TVGuide.com Asks.... Which of Your Favorite Actors Died Too Soon?

Eire 4Ever

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Tvguidecom-Asks/Heath-Ledger-News/800032632

TVGuide.com Asks.... Which of Your Favorite Actors Died Too Soon?


In light of the sad news about Heath Ledger's overdose, we started thinking about some of the other bright young talents who never got to show the world what they might have done. Starting with Ledger and looking all the way back to the original actor who lived fast and died young, James Dean, here are some of our favorite stars who were gone before reaching the age of 30. — Nina Hämmerling Smith

Heath Ledger (April 4, 1979 — Jan. 22, 2008, accidental overdose):
Perhaps what's hardest about this loss was how unexpected it was; the star of Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You was a young father with a seemingly glowing future ahead of him.

Brad Renfro (July 25, 1982 — Jan. 15, 2008, unknown causes):
Trouble courted this young star, whose first role, in The Client, put him on the map as one to watch at the tender age of 11. Sadly, substance abuse and run-ins with the law plagued him toward the end of his life.

Aaliyah (Jan. 16, 1979 — Aug. 25, 2001, plane crash):
Aaliyah had just wrapped shooting a video in the Bahamas when her plane, overloaded with equipment, crashed shortly after takeoff. Although she was only 22, the R&B sensation had already had success both as a musician and as an actress in Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned.

David Strickland (Oct. 14, 1969 — March 22, 1999, suicide):
The Suddenly Susan star, who had a history of drug and alcohol addiction, took his own life in a Las Vegas motel room. The movie Forces of Nature, in which he appeared with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck, had opened shortly before his death.

River Phoenix (Aug. 23, 1970 — Oct. 31, 1993, drug overdose):
Beloved by fans around the world since his appearance in 1986's Stand by Me, Phoenix established himself as a serious actor in movies like My Own Private Idaho. He died outside of the L.A. night club the Viper Room on Halloween, after taking heroin and cocaine; his brother Joaquin called 911.

Brandon Lee (Feb. 1, 1965 — March 31, 1993, accidental gunshot wound):
Rumors abounded of a curse on this talented family after the son of Bruce Lee, who himself died young, was killed on the set of The Crow. Brandon was shot in the abdomen by a malfunctioning prop gun.

Rebecca Schaeffer (Nov. 6, 1967 — July 18, 1989, homicide):
This promising young star, who was best known for her role opposite Pam Dawber in My Sister Sam, was murdered by a deranged stalker. In response to Schaeffer's death, California state law was changed to make it harder for would-be stalkers to obtain personal information about celebrities.

Freddie Prinze (June 22, 1954 — Jan. 29, 1977, suicide):
A dependence on quaaludes was likely largely responsible for the Chico and the Man star's decision to shoot himself in the head. He was also going through divorce proceedings at the time of his suicide.

Sharon Tate (Jan. 24, 1943 — Aug. 9, 1969, homicide):
The massacre of Tate and four of her friends at the hands of Charles Manson's "family" ranks among the most gruesome and notorious in American history. The Valley of the Dolls star and wife of Roman Polanski was eight and a half months pregnant at the time of her death.

James Dean (Feb. 8, 1931 — Sept. 30, 1955, car accident):
It's a testament to his charisma that Dean remains an indelible cultural icon more than 50 years after his death. His three film credits — Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant — defined teen angst. Dean, who had a passion for fast cars, was killed while driving his Porsche on a stretch of California road.

fillefatale

James Dean is definitely iconic, but I feel he isn't overrated. I have seen and own all three of his films and he was an incredibly promising talent. He went through a lot to make it to that point in his life. I just dislike the way he is overused in modern kitsch society.. on t-shirts and the like. Many people who are "fans" of Dean, are simply so because of the image and what he represents, perhaps not even seeing one of his films.

Heath is the same. He was quite a brooding Dylan character, I wonder will he be as iconic as Dean in fifty years? Considering his death was so tragic.