. His cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

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Michael Jackson -

The King of Pop died suddenly at the age of 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest in June 2009. His death was ruled a homicide after it was discovered his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, gave him the drug Propofol on several occasions.

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Kobe Bryant -

The former NBA star died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash, along with seven others.

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Paul Walker -

'The Fast and the Furious' star tragically died in 2013 in a car crash. While going for a drive with friend and business advisor Roger Rodas, the car collided with a pole, setting the car on fire and killing them both. Walker was 40 at the time of his death.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman -

The Oscar-winning actor was found dead at the age of 46 in his New York City apartment in 2014. The admitted drug addict died of a heroin overdose.

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Whitney Houston -

The iconic Grammy-winning singer was found dead in a bathtub in February 2012 at the age of 48. She had drowned after a drug overdose at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

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Matthew Perry -

'Friends' star Matthew Perry passed away suddenly at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023. The actor was still riding the success of his 2022 memoir 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,' in which he gave an unflinching account of his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, as well as his journey to sobriety. Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Hollywood home and the autopsy stated that he died from "acute effects of ketamine."

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Bernie Mac -

Comedian Bernie Mac passed away in 2008 from complications of pneumonia at age 50. He was known for several TV shows and films, including his role as Frank Catton in 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001).

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Selena -

The singer was murdered at the age of 23 by a woman who ran her fan club. Yolanda Saldivar and Selena had gotten into an argument over business when Saldivar shot the young singer.

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Farrah Fawcett -

The original 'Charlie's Angels' star and 1970s beauty icon died at age 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She had chronicled her illness for an NBC documentary that aired a month before her passing in 2009.

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Avicii -

The Swedish DJ and producer was found dead at age 28 in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018. He had retired in 2016 following health issues, including acute pancreatitis, and ultimately took his own life.

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Steve Irwin -

"The Crocodile Hunter" died at the age of 44 when his heart was pierced by the poisonous spine of a stingray in September 2006 in Australia.

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Cory Monteith -

'Glee' star Cory Monteith was found dead in 2013 in his Vancouver hotel at the age of 31. Having had a history of addiction and substance abuse, it was discovered he died from an overdose of heroin and alcohol.

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Liam Payne -

On October 16, Liam Payne, of One Direction fame, died after falling from the third floor of a hotel balcony in Argentina. According to an autopsy report, Payne died as a result of several injuries caused by the fall. Furthermore, recreational drugs, such as alcohol and cocaine, were found to be present in his body at the time of death. The room he was staying in was left in disarray, with various broken objects, alcoholic beverages, and narcotic substances lying all around.

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Tupac Shakur -

Considered one of the most influential rappers of all time, Tupac tragically died at the age of 25 in a 1996 drive-by shooting.

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Anna Nicole Smith -

The 39-year-old model and reality television star died in February 2007, just five months after the death of her 20-year-old son. Both died from accidental overdoses.

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Brittany Murphy -

The 'Clueless' (1995) star died at age 32 after she collapsed in her Los Angeles home. She was transported to the hospital, where she died after going into cardiac arrest. It was later determined that she had been suffering from untreated pneumonia and anemia.

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Luke Perry -

The star of 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Riverdale' died in 2019 at age 52. He had suffered a massive stroke five days earlier at his home, and remained hospitalized until his death.

Sources: (Us Weekly) (Cafe Mom)

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Bon Saget -

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Chadwick Boseman -

The 'Black Panther' (2018) star died at the age of 43 in August 2020 after secretly battling colon cancer for four years. He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.

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Kurt Cobain -

The lead singer of the iconic grunge band Nirvana battled depression and addiction before taking his own life at the age of 27 in April 1994.

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Naya Rivera -

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Amy Winehouse -

The British soul singer was found dead in 2011 in her London apartment. After a history of substance abuse, Winehouse’s death was the result of overconsuming alcohol. She was only 27 years old.

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George Michael -

The British singer died with a weakened heart and a damaged liver in December 2016 at age 53. He was found in his home on Christmas Day by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz.

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David Bowie -

The legendary star died at his home on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, following a private 18-month battle with liver cancer. He released his album 'Blackstar' just two days before his death.

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Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher -

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Robin Williams -

The beloved comedian and Oscar-winning actor died in August 2014 at age 63. Williams took his own life after years of battling depression.

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Heath Ledger -

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Mac Miller -

The rapper died in 2018 at age 26 from an apparent overdose in his home in the San Fernando Valley. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Aaliyah -

The Grammy-nominated R&B singer died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in August 2001. She was only 22 years old when she passed.

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Prince -

The iconic singer died at his residence in Minnesota in 2016, at 57. His cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

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Michael Jackson -

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Kobe Bryant -

The former NBA star died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash, along with seven others.

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Paul Walker -

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Philip Seymour Hoffman -

The Oscar-winning actor was found dead at the age of 46 in his New York City apartment in 2014. The admitted drug addict died of a heroin overdose.

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Whitney Houston -

The iconic Grammy-winning singer was found dead in a bathtub in February 2012 at the age of 48. She had drowned after a drug overdose at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

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Matthew Perry -

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Bernie Mac -

Comedian Bernie Mac passed away in 2008 from complications of pneumonia at age 50. He was known for several TV shows and films, including his role as Frank Catton in 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001).

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Selena -

The singer was murdered at the age of 23 by a woman who ran her fan club. Yolanda Saldivar and Selena had gotten into an argument over business when Saldivar shot the young singer.

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Farrah Fawcett -

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Avicii -

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Steve Irwin -

"The Crocodile Hunter" died at the age of 44 when his heart was pierced by the poisonous spine of a stingray in September 2006 in Australia.

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Cory Monteith -

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Liam Payne -

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Tupac Shakur -

Considered one of the most influential rappers of all time, Tupac tragically died at the age of 25 in a 1996 drive-by shooting.

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Anna Nicole Smith -

The 39-year-old model and reality television star died in February 2007, just five months after the death of her 20-year-old son. Both died from accidental overdoses.

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Brittany Murphy -

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Luke Perry -

The star of 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Riverdale' died in 2019 at age 52. He had suffered a massive stroke five days earlier at his home, and remained hospitalized until his death.

Sources: (Us Weekly) (Cafe Mom)

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Celebrities whose deaths took us by surprise

Their sudden passing left us all in grief

11/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Tragedy

The loss of an adored celebrity is never easy, especially when their passing comes way too soon. Some of these stars were privately battling health issues, while others were killed in freak accidents or accidentally overdosed. No matter the exact cause, their sudden deaths left us all in shock.

Click through this gallery to remember the celebrity deaths that caught us off guard.