Death rarely comes with a warning. Losing a loved one is hard, even if they’re someone we’ve fallen in love with on the big screen.
According to popular opinion, these are the celebrity deaths that have hit the hardest.
1. Michael K. Williams
As Omar Little, Michael K. Williams helped add new dimensions to popular depictions of Black masculinity. Years after starring in The Wire, he continued flaunting his all-around skillset. He died of an accidental drug overdose in September 2021.
2. Mac Miller
With his nimble flows and diverse musical skillset, Mac Miller was one of the defining artists of rap’s blog era, so when he died of an accidental drug overdose in September 2018, fans from around the world felt like they lost a good friend.
3. Robin Williams
Robin Williams was an American actor and comedian famous for his improvisation skills and highly skilled performances in the films he starred in. He was a lively, animated figure who invested everything into his characters, which was why his death came as a shock.
4. Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera was an American actress, singer, and model famous for her role in the popular musical comedy-drama series Glee.
The Grammy award nominee suffered a tragic fate. Rivera was reported missing, and days later, the authorities recovered her body from the lake. The official statement was that she accidentally drowned.
5. Heath Ledger
The news of the beloved Joker star passing caused a rippling wave of sadness worldwide. His was a case of an accidental overdose on medications, including anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills, and painkillers.
Years later, he is still honored, and some zealous fans consider him the greatest Joker of all time.
6. Princess Diana
Princess Diana was a symbol of grace, kindness, and charisma to the people. She was also famous for her active involvement in fashion, investing in it and creating a style that stood against tradition.
The Princess of Wales used her position and influence to raise awareness of things like AIDs and fight domestic violence and systematic oppression while making time for her family. She became known as the “people’s princess.” Today, everyone still feels her absence.
7. Carrie Fisher
It was an absolute delight to see Carrie Fisher reprise the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Her death in 2016 shocked fans, who paid tribute whenever possible. Fisher inspired many, with her irreverence and humor resonating with fans.
8. Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman with a career that spanned almost 70 years.
A strange coincidence was that Reynolds died of a hemorrhagic stroke on December 28, 2016, a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher.
Fans diagnosed the actual cause of Reynolds’ death as “broken heart syndrome.”
9. Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy was an American singer and actress who started acting as a teenager. She was famous for her roles in Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, and 8 Mile.
According to her mother and husband, she suffered from a heart condition that led to her demise. Five months later, her husband passed on from the same condition.
10. Steve Irwin
Also called The Crocodile Hunter, Irwin was an Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and environmentalist. A stingray killed Steve Irwin while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.
11. Bob Saget
Bob Saget was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. He was famous for his role on the sitcom Full House and was the voice of narrator Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother.
12. Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman was an American actor most famous for his role as the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During his two-decade career, he received multiple awards, including a Golden Globe, and an Academy award nomination.
Many believe he was reaching for the stars before his cruel fate.
13. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player. After winning 5 NBA championships, he became one of the greatest basketball players of his time. Sadly, he died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter.
14. Lance Reddick
Best known for playing Charon in the John Wick franchise, Reddick’s death in March 2023 shocked fans and his colleagues.
Reddick voiced Commander Zavala in the Destiny video game series. Thousands of players paid tribute to the character in-game following the sudden news of his death.
Source: (Reddit).
Boloere Divine Seibidor, fondly called B.S., is a Nigerian-based writer and poet. Her favorite topics include music, especially Hip-Hop, film, lifestyle, and fashion. She’s been published by Feral Journal, Fantasy Magazine, The Temz Review, and most notably, Wealth of Geeks. She enjoys romantic dinners, movie nights, and touring new sights. When she’s not writing, she’s delving back in time to the underground world of Hip-Hop, watching TikTok, or visiting the cinema.