10 Hollywood stars whose lives took tragic turns
Image: mwood99
From the outside, Hollywood is the place where dreams come true. But that glamour is often just a mirage. The history of entertainment is full of iconic performers who brought joy and magic to the world but had trouble finding it themselves, with lives that took tragic turns. Let’s remember these artists and pay tribute to their legacies.
1
Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)
The definitive blonde bombshell, the one and only Marilyn Monroe took the world by storm with her talent and breathtaking beauty during Hollywood’s Golden Age. And although the world will always remember her image and performance in classic films like Some Like It Hot (1959), her unforgettable smile often hid deep sadness.
The queen of glamour suffered from anxiety and substance abuse, and was very frustrated by the roles offered to her; her life came to a sudden end on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36, following an overdose.
2
Judy Garland (1922–1969)
When you think of Judy Garland, sweet, hopeful Dorothy Gale in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz immediately comes to mind. Just 17 when the film was released, her career as an actress and gifted singer was off to a fantastic start, and her future looked bright.
But the studio system repeatedly pressured Garland with strict dieting and the use of stimulants and sedatives when working as a young performer. Later in life, she struggled with mental illness and financial problems. Garland was 47 when she passed away in London on June 22, 1969, after an overdose.
3
James Dean (1931–1955)
What James Dean achieved in just five years in the movie industry is mind-blowing. In the 1950s, Dean was one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood; he was the cool young heartthrob who became a symbol of rebellion after the smash hit Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
But at the peak of his career, he had a car crash while driving his Porsche 550 Spyder in California and was killed at age 24.
4
John Candy (1950–1994)
John Candy’s warm and funny characters have a special place in Hollywood history, and his death still feels unfair. Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1950, Candy became a major comedy star thanks to classics like Trains & Automobiles (1987), Uncle Buck (1989), and The Great Outdoors (1988).
And while he still had so much to offer, on March 4, 1994, he suffered a sudden heart attack while filming Wagons East! (1994) and died at the age of 43.
5
Robin Williams (1951–2014)
Robin Williams always inspires a bittersweet smile. A genius comedian who could make audiences crack up with a funny accent or an impish smile — with real dramatic chops, too — Williams starred in classics like Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and brought us to tears with his outstanding performance in movies like Good Will Hunting (1997).
But behind the hilarious comedian, Robin struggled with depression and substance dependence, as well as Lewy body disease. He died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63.
6
Patrick Swayze (1952–2009)
Patrick Swayze made movie history in classics like Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990). Swayze’s energetic performances and his image as the romantic, tough heartthrob have a lasting legacy.
He was nominated three times for the Golden Globes (1997, 1990, and 1995). Sadly, in 2008, Swayze announced he had pancreatic cancer and passed away 20 months later on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57.
7
River Phoenix (1970–1993)
The older brother of the Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, River Phoenix was considered one of the most promising young actors of his generation. His ticket to stardom came with Stand by Me (1986) when he was just 16 years old, and from there, his reputation took off with movies like Running on Empty (1988) and My Own Private Idaho (1991).
But when he was riding high in Hollywood, Phoenix lost his life at just 23, outside the Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles on October 31, 1993, from acute multiple drug intoxication.
8
Chris Farley (1964–1997)
Starting out in Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe and later joining Saturday Night Live in 1990, Chris Farley knew exactly how to get a laugh out of the audience with memorable characters like motivational speaker Matt Foley.
He became a major comedy star and made it to the big screen in movies like Tommy Boy (1995) and Black Sheep (1996). But behind the laughter, Farley struggled with substance use. He lost his life due to an overdose in 1997 when he was just 33 years old.
9
Heath Ledger (1979–2008)
Heath Ledger remains one of the most respected actors in Hollywood, and his performances are widely remembered, especially his final turn in The Dark Knight (2008), in which he gave a masterful portrayal of Batman’s most iconic villain, the Joker — considered by many to be the best portrayal of the character ever.
Ledger was found dead in his apartment at the age of 28 from an accidental overdose. Thirteen months later, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor posthumously for his performance.
10
Jonathan Brandis (1976–2003)
Jonathan Brandis rose to fame after he played the courageous Bill Denbrough in the 1990 television miniseries It , based on Stephen King’s novel, though he had also previously starred in The NeverEnding Story II (1990).
Brandis was a teen heartthrob with a seemingly bright future, but his career opportunities started to dry up as he got older. He struggled with severe depression and heavy drinking, and took his own life on November 12, 2003, at the age of 27.
