13 Most Bizarre Celebrity Deaths

Published on August 19, 2015.

There is an inherent suck when losing a celebrity. It just always sucks. Whether you were a fan, or a casual observer of their existence, it’s yet another reminder of our own mortality. Then, there are those celebrity deaths that are so bizarre, that it’s another reason to lock the doors, and live inside the rest of your life… until you read about deaths that are even more bizarre, you want to sit in an open field and travel everywhere in a force field. Here are 13 of the most bizarre, and sadly tragic deaths of beloved celebrities.

13. Eric Hill

In 2014, there was a gentleman suitor on The Bachelorette by the name of Eric Hill. Eric was an adventurist, and an explorer and probably one of the cooler dudes on the show. The thing: men like that are a bit much for a lot of women. After he was dismissed from the show by bachelorette Andi Dorfman, he went back to living the life he loved, full of adventure. On a particular outing, Eric was paragliding with some friends in Utah, when his canopy collapsed near a cliff face, putting him into an uncontrollable fall. He survived the accident, but died of his injuries the following day. Fans of the show were outraged after producers decided to show footage of the cast learning of this death. They called it exploitation — the producers called it documentation. Truths from two perspectives.

Source: Eric Hill

12. Brandon Lee

The son of legendary martial arts legend, and founder of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee was making a mark of his own in Hollywood, and was starring in his biggest film to date, when he was tragically killed on set. While filming The Crow, Brandon was accidentally shot by .44 magnum slug that was left in the weapon — known as a squib load. Power blanks were inserted into the revolver chamber for an action sequence. Somehow, the crew missed the bullet lodged in the chamber, or likely in the gun barrel, and Brandon was shot at close range (10 to 15 feet), after entering the doorway of a scene. The bullet struck his abdomen, and he was immediately transported to local, North Carolina hospital, where doctors performed multiple surgeries, but were unable to save him.

Everett Collection

11. David Carradine

While other deaths have been tragic, and quite unexpected, this one puts us into the world of “Say, what!?” David Carradine was a fascinating man, but he was also a very odd man. His death, ruled “accidental asphyxiation,” related to autoeroticism, occurred in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2009, while he was in the city shooting a film. David was found naked in his hotel room closet, hands bound, hanging from a clothing rack. Initial speculation was suicide, but that was quickly dismissed. Former lovers suggested that David had a dark side that lusted for moments of autoerotic asphyxiation, thus it came as little surprise when they heard reports. Still, the scene suggested another party was present, as both his hands were bound, a near impossibility for someone who was alone. His widow claimed she funded an independent investigation, and found he was murdered.

Everett Collection

10. Chris Hyndman

On August 3, 2015, Chris Hyndman, a Canadian interior designer, and talk show celebrity known famously for his on and off-screen partnership with Steven Sabados, was found dead, beneath the balcony of the couple’s condominium. The death was incredibly unexpected, and there was no thought or reason as to why Chris might have committed suicide, so it left many questions unanswered. That is, until Chris’s mother revealed that Chris was a sleepwalker. She believes that he walked out onto the balcony while he was asleep, fatigued from their international travel, and fell over the edge to his death. His death occurred one day after the couple returned home from a vacation in Barbados. There was no criminal investigation into his death. These are the kinds of deaths that make some people afraid of living.

SGranitz/WireImage

9. Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono was a celebrity personality turned politician, and was most famous for his once-marriage to Cher. Together, they had a variety show, and pumped out a monster hit entitled, “I Got You, Babe.” He was beloved by all who knew him, and was considered a very amiable politician, and served as a United States Congressional Representative for the state of California from 1994, until his death in 1998. While enjoying winter recreation in South Lake Tahoe, Sonny took to the slopes to do some skiing. Bono was skiing more difficult terrain when he hit a tree, subsequently causing his demise. This injury took place less than a week after Michael Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in a similar accident in Colorado. Sadly, Sonny isn’t the only individual on this list who succumbed to an accident on the slopes, in the midst of a fun vacation.

Everett Collection

8. Vic Morrow

One of the strangest deaths in movie-making history, Vic Morrow was killed while filming a sequence for Twilight Zone: The Movie. According to industry lore, Steven was scheduled to be on set during the action sequence that was representative of the Vietnam War, and one of the film’s directors (the film was shot as three segments), John Landis, wanted to push through the sequence, regardless of a few safety concerns. Within the stunt sequence, actor Vic Morrow was to rescue two children during a fire fight that also included aerial stunts in the form of helicopters. There were issues with winds, and they wreaked havoc with pyrotechnic explosions. During a take, Landis called for the helicopter to make a final pass, after the pilot expressed disdain due to the explosions being too big. The chopper crashed. The rotor decapitated Morrow, and the skids crushed the children.

Everett Collection

7. Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley died young like his folk singing father, but not remotely of the same drug-fueled cause. The cliche rock star wasn’t something Jeff found intriguing. The-31-year old singer-songwriter was in Memphis, Tennessee, recording an album to be titled, My Sweetheart The Drunk, a much anticipated follow-up to Grace. He made it a habit to swim in the local rivers, and was known to wade in with all his clothes on. On the night before his band was to join him to resume recording, Jeff stopped by the Wolf River visitor’s center with friend and roadie, Keith Foti, and went for a swim while singing Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” At one point, Foti lost sight of his friend. Jeff’s body was discovered seven days later in the Wolf River by two locals. No drugs or alcohol were found in his system.

Source: Billboard

6. Natasha Richardson

Natasha Richardson, the actress, and former wife of Liam Neeson, was entertainment royalty. She was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson, and was considered an absolute gem by any and all who knew her, or worked with her. In 2009, Natasha was taking a beginner’s skiing class in Quebec, when she fell and hit her head hard on the packed snow. She was tended to, and continued to go about her day, not fearing that she had done anything other than bumping her head. She politely declined medical treatment, and eventually went back to her room to relax. Several hours later, she developed a headache, and was admitted to the hospital, before being transferred to another hospital in critical condition. She was eventually flown to Lennox Hill Hospital in NYC, where she died of her injuries.

Photo by Nicolas Khayat/ABACA.

5. Steve Irwin

When the world learned that Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter,” was killed from an animal attack, it somehow came as a shock. This, from the man who captured crocodiles, poisonous snakes, exotic animals and sea creatures, all for research and rehabilitation. His death came while on location, filming a couple different series, one for his daughter, Bindi, and one including a focus on the ocean’s deadliest creatures. Steve was in the shallows with his production team, swimming with several rays, when one became alarmed at his presence and relied on instinct to protect itself. It shot several barbs from its tail into Steve, hitting him several times in the chest. They pulled him onto a boat to offer first aid, but Steve realized he had been pierced in the heart. There was nothing the team could do, other than comfort him as he died.

Featureflash /

Shutterstock.com

4. Marvin Gaye

In 1984, Marvin Gaye was still enjoying the popularity of his musical success, but he was also experiencing the symptoms of a downward spiral, fueled by drug use and subsequent paranoia. On the night of April 1, he was with his parents when they started arguing with one another, and Marvin intervened. According to both his parents, the altercation between Marvin and his father, Marvin Sr., became physical. Alberta, Marvin’s mother, broke up the fight, and Marvin retreated to his room. At this time, his father entered the room with a gun, and shot Marvin twice. The first shot proved to be fatal, striking the soul singer in the heart. The second was offered at point-blank range in the shoulder. Marvin Gaye Sr. was initially charged with murder, but eventually he was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

Everett Collection

3. Selena

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was an international pop star in the early 1990s, who was shot and killed by her friend, and boutique business manager, Yolana Saldivar. Saldivar began a San Antonio fan club that was so successful she became a family friend, and was offered the opportunity to manage Selena’s fashion boutiques. Unfortunately, Saldivar was embezzling funds from the boutiques, so the family fired her. After she was fired, Selena agreed to meet with her at an area motel, to salvage a friendship, and get to the bottom of the financial faux pas. Saldivar told Selena she was raped in Mexico. Selena took her to a hospital. Doctors suggested otherwise. With no other play, Saldivar became violent when back at the motel, and shot the 23-year-old sensation. Selena escaped, but lost massive amounts of blood running to the lobby and died on the operating table later.

Source: NY Daily News

2. Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was as big as a movie star could get. She was married to movie hunk, Robert Wagner, and together, they had a daughter named Courtney while raising another daughter, Natasha Gregson-Wagner, from one of Natalie’s previous relationships. In November of 1981, Natalie and Robert were aboard a boat with one of her co-stars, Christopher Walken, enjoying a quick vacation at Santa Catalina Island, CA. After an argument, and subsequent fight between the couple, Robert went to bed, and Natalie ventured to the deck. She was not seen again until 8 a.m. the following morning, her body floating a mile from the boat. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning following hypothermia, but the investigation was reopened in 2011, after the boat captain admitted to lying to investigators. Her cause of death was amended as drowning and other unknown factors.

Everett Collection

1. Sharon Tate

One of the saddest tragedies in modern American history… Sharon Tate was the exceptionally talented, gorgeous actress and wife of legendary director, Roman Polanski. In the summer of 1969, Sharon, along with several other people in Los Angeles, were brutally murdered by members of what became known as The Manson Family — the closest intimates and followers of Charles Manson. Sharon was at the home she shared with Polanski, and was entertaining some close friends. She was also pregnant, and two weeks shy of her delivery date. Everyone at the house — except for an individual staying in a back house — were murdered. This included Sharon, and her unborn child, a baby boy, who was buried in his mother’s arms. All things considered, the crime psychologically ruined Roman Polanski.