Celebrities Who Died Before 30
by
by
9 min readWhen a celebrity dies young, we're sad to see a life end too soon – and often haunted by the life and career that could've been. Popular in life, young Hollywood stars Jean Harlow, James Dean, Heath Ledger, and River Phoenix became icons in death. Music has lost its share of greats, too: Hank Williams, Otis Redding; Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper; Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix; Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and DJ Avicii. We remember legends and budding stars from film, television, music, and sports gone much too soon with a photo gallery of celebrities who died before the age of 30.
Avicii (1989–2018)
Getty Images / CBS Radio / Gabriel Olsen
Grammy-nominated electronic dance DJ AVICII (1989 - 2018) performed sold-out concerts for feverish fans around the world.
Anton Yelchin (1989–2016)
Getty Images / Pascal Le Segretain
Anton Yelchin had already filmed his role as Chekov in the third of the new Star Trek movies when he passed away at the age of 27. He played Chekov in the first two movies of the new franchise as well.
Christina Grimmie (1994–2016)
Getty Images
Singer CHRISTINA GRIMMIE (1994 - 2016) was a YouTube sensation who came in third on season six of NBC's "The Voice." In June 2016, she was signing autographs for fans after a concert in Orlando, Florida, when she was shot by a gunman. She died a few hours later. Grimmie was 22.
View Christina Grimmie's obituary
Peaches Geldof (1989–2014)
Getty Images / Pierre Suu
PEACHES GELDOF (1989 - 2014) was the wild-child second daughter of concert organizer Bob Geldof who worked as a model, a television presenter and a fashion writer and filled the pages of British tabloids with her late-night antics.
View Peaches Geldof's obituary
Skye McCole Bartusiak (1992–2014)
AP Photo
SKYE MCCOLE BARTUSIAK (1992 - 2014) portrayed Mel Gibson's young daughter in the 2000 film "The Patriot." She died at 21.
View Skye McCole Bartusiak's obituary
Lee Thompson Young (1984–2013)
AP Photo
Actor LEE THOMPSON YOUNG (1984 - 2013) was known for his role as the title character on TV's "The Famous Jett Jackson." He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 29.
View Lee Thompson Young's obituary
Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)
AP Photo
AMY WINEHOUSE (1983 - 2011) earned critical acclaim and won several awards with her jazzy tones, powerhouse vocals, and original lyrics. She died of alcohol poisoning at 27.
Heath Ledger (1979–2008)
AP Photo / Newspix / Contributor
HEATH LEDGER (1979 - 2008) was the rare young actor who seemed to ignore (or be unaware of) his own good looks and took roles that, rather than showing off his handsome face, displayed his impressive acting talent. His star was still on the rise when he died at 28 of an accidental overdose of prescription medications.
Brad Renfro (1982–2008)
Getty Images / FilmMagic / Derek Storm
The career of actor BRAD RENFRO (1982 - 2008) began promisingly with the lead role in "The Client" at age 11 followed by appearances in "Sleepers" and "Ghost World," among other films. But his star rapidly faded as he struggled with drugs and alcohol, dying of a heroin overdose at 25.
Jonathan Brandis (1976–2003)
Wikimedia Commons
Child model and actor JONATHAN BRANDIS (1976 - 2003) was known best for his role as teen prodigy Lucas on TV's "seaQuest DSV." He died of injuries sustained after hanging himself at 27.
Aaliyah (1979–2001)
AP Photo
R&B singer and actress AALIYAH (1979 - 2001) died at 22 when a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the U.S. crashed after takeoff in the Bahamas.
Christopher Wallace (1972–1997)
AP Photo
CHRISTOPHER WALLACE (1972 - 1997) was known better by his various stage names: NOTORIOUS B.I.G., BIGGIE SMALLS, or just plain BIGGIE. The rapper was shot and killed at 24. His murder remains unsolved.
Tupac Shakur (1971–1996)
AP Photo
TUPAC SHAKUR (1971 - 1996) was a successful rapper and actor whose "All Eyez on Me" double disc album is one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time. He was fatally shot at 25.
Selena (1971–1995)
AP Photo
Tejano musical sensation SELENA (1971 - 1995) was on her way to the top of the charts when she was murdered in 1995. She was just 23.
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994)
Getty Images / Hulton Archive / Frank Micelotta
Nirvana frontman and songwriter KURT COBAIN (1967 - 1994) died at 27 of a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound on or around April 5, 1994. Distraught fans still debate whether his death was suicide or murder.
River Phoenix (1970–1993)
Getty Images / George Rose
A movie star, a singer and an activist, RIVER PHOENIX (1970 - 1993) said in interviews that he didn't choose roles he thought would advance his career, but roles he wanted to play. He died at 23 of a drug overdose.
Brandon Lee (1965–1993)
AP Photo
The son of martial arts movie star Bruce Lee, BRANDON LEE (1965 - 1993) appeared in several action films before his death at 28 after an accidental shooting on the set of "The Crow."
Reggie Lewis (1965–1993)
AP Photo / Jon Chase
Boston Celtics captain REGGIE LEWIS (1965 - 1993), pictured with his wife Donna, announced his return to basketball May 10, 1993, days after collapsing during a playoff game. Lewis died of cardiac arrest during practice two months later. He was 27.
Rebecca Schaeffer (1967–1989)
Getty Images / CBS
Actress REBECCA SCHAEFFER (1967 - 1989) starred in the CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam." She was fatally shot at 21 by an obsessed fan who had been stalking her for three years. Her death prompted the passage of anti-stalking laws in California.
Heather O'Rourke (1975–1988)
Getty Images / ABC
Director Steven Spielberg discovered 5-year-old HEATHER O'ROURKE (1975 - 1988) and cast her in the horror film "Poltergeist." She died during surgery at 12.
Gia Carangi (1960–1986)
Getty Images / Andrea Blanch
One of the first supermodels, GIA CARANGI (1960 - 1986) was everywhere in the late 1970s and early '80s, featured on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan, and appearing in ad campaigns for Armani, Chanel, Christian Dior, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. After Carangi became addicted to heroin, her modeling career rapidly declined. She died of AIDS-related complications at 26, one of the first famous women to die of the disease. Her life was dramatized in the 1998 made-for-TV film "Gia," starring Angelina Jolie.
Dominique Dunne (1959–1982)
Getty Images / MGM
DOMINIQUE DUNNE (1959 - 1982) was an up-and-coming actress, having just co-starred in "Poltergeist," when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1982. Her death took a heavy toll on her father, writer Dominick Dunne (1925 - 2009), who later said he nearly gave up writing after his daughter's murder.
View her father Dominick Dunne's obituary
Dorothy Stratten (1960–1980)
Getty Images / Julian Wasser
Actress, model, and Playboy playmate DOROTHY STRATTEN (1960 - 1980), pictured with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, was just 20 when she was murdered by her estranged husband.
Ian Curtis (1956–1980)
Getty Images
With his brooding lyrics and distinctive voice, IAN CURTIS (1956 - 1980) was an essential part of Joy Division as they moved beyond punk and helped establish the Manchester scene in the late 1970s. Tragically, he took his own life at 23, just as the band stood on the cusp of widespread success. His bandmates would reform as New Order and pay tribute to Curtis with the song "Elegia."
Sid Vicious (1957–1979)
Wikimedia Commons
Decades after his death, Sex Pistols bassist SID VICIOUS (1957 - 1979) remains an icon of punk music. He died at 21 of a heroin overdose.
Freddie Prinze (1954–1977)
Wikimedia Commons
Comedian and actor FREDDIE PRINZE (1954 - 1977) starred in 1970s American sitcom "Chico and the Man." But Prinze struggled with depression, and as the third season was drawing to a close, he died by suicide at 22.
View Freddie Prinze's obituary
Ronnie Van Zant (1948–1977)
AP Photo
RONNIE VAN ZANT (1948 - 1977) was just 29 when he died in a plane crash. While he lived, his band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, enjoyed four years of success, with Van Zant on lead vocals for a string of southern rock hits that endure today.
View Ronnie Van Zant's Hot 100
Marc Bolan (1947–1977)
Getty Images
David Bowie may have outshone MARC BOLAN (1947 - 1977) in the glam rock world, but don't write Bolan and his band T. Rex off. Had Bolan lived beyond age 29, he too might have become an elder statesman of rock.
Anissa Jones (1958–1976)
Wikimedia Commons
ANISSA JONES (1958 - 1976), the actress who played Buffy on TV sitcom "Family Affair," was just 18 when she died of a drug overdose.
Pete Ham (1947–1975)
Getty Images
Badfinger had been poised to become the next Beatles. But by the time frontman PETE HAM (1947 - 1975) died by suicide at 27 (leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend who gave birth to his daughter a month after his death), the band was in serious financial trouble.
Gram Parsons (1946–1973)
Getty Images
GRAM PARSONS (1946 - 1973) helped change the sound of rock 'n' roll, with his cosmic fusion of country and rock. After died from an overdose of opiates and alcohol at 26, holed up in a desert motel near Joshua Tree, a battle ensued between his friends and family over what should become of Gram.
Duane Allman (1946–1971)
Getty Images
DUANE ALLMAN (1946 - 1971) didn't have a lot of time to make his mark as a guitarist – just 10 short years from the day he bought his first guitar at age 14 until the day he died in a motorcycle crash at age 24.
Jim Morrison (1943–1971)
Wikimedia Commons
JIM MORRISON (1943 - 1971) was known best as the lead singer for the Doors. He died at 27, allegedly of a heroin overdose.
TAGS
