Many of us view celebrities as being superior to ordinary people. They seem to have it all money, fame and exciting lives, however in reality they are as human as anybody else and no matter how successful or renowned they are, famous people’s lives end as do all others in death.
And the same as all people on the planet some pass away younger than others, some older, some succumb to illness and disease, some perish from an accident and some take their own lives.
Knowing that death can and will strike anyone of us, sometimes without any warning is an omen for all of us to live every day to the fullest and realize that celebrities in the end are no different to mere mortals.
1. John Lennon, 40, 1940-1980
The last known photo of Lennon sees him signing his autograph for ‘fan’ Mark David Chapman. “Is that all you want?” Lennon asked him and Chapman nodded in agreement. However, that was not the case. As Lennon returned from his recording studio four hours later, Chapman fired five bullets into Lennon’s back at close range. Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital soon after.
2. Michael Hutchence, 37, 1960-1997
Michael Hutchence, one of the most charismatic rock stars of all time, tragically committed suicide by hanging himself on the 22nd November 1997, in a hotel room in Australia. The coroner ruled that Hutchence had killed himself while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and surmised that he was also depressed concerning his partner Paula Yate’s custody dispute with her ex-husband Bob Geldof. She and their daughter Tiger Lilly were due to fly to Australia to join Hutchence and this was cancelled due to a court action bought on by Geldof. The stress that caused him is thought to have triggered the singer to take his own life.
3. Robin Williams, 63, 1951-2014
Robin Williams renowned for his comedic acting skills was anything but happy when he took his own life. Williams was suffering from Lewy Body Disease (LBD) a progressive and debilitating type of dementia. As well as causing progressive, physical limitations it also induces hallucinations and Williams suffered severe paranoia in the days before he took his own life.
4. David Bowie, 69, 1947-2016
On 10 January 2016, renowned English musician David Bowie passed away at his Lafayette Street home in New York City. He had been battling liver cancer for 18 months. He allegedly only learned that his cancer was terminal three months before he died. Shortly before his death, he released his 25th studio album ‘Blackstar.’
5. Heath Ledger, 28, 1979-2008
On January 22, 2008, the body of talented actor, Heath Ledger was found by his housekeeper and masseuse on the floor of his rented apartment in the SoHo neighbourhood of New York City. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office stated that Ledger had died of an accidental “abuse of prescription medications” that included anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills and painkillers.
6. Steve Jobs, 56, 1955-2011
Steve Jobs was worth an estimated 10.2 billion at the time of his death from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Jobs survived for eight years before dying of the disease on Oct. 5, 2011. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers and the five-year survival rate is only 10%.
7. Marilyn Monroe, 36, 1926-1962
Life Magazine Photographer, Allan Grant took the last photo of Marilyn Monroe on July 7, 1962, during an interview at her home. Just under a month later on August 5, 1962, she was found dead in her Los Angeles home.
Iconic film star Marilyn Monroe’s death was ruled as a “probable suicide.” Monroe died from an overdose of sleeping pills in her Los Angeles home. She did not leave a suicide note. A telephone receiver dangled from her lifeless hand and near the bed, police reported that they found an empty bottle that had contained about 50 Nembutal capsules a few days previously. Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium) is a barbiturate that acts as a depressant, or sedative.
8. Michael Jackson, 50, 1958-2009
Michael Jackson rehearses at Los Angeles Staples Center on June 23, 2009, two days before his death
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson went into cardiac arrest after a case of acute benzodiazepine and propofol intoxication at his home in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. He was pronounced dead in a nearby hospital after countless failed attempts to resuscitate him. His personal physician, Conrad Murray was later sentenced to four years in prison for the charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was released after serving only two as a result of good behaviour but his license to practice medicine in California remains suspended. Jackson’s health had been deteriorating for many years and it is claimed the superstar suffered from an eating disorder, stress and severe insomnia all treated with prescription medication. The toxicology report also found lidocaine, ephedrine and lorazepam in Jackson’s system. Following his death police found drugs in his home, including many made out to false names. This confirmed that Jackson had been abusing prescription medication for many years preceding his death.
9. Carrie Fisher, 60, 1956-2016
The above photo of Carrie Fisher was taken by a fan in London the day before she suffered a heart attack on her flight to Los Angeles. She passed away four days later in hospital.
On December 27, 2016, Fisher suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. This occurred four days after experiencing a medical emergency during a flight from London to Los Angeles. The coroner’s report said the exact cause of death could not be determined, however, sleep apnea and the buildup of fatty tissue on the walls of Fisher’s arteries were among the contributive factors. It was also stated that Fisher had cocaine in her system along with traces of heroin, MDMA and other opiates. Her daughter Billie Lourd claimed that Fisher
“battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases… I know my Mom, she’d want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles.”
Debbie Reynolds the mother of Fisher died at age 84, just one day after the death of her famous daughter.
10. Princess Diana of Wales, 36, 1961-1997
This photo precedes the death of Princess Diana. The photo shows the car she is travelling in speeding away from the paparazzi. At approximately 12.20 a.m. Princess Diana is looking back at the pursuing journalists and seconds after the picture was taken the car went into the tunnel, where the driver lost control and crashed at high speed into a pillar. Princess Diana died later that morning in hospital.
In the very early hours of 31 August 1997, Diana Princess of Wales passed away from the injuries she suffered in a car crash that occurred in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France. Her partner, Dodi Fayed and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene. French firefighter Xavier Gourmelon who was one of the first responders to the accident told The Sun in 2017 that he heard Diana, whom he did not even recognize at the time as being the Princess of Wales saying, “My God, What’s happened” before going into cardiac arrest. The popular and well-loved Princess’s death prompted an outpouring of unprecedented worldwide grief.
11. Amy Winehouse, 27, 1983-2011
The grammy-winning pop star was just 27 when she was found dead at her home in Camden, North London on 23 July 2011. An inquest found that she had died from alcohol poisoning. Dr Christina Romete a General Practitioner testified during the inquest that she had visited Amy the night before her deadly binge. The singer had admitted to Romete that she was drinking again after a long period of abstinence. She chillingly told the doctor, “I don’t want to die.” Dr Romete stated that Amy had been prescribed a medication called Librium to help control her alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Describing Amy’s state the night before she died, Dr Romete recalled that the singer appeared “calm and somewhat guilty” and was “tipsy” but “able to hold a conversation.” She revealed that Amy had confessed that she had started drinking again on July 20, three days before she died. The doctor said, “The advice I had given to Amy over a long period of time was verbal and in written form about all the effects alcohol can have on the system, including respiratory depression and death, heart problems, fertility problems and liver problems.” The official verdict was given as death through misadventure. Deputy coroner, Suzanne Greenaway, stated: “She had consumed sufficient alcohol and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death.” Amy’s blood had 416mg of alcohol per 100ml which was well over 350mg which is recognized to be fatal. Three empty bottles of vodka were also found in her home.
12. Bob Marley, 36, 1945-1981
This photo of Bob Marley was taken in Munich, Germany, a few months before he passed away from cancer on May 11, 1981. He only weighed 35 kilograms at the time.
In 1977 Bob Marley was diagnosed with aural lentiginous melanoma. The deadly melanoma originated from his toe. He died as a result of the illness in 1981. The melanoma was discovered during a game of football when a foot injury seemed to be unusually bad. When it was discovered that it was cancer, Bob was advised to have his toe amputated but for religious reasons he refused. His Rastafarian faith considered it a sin to have a part of the body ‘temple’ removed. He did however have a skin graft, but this was not successful in stopping the disease from spreading through his body and eventually killing him.
13. Elvis Presley, 42, 1935-1977
This photo of Elvis Presley was taken at Graceland in the early hours of August 16th, 1977 after he was returning from visiting the dentist. Late that day Presley died after suffering a heart attack in his bathroom
The “King of Rock and Roll” died of a heart attack that was linked to his addiction to prescription barbiturates. Elvis’s last words to his then-girlfriend Ginger Alden were, “I’m going to the bathroom to read,” sadly he never left it. Elvis was not in good health at the time of his death. He was grossly obese at 25 stone and suffered from high blood pressure, an enlarged colon, liver damage and glaucoma. There was 10 times the amount of codeine normally recommended for medical purposes found in his system at the time of death as well as other drugs including diazepam, methaqualone, phenobarbital, ethchlorvynol and ethinamate. A toxicology report surmised that: “The strong possibility is that these drugs were the major contribution to his demise.”
14. Paul Walker, 40, 1973-2013
Paul Walker shown leaving a charity fundraiser in Santa Clarita on November 30, 2013, just moments before his friends car hit a pole and burst into flames.
Paul Walker was best known for his role as Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise. Walker died in a car accident on November 30, 2013, at the age of 40. He was in Santa Clarita, California to attend a charity event for Reach Out Worldwide to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The star had been a passenger in a red Porsche Carrera GT driven by his friend Roger Rodos. Rados lost control of the vehicle at 100mph before it smashed into a tree and burst into flames. Jim Thorp, one of Paul’s best friends attempted to pull him out but a sheriff ‘pushed him away’ due to the ’20 feet flames.’ Paul was in the middle of filming Furious 7 when he passed away. The movie was completed with the use of stand-ins playing Paul, including his brothers Cody and Caleb.
15. Kurt Cobain, 27, 1967-1994
This photo is from a Nirvana Photo Shoot, around five months before Cobain died.
One of the most talented musicians of his generation Kurt Cobain fronted the iconic rock band Nirvana. The band achieved massive global success following their hit Smells Like Teen Spirit, but Kurt was not happy with this outcome and believed that his artistic vision had been misconstrued by the public. The singer suffered from mental illness and heroin addiction and was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. His body was discovered by electrician Gary Smith who had arrived to install a security system. The coroner ruled that Kurt had killed himself. A high concentration of heroin and a small amount of diazepam were found in Kurt’s system. Kurt had been troubled for a while. On March 3, just over a month before his death, Kurt had attempted to kill himself by overdosing on Rohypnol and champagne. After that incident, his wife Courtney Love took him back to Seattle but she had to call the police to tell them that Kurt had locked himself in his room with guns and bottles of pills. After agreeing to go to a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility where he spent time with his daughter Frances, he ended up escaping by climbing over a wall at the end of March. Although he was believed to be missing, he had secretly flown back to Seattle where he ultimately killed himself. He left a suicide note. It read:
“Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complain-ee. This not should be pretty easy to understand.”
“All the warnings from the punk rock 101 courses over the years since my first introduction to the shall we say, ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven’t felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things”
“For example when we’re back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begin, it doesn’t affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is I can’t fool you, any one of you. It simply isn’t fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I’m having 100% fun.”
“Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I’ve tried everything in my power to appreciate it (and I do, God believe me I do, but it’s not enough)
“I appreciate the fact that I and we have affected and entertained a lot of people. It must be one of those narcissists who only appreciates things when they’re gone.”
“I’m too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child. On our last 3 tours, I’ve had a better appreciation for all the people I’ve known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can’t get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone.”
“There’s good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too f***ing sad. The sad little sensitive Pisces, Jesus man. Why don’t you enjoy it? I don’t know. I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what I used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point where I can barely function. I can’t stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I’ve become.”
I have it good, very good, and I’m grateful, but since the age of seven, I’ve become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess. Thank you from the pit of my burning nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I’m too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
“Peace, love, empathy. Kurt Cobain.”
“Frances and Courtney, I’ll be at your alter. Please keep going Courtney for Frances. For her life, which will be so much happier without me.”
“I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.”
A public vigil for Kurt was held on April 10, 1994, where his widow Courtney Love read sections of his suicide note to the attending crowd. She later gave some of Kurt’s clothes to mourners and attended a second funeral with Kurt’s ex-girlfriend Tracy Marauder.
16. Whitney Houston, 48, 1963-2012
The last photo of Whitney Houston shows her leaving Tru Hollywood club two days before her death.
Superstar singer Whitney Houston was found dead in a hotel bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on February 11, 2012. Whitney was only 48 years old when she died. She was one of the best-selling artists ever, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. The coroner found that cocaine which was found in her system also played a contributing factor in her death. She was also said to be suffering from the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease. A statement from the coroner said: “Chance’s are, had she not had the pre-existing heart disease and cocaine use, she may not have drowned.” Los Angeles County Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey said there was evidence of chronic cocaine use and he suspected that Whitney took the drug before she collapsed in the bathtub. Whitney also had several other drugs in her system at the time of her death including, Xanax, Benadryl, Flexeril and marijuana although Harvey said they did not play a role in Whitney’s demise.
17. Brittany Murphy, 32, 1977-2009
This photo shows Brittany Murphy on December 3rd, 2009 making her final public appearance. Soon after she died after collapsing in her bathroom.
On December 20, 2009 actress Brittany Murphy died suddenly after collapsing in the Hollywood Hills home she shared with her husband Simon Monjack and her mother Sharon. The Los Angeles County coroner stated that Murphy’s cause of death was anemia, pneumonia and “multiple drug intoxication” from both prescription and over the counter medications. No illegal drugs were found in her system. Murphy’s husband, Monjack died just five months after his wife passed away. His cause of death was almost the same as Murphy’s being pneumonia and anemia.
18. James Gandolfini, 51, 1961-2013
One of the last photos of James Gandolfini, shows him dining in Rome with his family.
James Gandolfini passed away unexpectedly in Rome. He had been there with his family while planning to attend the Taormina Film Festival. The Soprano star was the recipient of three Emmys and one Golden Globe for his performance as Tony Soprano. His cause of death was ruled as a heart attack. An autopsy stated that nothing else was found in his system. His estate was valued at approximately $70 million at the time of his death.
19. Bill Paxton, 61, 1955-2017
This photo depicts Bill Paxton’s last public appearance at the 2017 NAACP Awards. He is pictured with his co-star from ‘Training Day.’
Actor Bill Paxton suffered a fatal stroke nearly two weeks after undergoing heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm (an abnormal bulge in the blood vessel wall) and replace his bicuspid aortic valve which allows blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Paxton had previously stated that his heart issues stemmed from a childhood illness. In an interview with Marc Macron’s “WTF’ podcast which previewed around a week before his surgery Paxton shared that he had suffered a bout of rheumatic fever as a seventh-grader growing up in Fort Worth. In addition to starring in the films “Apollo 13” and “Titanic,” Paxton also appeared in “The Terminator” and “Twister” and starred in the successful series “Big Love.” Before his death, he was starring in the TV series, “Training Day.”
20. Prince, 57, 1958-2016
This is the final last known photograph of Prince, which was taken outside a Walgreens pharmacy near his home in Minnesota. He was alone in his final hours and his body was discovered more than 13 hours after he was seen alive in an elevator.
On the morning of April 21, 2016, Prince was found dead in Paisley Park, his home and studio in Minnesota. The superstar musician who won seven Grammy awards and released 30 albums had died from an accidental overdose of the opioid Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin. Prince seemed to be relatively well in the years prior to his death but at the beginning of April 2016, he postponed two performances of his Piano & A Microphone Tour with a statement saying that he had the flu. Although the shows were rescheduled and he played his final performance on April 14, it was reported that he was not well at the time. When flying home after the show, Prince’s private jet had to make an emergency landing in Illinois when he became unresponsive. He was taken to hospital but only remained there briefly before returning home. Although Prince’s representatives said he was suffering from flu and dehydration, later reports suggested the singer was trying to beat his addiction to drugs before his death. His former tour manager, Alan Leeds, said the idea of Prince using drugs ‘isn’t strange’ due to his desire to keep performing. “There wasn’t a tour we did where he wasn’t sometimes performing in pain,” Leeds said. “He was that kind of old school, the-show-must-go-on guy, so the idea of him medicating himself in order to perform isn’t strange to me.”
21. Jim Morrison, 27, 1943-1971
No autopsy was performed on the body of Jim Morrison nor was much of an examination done. On the morning of Saturday, July 3, 1971, Morrison is said to have passed away from a heart attack while having a bath, triggered by drugs. Previously Jim had battled drug and alcohol addictions and had moved to Paris with his girlfriend Pamela Courson to reportedly ‘get clean.’ Courson, who stated she found Jim dead in the bath at around 6 a.m. died of a drug overdose three years after her boyfriend’s death.
22. James Dean, 24, 1931-1955
This photo of James Dean with his Porsche was taken on the day that he died. When the actor swerved to avoid an oncoming car, he ended up crashing his car and losing his life.
At 5.45 pm on September 30, 1955, 24-year-old actor James Dean was killed in Cholame, California when the Porsche he was driving collided with a Ford Tudor sedan at an intersection. Legendary actor Sir Alec Guinness (1914-2000) actually chillingly warned Dean of his impending death. Guinness recalled meeting Dean in 1955 approximately a week before Dean passed away. Dean dined with Guinness after being unable to get a table in a restaurant.
After Guinness left the restaurant he said that: “I heard feet running down the street, and it was James Dean.”
“He said, ‘I was in that restaurant and you couldn’t get a table. My name is James Dean, would you please come and join me.?”
Guinness said that sometime during the meal Dean showed him his new Porsche Spyder sports car which he boasted could easily reach 150 MPH. In a 1997 interview with the BBC Guinness recalls what he said at the time.
“I said, Have you driven it? and he said, ‘No, I have never been in it at all,” Guinness shared. “And some strange thing came over me. Some almost different voice and I said, ‘Look I won’t join your table unless you want me to, but I must say something: Please do not get into that car, because if you do’ – and I looked at my watch – and I said ‘if you get into that car at all, it’s now Thursday (Friday actually ) 10 o’clock at night and by 10 o’clock at night next Thursday, you’ll be dead if you get into that car.”
“And he was dead the following Thursday afternoon in that car,” recalled Guinness. “It was one of those odd things. It was a very, very odd spooky experience. I liked him very much, too. I would have loved to have known him more.”
Dean died at the height of his popularity and is still remembered as a sex symbol to this day.
23. Jimi Hendrix, 27, 1942-1970
Jimi Hendrix is still considered to be the greatest guitarist of all time. Hendrix was already suffering from ill-health leading up to his death This was largely due to stress. He was dealing with two pending lawsuits and was very unhappy with his manager, Michael Jeffery who he wanted to dump. Hendrix was also exhausted, wasn’t getting enough sleep and was suffering from what was thought to be chronic influenza. Hendrix spent his last 24 hours alive with his girlfriend Monika Dannemann. The couple went back to Danneman’s apartment around 10.40 pm where they ate dinner and drank a bottle of wine. After having a bath, Hendrix wrote what would be his final poem, entitled, “The Story of My Life.”
‘The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye. The story of Love is hello and goodbye. Until we meet again.
Danneman and Hendrix then went to a party with the couple going back to her apartment around 3 A.M. Hendrix couldn’t sleep due to the amphetamines he had taken and he asked Dannemann for one of her sleeping pills but she didn’t give him one, hoping he would fall asleep naturally.
Danneman took a sleeping tablet herself at 6 am and when she woke up at 10 am she found Hendrix asleep and breathing normally. She went out to buy cigarettes. However, when she returned around an hour later she found Hendrix breathing but unresponsive as well as unconscious. She waited around 20 minutes then rang an ambulance which arrived at approximately 11.27 am. But by the time they arrived, it was too late to save Hendrix. He was covered in vomit and his airway was completely blocked. He was totally unresponsive and had no pulse. He was given CPR when he arrived at the hospital but according to John Bannister the surgical registrar who tried to resuscitate him it was in vain. “He was cold and he was blue. He had all the parameters of someone who had been dead a long time.”
“On admission, he was obviously dead He had no pulse, no heartbeat, and the attempt to resuscitate him was merely a formality.” Bannister also later recounted.
According to Professor Robert Donald Teare the forensic pathologist who performed the postmortem, Hendrix died from “inhalation of vomit due to barbiturate intoxication.” In other words, he choked on his own vomit. Danneman claimed that Hendrix had taken nine of her sleeping pills – 18 times the recommended amount. Although Hendrix only released three albums, Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland, the huge impact he made with his music was immense. His best songs “Machine Gun,” “Purple Haze,” and “All Along the Watchtower,” are still classics today. Jimi Hendrix’s grave is located in his hometown of Seattle. It can be found at Greenwood Cemetery in Renton, Washington.
24. Freddie Mercury, 45, 1946-1991
One of the last photos of Freddie Mercury was taken in his garden in 1991.
In 1991 Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the band Queen publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with AIDS. He died a day later from complications relating to the disease. Mercury had been aware for some time of the HIV/AIDS virus that had started to appear all over the world. He had also lost friends to the disease. He most probably was aware that he had been infected by the virus but he put off the confirmation diagnosis of it for as long as possible. It was Mercury’s ex-girlfriend and lifetime friend, Mary Austin who eventually was able to get the singer to speak with the doctor that diagnosed him in April 1987. On November 24, 1991, Mercury died at his Kensington Home Garden Lodge. His funeral was very low key with only a few of his close friends and family attending.
25. Corey Monteith, 31, 1982-2013
One of the final photos of Corey Monteith pictured with his girlfriend, Lea Michele
Glee star, Corey Monteith died in 2013 after a reported drug overdose. During a 2011 interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, Monteith discussed how he fell into addiction. He revealed that he had been trying to find his place in life. “Finding a place. For me, it wasn’t so much about the substances. It was more about not fitting in. I hadn’t found myself at all. I had no idea who I was. I had no idea where I was going. And all of a sudden, I was like, ‘I’m going to be this bad kid. And other kids are going to be like, ‘Oh, he’s the bad kid, so he’s cool, and they’ll want to hang out with me. It was just influences from watching people around me. And it was from lack of not really having a self-image at the time.” Monteith made his acting debut in the 2004 television series Stargate: Atlantic. He starred in a number of roles for TV and film before joining the Glee cast in 2009. He played the role of Finn Hudson until his death.
26. Luke Perry, 52, 1966-2019
Actor Luke Perry passed away at the age of 52 from a brutal stroke. His major breakthrough role was playing Dylan McKay on the Fox television series Beverly Hills, 90210 between 1990 and 1995 and again from 1998-2000. Perry suffered a catastrophic ischemic stroke on February 27, 2019. After he endured a second stroke, his family made the decision to remove him from life support and he passed away on March 4, 2019. Perry was laid to rest in an eco-friendly mushroom burial suit which the manufacturer claims is able to remove polluting toxins from the body while naturally breaking it down.
27. Joan Rivers, 81, 1933-2014
Last known photo of Joan Rivers taken with a fan
Comedian Joan Rivers died September 4, 2014, a week following a cardiac arrest during a medical procedure. Joan Rivers died from: “therapeutic complications” during a procedure to evaluate her “voice changes” and stomach reflux was reported by the New York medical examiner. It further stated that: “the classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy.”
28. Mary Tyler Moore, 80, 1936-2017
Actress Mary Tyler Moore died at the age of 80 on January 25, 2017, at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich Connecticut, from cardiopulmonary arrest complicated by pneumonia. She was well known for her television sitcom roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and she also received seven Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
29. Elizabeth Taylor, 79, 1932-2011
One of the last photos of Elizabeth Taylor (left)
Elizabeth Taylor was known for being one of the most beautiful women in the world. The controversial actress was also married eight times (two to the same man) The double Oscar winner had a long history of ill health preceding her death on March 23, 2011, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She had been born with scoliosis and broke her back while filming National Velvet in 1944. The fracture was undetected for many years, although it caused her chronic back issues. In 1956 Taylor had an operation in which some of her spinal discs were removed and replaced with donated bone. In 1961 she overcame a near-fatal bout of pneumonia that required a tracheotomy. She was also addicted to prescription pain killers, tranquillizers and alcohol. Her health increasingly declined as she got older and she had two hip replacement surgeries in the 1990s plus surgery for a benign brain tumour in 1997 and skin cancer treatment in 2002. She was forced to use a wheelchair and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004. At Taylor’s request, her funeral ceremony started 15 minutes behind schedule. Apparently “she even wanted to be late for her own funeral” stated her representative.
30. Tom Petty, 66, 1950-2017
Tom Petty looking frail in one of his last photos
Singer, Tom Petty had been taking several medications preceding his death including oxycodone and Fentanyl to treat a fractured hip and other health issues. The coroner’s office listed Petty’s official cause of death as “multisystem organ failure due to resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrest due to mixed drug toxicity.” Petty was found unconscious and not breathing at this Malibu home on October 2 2017. He was taken to hospital and placed on life support. Doctors could find no brain activity when he arrived, although he still had a pulse and the decision was made to remove him from life support. This culminated in his death a few hours later. The singer had just completed a 40th-anniversary tour with his band, the Heartbreakers. Although it was supposed to be his “last trip around the country,” Petty told Rolling Stone that he intended to keep on playing. “I need something to do, or I tend to be a nuisance around the house,” he said. Petty also admitted that he’d taken drugs including cocaine and heroin in the past. He said he had developed an addiction to heroin following a bitter divorce from his first wife. “Tried to go cold turkey, and that wouldn’t work,” he shared in author Warren Zanes’ book Petty: The Biography, “It’s an ugly fucking thing.” However, Petty sought out treatment for his addiction and remarried in 2001. Petty’s private service was held in Pacific Palisades California on October 16, 2017.
31. Anton Yelchin, 27, 1989-2016
Anton Yelchin at the premiere of ArcLight Hollywood on April 13, 1989, two months before his death
Anton Yelchin suffered from cystic fibrosis but he ended up dying in a freak accident. His jeep rolled backwards down his driveway and pinned him to the gate of his own home. Chillingly, seven days after his death, a recall notice for the car showed up in Yelchin’s mail. The Star Trak actor kept his lung disease a secret and did not let it hold him back from doing anything
32. George Michael, 53, 1963-2016
The last photo of George Michael taken by a fan, he can be seen sitting in his recording studio through the window
Coroner, Darren Salter confirmed that George Michael died as a result of heart and liver disease. The star had been suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. He died at age 53 on Christmas Day at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Because Michael’s death was ‘natural’ the coroner said there was no need for an inquest. Michael made his name with pop group Wham in the 1990s and went on to enjoy major success as a solo performer.
33. Philip Seymour Hoffman, 46, 1967-2014
The last haunting photo of Philip Seymour Hoffman
On February 2, 2014, Philip Seymour Hoffman considered one of the most talented actors of his generation died of an accidental overdose at age 46 in New York City. He was found on his bathroom floor in New York with a syringe in his arm. During his successful career, he starred in more than 50 movies. He won an Academy Award for the best actor category for his role of author Truman Capote in “Capote” (2005) and received Oscar nominations for best-supporting actor for his role as a CIA agent in “Charlie Wilson’s War” (2007)and for his performance as a priest in “Doubt” (2008). Hoffman was also an accomplished stage actor and director who earned Tony Award nominations for his performances in “True West” (2000), “Long Day’s Journey into Night” (2003) and “Death of a Salesman”(2021). He had battled with drug addictions in his early 20s but remained sober for many years before relapsing in 2012. His addiction killed the father of three with the medical examiner ruling that Hoffman had passed away due to acute mixed drug intoxication.
34. Kobe Bryant, 41, 1978-2020
The last photo of Kobe Bryand was taken by a fan
On January 26, 2020, a helicopter carrying former pro basketball player Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others crashed in Calabasas, California killing everyone on board. Bryant had established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history, winning five NBA Championships and the 2008 Most Valuable Player award while also making the All-Star team in 18 of his 20 seasons.
35. Kelly Preston, 57, 1962-2020
Kelly Preston with husband John Travolta shortly before she died
News of actress, Kelly Preston’s death shocked the world. A family representative released a statement after she died to People magazine.
“On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer,” it stated.
“Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.”
“She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched. Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”
Preston launched her acting career in 1985 with a major role in the film Mischief. She then went on to star in films SpaceCamp (1986), Twins (1988), Jerry Maguire (1996) and For Love of the Game (1999).
Preston’s final role in the 2018 film Gotti saw her team up with her husband John Travolta. She played Victoria Gotti the wife of Mafia boss John Gotti who was portrayed by Travolta
36. Patrick Swayze, 57, 1952-2009
Swayze sought out a doctor when he began to suffer from a chronic burning sensation in his stomach. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three weeks later in January of 2008. He underwent chemotherapy as well as other treatments and at first, it seemed that it was working. However, Swayze’s condition began to deteriorate in 2009 when he was hospitalized after contracting pneumonia and his overall condition continued to worsen until he passed away on September 14, 2009. Lisa Niemi, Swayze’s widow said that his battle against cancer was the “worst thing in the world to go through.” Although he fought as hard as he could to conquer his illness and managed to last 22 months following his diagnosis. Lisa said it was “miraculous” that he was able to survive for so long. However, his final months clearly showed how the disease was destroying his body. Swayze is best remembered for his role in “Dirty Dancing” playing the role of dance instructor Johnny Castle opposite Jennifer Grey who played his love interest, Frances Houseman. His role in “Ghost” was also a worldwide hit which he starred in with co-stars Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.
37. Tupac Shakur, 25, 1971-1996
American rapper, Tupac Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 25 years old. He was wounded twice in the chest, once in the arm and once in the thigh. He succumbed to his injuries and died six days later.
38. Gary Coleman, 42, 1968-2010
Sold tabloid photo shows Gary Coleman on his death bed
“Different Strokes” actor Gary Coleman’s death was ruled an accident. An autopsy revealed that Coleman had died of natural causes after an accidental fall. The 42-year-old actor died at a Provo hospital two days following his fall. he was taken off life support after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Coleman rose to fame in “Different Strokes” which lasted for eight seasons. Coleman played Arnold Jackson, the younger one of a pair of African-American brothers who were adopted by a wealthy white man. The tiny 10-year-old’s “Whachu talkin bout?” become a popular catchphrase from the show. However, Coleman’s adult life was full of legal and health problems. Many of his issues stemmed from his relationship with his wife Shannon Price, who he married in 2007, divorced a year later, but continued to live together giving the perception of a married couple. Coleman’s body was cremated
39. Sharon Tate, 26, 1943-1969
These are the final photographs ever shot of Sharon Tate. She is eight months pregnant at the time
Sharon Tate, who was married to film director Roman Polanski was a Hollywood actress and on the verge of giving birth when she was brutally murdered. The Golden Globe-nominated beauty was best known for her role in Valley of The Dolls. On August 9, 1969, she and her eight-month-old unborn baby were killed when she was stabbed 16 times by the unhinged members of the Charles Manson Family. Tate and her friends, Abigal Folger, Jay Sebring and Wojciech Frykowskin had been having dinner together when the Manson Family broke into her rented home. Polanski was away in Europe at the time. The murders were evil and heinous. Jay was shot after he attempted to shield Sharon from the gang who then stabbed him seven times. Steven Parent a friend of the house’s caretaker, who was only 18 was shot and killed as ‘The Family’ smashed their way into the home. Wojciech was asleep on the sofa and was kicked in the head by Tex Watson. When Wojciech questioned what they were doing, Watson hauntingly replied, “I am the devil and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” Watson then proceeded to tie Jay and Sharon together with a rope slung around their necks and then attached it over a beam in the living room. Abigail was instructed to hand over her money to The Family and gave them $70 she had had in her purse. She initially managed to escape out of a bedroom door but was apprehended by Patricia Krenwinkel who caught her and then stabbed her. Abigail was later murdered by Watson who stabbed her 28 times. Wojcieh who managed to free himself from where he was bound, fought against Atkins who continued to knife his legs. He did make it out of the house but was caught by Watson and hit brutally over the head with a gun. Even after he had been shot twice and stabbed multiple times Atkins still kept on fighting to escape his attackers, but finally succumbed to his injuries after being knifed 51 times. Sharon tried but failed to save the life of her unborn baby. She pleaded with her killers but to no avail. As she was savagely attacked she reportedly cried out for her mother uttering “mother…mother.” She died in a horrific way stabbed multiple times as well as suffering strangulation. After the killers had slaughtered their victims they wrote the word ‘pig’ on the front of Sharon’s home in blood. Charles Manson was not present at the Polanski house on the night of the killings, however, he was later charged with murder on the grounds that he had influenced the killers and masterminded the evil crimes. Manson initially eluded suspicion and was only arrested after one of his followers started boasting about what had occurred. In 1971 he was convicted and sentenced to death, however, his sentence changed to life in jail when the California Supreme Court overturned the death penalty in 1972. Roman Polanski has stated that he will never fully move on from his late wife actress Sharon Tate.
40. Natalie Wood, 43,1938-1981
Natalie Wood (born Natalie Zacharenko) was an American actress. She was the recipient of four Gold Globes and three Academy Award nominations. Wood perished under mysterious circumstances while filming Brainstorm during a weekend boat trip to Santa Catalina Island on board her husband, Robert Wagner’s Motoryacht Splendour. Although her cause of death was drowning, it was never determined how she entered the water. Her body was recovered at 8 a.m. on November 29, one mile (1.6km) away from the boat, with a small inflatable dinghy beached nearby. Wagner stated that she was not with him when he retired to bed. The autopsy report revealed that Wood had bruises on her body and arms, as well as an abrasion on her left cheek. Traces of a motion-sickness pill and a painkiller were found in her system and her blood alcohol content measured 0.14%. Los Angeles coroner Thomas Noguchi ruled the cause of her death to be accidental drowning and hypothermia. Noguchi surmised that Wood had been drinking and she may have slipped while trying to reboard the dinghy. Her sister Lana, stated that Wood could not swim and had been ‘terrified’ of water all her life and that she would never have left the yacht on her own by dinghy. Two witnesses on a nearby vessel stated that they had heard a woman scream for help during the night. Wood was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetary in Los Angeles.
41. Christopher Reeve, 52, 1952-2004
Christopher Reeve made his last public speech at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on the 10 April, 2004
On October 10, 2004, actor Christopher Reeve who rose to fame with his starring role in four Superman films died from heart failure at the age of 52 at a hospital near his home in Westchester County, New York. Reeve’s life changed dramatically on May 27, 1995. On that fateful spring afternoon, the enthusiastic equestrian competitor participated in a roadblock test in the small town of Culpeper Virginia. As he approached a triple-pole jump, his horse, Buck – stopped dead in his tracks and Reeve hurtled headfirst across the barrier. The blow left him with a catalytic injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down and forever confined to a wheelchair. Reeve’s injuries were deemed so severe that even his mother begged the doctors to turn off his mechanical ventilation. The fate of his injury was fickle, if he had fallen one centimetre further to the left, he would have died on the spot. However if had done so to the right, he would have most likely come out with less than a concussion. His wife Dana gave him the willpower to keep on living. She said to him at the time as written in his memoir (Still me) “You’re still you. And I love you.” Reeve touts this phrase as inspiring him to grasp onto life, even though his new life was limited and challenging. Reeve had also suffered since childhood from asthma and allergies. At 16 he began to suffer from alopecia areata, a condition that causes patches of hair to fall out from an otherwise healthy head of hair. After he became paralysed and it became more noticeable he shaved his head. Reeve suffered continual bouts of ill health after his accident. In 2002 and 2004, he endured several infections believed to have originated from his bone marrow. In early October 2004, he received treatment for an infected pressure ulcer that was causing sepsis, a complication he had endured many times previously since his accident. On October 4, 2004, he made his last public appearance speaking at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and on October 9, 2004, he attended his son Will’s hockey game. Later that night Reeve went into cardiac arrest after receiving an antibiotic for the infection and later fell into a coma. Eighteen hours later, on October 10, 2004, Reeve died at the age of 52. No official autopsy was performed. His Doctor and wife believed that an adverse drug reaction had caused Reeve’s death. Reeve’s wife Dana died just 17 months following her husband’s death of lung cancer.
42. River Phoenix, 23, 1970-1993
This is the very last photo taken of River Phoenix 2 days before his death
On October 31, 1993, actor River Phoenix who appeared in such films as Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho died of a drug overdose outside West Hollywood nightclub, The Viper Room. Phoenix’s friends were aware that he had been abusing drugs but still his fatal death stunned many people. He seemed to be turning the corner and reportedly he remained sober for two months while he filmed the movie Dark Blood in Utah and New Mexico. However, when he returned to Los Angeles he indulged in a “massive” drug binge which ended up killing him.
43. Meat Loaf, 74, 1947-2022
Meat Loaf’s last photo was from his last live performance on ‘Huckabee’ on September, 2021
Iconic Rocker, Meat Loaf passed away on January 20, 2022, at the age of 74. While no official cause of death has been revealed it has been reported that Meat Loaf was “seriously ill” with COVID-19 before his death. It is not confirmed whether or not he had ever been vaccinated against the virus. His family have also yet to deny or confirm any claims. Meat Loaf shared before his death that he was “scared to death” of COVID – but he claimed he’d “rather die” than have to deal with quarantine. During an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that was published in August 2021, he also said that face masks were “a nuisance.” Despite his name, Meat Loaf shared in interviews that he had actually been a vegetarian for 10 years, and made public his month of veganism for Veganuary in 2020.
44. Erin Moran, 56, 1960-2017
One of the last photos of Erin Moran before she died
Born in Burbank on October 18, 1960, Erin Marie Moran Fleischmann became a child star famous for her role as Joanie Cunningham on the hit series “Happy Days.” However, Moran’s fame was short-lived and she turned to alcohol and drugs. She passed away holding the hand of her second husband, Steve Fleischmann.
45. Farrah Fawcett, 62, 1947-2009
Farrah Fawcett was photographed being treated for cancer shortly before she passed away
Actress Farrah Fawcett died on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles at the age of 62. In 2006, Fawcett was diagnosed with anal cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, the actress was pronounced cancer-free, however, the cancer returned in 2007. She pursued alternative treatments in Germany in an attempt to fight the disease but they were not successful. Fawcett was a four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and a six-time Golden Globe Award nominee. She first rose to fame when she played a starring role in the first season of the television series Charlies Angels. Her death is said to have been overshadowed by the death of Michael Jackson, who died on the same day she did, 5 hours later.
46. Steve Irwin, 44, 1962-2006
One of the last photos of Steve Irwin before he was killed by a giant Stingray
News of Steve Irwin’s death devastated the world. In the late 1990s, Irwin rose to fame as the popular host of TV’s The Crocodile Hunter. Irwin seemed to always be able to wriggle himself out of any potentially dangerous situation, however on September 4, 2006, he died suddenly after he was attacked by a stingray while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. Stingrays are normally docile creatures that swim away when encountering humans so it is still hard to fathom that a man who took on crocodiles without getting harmed could be killed by a naturally docile animal. He was stung in the chest and immediately went into cardiac arrest, and was pronounced dead less than an hour later. One of Irwin’s closest friends, John Stainton later recounted that Irwin had made a “very, very weird” speech just weeks before he died. Stainton appeared on the I’ve Got News For You podcast and opened up about filming Oceans Deadliest” the 2007 documentary that would be Irwin’s last. The TV producer that witnessed Irwin’s death said that: “A couple of days before we started the show, he made a little speech to all the crew that were up there catching crocs for his research trip – which I joined at the end with our crew.”
“He was sort of thanking them all for being who they were and for helping him. It was like a finale speech.”
Stainton also revealed that he couldn’t shake off the feeling that “something was wrong” after he joined Ocean’s Deadliest crew and that he was against making the documentary at all.
After he experienced a “premonition” that he would die on the trip, Stainton even wrote a will and underwent numerous medical checks but was reassured that he was in good health. Sadly, Irwin would be the one to lose his life during the filming. “He died doing what he loved doing best,” Stainton said after Irwin’s death. “He left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said. ‘Crocs rule.’
47. Peaches Geldof, 25, 1989-2014
Peaches Geldof posted a photo on Instagram with her mother, Paula Yates, who also died of a drug overdose just 24 hours before she died
Writer, TV personality and model Peaches Geldof died the same way her mother did of a heroin overdose on the 6 or 7 April 2014. The coroner found that the cause of her death was “opioid intoxication” and recorded a verdict of a drug-related death. It was also noted that there was no evidence to believe it was deliberate. The inquest disclosed that Peaches had been taking the maintenance drug methadone for two and a half years before her death. Court documents revealed that she had started taking heroin again in February 2014 and 6.9 grams (1/4 oz) of the drug was found in her house. Peaches was laid to rest on April 21, 2014, at St Mary Magdalene and St Lawrence Church in Davington, Kent, the same church where both she and her parents were married and where her mother’s funeral service was also held. When she was just 11 years old, Peaches lost her mother when she died of a drug overdose at the age of 41.
48. Bobbi Kristina Brown, 22, 1993-2015
Bobbi Kristina Brown as she lay in hospital on life support shortly before she died
Bobbi was only 22 when she died after being in a medically induced coma for several months. She was the only daughter of singing sensations, Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. She was found unconscious in a bathtub in July 2015 in an eerie repeat of her mother’s death. Houston was found face down in a bathtub in a Los Angeles hotel on February 11, 2012, on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Her husband Nick Gordon and a guest were at the home when she was discovered unconscious. Her autopsy revealed that she had cocaine, alcohol morphine and marijuana in her body
49. Jackie Collins, 77, 1937-2015
Jackie Collins’s final, upbeat TV appearance in London, just nine days before her death
Author Jackie Collins who sold more than 500 million copies of her books around the world died from breast cancer on September 19, 2015, aged 77. Collins didn’t allow her diagnosis to slow her down. “I’ve written five books since the diagnosis. I’ve lived my life. I’ve travelled all over the world” she told People during an interview. She also disclosed at the time that she had undergone a lumpectomy and received radiation treatment. Collins first achieved fame in 1968 with the publication of her first novel, “The World is Full of Married Men,” which made London’s best-seller lists. Collin’s website touts that she wrote more than 30 best-selling novels, including “Hollywood Husbands,” “Hollywood Wives,” and “Hollywood Kids.” Although she found out she had stage 4 breast cancer years before she died, she chose to keep her diagnosis a secret and only shortly before her death informed her sister actress Joan Collins In a statement after Jacki passed away, Joan said she was “completely devastated” by her sister’s death. “She was my best friend, I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and beautiful person and I love her.”
50. Aaliyah, 22, 1979-2001
On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah, an American singer, actress, dancer and model died at the age of 22 in an aviation accident in the Bahamas. The aircraft she was travelling in crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all nine on board. Although the pilot Luis Morales III pleaded no-contest to a cocaine charge just 12 days before the fatal crash and was found with both cocaine and alcohol in his system, it is unclear with whom the responsibility of the devastating crash lies. A book written by music journalist, Kathy Landoli claims that other factors played a major role in the accident. Reportedly, Aaliyah did not want to get on the plane that caused her death and she was actually carried onboard unconscious after being given a sedative. The plane crashed less than a minute after takeoff. It was later revealed that the small twin-engine plane had exceeded its maximum weight limit by several hundred pounds. The book “Baby Girl” states that when Aaliyah saw the size of the plane she refused to board it. Kingsley Russell, who was only 13 at the time was working through his family’s business as a baggage carrier for the singer. Russel’s mother was Aaliyah’s driver during her time on the island and Russel shared that he spoke with the singer on the way to the airport and was a witness to what transpired. He says that members of her entourage were arguing with the pilot after he informed them that the plane would be way too heavy to accommodate eight passengers and all of their luggage. “(The airport staff) and Aaliyah had the common sense that the plane was overweight,” Russel says in the book, as reported by the Beast.
Aaliyah who said she had a headache, apparently lay down in the taxi van to rest. A member of the team later checked up on her with the singer still insisting that she didn’t want to board the plane. Russel claims that the team member gave Aaliyah a pill which she took before falling “into a deep sleep.” She was still asleep when the pilot gave in and allowed the team including Alliyah to board the flight back to Florida.
“They took her out of the van; she didn’t even know she was getting boarded on a plane,” Russel recounts in the book. “She went on the aeroplane asleep.” The flight took off at 6.50 pm, however, it only made it to around 60 to 100 feet in the air before plummeting headfirst back to the ground. Aaliyah’s lifeless body was found 20 feet from the wreckage. She was still strapped into her seat. Her autopsy report surmised that her survival was “unthinkable” due to the extensive amount of burns and major head trauma she had endured. “I remember when Aaliyah passed away, I was really upset,” Landoli said to The Daily Beast. “The story kept saying that she was adamant about getting on the plane. I was almost upset with her. Why did you want to get on that plane so badly?”
“In learning that she did not want to get on that plane, for someone like myself and so many other people, I think that’s closure for us. It’s an unfortunate closure… but I needed to hear she didn’t want to gt on that plane; I needed to know that. The person who I thought had the most common sense in the world had common sense to not get on the plane. The fact that she was so adamant, staying in the cab, refusing-these are things we never knew.”
“The only thing I’ve taken with me is that after 20 years, I can finally say that Aaliyah didn’t want to get on that plane. That makes me feel a little better but not much. This didn’t have to happen. She should still be here, and I think that’s the saddest part about it. She deserved better.”
A private funeral was held for Aaliyah on August 31, 2001, at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan. The singer’s body was set in a silver-plated copper deposit casket and carried in a horse-drawn, glass hearse. She was later buried at Ferncliff Cemetary in the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York.
51. Janis Joplin, 27, 1943-1970
One of the last photos of Janis Joplin performing on stage
On October 4, 1970 rock star, Janis Joplin was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose in her Hollywood hotel room. Joplin had suffered from serious, ongoing substance abuse issues. She was one of the most talented singer-songwriters of the 1960s, however, her life was cut short by her addictions at the age of 27. She released three albums (two with Big Brother and the Holding Company and one solo album). Her second solo album Pearl was released in January 1971, just over three months following her passing. It reached number one on the Billboard charts. Joplin was also inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 1995 with Rolling Stone ranking hr as number 46 on its 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. She still remains one of the top-selling musicians in the United States having sold 18.5 million albums worldwide. Joplin was cremated at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, and her ashes were scattered from a plane into the Pacific Ocean.