While it can seem a bit parasocial, we do tend to get attached to artists, musicians and actors who affect us in some way. On top of that, the pressures put on creatives tend to create the sort of environment where people die young. So it’s perhaps understandable why some people would be really moved by the passing of a near-and-dear celeb.
Someone asked “Which lesser-known celebrity death really affected you/do you think about often?” and people shared their examples. So read through, upvote the examples that are close to you and leave your own thoughts in the comments section below.
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The guy from mythbusters - Grant Imahara
What happened:
Grant Imahara, renowned engineer and host of Discovery Channel's "MythBusters," passed away on July 13, 2020, at the age of 49. He died suddenly due to a brain aneurysm
Anton Yelchins death. Such a bizarre random accident ending the life of a wonderful actor. I've liked him in everything I saw him in, and I still sometimes think about the work he could have done.
What happened:
Anton Yelchin, a talented actor known for his roles in films like "Star Trek," died on June 19, 2016, at the age of 27. He tragically passed away due to accidental blunt traumatic asphyxia at his home in Studio City, California, after being pinned between his Jeep Grand Cherokee and a brick pillar.
Terry Pratchett. I'm not a massive fan of his books - I read a couple and enjoyed them, and I really liked Good Omens, but my husband absolutely loves his work. He has done for years and years. He'll reread Pratchett's books regularly, and I can just see how much he loves the books and how sad he is that Pratchett isn't here anymore. We spoke about it last night and he said he's only read the last one once as it was just too difficult. I end up thinking about it quite often.
What happened:
Terry Pratchett, the acclaimed British author known for his Discworld series and witty fantasy novels, passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 66. He died from complications related to posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.
I bought the last book published but still haven't been able to read it. It's like it to difficult to admit there won't be anymore of his books. And that makes me sad.
Judith Barsi, she was just a young girl with a life ahead of her who voiced the cutest little dinosaur. Her grave stone reads 'yep, yep, yep.'
What happened:
Judith Barsi, a young actress known for her roles in films like "The Land Before Time" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven," tragically died on July 25, 1988, at the age of 10. She was murdered by her father, who also killed her mother, before taking his own life
Sean Lock. I sobbed when he died.
What happened:
Sean Lock, a beloved British comedian known for his appearances on panel shows like "8 Out of 10 Cats," passed away on August 18, 2021, at the age of 58. He died after battling lung cancer, a diagnosis he had kept private.
I think about him all the time. The only one who will affect me more is when we lose Attenborough
Idk if this counts as “lesser known” but I wish we knew what happened to Brittany Murphy. Was it mould? Was it an accidental or intentional OD? How does a young rich woman just… die from pneumonia? And then her husband five months later too? So many questions and I don’t think we’ll ever know the answers.
Pneumonia can and will kill you. That's how. It doesn't matter if you're young, old, rich, poor, man or woman.
Every couple days I think about Naya Rivera and how she died. It always makes me feel strange.
What happened:
Naya Rivera, best known for her role in the TV series "Glee," tragically passed away on July 8, 2020, at the age of 33. She drowned in Lake Piru, California, after renting a boat with her 4-year-old son. Rivera's death was ruled an accidental drowning after she went missing during a boating trip. Her body was found five days later.
It should be mentioned that she managed to save her son's life before she drowned. She died a hero.
Phil Hartman. He was such a funny guy. His comedic timing was chef’s kiss.
What happened:
Phil Hartman, a beloved comedian and actor known for his work on "Saturday Night Live" and "The Simpsons," tragically passed away on May 28, 1998, at the age of 49. He was fatally shot by his wife, Brynn Hartman, who then took her own life.
Brandon Lee from “The Crow” really threw me into a grunge-induced tailspin. I really wasn’t aware of him before, with the exception of knowing who his dad was…but the combination of the film and the soundtrack just made me depressed for months.
What happened:
Brandon Lee tragically died on March 31, 1993, at the age of 28. He was fatally wounded on the set of the film "The Crow" when a prop gun accidentally discharged during a scene, striking him in the abdomen. Despite emergency medical efforts, Lee succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Nelsan Ellis aka Lafayette from True Blood. That show was huge at the time and somehow after it ended, I didn't really see him in anything else. I think he did a great job with that character in TB for its time and I've wanted to see more of him in other roles before his untimely death at apparently only 39. I'm not sure what else was he struggling with (only read about alcohol) or if he had any other medical history but his passing was really sudden to me.
What happened:
Nelsan Ellis passed away on July 8, 2017, at the age of 39. He died due to complications from heart failure related to alcohol withdrawal complications.
It's wild how alcohol withdrawal is one of the only kinds of withdrawal that can kill you on its own.
I just learned of Kirsty Maccoll's freak accident death while diving in Mexico with her kids and it's also horrifying, from the accident itself to the way the Mexican government handled it. It's so sad and will probably stick with me for awhile.
What happened:
Kirsty MacColl tragically passed away on December 18, 2000, at the age of 41. She died in a boating accident off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, while on vacation with her family.
The Mexican government's handling of Kirsty MacColl's death stirred controversy and criticism. Despite evidence suggesting that MacColl was struck by a speedboat while diving, authorities failed to thoroughly investigate the incident, and the boat's owner, a wealthy Mexican businessman, was charged with a minor offense. Many believed that the Mexican government mishandled the case due to the suspect's influence and status, leading to widespread outrage and calls for justice.
This gets mentioned a lot but Christina Grimmie. Shot by a crazed "fan" in the meet and greet line after her concert.
I used to watch her videos alllll the time in middle/high school and I was devastated when she was killed right as she started releasing her own albums. I really think she would have been big and now we will never know. I think about her a lot.
What happened:
Christina Grimmie, a talented singer and former contestant on "The Voice," died on June 10, 2016, at the age of 22. She was shot and killed by a deranged fan during a meet-and-greet following her concert performance in Orlando, Florida.
There's a show on Discovery + called Death by Fame that has an entire episode on Christina Grimmie's death.
Adrienne Shelly. I rented Waitress some 15 years ago at a Redbox and was really charmed with this little indie film. I did my usual IMDB search and was heartbroken to see Shelley's passing and the way she passed. It's pretty striking to see the legacy she left behind considering Waitress was a little indie movie that's now so much more.
What happened:
Adrienne Shelly, a promising actress and filmmaker, died on November 1, 2006, at the age of 40. She was found dead in her Manhattan apartment, hanging from a shower rod. Initially considered a suicide, further investigation revealed evidence of foul play, leading to the arrest and conviction of a construction worker for her murder.
Jeff Buckley. I’ve always loved his music, but then when I was a teenager and found out that he was dead it totally reached new proportions lol. I used to sit in my room and cry to his music, thinking that we had a connection beyond this simple thing called ‘life’. I had a ridiculous crush on him 🥲
ETA: If anyone’s curious, he died by drowning and no one is really sure what happened. He’d just talked to someone on the phone (I think it was his producer?) about how excited he was about the album they were working on, but he didn’t survive the night.
He was wading in the Mississippi, fully clothed when a boat came by and he was swept away in the wash. His body wasn’t found for several days and an autopsy found no d***s or alcohol in his system.
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes for me. I watched the documentary she was working on before her death and it haunts me. She was an incredible artist with so much damn potential that we never got to see realised.
What happened:
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, a member of the popular music group TLC, tragically passed away on April 25, 2002, at the age of 30. She died in a car accident in Honduras.
Yet another major international star being proclaimed a "lesser known" celebrity. Jesus christ.
Lee Thomas Young, I loved the Famous Jett Jackson. I was heartbroken when he died. His mental health issues were so disheartening.
What happened:
Lee Thompson Young tragically died on August 19, 2013, at the age of 29. He died by suicide, which shocked fans and colleagues alike.
Was going to mention this one if he wasn't listed here. I was pretty shocked when the news hit. He was recurring in the tv show Rizzoli and Isles at the time, played the partner of Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon). Everyone on the show and all the fans were just devastated.
Stephen “Twitch” Boss. That hit me HARD. I used to watch So You Think You Can Dance religiously and he was one of my favorite contestants ever. Then he became an all star, met his wife on the show, I think he was a judge for a season or two… such an incredibly talented dancer.
Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation and other books speaking candidly about mental illness and addiction. She was a trailblazer along with Suzanna Kaysen when it came to bravely giving a voice to mental illness in a time where it was taboo to speak about it. She passed February 2020, and I still think of her often.
What happened:
Elizabeth Wurtzel passed away on January 7, 2020, at the age of 52. She died due to complications from metastatic breast cancer, a battle she had been fighting for several years.
Andy Hallet, best known as playing Lorne in the TV series Angel. Died way too young!
What happened:
Andy Hallett passed away on March 29, 2009, at the age of 33. He died from heart failure caused by complications from untreated cardiomyopathy, a condition he had been battling for several years.
Mia Zapata, lead singer of Seattle-based punk band “The Gits”. She was murdered on her way home from a music venue in 1993. She was 27.
Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houstons daughter. That was so effing fishy. And to die the same way as her mother. So soon after Whitney died.
What happened:
Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, tragically passed away on July 26, 2015, at the age of 22. She was found unconscious in a bathtub at her home in Georgia and remained in a coma for six months before her death. The circumstances surrounding her death were eerily similar to those of her mother, Whitney Houston, who died in a similar manner three years prior.
Not really that fishy. People brought up by parents with d**g or alcohol issues, often end up addicts themselves. People using baths while under the influence are more likely to pass out and drown. Very sad situation because with Whitney and Bobby Brown as parents, I can't imagine she had a particularly happy or stable childhood.
Chi Chi Devayne. The moment I saw her on Drag Race, I loved her. She was so talented, so beautiful in drag and out, and just so sweet and charismatic. I followed her so closely during her battle with Scleroderma, and she died in August 2020, so there wasn't much else to focus on besides the BLM marches and staying home otherwise. It felt so futile, watching her try to seek donations so she could get medical care (seriously f**k US "healthcare"), seeing her beautiful face grow thinner and more sickly by the day. I think about her all the time. She was truly a gorgeous person inside and out and the world is so much less lovely without her in it.
When I started reading this post, Chi Chi was the first person that came to mind. It is bittersweet to see her on this list. Rest easy, Chi Chi Devayne
Peaches Geldof dying the same way her mother did. And her babies being found next to her body.
What happened:
Peaches Geldof, a British television presenter, model, and journalist, tragically passed away on April 7, 2014, at the age of 25. She was found dead at her home in Kent, England. The cause of her death was determined to be a heroin overdose.
For me, that’ll be Jonghyun of Shinee. (He isn’t widely famous in the US.) He was immensely talented but also terribly depressed for a long time, and the depression took his life. I have also struggled with mental health and have a lot of empathy for him. And sadly he wasn’t the first or last idol to complete suicide.
Elliot Smith. I still remember waking up to the news. Tragic figure.
What happened:
Elliott Smith, an influential singer-songwriter known for his introspective lyrics and haunting melodies, died on October 21, 2003, at the age of 34. He died from stab wounds to the chest, which were initially reported as self-inflicted but later surrounded by controversy and speculation. Smith's death remains a subject of debate among fans and music enthusiasts.
Diem Brown from The Challenge. She was such a vibrant and bright light, and left such a huge hole in the hearts of those who loved her. I remember watching her and CT fall in love, how he helped her find her confidence to take off her wig and how he carried her to the car to take her to the hospital when her cancer came back. I always get my pap smears on time because of her.
What happened:
Diem Brown tragically passed away on November 14, 2014, at the age of 34. She died after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
A pap smear won't find your ovarian cancer, it's for cervical cancer. Still a good idea though.
Krissy Taylor dying of an undiagnosed heart condition at 17 and Niki finding her.
Brad Renfro, a great actor in Bully and Sleepers that died too soon.
What happened:
Brad Renfro tragically passed away on January 15, 2008, at the age of 25. He died from an accidental overdose.
Nikki Grahame - she did big brother Canada and UK. I watched her on BBCan and she was a really great addition to the cast. She was light and really funny.
What happened:
Nikki Grahame tragically passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 38. She died due to complications related to anorexia nervosa, a battle she had struggled with for much of her life. Grahame's death saddened fans around the world and brought attention to the seriousness of eating disorders and mental health issues. She was remembered fondly for her bubbly personality and memorable moments on reality TV.
I wish someone had mentioned Eva Cassidy. She had such a magical voice, and I think her version of "Fields of Gold" was the best cover ever. She died young of cancer, and I think she could have been a superstar had she lived.
Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries. She drowned in her bathtub after drinking too much. Not everyone's taste, but I loved her music and she was only 46.
Zombie is still on my daily playlist. Amazing voice.
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Jonathan Brandis shocked me. He was in a lot of stuff in the 80's/90's and his career kind of fizzled. He ended up taking his own life and I didn't even hear about until a few years after.
Another one for me was Rebecca Schaeffer, who was in the comedy My Sister Sam with Pam Dawber back in the late 1980s. She was shot and killed in her home by a stalker. I was a teenager and it was probably the first time I heard of a celebrity dying of anything other than old age. (this was pre internet). She was only 21. It was so shocking to me at the time.
That one was so messed up. It was a time when anyone could go to the DMV and get a person's address.
Load More Replies... Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries. She drowned in her bathtub after drinking too much. Not everyone's taste, but I loved her music and she was only 46.
Zombie is still on my daily playlist. Amazing voice.
Load More Replies... Jonathan Brandis shocked me. He was in a lot of stuff in the 80's/90's and his career kind of fizzled. He ended up taking his own life and I didn't even hear about until a few years after.
Another one for me was Rebecca Schaeffer, who was in the comedy My Sister Sam with Pam Dawber back in the late 1980s. She was shot and killed in her home by a stalker. I was a teenager and it was probably the first time I heard of a celebrity dying of anything other than old age. (this was pre internet). She was only 21. It was so shocking to me at the time.
That one was so messed up. It was a time when anyone could go to the DMV and get a person's address.
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