A cult slaying, a singer shot by his own father, and a world-renowned legend who accidentally
crossed paths with a serial killer. Here are the tragic stories of celebs who were gone too soon.
Sharon Tate was one of the most beautiful actors in Hollywood before she fell victim to one of
the most notorious and devastating murders of the decade. At the time of her murder,
Tate was married to film director Roman Polanski, was a Golden-Globe nominee for her
work in "Valley of the Dolls", and was known for roles in multiple films and TV series.
"The most beautiful girl that ever appeared on the show was, unfortunately, Roman Polanski's wife."
The night of the murders,
Sharon Tate and three of her friends were at the home she shared with Polanski.
The home on Cielo Drive once belonged to a record producer named Terry Melcher, who was
also the son of famed actress Doris Day. Melcher was said to have snubbed an unhinged man named
Charles Manson on a record deal, leaving Manson extremely bitter. According to "Cults Uncovered:
True Stories of Mind Control and Murder," this is when Manson wanted revenge on Hollywood,
and ordered three of his followers to go to Melcher's supposed home.
Tate, her unborn baby, her three friends, and a friend visiting the home's caretaker
were brutally murdered that night. Many months passed before Manson and his three
followers were identified as the murderers and were all were sentenced to life in prison.
Tupac Shakur was born in Harlem, New York, and was one of the most well-respected artists in
the hip-hop community. Like Biggie Smalls, who was also shot and killed six months after Tupac,
he was taken from us entirely too soon. He was only 25 years old, and his death came
unexpectedly at the hands of a gunman. Tupac was in and out of prison, and his gang-affiliated
lifestyle inspired him to create a certain music genre that appealed to his audience,
as did his deceased adversary Biggie Smalls. Fan-favorites that are still consistently played
on the radio or shared on playlists are "Changes," "California Love," and "Hit Em Up," to name a few.
"Honestly, I feel like I could represent my
generation so much because I honestly did not care whether I lived or died."
In the 1990s, it was no secret that the gang rivalries between the East and West
Coast were steadily increasing and becoming more dangerous. Sadly, in the case of Tupac,
he was shot and killed after leaving a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas in 1996. Tragically, he passed
away from his injuries six days later. Although no one was officially charged with Tupac's murder,
police suspected fellow hip-hop artist Orlando Anderson, who was also sadly gunned down in 1998,
per MTV. Tupac is best remembered for his incredible music, and acting roles
in films like "Juice" and "Poetic Justice." In death, Shakur became even more of a rap legend.
Dominique Dunne was on her way to the top when her life was tragically and
suddenly cut short by an extremely jealous ex-boyfriend. Dunne was best
known for her roles in films like "Poltergeist', where she portrayed
the teen daughter of the family who was haunted by evil spirits in their house.
"Oh, yeah? What do you know about it?"
"More than you. Ask dad."
"Ask dad."
The movie became a cult classic, and Dunne was well-received by both critics and
producer Steven Spielberg. There was no doubt her future would be bright.
According to Vanity Fair, the young star grew up very affluent and well educated. She was the
daughter of journalist Dominick Dunne, whom she was named after, and her mother, Ellen,
who suffered from multiple sclerosis. In the early 1980's, Dunne met John Thomas Sweeney,
who was a chef at the fancy Ma Maison Restaurant in Los Angeles. The two
began dating and immediately moved in together — which is when the relationship began to crumble.
Sweeney became physically abusive. Dunne managed to escape the relationship,
moved in with her mother, and changed the locks to their apartment. All was well until Sweeney
showed up one afternoon to the apartment when Dunne was rehearsing a scene with fellow actor
David Packer. Packer heard a scream and called the police immediately. Sweeney had
shot and killed Dominique Dunne, and would have turned the gun on himself if the police had not
arrived. Dunne was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at only 22 years old.
Gianni Versace was the world-famous Italian designer and founder of the high-end fashion
label bearing his own name. Versace's mother was a dressmaker, and the young Italian boy grew up
around fashion, working for other designers like Mario Valentino and more. Before he knew it,
he was dressing super models like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell with his
daring designs and creations. Simply put, Versace truly became an iconic designer.
According to History, there was no evidence that serial killer Andrew Cunanan ever met
Gianni Versace; the only thing they had in common was that they were both openly gay,
and possibly had some mutual friends. Cunanan was already on the FBI's most-wanted list after going
on a killing spree, and had fled to Miami during the man-hunt. For reasons unknown,
Andrew Cunanan shot Versace twice in the head while he was coming home after a morning walk,
and the fashion designer died instantly.
"He disappeared.
He's gone. He's underground. Now the FBI is hunting for him. Everybody's hunting for him."
Cunanan was eventually found on the houseboat that belonged to Versace
that he had broken into after the murder. Police discovered he had killed himself,
but did not leave a note explaining any of his actions. The world — especially the
fashion world — has mourned the untimely death of the talented Gianni Versace.
Carl Switzer was best known for being a child actor who played the iconic role
of Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" comedy, which is now affectionately known to
most people as "The Little Rascals." "Our Gang" was so successful that it
became a television series and would employ Switzer for years to come.
After "The Little Rascals," Switzer found himself much older, struggling for tiny roles on the big
and small screen; it was clear that his days of being a successful actor were over. He made his
money working random jobs like bartending, and, unfortunately, had quite a few episodes with the
local police. This is sadly not surprising as so many child actors head down a path of destruction.
On the night he was killed, Switzer and a friend went to the home of someone who was believed
to owe him money. According to PopCrush, he was shot to death during an argument over $50 – the
equivalent of a little less than $500 today, per DollarTimes. Moses Stiltz, the shooter,
said the former child star threw a knife at him so he retaliated by shooting him in the stomach.
Legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye sadly didn't live to see his 45th birthday; shockingly,
the man who gave him life was also the one to take his life. Gaye was murdered by his own father.
Gaye had a career lasting an incredible 25 years and was one of the most influential
artists of his time. In his personal life, however, he never had the best
relationship with his father, Marvin Gay Sr., dating back to childhood. Marvin Sr.
was a preacher and an advocate of strict morals that he instilled in his children.
"You don't find me around too many lawyers these days. A few deacons, yeah."
It was also rumored that he had issues with alcohol, and instead of being
proud of his son, he was always jealous and resentful of his musical success.
After winning a Grammy award and watching his song "Sexual Healing" rise to the top the charts,
Marvin Jr. seemed to be in a fragile state, mentally, physically, and financially. He
struggled with depression which led to him moving back in with his parents. The morning
of his death, he was having an argument with his father that quickly became a physical
fight. That's when Marvin Sr. took a revolver given to him by his son and shot him in his
chest three times. According to Marvin Jr.'s brother Frankie, his chilling last words were:
Actor and comedian Phil Hartman made us laugh on "Saturday Night Live" and
in many films. Hartman's comedic timing and the way he worked with the late Chris Farley
on skits like "Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker" made Hartman a household name.
According to Biography, after two failed marriages, Hartman met his third wife,
Brynn Omdahl, who was an aspiring model. Omdahl was previously addicted to cocaine,
but was in recovery when she met and married Hartman.
"He talked about that she had been in rehab and had a lot of troubles,
but she was great, and they got along great."
The couple had two children that he adored, and according to Hartman's friends,
his career appeared to be thriving and he seemed incredibly content. Per the
Los Angeles Times, Hartman told his friend Joe Dante,
However, Omdahl's career seemed to be at a stand-still, causing a rift between
the couple and causing her to relapse. Her erratic behavior became increasingly worse,
thus leading up to the tragic night. Per Biography, while under the influence,
she shot and killed her husband Phil Hartman before turning the gun on herself. They were
survived by their now adult children, Birgen and Sean. Truly heart-breaking.