35 Of The Last Known Photos Taken Of Public Figures While They Were Still Alive

You might not consider yourself a photographer by any means, but without realizing it, you may take dozens of photos in any given week. You catch your cat looking adorable, so you snap a few pics to send to your partner. You make a gorgeous bowl of soup for dinner, so you take a photo to share with your mother. Then you screenshot a few photos from Pinterest to save as inspiration for your next tattoo.

Before you know it, your camera roll is full of thousands of images. In fact, Photutorial reports that the average American takes 20 photos every single day and has around 2,000 pictures sitting in their phone’s gallery. Because of this, we’re more likely than ever before to have recent photos of ourselves at any given moment.

Unsurprisingly, you’re even more likely to be photographed if you’re a public figure. Nowadays, celebrities can barely even leave the house without paparazzi or fans that recognize them snapping a few pics. In fact, some celebrities even call paparazzi themselves to ensure that they’re photographed looking their best.

For those who post frequently on social media, there will always be recent pics available to show what they’ve been up to, where they’ve been traveling, what projects they’re working on and what hairstyle they’re currently rocking. And if they tragically lose their life long before they’re expected to, fans and loved ones will have hundreds of images to look back on for years to come.    

There’s an idea held by many people that celebrities tend to lose their lives much younger than us “regular” people. Ever heard of the 27 Club? In reality, people tragically lose their lives every single day at any age for any number of reasons. And plenty of celebrities do end up living longer than the average person. But because these stars are in the spotlight, their passings becomes publicized on a massive scale and talked about for decades.

One 2016 study did find that celebrities tend to pass away younger than the average person, but the difference is quite small. According to the study, which analyzed only 1,000 New York Times obituaries from 2009 to 2011, famous people lived to be 77.2 on average. Meanwhile, the life expectancy of the typical American is about 79 years. While it’s sad for anyone to lose their life, the idea that celebrities often pass far younger than the majority of us isn’t necessarily true. 

Now, some celebrities do sadly lose their lives at a shockingly young age. Why exactly this happens is not very different from the same reasons why anyone’s life may be cut short though. Nigel Barber, PhD, notes in an article for Psychology Today that mental health often plays a huge factor. Sadly, some young people who are struggling decide that there’s no way out other than to take their own life, especially when they’re a famous person who feels misunderstood by everyone around them.

Another reason why some celebrities pass away tragically young is due to substance ab*se. This can be an issue for anyone, but sadly, when you’re rich and famous, you might have unlimited access to these things. And if you become a star at a young age, you might find yourself surrounded by adults at parties who introduce you to alcohol and substances from a dangerously young age. This is something Drew Barrymore has openly spoken about throughout her life.

Some celebrities may also feel that they’re invincible, and learning that you’re not can be an incredibly difficult pill to swallow. If everyone around you is constantly praising you and putting you on a pedestal, you might feel more comfortable engaging in risky behaviors. What could go wrong? Sadly, none of us are indestructible, and some of us don't find that out until it’s too late.

We hope you’re enjoying your scroll through these powerful photos, pandas. Although it can be sad to look back at these images of stars who have since left the Earth, it can also be beautiful to remember how beloved they were and will continue to be for generations to come. Keep upvoting the photos that you find the most impactful, and if you’d like to check out another list from Bored Panda featuring famous people that will never be forgotten, look no further than right here.