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The world was left in disbelief and sorrow when Princess Diana tragically passed away in 1997 at the age of 36.While it is heartbreaking to die young, these individuals at least left a lasting legacy on society before their premature departures. Here is our list of 59 renowned people who passed away before reaching 40.
1. Jessica Dubroff (7)
Aviation Enthusiast -- Plane crash -- 1996
2. Heather O'Rourke (12)
Young actress -- Bowel obstruction -- 1988
3. Anne Frank (15)
Dutch-Jewish writer -- Typhus in concentration camp -- 1945
4. Ritchie Valens (17)
Rock 'n' roll artist -- Plane crash -- 1959
5. Eddie Cochran (21)
Rockabilly artist -- Car accident -- 1960
6. Aaliyah (22)
R&B artist -- Plane crash -- 2001
7. Buddy Holly (22)
Rock 'n' roll musician -- Plane crash -- 1959
8. Freddie Prinze (22)
Comedian/actor -- Suicide -- 1977
9. River Phoenix (23)
Actor -- Drug overdose -- 1993
10. Selena (23)
Mexican-American vocalist -- Homicide -- 1995
11. James Dean (24)
Actor -- Car crash -- 1955
12. Otis Redding (26)
Soul artist -- Plane crash -- 1967
13. Brian Jones (27)
British rock guitarist -- Drug-related drowning, possibly murder -- 1969
14. Janis Joplin (27)
Rock/soul artist -- Heroin overdose -- 1970
15. Jim Morrison (27)
Rock vocalist -- Heart failure, possibly due to drug overdose -- 1971
16. Jimi Hendrix (27)
Rock guitarist/vocalist -- Asphyxiation from sleeping pill overdose -- 1970
17. Kurt Cobain (27)
Grunge rock vocalist/guitarist -- Gunshot and fatal heroin overdose, presumed suicide -- 1994
18. Reggie Lewis (27)
Basketball star -- Heart failure -- 1993
19. Brandon Lee (28)
Actor -- Accidental shooting on the set of The Crow -- 1993
20. Shannon Hoon (28)
Rock vocalist -- Drug overdose -- 1995
21. Hank Williams (29)
Country artist -- Heart failure, possibly due to an accidental overdose of morphine and alcohol -- 1953
22. Andy Gibb (30)
Vocalist -- Heart failure due to cocaine addiction -- 1988
23. Jim Croce (30)
Singer/songwriter -- Plane crash -- 1973
24. Patsy Cline (30)
Country music artist -- Plane crash -- 1963
Explore more of our list of iconic figures who passed away before 40 on the next page.
While you can explore hundreds of captivating lists at Extraordinary Lists, here are 5 that are sure to astonish and entertain:
- 8 Stars Who Passed Away During Movie Filming
- 8 Famous People Who Died in the Bathroom
- 13 Highest-Earning Deceased Celebrities
- 11 Most Noteworthy Epitaphs
- 15 Most Common Causes of Death in the United States
Famous People Who Died Before Age 40, 25-59
Here’s the continuation of our list of 59 notable individuals who passed before the age of 40, beginning with Sylvia Plath.
25. Sylvia Plath (30)
Poet and novelist -- Took her own life -- 1963
26. Brian Epstein (32)
Manager of The Beatles -- Drug overdose -- 1967
27. Bruce Lee (32)
Martial arts actor -- Possible allergic reaction -- 1973
28. Cass Elliot (32)
Singer -- Heart failure due to obesity -- 1974
29. Karen Carpenter (32)
Singer and musician -- Cardiac arrest caused by anorexia nervosa -- 1983
30. Keith Moon (32)
Rock drummer -- Fatal overdose of medication -- 1978
31. Carole Lombard (33)
Actress -- Died in a plane crash -- 1942
32. Chris Farley (33)
Comedian/actor -- Fatal overdose of cocaine and heroin -- 1997
33. Darryl Kile (33)
Major League Baseball pitcher -- Died from coronary heart disease -- 2002
34. Jesus Christ (33)
Founder of Christianity -- Crucifixion -- A.D. 30
35. John Belushi (33)
Comedian/actor -- Fatal overdose of cocaine and heroin -- 1982
36. Sam Cooke (33)
Soul musician -- Murder -- 1964
37. Charlie Parker (34)
Jazz saxophonist -- Pneumonia and ulcer, caused by drug abuse -- 1955
38. Dana Plato (34)
Actress -- Overdose of prescription medication -- 1999
39. Jayne Mansfield (34)
Actress -- Car crash -- 1967
40. Andy Kaufman (35)
Comedian and actor -- Lung cancer -- 1984
41. Josh Gibson (35)
Negro League baseball legend -- Stroke -- 1947
42. Stevie Ray Vaughan (35)
Blues guitarist -- Killed in a helicopter crash -- 1990
43. Bob Marley (36)
Reggae icon -- Melanoma that spread to his lungs and brain -- 1981
44. Diana, Princess of Wales (36)
British royal -- Died in a car crash -- 1997
45. Marilyn Monroe (36)
Actress -- Died from a barbiturate overdose -- 1962
46. Bobby Darin (37)
Singer and actor -- Died due to complications during heart surgery -- 1973
47. Lou Gehrig (37)
Major League Baseball player -- Passed away due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- 1941
48. Michael Hutchence (37)
Rock singer -- Found hanged, possible suicide -- 1997
49. Sal Mineo (37)
Actor -- Murdered -- 1976
50. Florence Griffith Joyner (38)
Olympic sprinter -- Likely asphyxiation during an epileptic episode -- 1998
51. George Gershwin (38)
Composer -- Passed away due to a brain tumor -- 1937
52. Harry Chapin (38)
Singer/songwriter -- Fatal car crash -- 1981
53. John F. Kennedy, Jr. (38)
Journalist and publisher -- Died in a plane crash -- 1999
54. Roberto Clemente (38)
Major League Baseball legend -- Perished in a plane crash -- 1972
55. Sam Kinison (38)
Comedian -- Fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver -- 1992
56. Anna Nicole Smith (39)
Model and actress -- Accidental overdose of prescription drugs -- 2007
57. Dennis Wilson (39)
Rock drummer -- Drowned due to alcohol intoxication -- 1983
58. Malcolm X (39)
Civil rights leader and activist -- Assassinated -- 1965
59. Martin Luther King, Jr. (39)
Civil rights leader and minister -- Assassinated -- 1968
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen
While browsing hundreds of intriguing lists at Extraordinary Lists, here are 5 collections we believe will both captivate and amuse you:
- 8 Stars Who Passed Away During Movie Production
- 8 Celebrities Who Died in the Bathroom
- 13 Highest-Earning Deceased Celebrities
- 11 Memorable Tombstone Inscriptions
- 15 Most Common Causes of Death in the U.S.
