Most Shocking Celebrity Death In Hollywood

[USATVFAN]

What Was The Most Shocking Celeberty Death?

[Zoneboy]

I'm too young to actually remember this one but I would say Sharon Tate who was murdered by the Manson gang

The stabbing death of Sal Mineo

John Lennon's murder

[tv star collector]

Anytime anyone famous dies from anything other than natural causes, it is a
shock; whether it's a murder victim, an apparent suicide an accident of
some kind (e.g., plane crash, automobile accident, etc.) or some disease.
Death is especially tragic when it strikes down someone young or still in their
prime. The ones that had the most impact on me personally include: George
("Superman") Reeves, 45 (1959); Ward Bond (WAGON TRAIN), 55 (1960);
Walt Disney, 65 (1966); Dan Blocker (BONANZA), 43 (1972); Freddie Prinze
(CHICO & THE MAN), 22 (1977); Elvis Presley, 42 (1977); John Lennon, 40
(1980); Michael Landon, 54 (1991); Fred Gwynne (CAR 54, THE MUNSTERS), 66 (1993); Bill Bixby, 59 (1993); Elizabeth Montgomery (BEWITCHED), 62 (1995); and George Harrison, 58 (2001).

[Ireneparalegal]

JOHN LENNON.

[wkomorow]

Bob Crane's death was shocking because of the various rumors at the time and his high profile.

[JulieSomoski]

Yeah, definitely John Lennon. I'll never forget the day I found out he died. Everyone in America was talking about it.

Also, John Ritter's death was pretty sudden, and tragic. Here, we'd think he had found another hit show, and he dies so suddenly. No one would have ever guessed he would die at such a young age.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by wkomorow

Bob Crane's death was shocking because of the various rumors at the time and his high profile.

That's what I was going to say.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Anytime anyone famous dies from anything other than natural causes, it is a
shock; whether it's a murder victim, an apparent suicide an accident of
some kind (e.g., plane crash, automobile accident, etc.) or some disease.

Agreed.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by wkomorow

Bob Crane's death was shocking because of the various rumors at the time and his high profile.

I remember when that murder occurred. And to be honest, it didn't get the coverage that I would think a celebrity would get considering it was a murder. By then, Bob was not on television, that could be why it seemed to just "go away" quickly in the news. Also, the rumors of Bob and his sex life were true. His lifestyle you can pretty much say is what caused his death. The man who many believe is responsible for his murder (he has since died) wanted to continue to have the lifestyle he got while being Bob's friend. Bob was going to cut him off from that and he wasn't having it.

John Lennon's murder was terrible. He did nothing to bring on his murder. His murder was the beginning of celebrities being stalked by strangers bent on killing them. We then had the near stabbing death of actress Teresa Saldana. And then we had Rebecca Schaeffer. Because of Rebecca's stalking and murder, California changed laws regarding information that one can get from the DMV, etc.

Sharon Tate, the Tate-La Bianca murders were a brutal, heinous crime. Many believed she brought on her own death because supposedly of the type of people she hung around with and drugs was believed to have played a part in her murder. We know of course that is not true.

[Mikado]

Some of the most shocking deaths are nearly forgotten today, as they happened back in the days of silent film....

The shooting murder of Hollywood director William Desmond Taylor remains unsolved to this day, the the main suspect was his leading lady Maybel Normand, the last person to see him alive; this along with her well-known drug addiction and close friendship with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle destroyed her career... most
historians now believe she was innocent or any wrongdoing in this case.

And, speaking of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, there's the case of the "murder" (Not proven) of young starlet Virginia Rappe ( Rah-pay), who was found bleeding in a bedroom at one of Fatty's notorious parties, and who died in agony a few hours later. The Hollywood studio heads, hoping to "curb" their superstar comedian's "wild ways" began to circulate false rumous that he might have been involved in her death; thinking that, put under such a spotlight, he might finally conform to their own moral standards. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the rumours spiralled into a murder trial with Fatty as the defendant....wild and untrue testimony involving Fatty, Virginia and a wine bottle were taken as true , while coroner's reports about how a badly performed abortion in Virginia's past had been the true cause of her death, were virtually ignored. Fatty went to prison, but, was later aquitted on appeal, but it was too late, his career was virtually over, and his reputation destroyed forever.

Pictures. Roscoe "Fatty" Abuckle in his movie costume, his mugshot and Roscoe takes the stand in his 1921 trial

[Ireneparalegal]

That case of Fatty Arbuckle was considered the first HOLLYWOOD CRIME and wasn't it also called THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY? a la O.J. Simpson trial.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That case of Fatty Arbuckle was considered the first HOLLYWOOD CRIME and wasn't it also called THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY? a la O.J. Simpson trial.

Yes. they did call it the crime of the century, until that title was taken by the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case.

It made for major changes in Hollywood, including the blackballing of actors who didnt follow a "moral code" and it led to repressive movie censorship; both under the control of the Hollywood "Hayes Office", created by the studios for these very purposes.

[friendsfan77]

I would definitely say that another example of one would be Phil Hartman's.

[Nighthawk76]

For me it was John Lennon. It is a terrible tragedy that a man who stood for peace was shot down in cold blood. He also has so much more great music to make. Double Fantasy was his best album since Imagine with such truly great songs like "Woman" (an amazing ballad) "Beautful Boy" ("Life is what happens while your busy making other plans"-so very true) and "Watching The Wheels" (I've probably spent much of my 31 years "dreaming my life away"). Well, at least we still have John's music and no one can take that away from us.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

I would definitely say that another example of one would be Phil Hartman's.

That happened about a week before my high school graduation. I was on my way home from the graduation rehearsal when I heard the news on the car radio. No one could believe it. What a sad, sad story. I'm sorry Mrs. Hartman never got the help she truly needed, and it destroyed the entire family.

I know the other deaths mentioned here shocked people the world over, but those occured either before I was born or when I was too young to remember. Phil Hartman's death I remember vividly, and it was so shocking that I'm going with that one.