Martha Mansfield (1899-1923)
This silent film star and former Ziegfield Follies dancer had just completed work on ‘The Warrens of Virginia’ when she met her unfortunate end. Dressed in Civil War costumery of hoop skirts and ruffles, Mansfield was a walking fire safety hazard. After bidding her co-stars a fond farewell, she hopped into her car to head home, just as another cast member accidently tossed a smokers match in her general direction. Her vintage costume immediately ignited.
Despite the best efforts of her chauffer to put out the flames, she died 24 hours later.
Sam Cooke (1931-1964)
Considered one of the pioneers of soul, Sam Cooke’s life was cut short in mysterious and violent circumstances.
Staying in a Californian motel, Cooke burst into the manager’s office demanding to know the whereabouts of his female companion. According to the manager, an enraged Cooke was wearing only a sports jacket and began to threaten and attack her. She shot him to death in self defence. Many believe that his hotel companion had been a prostitute who had stolen his money – whilst she always maintained she had fled Cooke in fear of rape.
However, family and supporters of Cooke have long held that there was a conspiracy to murder Cooke and deny the official version of events. Controversy was further fuelled when singer Etta James claimed that she viewed Cooke’s body in the funeral home and claimed he had been so badly beaten that his hands were crushed, his nose mangled and his head nearly removed from his body.
Zishe Breitbart (1883-1925)
Polish Circus performer, Vaudeville strongman and Jewish folk hero, Zishe Breitbart fought the anti-semitism of pre-war Germany to gain the reputation of the ‘World’s Strongest Man.’
He died a sad and premature death at the age of 42 following a stage show during which he pushed a rusty spike through five 1 inch thick oak boards resting on his knee. The spike pierced his knee, causing an acute infection. He died 8 weeks later.
Breitbart’s life was fictionalised in Werner Herzog’s 2001 film Invincible with added Nazi’s for dramatic effect.
River Phoenix (1970-1993)
The promising and beautiful actor had his life cut short outside of Johnny Depp’s Viper Room on Sunset Strip when he collapsed into seizures due to a Speedball overdose. His traumatised younger brother Joaquin, called 911 and begged for ambulance workers to save his brother - you can listen here.
Click on River for a coffin shot - but be warned, it isn’t nice.
Eve Meyer (1928-1977)
American pin-up and first wife of legendary exploitation director Russ Meyer, this former Playboy playmate met her end in the the world’s worst pre-9/11 aviation accident - The Tenerife Disaster. During take off preparations, Meyer’s Pan-Am airflight collided with a Dutch plane on the runway. Some managed to survive the American flight by climbing out onto the wing of the plane and awaiting rescue. All 248 passengers and crew on the Dutch flight perished.
Peg Entwhistle (1908-1932)
On September 16th 1932, negative reviews and alcohol drove the Welsh born starlet to the Hollywood hills. Taking off her coat and folding it neatly at the base of the Hollywood sign (then Hollywoodland) she clawed her way to the top of the 45ft ‘H’ and jumped.
Her dramatic death and sad tale of disenchanted stardom has attracted death site hunters to the sign for decades. Many claim to spot a sad looking woman dressed in 30s style clothing roaming the hills, scaring pets and smelling of Gardenias.
Could it be Peg’s ghost?
It’s a morbid dork with a flapper dress.
Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)
At the height of his early 80s comeback, Gaye retreated from the spotlight. Depressed and exhausted, Gaye moved back into his parents home and immediately locked horns with his aggressive father.
On the day before his 45th birthday, Gaye intervened during a row between his parents and was shot by his father using a gun that had been a gift from him only 4 months earlier.
Considered at the time to be a clear cut case of manslaughter, it has since been noted that Gaye threatened suicide following several arguments with his father leading some to conclude that Gaye deliberately provoked his father into a murderous rage.
Click on Marvin for a coffin shot.
Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes (1971-2002)
The TLC singer had a troubled life in a unsympathetic media spotlight. She hit the news in 1994 after she set fire to her boyfriend’s tennis shoes in a revenge act that got out of hand. The fire spread and burned his mansion to the ground.
Lopes died when she lost control of the car she was driving. She was being followed at the time by a documentary crew who filmed the deadly crash:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YGCYocbnGS8
Click on Left Eye’s pic for a morgue shot.
