10 Celebs Who Died in Mysterious Ways

10 Celebs Who Died in Mysterious Ways

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be discussing cases of celebrities who perished under shadowy circumstances, or whose demise featured controversial talking points after the fact.

Casey Kasem

The long and strange story of Casey Kasem’s illness and death could take up an article all its own. The legendary radio personality was diagnosed with a serious illness in 2007, and eventually lost the ability to speak. A contentious back-and-forth between Kasem’s wife Jean and his children would follow in the aftermath of this diagnosis. A conservatorship was eventually granted to Kerri Kasem, a daughter with previous wife Linda Myers. More arguments over visitation rights would follow, while the DJ’s wife Jean moved Kasem from California to Washington State without any notification. Finally, the Kasem children sued Jean for wrongful death and elder abuse, later settling these suits. Jean waited six whole months to inter her husband’s body…in Oslo, Norway.

Bobby Fuller

The rock ‘n roll singer and songwriter will always be remembered for the version of “I Fought the Law” he recorded with his group, The Bobby Fuller Four. However, he’ll also be known for his mysterious death, the reasons for which continue to elude fans and authorities. Fuller was found unresponsive in his car back in 1966, with small hemorrhage marks along his face and body. Initial reports pointed to self-destruction as the cause of Fuller’s death, yet conspiracies continue to abound as to whether or not this was true or a cover-up. Years after his death, the cause was changed to “accident,” suggesting there’s more here than meets the eye.

Barbara Colby

This relatively unknown but talented character actress made her most memorable impact on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” where she played a sex worker. Barbara Colby’s realistic and down-to-earth approach to the role was a notable breath of fresh air, when compared to the often exaggerated performances seen at the time. This perhaps spoke to Colby’s dedication to improving her craft, as evidenced by her frequent visits to city acting classes. However, it was outside one of these very classes where Colby was gunned down in a shooting that’s yet to be solved. Reports suggest that the actress didn’t know her attackers, yet she also wasn’t robbed. Could this have been a completely random incident or was she targeted?

Dr. Haing S. Ngor

This Cambodian physician wasn’t a trained actor prior to his Academy-Award winning performance in 1984’s “The Killing Fields.” Yet it was Dr. Haing S. Ngor’s experience living under the real-life Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot that made his performance so compelling. Ngor was the first performer of Asian descent to win the Best Supporting Actor Award, and he parlayed this experience into further acting gigs after escaping to the United States. Ngor also did humanitarian work in the aftermath of his success, yet he was tragically gunned down outside his home on February 25th, 1996. Gang violence and robbery have both been offered up as reasons for Ngor’s killing, while others believe that the actor was specifically targeted, due to his political beliefs.

George Reeves

The 2006 film “Hollywoodland” remains a compelling look into the mysterious death of George Reeves, the first Superman. The actor’s tenure as The Man of Steel back in the 1950s earned him love and acclaim, but it also limited his options. Rumors swirled around Reeves’ supposed depression, due to personal finances and lack of creative opportunities. Reeves died of a gunshot wound on June 16th, 1959, yet there was an argument as to whether or not the wound was self-inflicted. The crime scene investigation was messy, as well, thanks to the handling of bullet and fingerprint evidence that could’ve potentially shifted Reeves’ cause of death away from self-destruction. The fact that Reeves’ demise occurred during a house party also resulted in conflicting statements from guests.

Bob Crane

This star of the television hit “Hogan’s Heroes” also received a film adaptation of his life (and death) in the form of 2002’s “Auto Focus.” That film offered speculatory evidence to a long-standing theory behind Bob Crane’s murder in 1978. Said theory claimed that Crane’s friend, John Henry Carpenter, was actually responsible for the murder, after the pair had a personal falling out. Carpenter also allegedly assisted Crane in videotaping the TV star’s numerous sexual encounters. Carpenter was arrested in 1992 and ultimately acquitted in 1994. Yet, there remain those who insist that the man got away with murder.

Brian Jones

The Rolling Stones are a rock ‘n roll institution, so much so that many fans forget the tragic death of a man often called the founder of the group. The guitarist and songwriter was found in his pool, drowned at the young age of 27 back in July, 1969. Yet, there are many that claim Jones was murdered. One consistent theory was that Jones was murdered over a financial dispute with a local construction worker, Frank Thorogood. The 2005 biopic dramatization “Stoned” leaned into this theory, while the official statement at the time of Jones’ demise remains “death by misadventure.”

Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. “The Black Dahlia”

Most of the people on this list were celebrities before their death, but it was Elizabth Short’s tragic demise that has earned her celebrity status. Known today as “The Black Dahlia,” Elizabeth Shortwas an aspiring actress who was killed in Los Angeles in 1947. Her murder is remembered today for its shocking violence, with Short’s nude body grotesquely posed, mutilated, and drained of blood. The surgical precision of her wounds intrigued law enforcement, yet the wealth of misinformation and tabloid titillation regarding the case impeded their investigations. There were also instances of police ineptitude, such as when a prime suspect, embalming assistant Leslie Dillon, was held against his will and not given the right to an attorney. The case remains unsolved.

Sonny Bono

This prolific songwriter and musician didn’t stop working after his personal and professional relationship with former wife Cher came to an end. Sonny Bono continued to write, record and perform music, and even transitioned successfully into the world of politics. A successful bid for Mayor of Palm Springs turned into a turn in the United States Congress, where Bono served in the House of Representatives. Sonny Bono tragically died in 1998 after hitting a tree while skiing, yet it was the behavior of his fourth wife, Mary, that raised eyebrows. Bono’s widow (and eventual winner of his congressional seat) insisted that dependence upon prescription medication led to his death. This was not consistent with toxicology reports, which uncovered no evidence to support her opinion.

Natalie Wood

The career of Natalie Wood took off at a very young age and continued to thrive in the years prior to her tragic death in 1981. The actress reportedly couldn’t swim and was said to be terrified of the water. This makes her demise all the more confusing, since it took place during a yacht excursion with her husband Robert Wagner and friend Christopher Walken. Accusations were leveled at Wagner for years after Wood’s death, with some pointing to the tumultuous nature of their marriage as a motive. Still others want to know what, if anything, is being hidden by Walken, who officially maintained that it was a tragic accident.

Who is your most missed celebrity? What did you love about them? Let us know in the comments.