Tragic Facts About Fallen Stars That Shocked The World
Sharon Tate. Heath Ledger. The 27 Club. Hollywood history is full of stars who were taken from us far too soon.
Whether they left this Earth after tumultuous battles with addiction or if foul play is suspected, one thing is certain: Tinsel Town would be a brighter place if these lost souls had been able to find their way back home.
1. Lover of Life, Singer of Songs
Known for his flamboyant persona and stage presence, the lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, maintained that he wanted to keep making music as long as possible--even after he learned some tragic news. The singer was diagnosed with AIDS.
After telling the band, he refused to discuss it again, and only confirmed rumors of his illness one single day before his passing.
2. Founder of the Fab Four
From helping to found the Beatles to his anti- battle songs like “Give Peace a Chance” and "Imagine", John Lennon was a complete legend. Sadly, all the fame in the world couldn't protect him from a heartbreaking end.
In 1980, a deranged fan named Mark David Chapman fatally shot Lennon outside his apartment building in New York City.
Mere moments after, Chapman startled passersby with an eerie gesture. He calmly sat down and started reading The Catcher in the Rye. Lennon’s murderer, Mark David Chapman, has been close to getting parole a number of times since Lennon’s passing. Lennon's partner Yoko Ono has fought the man’s parole on nine occasions for fear for her own life.
Getty Images
3. The Latina Madonna
At age 15, Selena won the Tejano Music Award for Female Entertainer of the Year, which led to a deal with a major record label. Her music was able to cross cultural boundaries, and she was sometimes hailed as the “Latina Madonna". But on March 31, 1995, everything came crashing down. At just 23-years-old, Selena was fatally shot in the back by her friend, and president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar.
4. Behind the Lights
Saldivar had been managing boutiques opened by Selena, and had been accused of embezzling from both the stores and the fan club. The two met to discuss the financial situation, and that's when Saldivar shot Selena.
According to doctors, if the slug had hit just a millimetre to the side, Selena would've survived. A few weeks later, then Texas Governor George W. Bush declared April 16 Selena Day in her honor in the state.
