Shocking celebrity deaths

Soul singer Amy Winehouse was found dead at her flat in London. A drug overdose of is being investigated as the cause of death.

Winehouse had long battled drug and alcohol addiction, leading to her management canceling her concerts on more than one ocassion. In fact, during one of her stage appearances she was so drunk, she could only mumble the lyrics of her songs as she struggled to keep up with her band. Needless to say, she was booed off stage.

With her unfortunate and untimely death, Amy Winehouse has joined a long list of celebrities who have died suddenly at the age of 27; Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Heath Ledger all succumbed to various degrees of substance abuse at the same age.

Actor Vivek Shauq, best known for his role in comedy serial Flop Show and Ulta Pulta with comedian Jaspal Bhatti, died after suffering a heart attack.

The 47-year-old actor had acted in about 60 films - both Hindi and Punjabi - including Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, Aitraaz and 36 China Town among others.

Here's a look at some other celebrities whose lives were tragically cut short by disease, accident, by their own hand or those of others.

Bobby Farrell, the frontman of the 70's disco quartet Boney M, has died in St Petersburg of unknown causes. He was 61.

The Daddy Cool hitmaker, known for his flamboyant costumes and energetic dancing was found dead in his hotel room said his agent John Seine.

The death was sudden, since he performed with his band the day before, in the Russian city and his body was found in his room by hotel staff after he failed to respond to a wake-up call.

Young filmmaker Manish Acharya, who rose to fame with his first film Loins of Punjab Presents, died in a freak accident after he fell off a horse in Matheran. Manish was associated with Hrithik Roshan's Luck By Chance and Sita Sings the Blues.

Indian supermodel and former Miss Mauritius, Viveka Babaji was found dead inside her apartment at suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 25, 2010.

27-year-old Babaji's body was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her residence. Viveka was a former Miss World participant and had also acted in a few movies though she was best known for her Kamasutra campaign in the 90s. Reports suggested that she was depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend and the police had also recovered a suicide note from the house.

Forty-six year-old Tamil actor Murali, who had acted in over 100 films, died of a heart attack earlier this year. Murali, son of famous Kannada film director Siddalingaia, made his debut in Tamil film in 1984 playing the lead role in Poovilangu, directed by Ameerjhan. Murali was much-sought after actor in the 90s when he gave a string of hit movies.

Divya Bharti (February 25, 1974 - April 5, 1993): She started her career in 1990 with Telugu films making her debut in Bobbili Raja. After several other hits in the South, she entered Hindi films with Vishwatma in 1992. Around midnight on April 5, 1993, Divya fell to her death off her husband Sajid Nadiadwala's 5-storey apartment building, Tulsi 2 in Mumbai. There were numerous speculations regarding Divya's sudden demise, including the possibility of accidental death, suicide and even murder. Police closed the investigation into her death in 1998, but the circumstances of her death still remain murky. (Wikipedia)

Ishmeet Singh Sodhi (September 2, 1988 - July 29, 2008): In July 2008, Singh, winner of Amul STAR Voice of India 2007, went on a visit to the Maldives with fellow contestants Sumitra and Vyom for a concert that was to be held on August 1, 2008. He died on July 29, 2008, drowning in the swimming pool of the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort in Male where he was staying. Ishmeet's family suspect that he has been murdered and have listed the reasons why on the Ishmeet Singh Foundation website. (Wikipedia)

Smita Patil (October 17, 1955 - December 13, 1986): Along with actress and co-star Shabana Azmi, she was one of the potent quartet representing India's parallel cinema. Her performances were often acclaimed, and she was mostly noted for her work in such art films as Manthan (1977), Bhumika (1977), Aakrosh (1980) and Chakra (1981). Smita died from childbirth complications on December 13, 1986, aged 31, barely 6 hours after having given birth to her son, Prateek Babbar. Nearly two decades later, one of India's greatest film directors, Mrinal Sen alleged that Smita Patil had died due to gross medical negligence. (Wikipedia)

Guru Dutt (July 9, 1925 - October 10, 1964): Often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema, Dutt made quintessential 1950s and 1960s classics such as Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand. On October 10, 1964, he was found dead in his bed in his rented apartment at Pedder Road in Mumbai. He is said to have been mixing alcohol and sleeping pills. His death may have been suicide, or just an accidental overdose. It would have been his third suicide attempt. (Wikipedia)

Bollywood was stunned by the death of actor Nirmal Pandey, who shot to fame as Vikram Mallah in Bandit Queen. He passed away following a massive heart attack. He was 48.

Madhubala (February 14, 1933 - February 23, 1969): In the short time that she graced the silver screen in India, Madhubala achieved the kind of iconic status that many actors can only dream of. She was found to have a heart problem after she coughed up blood in 1950. She was discovered to have been born with a ventricular septal defect, commonly known as a 'hole in the heart'. At the time, heart surgery was not widely available. In 1960, Madhubala sought treatment in London as her condition deteriorated. After an examination the doctors there refused to operate, convinced her chances of surviving the procedure were minimal. Madhubala finally succumbed to her illness and died on February 23, 1969, shortly after her 36th birthday. (Wikipedia)

Meena Kumari (August 1, 1932 - March 31, 1972): She gained a reputation for tragic roles in films like Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Baiju Bawra, Dil Ek Mandir and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi. After divorcing her husband Kamal Amrohi in 1964, her addiction to alcohol became stronger, and she often dulled her senses with liquor. Kumari's heavy drinking had badly damaged her liver, and in 1968 she fell seriously ill. She was taken to London and Switzerland for treatment. Three weeks after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari became seriously ill, and died on March 31, 1972 of cirrhosis of the liver. (Wikipedia)

Nargis (June 1, 1929 - May 3, 1981): She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema and remembered for her performances in films like Mother India, Barsaat, Andaz, Awaara, Shree 420 and Chori Chori. Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment for the disease at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Upon her return to India, her condition deteriorated, and she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She sank into a coma on May 2, 1981 and died on May 3, 1981. (Wikipedia)

Gulshan Kumar (May 5, 1956 - August 12, 1997): 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar, the founder of the T-Series music label (Super Cassettes Industries Ltd.), was killed outside the Jeeteshwar Mahadev Mandir, a Hindu temple in Jeet Nagar, Andheri West suburb of Mumbai on August 12, 1997. The police accused Nadeem of the music duo Nadeem-Shravan of having paid for the assassination. However, on January 9, 2001, Abdul Rauf (known as 'Raja') confessed to being the assassin. Rauf was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime. (Wikipedia)

Priya Rajvansh (1937 - March 27, 2000): Priya Rajvansh did only a handful of films during her career, among them Heer Ranjha (1970) and Hanste Zakhm (1973). Rajvansh and filmmaker Chetan Anand had a personal relationship and lived-in. After Anand's death in 1997, she inherited a part of his property along with his sons from his first marriage. She was murdered on March 27, 2000 in Anand's Ruia Park bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai. Police charged Anand's sons Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand along with their employees Mala Choudhary and Ashok Chinnaswamy with her murder. The four accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2002. (Wikipedia)

Parveen Babi (April 4, 1949 - January 20, 2005): Babi acted alongside top heroes of the 1970s and early 80s and is remembered for her glamorous roles in films like Deewar, Namak Halaal, Amar Akbar Anthony and Shaan. She was diabetic for most of her life - possibly due to the side-effects of powerful anti-psychotic medications. Babi was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on January 20, 2005 after her residential society secretary alerted the police that she had not collected milk and newspapers from her doorstep for two days. She was found to have gangrene of the foot as a complication of her diabetic condition. The police ruled out any foul play. (Wikipedia)

Nafisa Joseph (March 28, 1979 - July 29, 2004): Model and MTV video jockey Joseph hanged herself in her flat in Mumbai on 29 July 2004. She was to marry businessman Gautam Khanduja in a few weeks' time. According to her parents, Joseph took the step because her marriage was called off. This was due to Joseph having discovered that Khanduja was still married, although having told her he had been divorced for two years. (Wikipedia)

Kuljeet Randhawa (January 1, 1976 - February 8, 2006): The actress and model was best known for her role in the Kohinoor-series. Randhawa also appeared in several television series including Hip Hip Hurray, C.A.T.S., and a lead role in STAR One's Special Squad. On February 8, 2006, Randhawa hanged herself at her apartment in Mumbai. In a suicide note, Kuljeet stated that she was ending her life as she was unable to cope with life's pressures. (Wikipedia)

Vinod Mehra (February 13, 1945 - October 30, 1990): He started out as a child actor in a few films before starting his adult film career in 1971. Some of his prominent films include Nagin, Jaani Dushman, Khud-Daar, Anurodh, Amardeep, and Bemisal. He had turned producer and director with the film Gurudev in the late 1980s, with Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor in the lead, but he suddenly died of a heart attack before completion of the film at the age of 45 in October 1990. (Wikipedia) In the photo, Vinod Mehra is seen with his daughter Soniya, his last wife Kiran (1st L) and supposedly at one time wife, actress Rekha.

Sanjeev Kumar (July 9, 1938 - November 6, 1985): One of the most talented Bollywood actors, Sanjeev Kumar made his debut in Hum Hindustani in 1960 and never looked back. His most memorable films include Aandhi, Mausam, Angoor, Namkeen, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Sholay and Trishul. In 1985, when he was 47 years old, he died of a heart ailment. Ironically for an actor who played many elderly roles, he did not live to the age of 50. (Wikipedia)

Kishore Kumar (August 4, 1929 - October 13, 1987): Kumar won millions of hearts, as a playback singer, actor and filmmaker. He was a prolific vocalist and sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. In October 1987, he died following a massive heart attack. He had been married four times and is survived by his two sons Amit Kumar and Sumit Kumar. (Wikipedia)

Nearly five months to the day after theshocking death of Brittany Murphy, the actress' screenwriter husband was found dead in the couple's Hollywood Hills home. Simon Monjack was 39.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said the cause of Monjack's death was not immediately known; however, local broadcasts cited law enforcement sources saying it appeared to be a heart attack.

Alexander Mcqueen (March 16, 1969 - February 11, 2010): The fashion world lost one of its most brilliant designers recently. Alexander Mcqueen left his fans in a state of shock by commiting suicide on the eve of the funeral of his mother, Joyce, a constant presence at all his shows. He had earlier hinted at suicide through messages posted on the micro blogging website Twitter after the death of his mother two weeks ago.

Silk Smitha (December 2, 1960 - September 23, 1996): The South Indian actress starred in over 200 Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and a few Hindi films during her lifetime. Her dance numbers and her bold performances in films like Moondru Mugam have made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in Tamil, Kannada. Malayalam and Telugu cinema. In 1996, Smitha was found dead in her Chennai apartment. Financial problems, a disillusionment in love and an alcohol dependency apparently led to depression. It is suspected that Smitha committed suicide. (Wikipedia)

Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009): Jackson was perhaps the most successful entertainer of all time, and certainly one of the most influential. His contributions to music, dance and fashion, and a much-publicised personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. On June 25, 2009, Jackson never woke up from his evening sleep at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles. All attempts at resuscitating him failed and The King of Pop was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time. On August 24 several news outlets reported that the Los Angeles coroner had decided to treat Jackson's death as a homicide; this was later confirmed by the coroner on August 28. (Wikipedia)

Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962): Monroe is one of the most iconic and well-recognised entertainment figures the world over. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, the actress, singer, and model was seen in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch. The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a 'probable suicide', the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as that of homicide, have not been ruled out. (Wikipedia)

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 - December 20, 2009): On December 20, 2009, the star of films like Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, Nikki, Uptown Girls, Sin City, Happy Feet, and Riding in Cars with Boys apparently collapsed in the bathroom of the house that she shared with her husband Simon Monjack. Firefighters attempted to resuscitate Murphy on the scene. She was subsequently transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival after going into cardiac arrest. (Wikipedia)

Stephen Gately (March 17, 1976 - October 10, 2009) was an Irish pop singer, songwriter and actor, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. Gately died of natural causes on October 10, 2009, due to pulmonary oedema. Gately was found squatting in an awkward way on a sofa, dressed in his pyjamas while on holiday in Majorca, Spain. Police said they had no reason to believe the death was related to abuse of substances such as drugs or alcohol and no suicide note or signs of violence were located on the corpse. (Wikipedia)

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995): Selena was a Mexican American singer who has been called 'The Queen of Tejano music'. She won Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1987 Tejano Music Awards and landed a recording contract with EMI a few years later. Her fame grew throughout the early 1990s, especially in Spanish-speaking countries. Selena attained further notability in North America after she was murdered at the age of 23 by Yolanda Saldívar, the president of her fan club. (Wikipedia)

Ruslana Korshunova (July 2, 1987 – June 28, 2008): Korshunova was a Kazakh model of Russian descent. After establishing herself as a rising figure in the fashion industry by posing for magazines like Vogue and designers such as Vera Wang and Nina Ricci, Korshunova's mysterious death after falling off her Manhattan apartment's balcony on June 28, 2008 became the subject of international attention. (Wikipedia)

Princess Diana (July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997): A public figure from the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles of Britain, Diana remained the focus of near-constant media scrutiny in the United Kingdom and around the world before, during and after her marriage, even in the years following her sudden death in a car crash, which was followed by a spontaneous and prolonged show of public mourning. The long-awaited Coroner's Inquest reported its conclusion on April 7, 2008 that Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed by the negligent driving of the following vehicles and also the driver Henri Paul of the vehicle in which she was travelling. (Wikipedia)

Anna Nicole Smith (November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007): The American model, sex symbol, actress and television personality gained popularity in Playboy, becoming the 1993 Playmate of the Year. She died at age 39, apparently as a result of an overdose of prescription drugs. In the months before her death, she was the focus of renewed press coverage surrounding the death of her son, Daniel Smith, and the paternity and custody battle over her daughter Dannielynn. (Wikipedia)

Aaliyah (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001): Selling over 24 million records worldwide, Aaliyah has been credited for helping redefine R&B and hip hop and has been named the 'Princess of R&B'. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and eight others were killed in an airplane crash in The Bahamas after filming the music video for the single 'Rock the Boat'. The pilot, Luis Morales III, was unlicensed at the time of the accident and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system. (Wikipedia)

Heath Ledger (April 4, 1979 – January 22, 2008): Actor Heath Ledger's work comprises just nineteen films but he tasted both critical acclaim and huge commercial success with films like Brokeback Mountain, and The Dark Knight. He died at the age of 28, from an accidental 'toxic combination of prescription drugs'. A few months before his death, Ledger had finished filming his penultimate performance, as the Joker in The Dark Knight, his death coming during editing of the film and casting a shadow over the subsequent promotion of the $180 million production. (Wikipedia)

Gianni Versace (December 2, 1946 – July 15, 1997): The Italian fashion designer was founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Elton John, Sting, and Princess Diana among many others. Versace was murdered outside his Miami Beach home at the age of 50 by spree killer Andrew Cunanan. Cunanan used the same gun to commit suicide on a boat several days later. (Wikipedia)

Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973): Considered by many as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century, and a cultural icon, Lee is noted for his roles in five feature length films, The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973), and The Game of Death (1978). On May 10, 1973, Lee collapsed in Golden Harvest studios while doing dubbing work for the movie Enter the Dragon. Suffering from seizures and headaches, he was immediately rushed to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital where doctors diagnosed cerebral edema. These same symptoms that occurred in his first collapse were later repeated on the day of his death. On October 15, 2005, producer Raymond Chow stated in an interview that Lee died from a hypersensitivity to the muscle relaxant in Equagesic. His iconic status and untimely demise fed many theories about his death, including murder involving the Triad society and a supposed curse on him and his family. (Wikipedia)

Brandon Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993): The son of the late legendary martial arts film star Bruce Lee, Brandon was an actor and martial artist in his own right. After a promising start in action movies and the signing of a multi-film contract with 20th Century Fox, Lee was accidentally shot and killed in North Carolina at the age of 28 while filming The Crow (1994). (Wikipedia)

River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993): He was listed on John Willis's Screen World, Vol. 38 as one of twelve 'promising new actors of 1986'. He died of a drug overdose on Halloween morning 1993 at age 23. He was the oldest sibling of actors and actresses Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix and Summer Phoenix. (Wikipedia)

Natasha Richardson (May 11, 1963 – March 18, 2009): Seen in films like Patty Hearst (1988), The Handmaid's Tale (1990), Nell (1994), The Parent Trap (1998) and Maid in Manhattan (2002), Richardson sustained a head injury when she fell while taking a skiing lesson at the Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec, Canada. Refusing medical attention, she returned to her hotel room and about three hours later was taken to a local hospital in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts after complaining of a headache. The following day she was flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, where she died on March 18. (Wikipedia)

John Lennon (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980): With Paul McCartney, Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century and 'wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll history'. After The Beatles broke up in 1970, Lennon enjoyed a successful solo career, selling 14 million albums in the US alone. After a self-imposed 'retirement' in 1975 to raise his son Sean, Lennon reemerged in 1980 with a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered less than one month after its release. On the night of 8 December 1980, at around 10:50 pm, Mark David Chapman shot Lennon in the back four times at the entrance of the Dakota apartment building. Earlier that evening, Lennon had autographed a copy of Double Fantasy for Chapman who had been stalking Lennon since October. (Wikipedia)

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994): Best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Nirvana, Cobain, found himself anointed by the media as the generation's 'spokesman'. During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression, his fame and public image, as well as the professional and lifelong personal pressures surrounding himself and his wife, musician Courtney Love. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. The circumstances of his death have sometimes become a topic of fascination and debate. (Wikipedia)

Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977): Presley is often regarded as one of the most important figures of 20th-century popular culture. He was one of the originators of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. Journalist Tony Scherman writes that by early 1977, "Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopoeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts." In his final days, Presley suffered from multiple ailments — glaucoma, high blood pressure, liver damage, and an enlarged colon, each aggravated, and possibly caused, by drug abuse. He was scheduled to fly out of Memphis on the evening of August 16, 1977, to begin another tour. That afternoon, 'The King' was discovered unresponsive on his bathroom floor. Attempts to revive him failed, and death was officially pronounced at 3:30 pm at Baptist Memorial Hospital. (Wikipedia)

Grace Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982): American actress Kelly married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in April 1956. Retiring from acting at 26, she entered upon her duties in Monaco. Her death, two months before her 53rd birthday, was the result of an automobile accident caused by cerebral hemorrhage. In June 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her #13 in their list of top female stars of American cinema. (Wikipedia)

James Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955): Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause, in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark. On September 30, 1955, Dean and his mechanic Rolf Wütherich set off from Competition Motors, where they had prepared his Porsche 550 Spyder that morning for a sports car race at Salinas, California. En route, he was involved in a head-on collision that claimed his life. (Wikipedia)

Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971): Best known as the lead singer and lyricist of 'The Doors', Morrison is widely considered to be one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock music history. Morrison died on July 3, 1971. In the official account of his death, he was found in a Paris apartment bathtub by Courson. Pursuant to French law, no autopsy was performed because the medical examiner claimed to have found no evidence of foul play. The absence of an official autopsy has left many questions regarding Morrison's cause of death. (Wikipedia)

Sharon Tate (January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969): During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Valley of the Dolls (1967). Married to the film director Roman Polanski in 1968, Tate was eight and a half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home, along with four others, by followers of Charles Manson. (Wikipedia)

Michael Hutchence (January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997): The Australian singer-songwriter is most famous for his work with rock band INXS. The INXS album, 'Elegantly Wasted', was released in April 1997. Hutchence and INXS went on a world tour. The final leg of the tour was to be in Australia in November and December. However, on the morning of 22 November 1997, Hutchence, aged 37, was found dead in his room, Room 524, at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Double Bay, Sydney. The New South Wales Coroner determined that Hutchence's death was the result of suicide. (Wikipedia)

Ayrton Senna (March 21, 1960, – May 1, 1994): Brazilian racing driver and three-time Formula One world champion Senna was killed in a crash while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, and remains the most recent Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car.

Robert Enke (August 24, 1977 — November 10, 2009): The German football goalkeeper won eight full international caps for the national team between 2007 and his death in 2009, and was part of the squad which finished as runners-up in Euro 2008. At the time of his death, he was widely considered to be a leading contender for the German number one spot at the 2010 World Cup. On November 10, 2009, Enke committed suicide by standing in front of a regional express train at a level crossing. Police confirmed a suicide note was discovered but would not publicise its details. His widow Teresa revealed that her husband had been suffering from depression for six years and was treated by a psychiatrist.

John Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003): The American actor and comedian is perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper in the ABC sitcom Three's Company. On September 11, 2003, Ritter felt ill while rehearsing scenes for a season 2 episode of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. He was taken across the street to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where he died later that evening. Ritter was 6 days short of his 55th birthday.

Jade Goody (June 5, 1981 – March 22, 2009): Audiences in India didn't get introduced to English celebrity Jade Goody under the best possible circumstances. In January 2007, Goody was a housemate in Celebrity Big Brother. During the show she was accused of racist bullying against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. Following her eviction from the show, she admitted her actions had been wrong and she subsequently made many public apologies. In August 2008, she appeared on the Indian version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss, but withdrew early from the show and returned to the UK after being told she had cervical cancer. In February 2009, after the cancer metastasised, she was told that it was terminal. She married Jack Tweed on February 22, 2009 and died, one month later, in the early hours of March 22, 2009.

Sonny Bono (February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998): American record producer, singer, actor, and politician Sonny Bono's career spanned over three decades. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like 'I Got You Babe' and 'The Beat Goes On', although his then-wife Cher received more attention as a performer. On January 5, 1998, Bono died from injuries sustained when he struck a tree while skiing on the Nevada side of Heavenly Ski Resort near South Lake Tahoe, California. He was 62.

John Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982): American comedian, actor, and musician Belushi is remembered for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon's Animal House, and The Blues Brothers. On March 5, 1982, Belushi was found dead in his room at Bungalow #3 of the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death was a speedball, a combined injection of cocaine and heroin. In the photo, John Belushi (2nd L) is seen with Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers.

Steve Irwin (February 22, 1962 – September 4, 2006): The iconic Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist achieved worldwide fame with the television program The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series co-hosted with his wife Terri Irwin. He died in 2006 after being fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

John F. Kennedy Jr. (November 25, 1960 – July 16, 1999): The Kennedy family curse returned to haunt American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot John F. Kennedy Jr. as well. The only son of US President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, Kennedy was killed in a plane crash along with his wife and sister-in-law on July 16, 1999.

Natalie Wood (July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981): Wood began acting in movies at the age of 4, and became a successful child actor in such films as Miracle on 34th Street (1947). A well received performance opposite James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and helped her to make the transition from a child performer. Wood drowned near Santa Catalina Island, California at age 43. She had not yet completed her final film, the science fiction drama Brainstorm (1983) with Christopher Walken, which was released posthumously.