8 actors we lost far too soon
Hollywood loves the young and beautiful, and it's easy to think of our favorite stars as
being immortal up on the big screen. Sadly, that isn't the case, and a number of actors
have given us sobering reminders of just how fragile life can be. Here are eight examples
of talented performers we lost far too soon.
Paul Walker
An action movie veteran who served as a cornerstone of The Fast and The Furious franchise, Paul
Walker had broader ambitions beyond starring in your average action flick. He branched
out with projects like the Hurricane Katrina-inspired Hours, and the ensemble comedy Pawn Shop Chronicles.
There's really no telling what he might have been able to accomplish if he'd survived the
tragic car crash that took his life at the age of 40 in November 2013.
Heath Ledger
He may have gotten his start on Australian television, but the first glimpse of Heath
Ledger's gifts for worldwide audiences came courtesy of the 1999 teen comedy 10 Things
I Hate About You. Ledger's work as the brooding teen Patrick Verona, while certainly one of
the movie's highlights, didn't really hint at the depth of his talent, which was only
exposed after he shrugged off his shot at Hollywood hunkdom in favor of taking on more
challenging parts in pictures like Monster's Ball and Brokeback Mountain. For many, Ledger's
defining role came as the Joker in The Dark Knight, which netted him a Best Supporting
Actor Oscar after his shocking death of an accidental prescription drug overdose in early
2008. Only 28 when he died, Ledger would certainly have gone on to even greater things.
Bruce Lee
Martial arts legend Bruce Lee made some of the best-loved kung fu movies of all time,
and he seemed like he was only getting started. But in 1973, at the age of 32, he died of
brain swelling, denying the world his gifts. The Lee family's tragic history continued
in 1993, when Lee's son Brandon was accidentally shot and killed while filming a scene during
production on The Crow. Just 28 when he died, Brandon might have taken his father's legacy
even further; instead, his death added another dark chapter to an already grim story.
Skye McCole Bartusiak
Though she isn't anywhere as well-known as some of the other names on this list, Skye
McCole Bartusiak compiled an incredible repertoire of credits during her too-brief career. A
mere 7 years old when she booked a role in The Cider House Rules, Bartusiak went on to
star alongside such famous names as Mel Gibson in The Patriot, Michael Douglas in Don't Say
a Word, and Hilary Swank in a stage adaptation of The Miracle Worker. Along the way, she
also appeared in a supporting role on 24 and was nominated three times for a Young Artist
Award. She was only 21 when she succumbed to an accidental drug overdose in 2014.
River Phoenix
Getting his acting start at the tender age of 10, River Phoenix quickly found fame through
memorable appearances in '80s movies like Stand by Me and Explorers. Tempted with teen
idol status, Phoenix mostly avoided paycheck roles, focusing instead on roles in films
like The Mosquito Coast, Little Nikita, and Running on Empty. But while he led a serious
actor's life on the big screen, his personal affairs were sadly far more stereotypical
for Young Hollywood. His dangerous habits caught up with him in the fall of 1993, when
the 23-year-old Phoenix collapsed outside a Los Angeles club after overdosing on multiple
drugs.
John Belushi
Part of what audiences loved about comic actor John Belushi during his breakout years on
Saturday Night Live was his wild, untameable image. While that manic, outsized energy was
great for SNL and movies like Animal House, it was only part of a lifestyle that was far
too intense to last. As Belushi's stardom continued to rise with 1980's Blues Brothers
and a host of planned projects that would have highlighted his dramatic range, his chemical
indulgences continued to worsen. Despite the best efforts of friends and loved ones concerned
for his well-being, Belushi succumbed to a drug overdose in March of 1982, at the age
of 33.
Chris Farley
His infectious energy and ample girth provoked plenty of John Belushi comparisons after Chris
Farley joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in the spring of 1990. Sadly, the two stars
also shared similarities off-screen, and like Belushi, Farley's SNL tenure was shadowed
by concerns for his long-term health. In spite of his personal demons, Farley branched out
into a promising film career that included the 1995 cult classic Tommy Boy—but after
he was fired from SNL the same year. He never really came close to achieving his potential.
Like Belushi, Farley was only 33 at his time of death, the sad result of a drug overdose
in December 1997.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Arguably one of the greatest actors of his generation, Philip Seymour Hoffman carved
out a solid niche for himself as one of Hollywood's "that guy" supporting players. Eventually,
Hoffman got a leg up from director Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in a series of productions
starting with 1996's Hard Eight. As his profile rose, Hoffman bounced between arthouse dramas,
mainstream comedies, and even blockbuster action pictures like Mission: Impossible III
and the Hunger Games franchise. Sadly, he also struggled with substance abuse. After
more than 20 years of sobriety, he relapsed in 2013, overdosing on a mixture of drugs
early the following year, at the age of 46.
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