Heartbreak in Hollywood: 17 Tragic Celebrity Deaths That Touched the World

As you are going about your day, you turn on the TV, turn on the radio in your car, or happen to scroll through social media to see that one of your favorite celebrities has passed away. You immediately start to think of all the times you have watched or listened to their work and what made them so special in your eyes. It sometimes hurts because it can happen so tragically. We found a list of celebrities whose deaths have saddened people the most.

1. Lance Reddick

Someone said, “A friend talked me into seeing John Wick 4, and I really loved everything Lance had been in and was excited to go. Then he just passed away, which really saddened me as it was so unexpected.”

2. Jim Henson

A user said, “Too early and such a source of joy to so many.”

Someone agreed and said, “Yes. Every time I go to Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, I have to go to the Muppets 3D movie; it was the last thing he did as Kermit. It makes me sad that he died before the paperwork with Disney was complete, and because of that, a lot of the plans for the muppets at that park never happened.”

3. Alan Rickman

A user said, “My first movie intro to him was the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and I still threaten to take someone’s heart out with a spoon. God rest his soul.”

4. Sean Lock

“You could see he was ill, unfortunately, wasn’t a huge shock. But still a massive loss. I must watch something with him daily,” a user said.

5. John Ritter

“John Ritter is the only celebrity death that I’ve ever cried about. It was so sudden and unexpected, and he had seemed so nice. I cried all throughout the episode of 8 Simple Rules where they showed his TV family grieving his loss,” someone shared.

6. Heath Ledger

A user shared, “In 8th grade English class, we read “Taming of the Shrew,” and then the teacher let us watch 10 Things I Hate About You to show us how his works still impact writing today. So I had JUST discovered Heath and had a massive crush on him when he passed away less than a year later. It was the first celebrity death that really impacted me.”

7. Cameron Boyce

A user shared, “This one upset me a lot. Not on everyone’s radar because he was a Disney kid. Definitely, a shock when it happened. I’m older, but my kids are at an age where we spent a ton of time watching Jessie and those Descendant movies. Basically watched that kid grow up. He was ridiculously talented. Had comedic timing down. Could dance crazily well. And he just seemed like an all-around good human being. Didn’t deserve to go that young. So unfair.”

8. Chester Bennington

“I’ll forever regret never seeing Linkin Park in concert. They were my favorite band as a teenager, and I had one opportunity to see them live when I was in high school and skipped it because I was sure I’d have another chance. Nope. Damn,” A user said.

9. Grant Imahara

A user said, “His death was so random and unexpected I genuinely didn’t believe he died. For a couple of days, after it happened, I was silently convinced it was an internet prank.”

10. Leonard Nimoy

“I have only recently started watching Star Trek at the request of my boyfriend, and Spock immediately became my favorite character! I looked him up on Google one day and found out he has been dead for the past eight years!” a user shared.

11. Fred Rogers

Someone shared, “It was pouring rain that morning, and I’d stopped to grab breakfast before a looming nightmare commute to work. Right as I was about to pull the key out of the ignition, I heard them say on the radio that he’d passed and just sat there in my car, sobbing.”

12. Steve Irwin

A user said, “I did a presentation on the parallels of “Like a Stone” with a story we read in class (can’t remember the story.) Such a great song. Cornell had so many!”

14. Anthony Bourdain