20 Celebrities Whose Deaths Still Raise Questions

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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at stars whose tragic deaths remain shrouded by unanswered questions and suspicious circumstances.

Liam Payne

The shocking 2024 death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne remains steeped in mystery, with numerous unanswered questions surrounding his fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. While ruled an accident possibly fueled by illegal substances, conflicting accounts and emerging details have cast some doubt on that narrative. Witnesses disagree on Liam’s behavior before the fall—some say he was agitated, while others describe him as upbeat. His hotel room was found in disarray and many think he was unconscious at the time. Delays in contacting authorities and gaps in the timeline have only deepened suspicion for fans of the young singer.

Jack Nance

Best known for his work with director David Lynch, including the surreal cult classic “Eraserhead,” it’s said Jack Nance lived a life as unusual as the roles he portrayed. In 1996, Nance was found dead with a blunt-force injury to the head. The cause of death? A subdural hematoma, reportedly from a fight outside a doughnut shop the day before. Nance had told friends about the altercation, but police were never able to identify who he fought with - or if the incident was truly random. Some speculate that Jack may have actually been targeted. While officially ruled accidental, his death still feels like a scene from a Lynchian mystery.

Christa Helm

Christa Helm was a rising actress in the 1970s who lived fast, partied hard, and kept a detailed diary of her celebrity lovers – the likes of Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger, and high-ranking political figures. Shockingly, in 1977, Helm was brutally stabbed and bludgeoned outside a friend’s home in West Hollywood. Her murder remains unsolved to this day, and the case has only grown more mysterious over time. Many believe Helm’s death was targeted, especially after her purse (which was said to have contained her diary and tape recordings) vanished following the murder. And while the LAPD has revisited the case over the years, no arrests have ever been made.

Nancy Spungen

The turbulent relationship between punk icon Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen ended in tragedy when Nancy was found dead in a bathroom at New York’s Chelsea Hotel in 1978 – the result of a stabbing. Sid, of Sex Pistols fame, was arrested suspected of her murder. However, he died of an overdose before the case went to trial. This left numerous unanswered questions, with many believing Sid was innocent. The absence of a trial, coupled with conflicting witness statements, has left the true circumstances of her death a mystery that may never be solved. In the years since, Nancy’s murder has become nothing short of punk rock folklore.

William Desmond Taylor

This silent film director’s 1922 murder was one of Hollywood’s first major scandals. You see, Taylor was shot in the back in his Los Angeles bungalow and the case quickly devolved into a media frenzy involving studio cover-ups, secret identities, and multiple suspects — including actresses Mary Miles Minter and Mabel Normand. And, despite an extensive investigation, no one was ever charged. To this day, several theories persist. Was it a jilted lover, a jealous studio head, or perhaps his valet who was known to steal from him? There’s no wonder his murder remains one of Tinseltown’s most enduring cold cases.

Bruiser Brody

Professional wrestler Bruiser Brody was known for his wild persona and hard-hitting style inside the squared circle. Tragically, the larger-than-life performer was stabbed and killed backstage at a Puerto Rico wrestling show in 1988 — and the circumstances are still hotly debated. The man who killed him was fellow wrestler José González. He claimed self-defence and was acquitted after an oddly rushed trial. However, several key witnesses, including American wrestlers, weren’t able to testify because they never received subpoenas having already left the country. To this day, many believe Brody was intentionally ambushed and the truth was buried due to both politics and fear.

Kurt Cobain

When Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home in April 1994 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the world mourned a voice of a generation. But, from the very beginning, there were questions. Cobain had various illicit substances in his system at the time, and some questioned whether he would’ve had the motor skills to operate the weapon. Others pointed to inconsistencies in the note he left behind. While officials ruled out foul play, conspiracy theories persist and are fueled by documentaries like “Soaked in Bleach.” For many, it's too hard to accept that such a bright light could burn out so soon.

Robert Johnson

The mysterious death of blues pioneer Robert Johnson in 1938 is perhaps as legendary as the man himself. Tragically, the truth behind his sudden death at age 27 is still unclear. Some say he was poisoned by a jealous husband, others claim it was a sexually transmitted infection or even pneumonia that did him in. No official autopsy was ever performed, and his grave's exact location remains disputed. There also persists popular folklore that states Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for his unparalleled musical talent. His legacy as a “member” of the so-called “27 Club” only deepens the mystique surrounding his life — and death.

Brittany Murphy

Vibrant actress Brittany Murphy was known for films like “Uptown Girls” and “8 Mile,” but her sudden death in 2009 shocked Hollywood. At just 32, Murphy collapsed in her Los Angeles home and was later pronounced dead from pneumonia, anemia, and multiple intoxication from prescription medications. While the coroner ruled it accidental, many found the situation suspicious — especially after her husband, Simon Monjack, died of nearly identical causes just over five months later. Reports of mold in the home, erratic behavior in the weeks leading up to her death, and conflicting accounts from family members only fueled theories. Many still believe something more sinister was at play.

Tupac Shakur

On September 7, 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur was the victim of a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He died six days later — and the case has remained unsolved ever since. Witnesses were uncooperative, leads went cold, and theories ran wild. Was it part of the East Coast–West Coast rivalry? Or did Tupac, as some fans insist, fake his death and disappear? While a man named Duane “Keffe D” Davis was arrested in 2023 and charged in connection to the killing, many still feel we haven’t heard the whole truth. The same can be said for the murder of The Notorious B.I.G, whose own drive-by shooting has fueled numerous theories and speculation about the motive and perpetrators.

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 Short was 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.

Which of these celebrity deaths do you think has the most unanswered questions? Share your own takes in the comments below.