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.