My Un-Suicide Note

Dear Family & Friends,

Francisco San Martin (1985–2025), Days of Our Lives actor

Francisco San Martin was an actor known for roles in such TV shows as “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Jeff Baena (1977–2025), The Little Hours filmmaker

Jeff Baena was a screenwriter and director known for such movies as “I Heart Huckabees” and “The Little Hours,” as well as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza.

Matt Byars (1987–2024), Real Housewives co-star

Matt Byars was a talent manager and PR agent best known for his appearances on the reality TV show “Real Housewives of Potomac.” 

Evan Wright (1964–2024), Generation Kill author 

Evan Wright was a writer and journalist whose work often explored dark themes, most notably in his 2004 book on the Iraq War, “Generation Kill,” which was adapted into an HBO miniseries.

Sarah Becker (2024), The Real World: Miami star 

Sarah Becker was a therapist and comic book editor best known as a cast member of MTV’s “The Real World: Miami.” 

Grayson Murray (1993–2024), two-time PGA Tour winner

Grayson Murray was a professional golfer and two-time PGA Tour event winner who was ranked 58th in the world.

Chris Simon (1972–2024), Stanley Cup champ with Avalanche

Chris Simon was an NHL enforcer with such teams as the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, who won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Alec Musser (1973–2024), All My Children actor

Alec Musser was an actor known for roles in such TV shows and movies as “All My Children” and “Grown Ups.” 

Dr. David Shaffer (1936–2023), expert in child and teen suicide 

Dr. David Shaffer was a psychiatrist who did pioneering studies on child and teen suicide that led to more effective prevention methods. 

Billy Miller (1979–2023), The Young and the Restless star

Billy Miller was an actor who won Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance as Billy Abbott in the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” 

Coco Lee (1975–2023), internationally famous singer and actress

Coco Lee was a singer, songwriter, and actress who released 18 albums and in 2001 became the first Chinese American to perform at the Oscars.

Heather Armstrong (1975–2023), Queen of the Mommy Bloggers 

Heather Armstrong was called the “Queen of the Mommy Bloggers” for her popular blog Dooce.0

Bobby Moudy (2023), TikTok dad

Bobby Moudy was a TikTok star known for his funny videos featuring his family.

Stephen “tWitch” Boss (1982–2022), “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” DJ and Dancer

Stephen “tWitch” Boss was a dancer and TV personality who was best known as the DJ for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Jak Knight (1993–2022), comedian and “Big Mouth” star

Jak Knight was a comedian and actor known for his voice role on the Netflix animated series “Big Mouth.”

Meghan Stabile (1982–2022), jazz revival promoter

Meghan Stabile was a music impresario who blended jazz and hip-hop to introduce jazz to a new, younger audience.

Houston Tumlin (1992–2021), child actor in “Talladega Nights”

Houston Tumlin was an actor known for playing Walker Bobby, the son of Will Ferrell’s character, in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”

Landon Clifford (2001 - 2020), YouTube star

Landon Clifford starred on the popular YouTube channelCam&Famwhich followed thelives of the19-year old,his wife Cam and their twodaughters.

Kelly Fraser (1993–2019), Inuit-Canadian pop singer

Kelly Fraser wasanInuit-Canadianpop singer known for her version of Rhiannae28099s e2809cDiamonds.e2809d In Fraserse28099 2013 version of the song, she mixed her native Inuktitut language with English to make the song accessible to everyone. Her video for the song went viral, inspiring many. Fraser, whowas born inSanikiluaq, Nunavut, released her debut album e2809cIsumae2809d in 2014. She received a Juno Award nomination for best Indigenous music album in 2017 for her album e2809cSedna.This year, she received theIndspireAward for using her music and her own personal struggles to strengthen and promote Inuit culture and language. She inspired young Indigenous people in Canada who felt bullied because of their culture.

As We Mourn Suicide Losses, We Look for Support

If tragic news seems overwhelming, remember there is help.

Sydney Aiello (2000–2019), survivor of Parkland school shooting

Sydney Aiello was a recent graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where she was a survivor of the 2018 shooting that took the lives of 17 students and staff members.

Kelly Catlin (1995–2019), U.S. Olympic cyclist

Kelly Catlin was a world class cyclist who won a silver medal in the women’s team pursuit at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. She won gold medals at the track cycling world championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Catlin was in graduate school at Stanford for computational mathematics.

Keith Flint (1969–2019), The Prodigy frontman

Energetic frontman sang on hit singles “Firestarter” and “Breathe.”

What Obituaries Are Trying to Tell Us About Veterans and PTSD

Carlos Lopez Jr. was still a teenager when he signed up for a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. Not long after, the Iraq War began, and he became one of the first American soldiers to be deployed there, fighting battles in Baghdad, Najaf, and Fallujah.

Kate Spade (1962 – 2018), fashion designer

Known for her line of stylish handbags…

'Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds': SAVE Discusses How to Grieve a Suicide Loss

Many times, grievers are told that "time will heal all wounds." SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) wants the world, especially those grieving a suicide loss, to know that that's just not true. We spoke with Dan Reidenberg, Executive Director of SAVE, about what the grief after a suicide loss looks and feels like, as well as how to help a loved one who's grieving the death of a loved one by suicide.

Brad Bufanda (1983 – 2017), actor remembered for role in “Veronica Mars”

Brad Bufanda, an actor who had a supporting role in “Veronica Mars,” died in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, according to multiple news sources. Suicide has been reported as the cause of death. He was 34.

Find People Who Understand: Connect With Others Grieving a Suicide Loss

To those grieving the loss of a loved one from suicide, we invite you to visit our "Suicide Loss" grief support group.

Clay Adler (1989 - 2017), Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County star

Starred on the MTV reality show "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County."

Lisa Lynn Masters (1964 - 2016), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt actress

The actress starred in an episode of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and also hadroles on "Gossip Girl," "Ugly Betty," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and, most recently, "Nashville."

Featured Charity: Active Minds Inc.

Alison Malmon, founder and Executive Director of suicide prevention nonprofit Active Minds Inc., shares thoughts on why lifting the stigma surrounding mental health issues is vital (especially for young adults).

My Brother's Suicide Was a Wake-up Call That I Almost Didn't Answer

My brother killed himself more than a dozen years ago. A decade later, I finally asked for help.

Keith Emerson (1944–2016), Emerson, Lake & Palmer co-founder

Editor's note: Emerson's date of death was later clarified to have been March 11.

6 Female Writers Who Might Be On Sylvia Plath's Reading List

Sylvia Plath inspired generations of female writers. But which authors would inspire her if she were alive today?

5 Ways Answering a Suicide Hotline Can Change Your Life

Frank Warren of PostSecret shares thoughts on how answering a suicide hotline shaped him as a person.

Suicide | Resources for Grief and Prevention

Around the world each year, more than 1 million people die by suicide and many millions more attempt to kill themselves. Learn what individuals and organizations around the world are doing to prevent suicide and what you can do to help. Get advice to help you cope with the suicide death of someone you love. Find information on mental health and wellness, and learn why it's important to get help for depression and other mental illnesses.

Tributes to Joy Division’s Ian Curtis

With his brooding lyrics and distinctive voice, Ian Curtis was an essential part of Joy Division as they moved beyond punk and helped establish the Manchester scene.

Aaron Swartz's Work Lives On

Aaron Swartz fought for a free and fair Internet. The tech genius, who was 26 when he ended his own life Jan. 11, 2013, co-founded the activist group Demand Progress to fight Web censorship, and he co-authored the "Guerrilla Open Access Manifesto" to rally fellow hackers to "liberate" information kept from the public by private corporations and public institutions.

Addiction, Suicide and Obituaries

Families who've lost loved ones to addiction or suicide are speaking out in their obituaries.

The Communicator, Dave Garroway

Hosting morning television was a different ball game when Dave Garroway introduced it in January 1952.

Badfinger: There Must Be a Catch

There was a reason Badfinger never became the next Beatles, as many (including the Beatles themselves) thought they were poised to be.

Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo on Fantasy Island

Hervé Villechaize was born April 23, 1943, in Paris, France, but it was in Hollywood that he would make his mark. For seven seasons from 1977 to 1984, Villechaize played Tattoo, sidekick to Ricardo Montalban's Mr. Roarke on hit Aaron Spelling television show "Fantasy Island." 

An Artist's Struggle, A Father's Grief

Gabriel Thomas Mitchell didn't always find it easy to live in this world – but while he was here, he made a lasting contribution to art.

Read This to Your Children

When 22-year-old took his own life, his mother did an extraordinary thing.

Deadly Depression

Families are often reluctant to speak about a loved one’s death by suicide. But the family of Brian Arredondo, who died at his own hand at age 24, opened up to a Boston Globe reporter.

Yukio Mishima: Man of Words, Man of Action

Novelist Yukio Mishima committed ritual suicide on this day after failing to inspire an insurrection against the Japanese government. Forty years later, Japan still grapples with his legacy.

Danny Gatton: The Greatest Guitarist You’ve Never Heard

Danny Gatton went by many names during his career, but the one thatstuck was "Worlde28099s Greatest Unknown Guitar Player."

Elliott Smith, Reluctant Star

The 1998 Oscars telecast featured some of the biggest names in pop music — and then there was Elliott Smith.