Losing a Hollywood star is always hard, but it’s even more tragic when they die young. Many famous people have passed away in their 30s or even before, including Cory Monteith, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy Jr., and many more. They all left us abruptly and without any warning.
On the other hand, actors including Willie Garson and Chadwick Boseman battled cancer privately and left us at a very young age. These beloved stars who captivated audiences and fans worldwide have left an empty space and now live in our memories. So, here is a list of all the notable celebrities who have died at a young age.
Misty Upham
The Blackfeet actress, who was widely known for appearing in the movie Frozen River, passed away on 5th October 2014, nearly 10 years ago. The actress’s body was found dead in a ravine near Seattle when she was only 32 years old. Her death was ruled a suicide due to blunt force injuries after jumping from a bridge. Before her demise, the Django Unchained actress was reported missing and her father revealed that she was suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Upham was also well-known for playing the role of a housekeeper in the film August which was released in 2013.
Charmayne Maxwell
Charmayne Maxwell, the Brownstone singer popularly known as Maxee, died on February 28, 2015, at the age of 46 at her residence. Her death was officially ruled an accidental death caused by a severe neck injury after she fell from a balcony and cut her neck on broken glass. She was found bleeding by her husband, Carsten Schack, who immediately called 911, but she tragically died on the way to the hospital. At her funeral, Schack described her as a wonderful wife and mother. Maxwell rose to prominence as a member of the R&B group Brownstone, which she formed with Nicci Gilbert and Monica Doby.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah, the American singer and actress, passed away at the age of 22 in a tragic plane crash. The crash occurred because the plane was overloaded and the pilot was unqualified and had cocaine and alcohol in his system. The R&B singer who also used to sing hip-hop was popular for her songs including Try Again, Are You That Somebody, One In A Million, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, and 4 Page Letter.
Anthony Mason
Another celebrity who passed away at a young age is the American Basketball player, Anthony Mason. The New York Knicks player suddenly died at the age of 48, on 28th February 2015, following heart attack complications. The player who started his career by getting selected in the 1988 NBA Draft was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a few weeks before his abrupt death. Anthony Mason had a decade-long professional career and played for teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse, the renowned singer and songwriter of all time, died at the very young age of 27. The English singer, who was widely known for her deep and expressive contralto vocals, passed away on 23rd July 2011, and the cause of her untimely death was alcohol intoxication. The singer, who was a Grammy-winner a total of five times, struggled with drug addiction for a long time.
Joanne Borgella
On 18th October 2014, the American singer and plus-size model, Joanne Borgella, tragically passed away at the age of 32 due to endometrial cancer. The news of her cancer diagnosis was revealed to her fans in 2013. The singer was formerly a Wilhelmina model, but she ultimately became well-known after winning the 2006 pageant for Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance. Also, Joanne’s appearance in the seventh season of American Idol in 2008 made her a household name. She also appeared on a television show, Curvy Girls, which used to air on the Latino network NUVOtv.
Brittany Murphy
The news of Brittany Murphy’s death was made public right before Christmas in the year 2009. The popular actress and singer, who was praised for her first appearance as Tai Frasier in Clueless, tragically died at the age of 32 on 20th December 2009. The cause of her death was revealed as pneumonia, anemia, and multiple drug intoxication. The popular actress was also known for collaborating with stars such as Eminem, Angelina Jolie, Ashton Kutcher, and many more.
Simone Battle
The promising pop singer who was well-known for being a member of the girl band GRL, died at the age of 25 on 5th September 2014. The GRL singer was found hanging by her boyfriend in their West Hollywood home. The untimely death of Simone was ruled as Suicide by the Coroner of Los Angeles County. It was reported that she became depressed over the years due to some financial struggles, and her band was not breaking through the US Charts.
Big Pun
Big Punisher or Big Pun, whose real name was Christopher Lee Rios, died at the age of 28. The American rapper struggled with his weight at the time of his demise and suffered a massive heart attack on 7th February 2000, in White Plains, New York. At this time, his estimated weight was around 450–500 lbs.
Stephanie Moseley
The well-known American actress who was born in Canada lost her life at the very young age of 30. The former star of VH1’s Hit the Floor tragically lost her life in a death that was ruled a murder-suicide. It was revealed that the notable celebrity was killed by her husband, Earl Hayes, on 8th December 2014, who also shot himself after killing her. The sounds of the gunshots and screams were heard by the neighbors who were living in the area. Stephanie was known for her parts in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and Mirror Mirror.
DJ AM
Adam Goldstein who was popularly known by his stage name DJ AM, died very soon and left a void in the hearts of many. The American DJ tragically passed away at the age of 36 due to an apparent drug overdose and officials found eight different kinds of drugs in his body. The disc jockey passed away on 28th August 2009 from a lethal cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs. In 1999, Adam joined the band named Crazy Town as their temporary DJ.
Titi Branch
Another untimely demise that shook the entire New York City to its core was the tragic death of Titi Branch, who was the co-founder of Miss Jessie. On 4th December 2014, the hair care maestro and a successful businesswoman who was 45 years old, died by suicide in Midtown Manhattan. At the time, Titi’s sister alleged that her boyfriend treated her like an ATM and was only with her for money, due to which she took her life. She also alleged that Titi was ready to break up with him, but he blackmailed her with some photos.
Bruce Lee
The death of Bruce Lee, the renowned Hong Kong martial artist and actor, deeply shocked people around the world and left fans heartbroken. He tragically passed away on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32 in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, after he fell unconscious while dubbing for his film Enter the Dragon. The official cause of death was cerebral edema, which is swelling of the brain, caused by a reaction to the painkiller Equagesic. Medical examiners confirmed that his brain had swollen significantly, ultimately leading to his sudden and untimely death.
Lee Thompson Young
The American actor who began his professional career as a teenager died abruptly at the age of 29. On 19th August 2013, the South-Carolina-born actor, who was widely known for his appearance in the Disney Channel television series The Famous Jett Jackson tragically took his own life.
Heath Ledger
The popular Australian actor, who was widely known for featuring in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, passed away very early. On 22nd January 2008, Heath Ledger suddenly died from an accidental prescription drug overdose. The official cause of death was ruled as a lethal mix of medications including OxyContin, Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Unisom, and Restoril. At the time he was only 27 years old and was also in the middle of shooting his final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. During his career, he appeared in 20 films including The Patriot, A Knight’s Tale, and Monster’s Ball.
Chris Kelly
The notable rapper who was born on 11th August 1978 tragically passed away at a very young age. On 1st May 2013, the Jump rapper died at the age of 34 due to a drug overdose that consisted of heroin and cocaine. Chris died at Atlanta Medical Center after being found unresponsive at home. However, the medical examiner of Fulton County ruled that his death was an accident which was caused by combining the drugs.
Jimi Hendrix
The tragic and untimely death of Jimi Hendrix left the world in mourning. He passed away on September 18, 1970, at the age of 27 in London. The official cause of death was asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates, meaning he suffocated after consuming sleeping pills, including Vesparax. His death was ruled accidental. At the time, Hendrix was at the peak of his fame and was widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential instrumentalists in the history of rock music.
Whitney Houston
On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston, the pop diva who had a major impact on the music industry, tragically passed away at the age of 48. She was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Her official cause of death was accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. After her death, her family revealed that she had struggled with long-term drug addiction, which had affected her personal life. Houston was survived by her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, who also tragically died three years later.
James Dean
The Hollywood celebrity, whose career lasted only for five years, tragically passed away at the young age of 24. The actor was killed in a car accident on 30th September 1955 in Cholame, California. In the Hollywood film industry, James is the only actor who has received two posthumous Academy Award acting nominations after his death. The actor has received praise worldwide for appearing in several films including the East of Eden and Giant.
Heavy D
Another untimely death that sent shockwaves throughout the music industry was of the Jamaican-American rapper, Heavy D. On 8th November 2011, the rap legend died from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). At the time of his death, the record producer was just 44 years old. The record producer was known for shaping rap music with a New Jack Swing in the late 80s and 90s.
Kurt Cobain
The Nirvana frontman who only released three albums during his lifetime with the group sadly passed away on 5th April 1994. At the age of 27, Kurt died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was discovered dead by an electrician who had visited his residence in Seattle to fix something. The death of Cobain marked the end of Nirvana and enhanced the 27-club which includes musicians who have died at the same age. Also, the death of Cobain raised awareness of suicide and mental health.
Left Eye
Lisa Nicole Lopes, who was popularly known by her stage name Left Eye, died at at the age of 30. The American singer passed away in a car accident on 25th April 2002, just weeks before her 31st birthday. Left Eye was a part of TLC, which was one of the best-selling girl groups and had four Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles.
Marilyn Monroe
The sudden death of American actress and model, Marilyn Monroe sent shockwaves around the world. On 5th August 1962, she passed away due to acute barbiturate poisoning which was the result of a probable suicide inside her home in Los Angeles. At the time of her demise, she was only 36 years old and her body was discovered before dawn the next morning. In the 1950s and 60s, Marilyn Monroe was the greatest star of Hollywood and was one of the top-billed actresses.
Tupac
Tupac whose real name was Tupac Amaru Shakur, left us all very soon. The American rapper who was also known as Makaveli passed away at the age of 25 on 13th September 1996. He died six days after a gunman shot him four times in his chest at a stoplight in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rapper was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Black BMW with Suge Knight when a white Cadillac pulled over and started shooting multiple times.
Steve Irwin
On 4th September 2006, Steve Irwin who is also known as The Crocodile Hunter, suddenly passed away at the age of 44 in Australia. The zookeeper and conservationist was killed by a stingray while he was filming in the Great Barrier Reef. The wildlife educator was struck by a huge trauma when the fish’s barb pierced his chest, ultimately causing his demise.
The Notorious B.I.G.
The tragic death of The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Christopher George Latore Wallace, took place on March 9, 1997, when he was 24 years old, just two months away from his 25th birthday. He was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California, at the peak of his professional career. Shortly before his murder, he had been in the city promoting his second studio album, Life After Death, and had attended an after-party. His sudden death shocked the music world and marked the loss of one of hip-hop’s most influential artists.
Bob Marley
The Jamaican singer who was considered a pioneer of his genre tragically passed away when he was just 36 years old. On 11th May 1981, the popular guitarist died from Melanoma which spread out to his brain and lungs. In July 1977, he was diagnosed with a type of malignant melanoma under the nail of his right big toe, but with time it got severe. Before his death, Bob’s influence on Jamaican music made him a popular figure worldwide and turned him into a global figure.
Anna Nicole Smith
The final moments of Anna Nicole Smith were very tragic as the American actress struggled her whole life. The model whose real name was Vickie Lynn Hogan tragically passed away on 8th February 2007 at the young age of 39 due to a drug overdose. It was also revealed by the officials that she had ingested sleeping medication to relieve her anxiety.
Florence Griffith Joyner
Another death that took place at a very young age was of track and field athlete Florence Griffith Joyner. The athlete who was popularly known as FLO-JO, tragically died in her sleep after suffering a severe epileptic seizure in Mission Viejo, California on 21st September 1998. At the time, she was just 38 years old and the seizure led her to suffocate which caused her to lose her life. During her lifetime, Florence set world records in the year 1988 for racing in the 100 m and 200 m and became an iconic figure because of her personal style.
Chris Farley
Chris Farley, the American comedian known worldwide for his energetic comedic style, tragically passed away on December 18, 1997, at the age of 33. The Saturday Night Live star was found dead in Chicago, and an autopsy later confirmed that his official cause of death was an overdose of cocaine and morphine, commonly known as a speedball. His sudden death shocked fans and the comedy world, cutting short the life of one of his generation’s most beloved comedians.
Eazy-E
Another death that shook the rapping community to its core was of the popular rapper Eazy-E, who was also known as Eric Lynn Wright. On 26th March 1995, the American rapper who propelled West Coast rap died due to complications from AIDS-induced pneumonia, at the young age of 31, in California, United States. The Godfather of Gangsta Rap passed away at the peak of his professional career.
Nate Dogg
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, who was popularly known by his stage name, Nate Dogg, died at the age of 41. On 15th March 2011, the American singer and rapper died from complications that arose from multiple strokes he suffered during his lifetime. His fans referred to him as the King of Hooks because he gained recognition for giving his voice to several hit rap songs from 1992 to 2007.
Sam Cooke
On 11th December 1964, the American singer and songwriter, Samuel Cooke tragically passed away at the age of 33. It was revealed by the Court of Investigation that Cooke was killed by a manager of a hotel and the cause of death was ruled as Justifiable Homicide. Considered to be one of the most influential singers, Sam was popularly called the King of Souls by his fans. Also, during his professional career, his songs topped the charts of Billboard.
Reggie Lewis
The American professional basketball player, whose official name was Reginald C. Lewis suddenly died at the age of 27 after suffering a heart attack. The death of the player occurred on 27th July 1993 in Waltham, Massachusetts, when he was in his off-season practice with his team the Boston Celtics.
Otis Redding
The death of Otis Redding, the renowned singer and songwriter from America caused shockwaves among the nation. On 10th December 1967, the popular singer passed away due to a horrific plane accident which crashed into a Wisconsin lake. On the day of his death, the singer was returning after recording his greatest hit The Dock of the Bay, which became a huge hit after his demise.
Ryan Dunn
The popular American stunt performer who is widely known for his involvement in the Jackass series, tragically passed away at the age of 34. The television personality died due to a high-speed crash while driving drunk. During his professional career, Ryan was featured in five Jackass films, including Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 2.5, Jackass 3D, and Jackass 3.5.
Minnie Riperton
The death of Minnie Riperton, when became public, shook the entire music industry to its core. On 12th July 1979, the American singer and songwriter tragically passed away after a long battle with breast cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States. At the time of her death, she was just 31 years old.
ODB
Just two days before his 36th birthday, the popular American rapper, ODB passed away at the age of 35. On 13th November 2004, the Shimmy Shimmy Ya rapper died due to an accidental drug overdose. During his professional career, the rapper earned several credits in his name, including Got Your Money, Brooklyn Zoo, Wu-Tang, Triumph, and many more.
Florence Ballard
The founding member of The Supremes, Florence Ballard, sadly died at a very young age. On 22nd February 1976, the American singing sensation passed away from coronary thrombosis at the age of 32. Florence was widely known as an iconic figure in the Midtown music era and for singing ten songs that reached number one in a short span of time.
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway, the well-known keyboard player and soul legend, tragically passed away at the age of 33. He was discovered dead on January 13, 1979, at the JW Marriott Essex House in New York City. His death was officially ruled a probable suicide after he fell from a hotel window, according to medical examiners. Hathaway’s sudden passing marked a heartbreaking loss for the music world, where he was widely respected for his remarkable talent and influence.
M-Bone
The popular member of Cali Swag District, M-Bone, sadly passed away at a very young age. On 15th May 2011, the talented rapper was killed in a drive-by shooting in Inglewood, California, according to multiple reports. The medical examiners ruled the official cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Merlin Santana
Another tragic death that left everyone in a state of mourning was that of Merlin Santana. The American actor and rapper passed away suddenly on 9th November 2002 at the young age of 22. The Under One Roof actor died due to a gunshot that was inflicted on him while his car was parked in the Los Angeles, California area. During his lifetime, the actor was well-known for featuring in The Cosby Show and on The Steve Harvey Show.
Malcolm X
At the age of 39, Malcolm X, an African-American revolutionary and a renowned Muslim minister, tragically lost his life. The public figure was shot and killed on 21st February 1965 while he was giving a speech and the funeral of the civil rights activist was attended by approximately 1500 people. However, 30000 people viewed the body publicly.
J Dilla
J Dilla, also known as James Dewitt Yancey, sadly passed away on February 10, 2006, at the age of 32. His death was officially caused by cardiac arrest resulting from complications of lupus and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), two serious blood and autoimmune disorders he had been battling. Despite his short life, Dilla is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the hip-hop industry, known for his innovative production style and lasting impact on modern music.
