There’s no denying that we’ve lost some incredible talent over the years, but the toll was particularly high throughout the ’80s and ’90s. From musicians to actors and TV personalities, so many celebrities have departed in the last few decades that it’s starting to feel personal (i.e. Betty White). Some of the world’s most unforgettable faces have died from natural causes, illnesses, accidents, and other unfortunate occurrences, but only a handful have passed on under some rather bizarre circumstances.
From the outrageous tale of how Elvis Presley “died on the toilet” to the age-old scandal of Marilyn Monroe’s staged suicide, not all deaths are black and white, and these are some of the most prominent head-scratchers of our time.
Michael Jackson
Photo via Vincent Amalvy/AFP
Dubbed the “King of Pop” and one of history’s most influential singer-songwriter-dancer-choreographers, Michael Jackson originated as the co-lead singer (along with Jermaine) of the Jackson 5, then later pursued a solo career to release hits such as “Billie Jean,” Thriller,” “Bad,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Smooth Criminal.”
In June 2009, Jackson died from cardiac arrest, caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, later came under fire for prescribing hefty doses of propofol, lorazepam, and midazolam, which conspiracy theories believed to be intentional so as to deliberately murder him. Another internet theory suggests that Jackson faked his own death to evade financial trouble.
Sonny Bono
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Singer, songwriter, actor, and former mayor of Palm Springs, California, Sonny Bono rose to prominence after partnering with his second wife Cher as the musical duo Sonny & Cher. In total, Bono was married four times — to Donna Rankin, Cherilyn Sarkisian (Cher), Susie Coelho, and Mary Whitaker. He has three children in total, through Rankin and Whitaker.
Bono died in January 1998 after a freak skiing accident wherein he veered off course and hit a tree in South Lake Tahoe, California. Cher gave a eulogy at Sonny’s funeral, at Mary’s request.
Steve Irwin
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Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and television personality Steve Irwin had encountered hundreds of crocodiles throughout his career as a wildlife educator. Irwin co-hosted The Crocodile Hunter with his wife Terri, and had a one-time feature film role in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
Irwin died in September 2006 after a short-tailed stingray barb pierced his chest and penetrated his thoracic wall, causing massive trauma to his heart. At the time, he was in Port Douglas, Queensland, filming the documentary series Ocean’s Deadliest.
John Denver
Photo via Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
John Denver was a jack-of-all trades; a guitarist, singer, composer, and environmentalist who popularized acoustic folk music during the 1970s. In the American West, Denver is considered to be a cultural icon. In his lengthy career, Denver produced over 300 songs, including his signature ones, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Poems, Prayers & Promises,” and “Rocky Mountain High,” among others.
In October 1997, while piloting his homebuilt aircraft, Denver crashed into the Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, during a series of touch-and-go landings. At the time of the crash, Denver was not legally permitted to fly, following several arrests for drunk driving.
Elvis Presley
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Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, but Elvis Presley is the King of Rock and Roll. Largely regarded as one of the most culturally influential figures of the 20th century, the actor and singer’s most famous films included Jailhouse Rock, Blue Hawaii, and Viva Las Vegas, and his most famous songs were “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “A Big Hunk o’ Love.” Presley also had a twin brother.
In the final months before his eventual death in August 1977, Presley was described by journalists as “grossly overweight” and had turned to drugs and alcohol, barely managing to get through his abbreviated concerts sober. On the afternoon of August 16, Presley was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. His death was thought to involve a reaction to codeine and an attempt to move his bowels, hence the summary that he “died on the toilet.”
Marilyn Monroe
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The original blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe was one of the most popular sex symbols of the ’50s and ’60s. Towards the end of her career, Monroe was involved in controversy with Fox after the studio blamed her for the failure of Something’s Got to Give, then proceeded to spread negative publicity about her, alleging that she was mentally disturbed.
Monroe was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but her death wasn’t as straightforward as a cut-and-print suicide. She passed away on the evening of August 4, 1962, and her cause of death was identified as acute barbiturate poisoning. The possibility of an accidental overdose was ruled out in her toxicology report, so her demise was thought by some to be orchestrated by Robert Kennedy to hide her involvement with John F. Kennedy.
Tupac Shakur
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Considered to be one of the most influential rappers of all time, Tupac Shakur (known mononymously as Tupac), is among the best-selling musicians. Through his music, Tupac became a symbol of activism against inequality, often addressing social issues in his songs. Some of his most popular tracks include “Keep Ya Head Up,” “Changes,” and “California Love.” Tupac was scheduled to audition for Jedi Master Mace Windu to appear in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace prior to his death, but the role ultimately went to Samuel L. Jackson.
In September 1996, Tupac was out in Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrating his business partner Tracy Danielle Robinson’s birthday. After the festivities, Tupac was on the way to Suge Knight’s Death Row nightclub when a white Cadillac pulled beside his black sedan at a stop light and fired rapidly into the passenger side, fatally injuring him. He was placed on life support in the ICU, but ultimately died from internal bleeding.
Natalie Wood
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Landing her starring role in Miracle on 34th Street at just eight years old, Natalie Woods kickstarted a career that later included roles in the coming-of-age romantic drama Rebel Without a Cause and the musical film Gypsy. In July 2018, Wood’s sister Lana said that Natalie was raped as a teenager during an audition that “went on for hours.”
During the making of Brainstorm, Wood was said to have died under mysterious circumstances. She had drowned while on a weekend boat trip to Santa Catalina Island with her then-husband Robert Wagner. Wood had been with Wagner, her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken, and the captain of Wagner’s boat, Dennis Davern, at the time of the alleged accident. The autopsy later revealed that Wood had suffered bruises on her body and arms, as well as an abrasion on her left cheek.
Bruce Lee
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Chinese-American Bruce Lee was a martial artist, actor, and the founder of the hybrid martial arts philosophy Jeet Kune Do. In his lifetime, Lee promoted Hong Kong action cinema, paved the way for modern-day mixed martial arts, and helped to bridge the gap between the East and the West. Additionally, Lee is often credited with singlehandedly changing the way that Chinese people are represented in the American entertainment industry.
In May 1973, Lee collapsed during an ADR session for one of his most famous films, Enter the Dragon. He was diagnosed with cerebral edema, but the doctors were able to reduce the swelling in his brain. In July that same year, Lee attended dinner with Enter the Dragon producer Raymond Chow and Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei. After complaining of a headache, Ting gave him the painkiller Equagesic, which caused an allergic reaction.
David Carradine
Photo via Stephane Cardinale/Sygma
Actor and musician David Carradine rose to prominence for portraying the titular character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill franchise. He gained further recognition through his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series Kung Fu, and his stint performing in two Martin Scorsese films, Boxcar Bertha and Mean Streets. For the biopic Bound for Glory, Carradine earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.
In June 2009, while in Thailand to shoot on location for Stretch, Carradine was found dead in his hotel room closet in central Bangkok. After he was found with a rope tied to both his neck and his genitals, police came to the conclusion that Carradine’s death was caused by accidental suffocation due to auto-erotic asphyxiation.
