Every now & then you'll hear of a celebrity who was murdered for whatever reason. I'm not just talking about film stars but anyone who happens to be in the spotlight no matter what their profession.
Two that come to mind are Sharon Tate who was killed by the Manson family & Gianni Versace (the fashion designer) who was shot by that guy on the steps of that building several years ago.
Can you think of any famous people that were murdered?
What was the motive behind their killing if any?
Post Edited (11-15-03 00:01)
the late great phil hartman by his insane druggie wife.
Brinke Stevens I believe
While he wasnt killed George Harrison was stabbed in the gut by some psycho guy.
Dominique Dunne (Poltergeist) - Strangled by ex-boyfriend
Rebecca Schaeffer (My Sister Sam) - Shot by a psycho fan
Lana Clarkson (Barbarian Queen 1 & 2) - Shot by sleazy record producer
John Lennon (Beatles) - Shot by onetime fan
I have no idea what the motives were.
>Brinke Stevens I believe
Nope, Brinke is still alive.
Bob Crane of Hogan's Heros murdered in motel room.
Yeah, the Bob Crane murder is one twisted tale. Apparently the cops are still getting tips on that one.
One that comes to my mind is Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, of Little Rascals fame. I believe it was in the late 50s that he was shot by an acquaintance in an argument over some money he felt he was owed. The ruling was self defense, so the guy was acquitted. I think mental problems must have run in Alfalfa's family, because I vaguely remember reading that his brother had killed a lady friend before turning the gun on himself.
I'm not just talking about film stars but anyone who happens to be in the spotlight no matter what their profession.
My initial thought is 'who cares?' celebrities are just people who do a job that happns to be noticed. I'm far more interested in the character than the actor. I can tell you what movies someone has been in, but not much about their own lives because, well, the actor is not the character and the character is on the screen so that's what I pay attention to.
People kill and are killed every day, if they happen to be someone I know or someone a friend knows or a relative or someone who actually makes a difference to me or the people I know and love, then I care.
Sorry but anything a celebrity does is the culmination of the efforts of dozens to hundreds of people (producers, sound engineers, carpenters, etc..) , most of which are far better trained and probably far more talented and interesting than the 'celebrities'. involved in a project. All I care about is what they do between when the curtain goes up and the curtain comes down..beyond that. I don't know them so I don't really care anything about their lives
Sal Mineo-Stabbed
Sam Cooke-Shot
Rebecca Shaffer(sp?)-stalked and shot
Thomas Ince-shot(possibly by William Randolph Hearst)
Gig Young-murder/suicide
Marvin Gaye was shot twice in the chest and killed instanly by his father during an argument in 1984. A terrible musical loss and a horrible show business tragedy.
I remember another one...
Selena was shot & killed by her fan club manager after allegations arose that the manager was stealing.
IIRC, Michael Jordan's father was murdered in NC a few years ago.
Freep - Excellent response. But you should care about some of these victims. Phil Hartman's wife didn't just murder Phil Hartman. She murdered Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz too. And how many more Nike and Humvee ads might John Lennon have written but for Chapman?
Jill Dando from Crimewatch was shot in the back of the head on her doorstep, execution style. Some guy got put away for it but all the evidence is circumstantial.
Wasnt that young priest off the Exorcist murdered in mysterious circumstances?
Dominique Dunne(older daughter in Poltergeist) was strangled by her abusive boyfriend the night they broke up and left for dead. She died something like 5 days later when she was taken off life support.
ASH.....are you gathering information for a new show on E! ?
I think A.J. Benza already has that job.
Seriously, interesting topic because it makes you recall so many tragic events.
Dorothy Straten
The Black Daliah
David Angel - 9/11
Other good ones would be intentional suicides.....I'm not talking overdoses, but the Kurt-Cobain-swallow-a-shotgun-type.
Speaking of "intentional" suicides, didn't the lead singer of NXS accidentally hang himself in what was termed an "autoerotic misadventure". Talk about an undignified way to go. Just label it suicide and let the guy have at least some dignity.
U.S. Presidents
John F. Kennedy
Abe Lincoln
Games A. Garfield
William McKinley
Michael Hutchins -- the guy from INXS, who allegedly hung himself during auto-erotica -- may have been done in by Bob Geldorf --- read yer conspiracy theories!!
peter johnson/denny crane
The Auto Erotic thing is a rumor. The official story is he mixed alcohol with anti-depressants and in a fit of depression over a custody battle for his children hung himself, If I remember everything correctly. Its a shame. It was looking like INXS was about to finally have a comeback.
Bobby Fuller, of the Bobby Fuller Four (probably only known now for "I Fought the Law") was definitely murdered possibly by mafia.
Jack Vance from ERASERHEAD and (I believe) Albert Decker of DR. CYCLOPS.
Also actor/singer Dick Kallman.
Kallman's bio (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436049/)
Here is a bit of irony about his death from, of all places BATMAN.
BATMAN Guest (http://www.geocities.com/~1966/gueststar38.htm)
And it is Albert Dekker. Rumour has it, that he accidentally hanged himself, while performing an act of autoeroticism.
Questionable: Did George "Superman" Reeves, commit suicide, or was he murdered?
Actual: Ramon Navarro.
One step removed from a celebrity: Bill Cosby's son.
Bugsy Seagal - Gunned down by "mafia"