9 Shocking Celebrity Deaths We Can't Forget

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Celebrities are a huge part of the American culture. We look up to these celebrities, following their personal life and obsessing over the latest movies and music. Celebrities bring us together to laugh, cry, and delight in various forms of entertainment. When one of them passes, society mourns together at the loss of an artist.

The loss of a Hollywood star is never easy, but in certain cases the world was not prepared for these stars to go. These great talents were taken away too quickly and without notice, leaving fans in complete shock. They were legends of TV, film, and rock and roll, breaking boundaries and leaving audience with cherished pieces of popular culture. The abrupt departure of these celebrities left the world feeling blindsided. While they have left this earth, their legacies have not.

Here are nine celebrity deaths that are so shocking, we can never forget them.

Robin Williams

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Robin Williams, known for his incredibly improvisational skills, made the whole world laugh. After rising to fame as Mork in Mork and Mindy, Williams established a career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting. He was known for films such as Good Will Hunting, Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire and Jumanji. On August 11, 2014, Williams committed suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California. Williams was vocal about issues with depression and substance abuse, and also struggled with Lewy body dementia. His death was instant global news, and the entertainment world responded to his death through social and other media outlets. His daughter Zelda Williams responded to his death by stating that the "world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence".

Heath Ledger

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Australian actor Heath Ledger came to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career. He was most recognized for his work in 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight’s Tale, and Brokeback Mountain. On January 22, 2008, Ledger was found unconscious in his bed by his housekeeper and masseuse in his apartment in Manhattan. His death was ruled an accidental drug overdose, and it had a huge impact on his fans. The day following his death, media crews, mourners, fans, and other onlookers began gathering outside his apartment building, with some leaving flowers or other memorial tributes. A few months before his death, Ledger had finished filming as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger received numerous posthumous accolades for this performance, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a Best Actor International Award at the 2008 Australian Film Institute Awards.

Michael Jackson

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Michael Jackson, dubbed the King of Pop, was one of the most popular entertainers in the world. Jackson’s contributions to music, dance and fashion along with his publicized personal life made him a global figure in popular culture. His album, Thriller, is the best-selling album of all time, and he is the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. This made his death all the more shocking for the world. On June 25, 2009, Jackson stopped breathing while attempting to sleep under the care of Conrad Murray, his personal physician. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief. The news spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down and crash from user overload, and putting unprecedented strain on services and websites including Google, AOL Instant Messenger, Twitter, and Wikipedia. MTV and BET aired marathons of Jackson’s music videos, and a huge amount of support was seen from fellow entertainers.

Bernie Mac

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Bernie Mac gained wide-spread popularity as a stand-up comedian. He was seen in movies like Bad Santa, Transformers, and Ocean’s Eleven, and was the star of The Bernie Mac Show which earned him two Emmy Award nominations. In the final three years of his life, Mac publicly disclosed that he had suffered from sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown origin that causes inflammation in tissue. In 2008 he was admitted into the hospital, and after a week of unsuccessful medical treatment he went into cardiac arrest and passed away. Mac’s public funeral had over 7,000 people in attendance, including many notable celebrities such as Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ashton Kutcher. He is remembered for being one of the greatest comedians and making the world laugh.

Joan Rivers

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Joan Rivers was loved for her often controversial comedic persona. Rivers gained prominence in 1965 as a guest on The Tonight Show. She went on to create The Late Show with Joan Rivers, being the first woman to host a late night network television talk show. In addition to marketing a line of jewelry and apparel on the QVC shopping channel, Rivers authored 12 best-selling books and released numerous comedy albums. She won many awards, including a Tony, Grammy and Emmy. On August 28, 2014, Rivers experienced serious complications and stopped breathing while undergoing what was scheduled as a minor throat procedure. She died four days later, having never awoken from a medically induced coma. After nearly two months of investigations, federal officials said on November 10 that the clinic made a number of mistakes both before and during the procedure which made her death even more shocking. Political figures, talk show hosts and other celebrities all came out in support of Rivers, many remembering her as a force to be reckoned with in comedy.

Steve Irwin

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Steve Irwin, nicknamed “The Crocodile Hunter”, was a zookeeper and television personality. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter that ran from 1996 to 2007. Irwin died on September 4, 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary film. News of Irwin's death prompted reactions around the world. Thousands of Irwin's fans visited Australia Zoo after his death, paying their respects and bringing flowers, candles, stuffed animals and messages of support. A public memorial service was held and broadcasted live, which an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide tuned in to. Irwin was buried in a private ceremony at Australia Zoo, which Irwin’s parents founded.

Tupac Shakur

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Tupac Shakur began his career as a rodie and backup dancer, before branching off as a solo artist. He has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He is ranked as one of the most influential rappers of all time, and chose hard-hitting themes such as racism and hardships in inner cities for his lyrics. Shakur has one of the most shocking deaths, after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. Controversy surrounded Shakur’s death, with fans and the media trying to figure out who the murder was. Despite this, Shakur is held in high esteem by other MCs and is well known respected by the hip hop industry still today.

Aaliyah

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Aaliyah was a well-known singer that faced a tragic death. Aaliyah, along with eight others, were killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas. The pilot was unlicensed at the time of the accident and it was found that he had traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system. Aaliyah’s music has continued to achieve commercial success since her passing, and has sold an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide. She has been credited for helping redefine contemporary R&B, pop and hip hop, earning her the nicknames "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop". Her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum.