Few things make headlines like the death of
a celebrity.
Even if you’ve never met them, the passing
of a famous person can come as quite a shock,
especially if they happen to die on the same
day as another important figure.
Here’s a look at some celebrities who freakishly
died on the same day.
Farrah Fawcett rose to fame during her run
as one-third of Charlie’s Angels, and just
so happens to be the subject of the best selling
pin-up poster of all time.
Unfortunately, at age 62, Fawcett succumbed
to a rare form of cancer in a Santa Monica
hospital on June 25th, 2009.
However, news of her passing was quickly overshadowed
in the media by Michael Jackson, who died
later that same day due to an overdose of
medications administered by his own doctor.
“The King of Pop” rose to fame with his
brothers in the Jackson 5 before moonwalking
his way to global stardom as a solo artist
and creating unforgettable hits such as “Thriller”
and “Billie Jean.”
Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, was charged
with involuntary manslaughter in February
2010, and served two years in prison for his
role in the star’s untimely death.
Italian film director Federico Fellini was
famous for pushing the boundaries of what
film could say and do.
Described by Time magazine as “brilliant”
and “mad,” Fellini’s films are well
known for their imaginative, sometimes shocking
content.
The director was 73 when he passed away from
cardiac arrest on Halloween in 1993.
Though internationally renowned, Fellini's
death was overshadowed in the States by the
untimely passing of River Phoenix, who died
of a drug overdose the same day.
A teen idol in the '80s and early ‘90s,
Phoenix made his name in films like Stand
By Me and Running on Empty.
Contrary to his clean image, however, Phoenix
was living a secret, drug-fueled life.
On Halloween night 1993, Phoenix began having
seizures outside The Viper Room in LA, ultimately
dying due to a lethal mixture of morphine
and cocaine.
Few frontmen have had made an impact as significant
as Freddie Mercury.
From his incredible stage presence to his
remarkable vocal range, Mercury and his bandmates
in Queen are recognized as some of the greatest
performers in rock and roll history.
While he was a powerhouse on stage, Mercury
was a famously private individual.
So when rumors began circulating in the 1980s
about his declining health, Mercury chose
not to address them.
It wasn’t until November of 1991 that the
famous frontman released a statement acknowledging
he had been diagnosed as HIV-positive and
had developed AIDS.
Only a day later, on November 24th, Mercury
passed away at his home.
Across the ocean, KISS drummer Eric Carr had
fallen ill in early 1991.
He was diagnosed with heart cancer, according
to the LA Times, and despite undergoing both
surgery and chemotherapy, passed away on November
24th, 1991.
Carr had replaced drummer Peter Criss in 1980
and stayed with KISS for 11 years, recording
eight albums.
He was only 41 when he passed.
Though Mahatma Gandhi and Orville Wright had
almost nothing in common, both men left a
lasting influence throughout the world.
Along with his brother Wilbur, Orville Wright
is credited with essentially creating modern
aviation.
The Wright brothers’ historic 1903 flight
was the first instance of a controlled, sustained
flight in a powered, heavier-than-air vehicle,
a breakthrough that paved the way for air
travel as we know it today.
However, Orville Wright never experienced
the joys of flying first class, as the 79-year-old
passed away on January 30th, 1948.
Gandhi, meanwhile, inspired civil rights around
the world through his peaceful acts of civil
disobedience.
Known for his passive resistance approach
to political dissent, Gandhi spent his life
fighting against oppression, seeking India's
independence from Britain, and promoting peace
between Muslims and Hindus.
Unfortunately, on January 30th, 1948, the
78 year-old leader was assassinated while
on his way to a prayer meeting.
Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving
prime minister of England in the 20th century,
with a tenure surpassing 11 years.
That’s a decent run at any job, let alone
running an entire country.
Thatcher is widely considered Britain’s
most important politician in the postwar era,
though her legacy is internationally known.
In 2011, Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her
portrayal of Thatcher in the 2011 film based
on her life, The Iron Lady.
Thatcher, who had dementia, never saw the
film before suffering a stroke and passing
away on April 8th, 2013.
The former prime minister was 87 years old.
Across the ocean, American actress Annette
Funicello passed away the same day as Thatcher
due to multiple-sclerosis related complications.
Funicello had been a staple of American pop
culture since appearing in the Mickey Mouse
Club as a teenager, but the actress was perhaps
best known for starring in the Beach Party
film series of the 1960s.
Funicello was 70 at the time of her death.
While John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are
known in American history for their work on
the Declaration of Independence, not many
people know of the more eerie connection these
Founding Fathers share.
The second and third presidents, respectively,
Adams and Jefferson’s friendship decayed
into a bitter rivalry for a time due to opposing
political viewpoints.
However, the two were able to rekindle their
friendship once neither was in charge of the
country, and remained close until dying within
hours of one another on July 4th, 1826, exactly
50 years after signing the Declaration of
Indepence.
Talk about a freaky coincidence.
Legend has it that the last sentence the 90-year-old
Adams muttered before he died was “Thomas
Jefferson still survives.”
While there’s little proof of that, Adams
would have been wrong anyway.
Jefferson died five hours prior to Adams’
death.
