Phil Hartman- One of the most beloved cast members to grace Saturday Night Live, Phil was well known for his impression of President Bill Clinton. He also contributed to Paul Reubens creation of Pee Wee Herman, and guest starred on The Simpsons many, many times as Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. His warm, yet slick style was always endlessly entertaining. Phil was tragically murdered by his wife in his sleep, who then turned the gun on herself. R.I.P. May 28th, 1998.
James Dean- A lifelong icon for youthful rebellion, he was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. His youthful exuberance, and distaste for authority made him a teen idol. His performance in Rebel Without A Cause put him on par with Marlon Brando. To the teens of the 1950s, he was their equivalent of James Franco. James died in a car accident in California. R.I.P. September 30th, 1955.
Judy Garland- One of Hollywood's most iconic starlets, she graced the screen as Dorothy in the most famous adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Her wholesome good looks, and amazing singing voice made her one of the most popular names in the 1930s and 40s. Her partnership with Mickey Rooney was so iconic, it become hard to picture the two apart at times. Unfortunately, she struggled with drug addiction which led to her untimely death. R.I.P. June 22nd, 1969.
River Phoenix- He was one of the most promising new-comers of the late 1980's. He played a part in some of the most iconic films of the time period, such as the Stephen King coming of age classic Stand By Me, and he appeared as a young Indiana Jones in the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He had a squeaky clean public image, but under the surface he had a hidden drug problem which led to his untimely heart failure and death. R.I.P. October 31st, 1993.
John Belushi- One of the original members of the original Saturday Night Live cast, Belushi was known for his energetic, raunchy humor. Alongside good friend Dan Akroyd, he was one of the original Blues Brothers. He made us fall out of our seats as Bluto in the classic comedy National Lampoon's Animal House. He had an energy that just couldn't be replicated. He passed away from a speedball overdose. R.I.P. March 5th, 1982.
Heath Ledger- I'll be the first to admit I was skeptical of Heath Ledger at first. I didn't think anyone would be able to come close to Jack Nicholson's portrayal of The Joker. Yet, he proved me wrong. He created a twisted take and made the character his own. He had a unique style which made him stand out in Brokeback Mountain, The Patriot, A Knight's Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You. He had aspirations of directing, which unfortunately didn't pan out due to his accidental prescription drug overdose. He was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. R.I.P. January 22nd, 2008.
Bob Crane- World famous Disc Jockey and eponymous star of Hogan's Heroes, Bob was known for his cool, collective, witty ways similar to Robert Downey Jr. He had talents in two ponds. After the show went off the air, he appeared in a couple Disney films, and was still working to the end. He was found dead in his apartment, stabbed with an unknown object, and his murder remains unsolved to this day. R.I.P. June 29th, 1978.
Paul Walker- A very talented soul, Paul was most well known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the Fast and The Furious series. Off screen, he participated in charitable work, such as flying to Haiti and Chile after their respective earthquakes, and even as he died, he was leaving a charity event for Reach Out Worldwide. His demeanor made him popular, his style made him a badass, his offscreen life was free of scandal, he was a very talented and respectable entertainer. Paul passed away yesterday in a tragic car accident. R.I.P. November 30th, 2013.
To all of these entertainers, and to those not on this list, I say Rest In Peace.
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