Famous people who died from heart attacks

The widely believed theory has always been that Elvis Presley's death on August 16, 1977, was primarily caused by his addiction to prescription drugs. Nonetheless, according to Sally Hoedel's 2020 biography, this may not be the case. Hoedel argues that the renowned rock and roll icon turned to medications to cope with a range of congenital illnesses and deteriorating health problems. She suggests that it was his unfortunate genetic predisposition that ultimately led to the untimely demise of this globally influential musician, who passed away at the age of 42.

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Lisa Marie Presley (1968–2023) -

Lisa Marie Presley, the singer and daughter of Elvis Presley, died at the age of 54. She experienced cardiac arrest at her residence in California on January 12, 2023, and passed away in hospital on the same day. The coroner's report disclosed that her death was a result of a perforated bowel from a previous weight loss operation. Tragically, she is not the first Presley to have died at a young age.

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Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) -

Stanley Kubrick, the renowned filmmaker, passed away on March 7, 1999, due to a heart attack which occurred during his sleep. His final masterpiece, 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999), had just been completed. Kubrick is esteemed as one of the most significant and influential figures in the history of cinema.

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Peter Sellers (1925–1980) -

Peter Sellers was a famous English comedian who portrayed Inspector Clouseau in 'The Pink Panther' films. Unfortunately, he passed away on July 24, 1980, at the age of 54, due to cardiac arrest, as he had a history of heart problems.

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Tom Petty (1950–2017) -

The unexpected passing of Tom Petty at the age of 66 due to cardiac arrest left both friends and admirers in disbelief. Unfortunately, the singer-songwriter's accidental demise resulted from the combination of drugs he took to alleviate pain, which ultimately overwhelmed his heart.

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Richard Pryor (1940–2005) -

Richard Pryor, named by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest stand-up comedians ever, had a personal life that was often far from amusing. His health deteriorated, resulting in a mild heart attack in 1977. A second cardiac arrest followed in 1990. Sadly, on December 10, 2005, Pryor succumbed to a third heart attack, bringing his life to an end at the age of 65.

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Clark Gable (1901–1960) -

Clark Gable tragically died on November 16, 1960, after suffering a second heart attack. His untimely death was attributed to his physically strenuous performance in 'The Misfits,' a film released in 1961, alongside Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift.

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Orson Welles (1915–1985) -

From childhood to adulthood, Orson Welles, known for his roles as an actor, director, writer, and producer, experienced frequent illness. By his mid-forties, he became permanently obese. On October 10, 1985, Welles, aged 70, sadly passed away after suffering from a heart attack.

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John Candy (1950–1994) -

Renowned comedian John Candy faced a lifelong battle with his weight, which ultimately contributed to his untimely demise. Sadly, he suffered a fatal heart attack on March 4, 1994, at the age of 43.

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Michael Clarke Duncan (1957–2012) -

The entertainment industry was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of actor Michael Clarke Duncan on September 3, 2012. Duncan, who stood at 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) and was known for his muscular physique, passed away at the age of 54 due to complications from a heart attack.

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Carrie Fisher (1956–2016) -

Carrie Fisher, the eternal Princess Leia from the 'Star Wars' franchise, faced personal challenges involving bipolar disorder and addiction. On December 23, 2016, while on board a commercial flight from London to Los Angeles, Fisher encountered respiratory complications. Following four days of treatment in the intensive care unit, she sadly succumbed to cardiac arrest at the age of 60 on December 27. Tragically, her mother, Debbie Reynolds, passed away the following day due to a stroke.

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Christopher Reeve (1952–2004) -

Christopher Reeve showed remarkable resilience when he survived a horseback riding accident in May 1995. Unfortunately, despite his heroic efforts, he sustained life-altering injuries that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Reeve spent the remainder of his life confined to a wheelchair and relying on a ventilator for his breathing. Tragically, on October 9, 2004, the courageous actor experienced a cardiac arrest and passed away the next day at the age of 52.

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Roy Orbison (1936–1988) -

Iconic musician Roy Orbison tragically passed away on December 6, 1988, after collapsing from a heart attack.

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Andy Warhol (1928–1987) -

Andy Warhol, the renowned pop artist, was reportedly recovering well after undergoing gallbladder surgery. Unfortunately, on February 22, 1987, he passed away in his sleep due to an unexpected irregular heartbeat following the procedure.

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Luther Vandross (1951–2005) -

Singer and music producer Luther Vandross passed away on July 1, 2005, at the age of 54, following a heart attack. Prior to his death, Vandross had experienced a stroke and was wheelchair-bound in the months leading up to his passing.

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Jerry Garcia (1942-1995) -

Jerry Garcia, the famed singer-songwriter and guitarist of the iconic Grateful Dead, passed away on August 9, 1995. His unfortunate demise was attributed to heart failure, with other factors including substance abuse, weight problems, and sleep apnea mentioned as contributing factors.

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Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) -

Louis Armstrong continued playing his trumpet until his final moments. In March 1971, he performed for two weeks in New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Empire Room. Unfortunately, after the engagement, he was admitted to the hospital due to a heart attack. On July 6, at the age of 69, he peacefully passed away in his sleep from heart failure.

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Bing Crosby (1903–1977) -

Frail yet in good spirits, singer and actor Bing Crosby traveled to Spain in October 1977 for a game of golf. After finishing a round with friends on October 14, the 74-year-old entertainer tragically collapsed and passed away in an instant due to a massive heart attack.

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Burt Lancaster (1913–1994) -

Burt Lancaster, renowned for his roles as strong yet compassionate characters, was a prominent figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood films. Despite his longevity, Lancaster passed away at the age of 80 on October 20, 1994, following his third heart attack.

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James Cagney (1899–1986) -

James Cagney is widely regarded as one of the most prominent film stars in Hollywood. Thanks to his active and healthy lifestyle, he managed to live until the respectable age of 86, before his heart failed on March 30, 1986.

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James Stewart (1908–1997) -

James Stewart lived a moral and wholesome life until his passing on July 2, 1997, at the age of 89, due to cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism.

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Peter Finch (1916-1977) -

Actor Peter Finch passed away on January 14, 1977, due to heart failure. Just the day before, he had made an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Finch had been recognized for his performance in the film 'Network' (1976) and posthumously received the prestigious Academy Award for Best Actor.

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Brittany Murphy (1977–2009) -

On December 20, 2009, actress Brittany Murphy passed away in hospital due to cardiac arrest. Prior to her death, she had collapsed at home. The main factors contributing to her death were pneumonia and multiple drug intoxication. She was 32 years old.

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Roscoe Arbuckle (1887–1933) -

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, a highly successful silent movie star of the early 20th century, was, at the time, recently acquitted of alleged assault and manslaughter following a notorious scandal in Hollywood. However, just as he was working towards rebuilding his career, tragedy struck. On June 28, 1933, Arbuckle suffered a heart attack and passed away peacefully in his sleep.

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Lee Marvin (1924–1987) -

Lee Marvin, a renowned actor known for his tough persona, lived a life of both dedication and indulgence. His heavy alcohol consumption throughout adulthood eventually took a toll on his health. On August 29, 1987, he passed away in hospital due to heart failure caused by multiple organ complications.

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Diego Maradona (1960–2020) -

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is widely celebrated as one of the all-time greats in the sport. Tragically, his struggles with substance abuse and health issues finally caught up with him. He passed away on November 25, 2020, suffering cardiac arrest while in recovery from emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma.

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James Coburn (1928-2002) -

James Coburn won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Affliction' (1997). It was the pinnacle of a long career that ended on November 18, 2002, after the actor suffered a fatal heart attack at home.

Sources: (The Guardian) (History) (NPR) (Rolling Stone) (The Hollywood Reporter) (Associated Press)

Famous people who died from heart attacks

Celebrated figures who passed away from heart attacks, heart failure, or cardiac arrest

20/02/25 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Death

Heart-related illnesses are responsible for the highest number of deaths globally. Heart attacks, heart failure, and cardiac arrest claim the lives of numerous individuals daily in the United States. Of course, celebrities are no exception.

While it may not be surprising for some individuals to experience a heart attack due to old age, there have been instances where beloved singers or movie stars have been tragically taken from us due to a sudden cardiac arrest.

In this gallery, take a moment to reflect and remember some of the talented individuals we have lost to these heart-related illnesses. Simply click on.