Last Known Photos of Highly Influential People

Last updated: Jun 16, 2022

A person’s last moments leading up to death can either be haunting or comforting. Although celebrities are not immune to death, some of them leave lasting legacies that will be remembered for generations to come.

These last known photos of influential people can serve as comfort to those who loved them and help tell their stories.

Cory Monteith from ‘Glee’

Cory Montieth made a name for himself playing Fin Hudson on the hit TV show ‘Glee’. On July 13th, 2013, he was discovered in his hotel room having passed away from a heroin and alcohol overdose. He battled with drug and substance abuse since his teen years.

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This picture was taken of him only two days before he was found dead. What would mean nothing if he was still alive is now a haunting silhouette of the young star.

James Gandolfini of ‘The Sopranos’

James Joseph Gandolfini was a producer and an actor best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the show ‘The Sopranos’. He was loved by many even as he played an antagonist’s role.

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On June 19th, 2013, he died of a heart attack in his hotel room in Italy as he vacationed with his family. He was discovered unconscious late in the night by his 13-year-old son. His funeral was held in New York. These were the last pictures of him before he was found dead.

Iconic Musician, Prince Rogers Nelson

Known by many as Prince, he was one of the most legendary musicians. At just 58, Prince passed away from an overdose. Before that, rumors were surrounding his health with speculation starting from a hospital visit days before his death.

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This photo was caught of him exiting a Walgreens shortly before his death. There have been speculations that this is where he purchased the medication that ultimately led to his death.

The Famous Comedian, John Candy

He was highly esteemed and known by many to be a jolly man. He died at the age of 43 and was survived by a wife and two children. He died in Durango, Mexico after taking a vacation from filming.

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This last photo of him was taken at the set of Wagons East which was completed after his death using stand-ins, rewrites, and special effects. It is unclear what caused his death as there was no autopsy performed on his body.

Fast and Furious’ Paul Walker

Paul Walker was best known for his role as Brian O’Connor in the highly successful film franchise Fast and Furious. Ironically he died in a car crash after leaving an event for Walker’s Charity Reach Out Worldwide on the 30th of November 2013. His last photo was taken while he left this event.

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His friend and driver of the car that night Roger Rodas also perished in the crash. His family blamed his death on the Porsche that he rode in and went ahead to file wrongful death claims against them.

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Stunt Performer and Actor, Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn was a renowned television personality, actor, and comedian. He died in a car crash along with a passenger named Zachary Hartwell who was a veteran of the Iraq war. The tragic accident occurred on June 20th, 2011.

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He was speeding and under the influence of alcohol. This photo of him and Zachary, his passenger, taking a drink was captured just a few hours before the crash.

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George Harrison of The Beetles

George Harrison played lead guitar for the iconic Beetles. He suffered from cancer in his final year of life. He was said to have undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his lungs. He then traveled to Switzerland in July 2001 for further treatment.

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In November the same year, he was in New York receiving radiotherapy to fight his brain tumor. His last days were spent in his former colleague, Paul McCartney’s home in Los Angeles. He died on November 28th, 2001. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the rivers Ganges and Yamuna in India, keeping faith in his beliefs.

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East Coast Rapper, Biggie Smalls

The Notorious B.I.G., Christopher George Latore Wallace, is known as one of the most iconic rappers in the industry to date. He was signed to Sean Combs’ record label. He was murdered on March 9th, 1997 on the night of the Soul Train Awards that year.

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This is a picture of Biggie Smalls with P. Diddy taken on the night of his murder. He was killed by unidentified gunmen at a red light after he stopped. Several shots were fired, one of which ended the rapper’s life.

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Mexican Musical Prodigy, Jennie Rivera

Dolores Janney ‘Jennie’ Rivera Saavedra was a woman of multiple talents. She was known to write songs, act, produce, and work as a philanthropist. She was highly thought of by her peers and her fans.

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In December 2012, the night after she performed at the Arena Monterrey for over 17,000 people, she boarded a jet where this picture was taken moments before takeoff. The jet crashed for unknown reasons and there were no survivors from the tragic accident.

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American Inventor and Engineer, Nikola Tesla

Known as one of the greatest minds of his time, he contributed tremendously towards the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.

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For all his contributions to science, he died alone and poor. This picture shows him towards the end of his life.

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Television Personality and Comedienne, Joan Rivers

Joan Alexandra Molinski, commonly known as Joan Rivers, was a renowned media personality. She was a writer, producer, and television host. She had a great influence on pop culture in the 21st century.

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The night before she passed away she joked about her own death on a show. She took this picture with a fan the same night. She died on September 4th, 2014 at the age of 81 of complications resulting from surgery.

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The World Famous Vocalist, Whitney Houston

Singer and songwriter Whitney Houston was known all over the world as an amazing vocalist and a talented songwriter. She sold over 200 million records worldwide. Her death however was not glamorous. She was discovered drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on the 11th of February 2012.

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After an autopsy was conducted, drugs were found in her system and this was said to have contributed to the accident. This is the last picture of her in a social setting captured the night before she died. Her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, sadly, also suffered a similar fate as she was found in a bathtub and almost drowned. She survived but died a few months later after being in a coma.

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The Wildlife Lover, Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin was an Australian zookeeper, wildlife expert, environmentalist, television personality, and one of the most loved conservationists. He earned the nickname ‘Crocodile Hunter’ from his show ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ and coined the term ‘Crickey’. All this made it even more shocking that he should be killed by a wild animal.

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The accident happened while he was filming the documentary ‘Ocean’s Deadliest’. The photographer, Justin Lyons, who was with him witnessed the accident and stated that he was stabbed repeatedly in the chest area by a stingray. His last words according to Justin Lyons were, “I’m dying”. He passed away on the 4th of September 2006. This was the last picture taken of him with marine biologist Chris Jones.

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The Talented Up and Coming Actress, Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera was an actress on the rise when she died tragically. Although she had been acting since her childhood, her role as Santana Lopez in the hit TV show ‘Glee’ is what put her on the map. Her role, though minor at the beginning of the series, was steadily being grown. She posted this picture of her and her son just a day before authorities began the search for her on Lake Piru in California.

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They were alone on a rented boat and had both been in the water but after helping her son onboard, Naya Rivera was unable to climb in herself. Her four-year-old son was alone on the boat when authorities found him.

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The Revolutionary Comedian, Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor was a legendary comedian who appeared in many films and comedy specials that were huge trailblazers in the industry. He thrived in his trade despite racial barriers. Pryor died on the 10th of December 2005 of a heart attack.

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He had battled with multiple sclerosis and heart problems. His wife remembers him smiling as he was on his death bed. This picture was taken of him and Eddie Griffin shortly before he passed away.

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Former US President Ronald Reagan

His last publicly shared photo was posted on his 89th birthday, years before his demise. At the age of 83, the prominent figure was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2001 he fell, breaking his hip which made him even weaker.

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He passed away on June 5th, 2004. As one of the former presidents of the United States of America, his death was indeed sad news for the country.

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The Ninth Wonder of the World, Joan Marie Laurer

Joan Marie Laurer, known in the ring as Chyna was a professional wrestler known as the ninth wonder of the world by WWE and later in the 1990s was known as WWF.

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She struggled with various drug addictions such as valium and Ambien. Many other drugs were discovered in her home after her death. She is believed to have died of a drug overdose. Before her death, she posted a series of peculiar photos on her social media pages.

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British Media Personality, Jimmy Savile

Sir James Willson Vincent Savile died in his old age after having a long and prosperous career as a host, radio personality, and DJ. He hosted shows such as ‘Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It”. He died on November 29th, 2011 at the age of 84 from pneumonia.

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After his death, claims of Jimmy’s involvement in child molestation began to re-emerge. Although there were claims of this while he was alive, they significantly increased after his death. The photo of him was taken just a few days before he died.

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Legendary Drummer for The Who, Keith Moon

Keith Moon was known to be unpredictable and lived a wild lifestyle. He was also known to play practical jokes on people. Sometimes he would even blackout on stage during performances. This picture was taken of him, Paul, and Linda McCartney in a restaurant.

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On the 7th of September 1978, he died of an accidental overdose of Heminevrin that is used to treat alcoholism.

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Creative Comedian, Gary Shandling

Gary Shandling was best known for creating and staring in ‘The Larry Sanders Show.’ He worked as a stand-up comedian, actor, director, and producer. He died on 24th March 2016 leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. He suffered from hyperparathyroidism.

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He told jokes about his death many times before and even compared his funeral to a boxing match. He collapsed and died in his house due to a pulmonary embolism.

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Hollywood Veteran, Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas starred in one of the most iconic films of all time, Spartacus. After building a successful career since 1946, raising a beautiful family, documenting his life in his autobiography, and participating actively in acts of charity, he passed away at 103 years of age.

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In his last days, he had the privilege of being surrounded by his family as shown in this picture above. After surviving a deadly stroke in 1996 and a helicopter crash in 1991 that left two people dead, he died of old age and natural causes.

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Legendary Performer and Musician, Michael Jackson

Being the household name that he was, the news of Michael Jackson’s passing rocked the world. He died during a rehearsal in Los Angeles after he went into cardiac arrest. He overdosed on the 25th of June in 2009 at the age of 51.

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Conrad Murray who was Michael’s physician prescribed the drugs to him and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

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Into the Wild - Christopher McCandless

Christopher McCandless’s story was depicted in the movie Into the Wild which was based on the book of the same title by Jon Krakauer. The film had Emile Hirsh depicting Christopher. Sean Penn wrote and directed the movie. The book and film were based on the life of Christopher who in his early 20’s chose to live his days in the Alaskan wilds.

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His body was found four months after he made this decision in 1992. He died of starvation. This photo, undeveloped at the time, was found along with his other possessions.

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Rat Pack Star, Dean Martin

Dean Martin was truly one of Hollywood’s exemplary entertainers. Doing everything including acting, comedy, singing, and hosting showed that he had a diverse skill set. He was diagnosed with cancer probably caused by his heavy smoking. He died at the age of 78.

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Less than two weeks before his death, he was spotted outside a restaurant. This was the last time he was seen in public and this photo was taken of him. He passed away on December 25th, 1995.

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The Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-II

Kim Jong-II died of a heart attack on December 17th, 2011. He had worked closely with his father and was consequently given prominent roles in the government and the armed forces.

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His father also died suddenly of a heart attack. His death gave way to his successor, son, and current ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. In his last publicized photo, he is seen with his son in the back on an escalator.

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World Renown Lawyer, Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is now often referred to as Mahatma as an assign of honor which he earned from his life leading India in non-violent resistance to colonialism. He is honored to this date in many countries around the world but especially in India.

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His ideology on peace and equality did not sit well with many extremists, and he was ultimately assassinated in 1948 for his principles. This picture was taken just before he was killed.

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Muhammad Ali or “The Greatest”

Cassius Marcel Clay was known as one of the best heavy-weight boxers that ever lived. He was also known for his role as an activist. He openly spoke against the Vietnam War. In 1984, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He continued to live a healthy, long life until June 3rd, 2016 when he passed on.

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His death was a great loss to the country, and he will be remembered as an exceptional athlete. This was his last photo as he FaceTimed with his daughter, Hana.

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Beloved Actor, Gene Wilder

He was known by both young and older audiences as his roles were diverse and his career was long with many loved characters. He retired after the decline in his career in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Throughout his retirement, he lived out his days’ painting and writing books.

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He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but did not disclose this to the public. This is his last public photo that was taken one year before his death. He died on August 29th, 2016.

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Young Rising Star, River Phoenix

River Phoenix had a promising career ahead of him as he was just a teenager when he was nominated for an Academy Award. This is one of the highest honors to award to an actor, and he received it for his role in Running on Empty. He acted in other films that were also highly acclaimed.

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His siblings are also in the film industry. Unfortunately, he met the same fate as many young stars in Hollywood. He died tragically of a drug overdose while he was living with a member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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Former US President Robert F. Kennedy

Robert F. Kennedy was in power for a short time before he was killed while exited a hotel in Los Angeles after giving a speech. The shooter was a 24-year-old Palestinian male who was angry at the president for supporting Israel after the 1967 six-day war.

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The man’s name is Sirhan Sirhan who was convicted for murder and has been in prison ever since. This picture was captured of the president right after he was shot. He passed away the following morning on June 7th, 1968.

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Rock and Roll Legend, Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was known for her unique musical style and her instant success. She had only four albums for the whole of her profession which were wildly successful.

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Unfortunately, she died at the young age of 33 after a heroin overdose. Her life and career were cut off too soon. She had great potential and would have been an even greater name if she had lived on. This picture was taken at the last concert she performed for an audience of 40,000.

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Founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner

Hugh Hefner founded Play Boy in 1953, in an era that was much more conservative. He broke down barriers to sexuality. He enjoyed the company of women well into his old age and was known as a significant part of modern-day culture especially in the United States.

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He died on September 27th, 2017 at the age of 91. This is a picture taken of him during the last days of his life.

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Ukulele Prodigy and Musician, Tiny Tim

Herbert Butros Khaury, professionally known as Tiny Tim, was a ukulele player and musician. He was in the prime of his career in the ’60s. He was known for his unique high-pitched voice which made him a regular appearance in shows and the only musician of his kind.

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He had suffered a heart attack at one of his performances and was advised not to perform again. He went on anyway and performed at a gala in Minneapolis despite feeling unwell moments before. He suffered a second heart attack and died on November 30th, 1996. This photo was taken on the night of his final performance.

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The Beloved Comedian, Robin Williams

Robin McLaurin Williams was a loved comedian who was known best for his starring role in Mrs. Doubtfire. He played many diverse roles during his career.

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He had a fruitful career until he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia which is a mentally degenerative disease. Because of this, he took his own life on August 11th, 2014.

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West Coast Rap Icon, Tupac Shakur

Many conspiracies surround the authenticity of his death. Either way, this photo is the last known photo of him and a record producer that had had several encounters with the law. On the night of his supposed death, there had been an altercation at a casino in Las Vegas.

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This picture was taken that night. The two had left the scene when they were shot at by unidentified gunmen. Tupac famously refused to disclose the identity of the shooters when asked by the police that found him. He passed away on September 8th, 1996.

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World-Renowned American Novelist, Mark Twain

Having struggled with health problems for a long time, death did not surprise this talented writer. He died on April 21st, 1910. His given name was Samuel Clemens, and his last piece of work was titled “Etiquette for the Afterlife: Advice to Paine.”

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He is best known for his books “Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” He died on the same day Haley’s comet was in the sky, just like the day he was born.

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Actor and Car Enthusiast, James Dean

James Dean loved cars and loved racing them. He died in a car accident on September 30th, 1955 in a new Porsche 550 Spyder that he had just bought a while before. After he purchased it, he showed it to his friend Alec Guinness who predicted that if he got in the car he would be found dead by that time the next week.

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As he drove to a race in California in his Porsche with a mechanic Rolf Wutherich, they were involved in a fatal accident.

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Queen’s Lead Vocalist, Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a megastar in his time being the lead vocalist for one of the greatest bands. He achieved great success as a musician but was very protective of his privacy. It was not public knowledge before he gave a statement on November 3rd, 1991 confirming that he had AIDs.

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His health continued to deteriorate and only a day before he died he released a statement explaining that he would continue to safeguard his privacy.

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The Famous Diarist, Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a Jewish, young diarist who went into hiding during the holocaust. A while after this picture was taken, a diary was sent to Anne Frank which she wrote in throughout her time in hiding with her family.

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It would later be published, translated to over 70 different languages, and become a best seller. The picture was taken years before Anne Frank and her sister Margot Frank died in a concentration camp.

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The Major 20th Century Influencer, Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe always appeared to be vibrant and joyful, but it may all have been a façade. She had been struggling with drug abuse for some time before her death. Her mental health had also taken a severe hit.

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In her last photo, she is seen with famous jazz musician, Frank Sinatra, looking radiant and happy. She died on august 5th, 1962 of suicide only three months after her memorable performance of “Happy Birthday” for former president JFK. Her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio died 37 years later.

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Jamaican Musician, Bob Marley

Bob Marley was famous for the deep messages, his smooth delivery, and his unique style of music. He was a trailblazer for the reggae genre. After an exhilarating performance in Madison Square just a few days before, he collapsed while he was jogging in Central Park.

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After being admitted into the hospital, he was found to have cancer that had been growing in his foot under his toenail. The doctor suggested that the foot be amputated, but Marley decided against this as it was forbidden in his religion. This allowed cancer to spread, and he ultimately died on May 11th, 1981.

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America’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was a major player in shaping the United States of America. He made revolutionary reforms like ending slavery and he had also just been elected for a second term as president when the Civil War ended on April 9th, 1865.

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He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth just one day after. John was loyal to the confederate army. He shot the president at the back of his head. Abraham Lincoln passed away the next day. He was one of four American presidents to be assassinated.

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The Daring Challenger Crew

The Challenger disaster on January 28th, 1986 is still one of the most memorable disasters in the country. The space shuttle exploded just 73 seconds after its launch, killing all seven astronauts on board, including Crista McAuliffe who would have been the first teacher in space.

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The incident happened on live television. A technical malfunction caused the aircraft to explode, destroying it completely.

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The 18th U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant

He was known for playing a big part in defeating the confederate army during the Civil War. After winning battles at two confederate ports in Tennessee, as gratitude the locals gifted him with 10,000 boxes of cigars.

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His love of smoking is what ultimately killed him when he developed throat cancer. This photo was taken as he wrote his memoir which he completed just shortly before his death on July 23rd, 1885.

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Heath Ledger, the Legendary Joker

The young Australian actor moved to the U.S. to further pursue his acting career in 1998. He had many notable roles, but the most significant was his role as ‘The Joker’ in Batman: The Dark Night which earned him a Golden Globe award for best-supporting actor.

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Many believe that it was this role that ultimately led to his demise. He died on January 22nd, 2008 of an overdose of prescription drugs and sleeping pills. This picture was taken of him on the set of the film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

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The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley made a name for himself as one of the most popular musicians to have lived. Years after his death people still recognize his name and his unique style.

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He is said to have died from a heart attack on August 16th, 1977, most likely caused by his addiction to prescription drugs. He died in his mansion also having battled with diabetes.

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The 35th President of the United States of America, JFK

John Fitzgerald Kennedy commonly referred to by his initials JFK, faced many difficulties during his time in office. He however triumphed over all these issues, and his government was effective in dealing with international disagreements.

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He was assassinated while he rode on a motorcade in Dallas, Texas on November 22nd, 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald. This is said to be the last photo captured of him that day.

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Admired Actor of Depth, Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was highly respected in his industry by both his peers and his fans. He was however very troubled towards the end of his life as seen in this disturbing last picture of him. It was captured at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

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He died after overdosing on several drugs on February 2nd, 2014 at the age of 46. He died while the filming of The Hunger Games was still underway. Thus, he had to be cut out of the film.

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Female Aviation Pioneer, Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was a trailblazer in the aviation field. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first-ever pilot to fly from Hawaii to the United States alone. This photo was taken before she embarked on her most dangerous mission yet.

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She wanted to be the first person to circumnavigate the world via airplane. Unfortunately, she did not make it back home as her aircraft went down somewhere in the Pacific. She died on July 2nd, 1937. There were radio signals of her distress call, but no one could help her at the time she died.

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A-list Celebrity, Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze starred in many successful films and was a well-respected actor. He had one of the most successful careers in the film industry in the ’80s and ’90s. He was diagnosed with cancer in January 2008.

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This is a picture of him in his final days after battling cancer for close to two years. He received treatment for the disease but eventually passed on after the long fight on September 14th, 2009.

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Lead Vocalist for the Doors, Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was in the limelight for some time and gained quite some fame. He was known for his consistent controversies. This image shows Morrison with his partner Pamela Courson at Saint-Leud’Esserent.

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He died in Paris after flying there to escape legal trouble in the US. Paris authorities declared that his death was a result of heart failure due to a drug overdose.

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Civil Rights Activist, Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was enrolled in college at the age of 15 where he received his doctorate in systematic theology. He was imprisoned 30 times in his life.

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MLK was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. He was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where he had come to lead a non-violent strike by sanitation workers. The killer, James Earl Ray, was finally captured after two months and received a 99-year prison sentence.

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Comic Book Legend, Stan Lee

Stan Lee’s death was a shock to all of Hollywood as he was the creator of Avengers, X-Men, and the Amazing Spiderman. These comics and later films have been read and watched by both young and old.

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He died at the age of 95 after a long, successful career. He loved to use his imagination and was invaluable to the film industry.

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Rhythm Guitarist of the Beatles, John Lennon

A former member of the Beatles was murdered by one of the fans of the band just outside his own home. They are seen in this picture together.

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The killer, Mark David Chapman, had traveled from Hawaii to kill the great singer because he said that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus. He was allegedly inspired by the book The Catcher in the Rye.

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The Actor, Alan Rickman

The amazing Alan Rickman who starred in movies such as Harry Potter and Die Hard had been struggling with pancreatic cancer secretly. He died on January 14, 2016 at the age of 69.

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The actor whose first career was in graphic design grew his acting talent later on in life and rose to fame in America on the stage. Pictured here, he looked quite healthy despite his disease, and no one suspected that he would die shortly after.

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The 32nd President of the U.S., Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Roosevelt’s handicap that had been kept a secret was not the cause of his death. In fact, it was a brain hemorrhage. He got a slight headache and died.

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Despite having to repeat some of his units in law school, he was able to win elections by a landslide and no other president would rule as long as him. He died on April 12, 1945. His work with the first world atomic bomb was not appreciated by all.

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Singer and Songwriter, Jimi Hendrix

He was a guitarist, a talented singer, and a songwriter. He had a lot to do with the evolution of soul music in the US. He was one of the most recognized musicians of his time. This picture was taken of him by his girlfriend a day before he died.

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He was said to have died from asphyxiation after consuming far more alcohol than he normally would have. There were also high amounts of prescription drugs found in his system.

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Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Lenin was the first leader of the government that took over Russia in 1917 despite having been expelled from a university of law. He had also been arrested and exiled to Siberia for 3 years due to his revolutionary work. He was mummified after his death, something very strange.

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He died at the age of 53 on the 21st of January 1924 after falling into a coma. He had an incurable disease of the blood vessels which caused numerous strokes and eventually death. The complications began after a failed assassination where neither bullet was removed.

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The Great Mind, Albert Einstein

Time Magazine named Albert Einstein “Man of the Century” when he died following his great contributions towards mathematics and the development of the atomic bomb.

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This picture was not released immediately due to respect for the family when Albert Einstein died. He passed away on the 18th of April 1955.

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English Musician, David Bowie

David Bowie was known for his great style and eccentric music. The events in his last music video were interpreted by some fans as a farewell but were later clarified to be just coincidental. This picture was posted to his Instagram two days before he died.

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He passed away on January 10, 2016 after battling liver cancer for some time. During his career, he released a total of 25 albums.

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The 80’s and 90’s A-lister, Burt Reynolds

He had many roles throughout his career and was respected in the industry. Though his career was colorful and successful, Burt Reynolds said that he regretted not doing more serious roles.

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He died of a heart attack at the age of 82 in 2018. He left his mark in Hollywood and is remembered as a very cool guy.

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Ground Breaking Musician, Aretha Franklin

The name Aretha Franklin is recognized by at least two generations. Her songs were as entertaining as they were impactful on society.

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She used her voice to raise women’s rights issues and put them at the forefront of the conversation. She also worked toward the advancement of the black community. She died on August 16th, 2018 at the age of 76 from pancreatic cancer.

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Renowned Physicist, Stephen Hawking

Although he was in such an advanced field, he was recognized by the average person because of his ability to explain complicated facts and laws of physics in a simple nature.

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Sadly, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease early in his life and suffered through it most of his adult life. The disease ultimately killed him at the age of 76 on March 14th, 2018.

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IOS Mogul, Steve Jobs

Steve jobs achieved immediate success when he introduced the world to Apple. His innovation made him and his product household names.

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With Apple products quickly becoming a widespread necessity, his legacy will live on for a long time. He passed away after battling cancer on October 5, 2011.

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The Famous and Well-Loved, Princess Diana

Princess Diana first came to be known through her marriage and later divorce to Prince Charles George of Wales. She was known for her philanthropic nature, especially towards victims of AIDS and international conflict.

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She died in a tragic car crash while she was in a vehicle with two other people, her boyfriend, and her driver, both of whom perished at the scene. Diana was rushed to the hospital but died due to injuries sustained.

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Iconic Nirvana Singer, Kurt Cobain

Like many in the rock music business, Kurt suffered from drug and substance abuse. He slipped into a coma after mixing alcohol with substances but survived and checked into rehab. He did not stay there for long.

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At the age of 27, he took valium and heroin, wrote a suicide note, and shot himself.

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The ‘I Love Lucy’ Star, Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball was last seen at the Academy Awards in 1989 after a friend coaxed her to go. She did not appear to be enjoying herself.

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Her husband had passed away just a few years before, and Lucille had started to experience some health issues. She had to undergo heart surgery. She died of a ruptured artery on April 26th, 1989.

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NASCAR Racer, Dale Earnhardt

Dale was an experienced NASCAR racer who probably did not expect to die. He was photographed with his wife at the Daytona 500 on the day of his passing.

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During the final lap of the race, Dale lost control of his vehicle and since the seatbelt was not installed properly, he hit his head on the steering wheel and died on February 18th, 2001.

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The Great Gambino, Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was one of the greatest baseball players to ever grace the fields. Unfortunately, he developed a tumor that spread to his throat and skull. He was the first person to receive treatment for cancer.

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He was able to give a farewell speech at Yankees Stadium on June 13th, 1948. He passed away at the age of 53 in his sleep on August 16th, 1948.

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Children’s Author, Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin was a well-known children’s author who won over the adult audience with her simple yet elegant way of writing. She used creativity to raise social issues and spark a discussion around them.

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She died on January 22nd, 2018 at the age of 88 at her home in Portland. She was said to have poor health towards the end of her life and to have ultimately succumbed to a heart attack.

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