12 Actors Who Died Before They Were 30

The sudden and tragic death of Academy Award-nominated actor Heath Ledger on Tuesday is the latest in a long line of actors who have passed away at the prime of their life. Shocking as Ledger’s death may be, it isn’t the first time a well-known actor died before they even reached the age of 30, and, with the unpredictable nature of death, certainly wouldn’t be the last.

1. James Dean
February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955

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Killed in a car accident at age 24

2. Sharon Tate
January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969

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Murdered by members of Charles Manson's "Family" at age 26

3. Freddie Prinze
June 22, 1954 – January 29, 1977

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Committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at age 22.

4. Dominique Dunne
November 23, 1959- November 4, 1982

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Strangled by ex-boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney, died a few days later at age 22.

5. Rebecca Schaeffer
November 6, 1967 – July 18, 1989

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Murdered by stalker Robert John Bardo at age 21

6. Brandon Lee
February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993

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Died at age 28 in an accidental shooting on the set of his last movie “The Crow

7. River Phoenix
August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993

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A very young sufferer of drug addiction, River died of a heroin and cocaine overdose at age 23.

8. David Strickland
October 14, 1969 – March 22, 1999

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Committed suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet at age 29.

9. Aaliyah
January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001

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Died in a plane crash at age 22.

10. Thuy Trang
December 14, 1973 - September 3, 2001

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Died in a car accident at age 27

11. Jonathan Brandis
April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003

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Committed suicide by hanging at age 27

12. Brad Renfro
July 25, 1982 – January 15, 2008

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Found dead in his LA apartment at age 25, cause of death still undetermined

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5 Responses to “12 Actors Who Died Before They Were 30”

  1. [...] when these female celebrities met their ultimate fate at the hands of a murderer. Most of them died before they were 30, and that makes their deaths all the more [...]

  2. [...] Guess they’re just luckier than those other celebrities who died young. [...]

  3. What about Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain?

    Jimi died in his sleep after an overdose, 27 years old
    Cobain shot himself in the head with a shotgun after loads of drugs.

  4. EDIT: Kurt Cobain was 27 years old when he died aswell.

  5. Some more:

    Jim Morrison died at 27.
    Christine Chubbuck died just, just, just before her 30th birthday, so she counts too.

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