When tragedy takes a celebrity, the media can make it an event in an everyday person’s life. This goes for deaths amongst celebrities, like these most famous actors who died young.
For instance, anyone who ever watched The Fast & Furious will remember the day they heard about actor Paul Walker’s passing. And the death of Heath Ledger, who played the iconic role of Joker in The Dark Knight had the world in shambles. Unfortunately, there are even more actors and actresses that left us too quickly. If you want a history of some of the most famous actors who died young, then keep reading to learn more about these actors.
9. Paul Walker, 40
Paul Walker rocketed to fame with his role as a street-racing cop in the Fast & Furious franchise. However, tragedy struck, when on November 30, 2013, the actor died after his luxury car crashed into a light pole and burst into flames. He was 40 years old at that time.
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8. Marilyn Monroe, 36
Monroe is one of the most iconic names when you think about famous actresses in history. Unfortunately, her time on the screen was cut short when she passed August 4, 1962, at age 36 due to an overdose. Monroe was one of the most popular Hollywood stars during the 1950s and 60s. Her death revolves around a lot of conspiracy theories, and it’s safe to say that her death shocked the world.
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7. Brittany Murphy, 32
Brittany Murphy starred in many movies, including Girl Interrupted, Sin City, and 8 Mile, but she rose to fame for her role in Clueless as Tai Frasier. There were many rumors of drug abuse surrounding her death, but the official cause of death was listed as lack of iron and pneumonia. Brittany Murphy died at the age of 32 on December 20, 2009.
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6. Cory Monteith, 31
Cory Monteith is best known for playing the role of Finn Hudson in Glee. However, the actor had a troubled past using drugs from the age of 13. Cory entered a drug rehabilitation program at the age of 19. On July 13, 2013, at the age of 31, he was found dead in a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada. Reports stated his death was down to a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol.
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5. Brandon Lee, 28
Best known for his role as Eric Draven in the supernatural superhero movie The Crow, Brandon Lee is one of the most famous actors who died young, only living until 28 years old. The actor was established in the early 1990s, with his career cut short during a film production when he was killed by a prop gun. While the gun was loaded with blanks, the gunpowder in the blank cartridge ignited, which caused a bullet fragment to fire.
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4. Heath Ledger, 28
One of the most famous actors who died young on this list is Heath Ledger. The Australian star rose to popularity and fame starring in 10 Things I Hate About You. He was one of the youngest people ever to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role in the movie Brokeback Mountain.
Ledger died shortly after his famous role portraying the Joker in The Dark Knight. He was posthumously awarded the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role. Heath Ledger died on January 22, 2009, at the age of 28 years. He died from an accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs.
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3. James Dean, 24
One of the most famous actors who died young is James Dean, an icon during the 1950s. Best known for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden, James Dean died September 30, 1955, at only 24 years old. His roles and style had a strong impact on Hollywood, capturing the spirit of 1950s youth and creating an enduring legacy that shaped pop culture. His cause of death was a car accident that made international headlines.
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2. River Phoenix, 23
River Phoenix was an American actor and one of the most famous celebrities who died young. He was best known for his starring role in the movie Stand by Me. River Phoenix died on October 31, 1993, at the age of 23. He died from a combined drug intoxication following a drug overdose.
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1. Aaliyah, 22
The famous R&B singer and actress Aaliyah is best known for her hits like ” Are You That Somebody?” and ” Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number.” She was just 15 years old when rumors emerged of her marrying R. Kelly. Aaliyah’s music even today continues to achieve commercial success, and there have been many posthumous releases. Aaliyah died in a plane crash at the age of 22. She died on August 25, 2001.
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