We have been introduced to so many talented celebrities over the years and while others are blessed with long careers, others have careers that were cut short due to unexpected death. Overdosing on drugs is a common cause of death in Hollywood but some suffered from a serious illness.

Some deaths are so unexpected that it happens during a time when a certain celebrity’s career is starting to flourish. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular stars who bid farewell at a young age. We’re sure you guys will recognize many of the celebs on this list.

Amy Winehouse – Died At 27

Popular singer Amy Winehouse was only 27 years old when she passed away due to alcohol poisoning back in 2011. Sources say she spent many years battling a drinking problem. She also got addicted to the use of illegal substances. However, no one expected her to die since she had such a promising career.

Releasing her debut album back in 2003 is what made her popular. She later bagged five Grammy Awards for her second album titled Back to Black. A documentary about how she made her world-renowned second album was released back in 2018.

Brittany Murphy – Died At 32

Brittany Murphy rose to fame in Hollywood when she starred in Clueless back in 1995. Her next notable performances were in films like 8 Mile, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Girl, Interrupted. Unfortunately, she passed away back in 2009 at 32 years old.

Pneumonia was ruled to be the main cause of her sudden death. The Brittany Murphy Foundation was later launched by her mother in honor of her but it was reported, back in 2018, that the non-profit foundation seems to be defunct. Murphy’s last role was in Something Wicked.

Big Pun – Died At 28

Big Pun, whose real name is Christopher Lee Rios, was a well-known rapper during the late ’90s. Working with the Terror Squad and Fat Joe did wonders for his career. People loved the technical efficiency he had in the way he rapped.

His first album, called Capital Punishment, was a commercial success and he was the first Latin artist who had a solo hip hop record that went platinum. Big Pun had a lot of weight problems when he was an adult and this ultimately led to his death in 2000 due to respiratory failure and a heart attack.

DJ AM – Died At 36

Adam Michael Goldstein, who went by the name DJ AM, was a popular DJ during the 2000s. He had a serious drug addiction during the ’90s when he was in his 20s but he got sober after a failed suicide attempt back in 1997.

By the mid-2000s, he was blessed with a flourishing career. He was performing at Caesars Palace weekly and he would earn at least $10K per private event. Unfortunately, his old ways caught up with him and an overdose claimed his life in 2009 at the age of 36. 2010’s Iron Man 2 was dedicated in his honor.

Bruce Lee – Died At 32

Bruce Lee is one of the main reasons so many doors have been opened for Asian actors in Hollywood. He grew up in Hong Kong but when he was 18 years old, he decided to move to America. He started out as a martial arts instructor but he later made it big as an actor.

Some of the most notable roles he had were in movies like Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury, and The Big Boss. In 1973, he passed away at 32 years old and the cause of his death was cerebral edema. The last movie he acted in was 1973’s Enter the Dragon.

Heath Ledger – Died At 28

The world was shocked back in 2008 when news broke that actor Heath Ledger passed away. He was well recognized for his performances in movies like Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You. Overdosing on prescription drugs was the cause of his death.

He was only 28 years old at that time and his acting career was still at its prime. He posthumously appeared in The Dark Knight and his portrayal of the Joker won him the Best Supporting Actor awards at the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

Jimi Hendrix – Died At 27

Jimi Hedrix may have only enjoyed having a successful mainstream career for four years but he was still able to leave a massive impact in the industry and he is dubbed as one of the greatest guitarists in history. Some of his most popular songs were The Wind Cries Mary and Hey Joe.

In 1970, his life sadly came to an end due to a barbiturate overdose. They were able to bring him to the hospital after finding him unconscious in his apartment but nothing could be done to save him. He has a posthumous compilation album titled Both Sides of the Sky that was released back in 2018.

James Dean – Died At 24

During the ’50s, James Dean was one of the most beloved teen heartthrobs on the Hollywood scene. This was thanks to his performance in the movie called Rebel Without a Cause. His roles in Giant and East of Eden made his popularity grow even more.

He was involved in a fatal car crash in September 1955 that ended his life at the young age of 24. His performance in East of Eden made him the first actor to receive a posthumous nomination for the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards.

Kurt Cobain – Died At 27

Most of you know Kurt Cobain for the success he experienced with his band Nirvana. Despite what he achieved, he still found himself depressed and was deeply lost in his heroin addiction. While vices like these often lead to tragedy, the cause of his death wasn’t an overdose.

He shot himself dead in his own home in Seattle back in 1994. He was only 27 years old at that time. He is survived by his former wife, Courtney Love and their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. In 2015, his posthumous solo album titled Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings was released.

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – Died At 30

The world definitely can’t forget the iconic ’90s girl group known as TLC. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was one of the members of the group and some of their most well-known songs are No Scrubs and Creep. Lisa had a good run with the group but she also enjoyed success as a solo artist.

While doing charity work in Honduras in 2002, she was involved in a serious automobile crash that instantly killed her. There were, reportedly, others with her inside the vehicle but she was the only one who didn’t survive. Lopes has a posthumous album titled Eye Legacy.

Cory Monteith – Died At 31

Glee was a popular TV show and Cory Monteith was the guy who played jock-turned-singer Finn Hudson on the series. He battled substance abuse ever since he was 13 years old but he eventually got professional help when he was 19.

Unfortunately, he never got to kiss his vices goodbye for good and this became the cause of his death in 2013 at the age of 31. His contract with Glee was still active at the time of his death and so his character’s death was written into the show afterward. Monteith posthumously starred in All the Wrong Reasons and McCanick.

Bob Marley – Died At 36

If you listen to reggae music, then you must know who Bob Marley is because he is a legend and is seen as one of the pioneers of the genre. He started performing with Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1963 but it took them a decade before they became internationally famous.

He discovered he had acral lentiginous melanoma in 1977 and after four years of battling his condition, he passed away at 36 years old. Legend is the title of his hit album that was released three years after his death and it is considered to be the best-selling reggae album in history.

Anna Nicole Smith – Died At 39

Anna Nicole Smith was known for the modeling and acting work she did but many people also knew her for her marriage with billionaire J. Howard Marshall who was decades older than her. People said she was just after his fortune but she always denied it.

She was 39 years old when an accidental prescription drug overdose brought her life to an unexpected end back in 2007. She is survived by her daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead. Smith’s final film, Illegal Aliens, was posthumously released around three months after she passed away.

Chris Farley – Died At 33

Chris Farley gained popularity as a comedian during the early ’90s thanks to his appearances on Saturday Night Live. His career wasn’t limited to TV work only for he also starred in films like Beverly Hills Ninja, Black Sheep, and Tommy Boy. 

He struggled with serious vices during his adult years and this damaged his health in so many ways. In 1997, he passed away due to an overdose. He was 33 years old when it happened. Farley’s last role in his career was in the 1998 film titled Dirty Work.

Avicii – Died At 28

Avicii was already getting noticed for his DJ-ing skills at sixteen years old but his breakthrough came in 2011 when he released the song called Levels. 2013 was the year he released his first album and his career just kept getting better and better. 

The inflow of success for him was endless but despite this, he still struggled with his mental health. Back in April 2018, Avicii decided to take his own life at the age of 28. Tim, which is his real name, is the title of his posthumous album that was released in 2019.

The Notorious B.I.G. – Died At 24

Christopher George Latore Wallace is an iconic rapper who most people knew as The Notorious B.I.G. His career as a rapper took off in 1993 when he signed with P. Diddy’s record label Bad Boy Records. He later became a household name when he released his 1994 album titled Ready To Die.

In 1997, he was involved in a drive-by shooting incident that became the reason his life came to an abrupt end at just 24 years old. He was rushed to the nearest hospital by his entourage but it was too late. Wallace has two posthumous albums titled Duets: The Final Chapter and Born Again.

Reggie Lewis – Died At 27

Reggie Lewis enjoyed a fruitful six-year career with the Boston Celtics. He could have achieved way more in his basketball career if only his career wasn’t cut short in 1993. He passed away while at off-season practice in July 1993 due to an unexpected cardiac arrest.

It is believed that he was suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was 27 years old at the time of his death. Lewis never got to experience winning an NBA championship during his career but he was named an NBA All-Star the year before his death.

Ryan Dunn – Died At 34

During the ’90s, Ryan Dunn gained fame for the extreme stunts and hilarious pranks he did with the CKY Crew. This later led to him becoming one of the stars of the Jackass franchise. While he performed many dangerous stunts, his death in 2011 was caused by a different matter.

He died in a car crash in Chester County, Pennsylvania and it was later revealed that he was drunk when the crash happened. At the time of his death, he was only 34 years old. 2013’s Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa was dedicated to him.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Died At 35

Back when hip hop groups were still a thing, the Wu-Tang Clan dominated the music scene. Russell Tyrone Jones, also known as, Ol’ Dirty Bastard was one of the pioneers of the group and their 1993 album titled Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was what made them famous.

Sadly, he didn’t live a clean lifestyle and was intaking illegal substances regularly. He died at the age of 35 in 2004 after overdosing on drugs. They found an extremely dangerous mixture of tramadol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. Jones had one posthumous album titled A Son Unique.

River Phoenix – Died At 23

River Phoenix established his teen idol status on the acting scene back in the ’80s thanks to his performance in movies like Stand By Me and Explorers. He eventually booked more mature roles and was praised for his acting skills in My Own Private Idaho.

Like many young stars in Hollywood back then, he struggled with drug abuse and an overdose killed him at the young age of 23 back in 1993. His death happened right outside The Viper Room in West Hollywood. The last movie he appeared in was Dark Blood.

Brandon Lee – Died At 28

Brandon Lee is the son of Bruce Lee and just like his famous father, he also pursued a career in martial arts and acting. His first major role was in Legacy of Rage but he only got mainstream popularity after he starred in The Crow.

His performance in the movie made him a star but it was also his participation in the movie that led to his unexpected passing. He died on set after being fatally shot by a prop gun that had a dummy round. Stunt doubles and CGI were used to complete the film and people consider it to be a cult classic today.

Brad Renfro – Died At 25

Actor Brad Renfro’s death is another example of how poor lifestyle choices can lead to one’s unexpected death. Sources say he started doing drugs at 9 years old and by the time he was 11, he was already frequently getting drunk.

Despite numerous stints at rehab as a teenager, he carried his vices with him until he reached his 20s. In 2008, he overdosed on heroin and died at the age of 25. Renfro is best remembered for his roles in The Client and Sleepers. His final film role was in Collector.

Corey Haim – Died At 38

Corey Haim often appeared alongside Corey Feldman in different movies back in the ’80s and people referred to them as the Two Coreys. They starred in the popular Lost Boys movie franchise and they were also given their own reality show titled The Two Coreys.

During his adult years, he was addicted to prescription medication and he would even create fake personas just so he could obtain more pills from different pharmacies. He was 38 when he passed away in 2010 and despite the initial assumption that he overdosed, they later confirmed that he died from pneumonia.

Sage Stallone – Died At 36

Sage Stallone is the son of actor Sylvester Stallone. He passed away back in 2012 at the age of 36. He got to become an actor like his father but he also worked behind the camera as a producer, director, and screenwriter.

When they found him lifeless in his apartment in Los Angeles, they saw bottles of prescription medication lying around but his cause of death was later ruled to be atherosclerosis which resulted in him developing a coronary artery disease. Sage’s last project was the 2010 short film titled The Agent.

Johnny Lewis – Died At 28

Johnny Lewis launched his career in Hollywood during the early 2000s but he only garnered mainstream popularity when he started appearing in Sons of Anarchy in 2008. He had a mysterious death back in 2012 at the age of 28 when he was found dead at his landlady’s home.

He reportedly murdered his landlady but the reason he did was never discovered. It is believed that he later died when he jumped from the roof of his landlady’s residence. Lewis’ last acting role was in the movie called 186 Dollars to Freedom.

Heather O’Rourke – Died At 12

You still look forward to many things when you’re 12 years old but for child actress Heather Michele O’Rourke, this was the age that her life ended. The cause of her death was a misdiagnosed intestinal stenosis that led to septic shock and a cardiac arrest.

O’Rourke became popular in the early ’80s for her performance in the film Poltergeist. As it relates to television, people knew her for appearing in shows like Happy Days and Webster. She posthumously appeared in Poltergeist III and the film was dedicated to her.

Jonathan Brandis – Died at 27

Many ladies fell in love with the handsome actor, Jonathan Brandis, during the ’80s and ’90s thanks to his roles in It and seaQuest DSV. He already had an impressive fortune at a young age because of his modeling career.

In 2003, people were shocked to hear the news that he took his own life at the age of 27 by hanging himself in the hallway of his apartment in Los Angeles. Sources later said that he was depressed because his career was declining and he didn’t like the performance he had 2002’s Hart’s War. Brandis’ final big-screen appearance was in Bad Girls from Valley High.

Aaliyah – Died At 22

Aaliyah was only 10 years old when she started to become popular thanks to her appearance on Star Search. She released her first album when she was 15 and this was when her life changed for good. Her next albums were all successful and she also got into acting.

Sadly, her life came to a surprising end in 2001 after the private plane she was flying in crashed. She was just 22 when it happened and just finished filming her Rock the Boat music video. The pilot of the plane was, reportedly, intoxicated. In August 2019, Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas added an Aaliyah wax figure to their display.

Marilyn Monroe – Died At 36

Marilyn Monroe dominated the film industry back in the ’50s. She was seen as the most beautiful “blonde bombshell” in Hollywood and everybody wanted her to star in their films. She first got into pin-up modeling but she later made it big in acting after Fox signed her.

Some of the most popular films you will see her in are How to Marry a Millionaire and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She passed away back in 1962 at the age of 36 due to a barbiturate overdose and reports said that her death was a probable suicide.

Tupac Shakur – Died At 25

Tupac Shakur is originally from Harlem, New York but in the ’90s, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. His 1991 album titled 2Pacalypse Now placed him on the radar, and then, he continued to get more famous when he released his next albums.

He had a controversial death at the age of 25, back in 1996, because he was killed in a drive-by shooting incident in Las Vegas. He was shot four times and despite getting medical help for about six days, he still ended up dying due to cardiopulmonary arrest and respiratory failure. Shakur’s last posthumous album was 2006’s Pac’s Life.