List Of Famous People Who Committed Suicide

Losing a loved one to suicide is probably one of the most emotionally devastating experiences a person can go through. And when a celebrity commits suicide, then it is not just their family but the entire world that is left shocked and betrayed. On the surface it might seem like celebrities have perfect lives, courted by fame, wealth, and the adoration of fans. However like every other human being, famous people too experience pains and disappointments albeit away from the public eye. The news of a celebrity suicide catches us unawares and shocks us to the core. When the much beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams committed suicide, his fans were left devastated. Just how could someone who made the world laugh get so disillusioned with life that he killed himself? Whitney Houston and Philip Seymour Hoffman are the other two name who immediately come to mind when we talk of suicide. Read on to know more about the famous people who committed suicide.

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 1 

Robin Williams

(Actor & Comedian Best Known for His Roles in 'Mork & Mindy ', 'Popeye' and 'Good Will Hunting')

Birthdate: July 21, 1951

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died: August 11, 2014

One of the finest comedians of all time, Robin Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian and soon moved to act in television and films. Though widely recognised for his comedic skills, the immensely talented Williams proved his versatility by taking up and successfully performing more serious roles in films like Good Will Hunting and The Fisher King.

 2 

Cleopatra

(Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (51 - 30 BC))

Birthdate: 0069 BC

Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt

Died: July 31, 0030

The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the last true pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra is described as an extremely beautiful woman who was also intelligent and educated with command over numerous languages. Her romance and military alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony have inspired numerous art works.

Birthdate: March 30, 1853

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Zundert, Netherlands

Died: July 29, 1890

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter and is said to be one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. However, he was not commercially successful in his lifetime and died by suicide at 37 after years of mental health issues and poverty. He gained recognition and respect in the 20th century.

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 4 

Ernest Hemingway

(American Literary Icon Who Was Known for His Straightforward Prose & Use of Understatement)

Birthdate: July 21, 1899

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Died: July 2, 1961

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist and short-story writer who had a strong impact on 20th-century fiction. He published seven novels and six short-story collections and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea are some of his classic works. He ended his own life in July 1961.

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Birthdate: March 20, 1976

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Died: July 20, 2017

Singer, songwriter, and musician Chester Bennington rose to prominence as the lead vocalist for the band, Linkin Park. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest rock vocalists of his generation. He possessed a three-octave tenor vocal range that showed tremendous durability for the entirety of his career. He died of suicide in 2017.

 6 

Virginia Woolf

(One of the Most Important Modernist 20th-Century Authors)

Birthdate: January 25, 1882

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Kensington, London, England

Died: March 28, 1941

Virginia Woolf was an English writer who pioneered a narrative mode called stream of consciousness to describe the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Regarded as one of the most prominent modernist 20th-century writers, Woolf's works have gained much attention for inspiring feminism. Her life and work have inspired several films, novels, and plays.

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 7 

Sylvia Plath

(Famous for Her Books 'The Bell Jar' and 'Ariel')

Birthdate: October 27, 1932

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: February 11, 1963

Sylvia Plath was an American short-story writer, novelist, and poet. Plath is credited with popularizing confessional poetry and won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Sylvia Plath achieved popularity and critical acclaim despite suffering from clinical depression for the most part of her adult life. Her story inspired the 2003 film Sylvia in which she was portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Birthdate: July 18, 1937

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Died: February 20, 2005

Hunter S. Thompson was an American author and journalist. He is credited with creating his own subgenre of New Journalismcalled the gonzo journalism. The author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was later adapted into a film, Thompson was famous for his lifelong use of drugs and alcohol. His books have had a major impact on counterculture.

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 9 

Hannibal

(Carthaginian General and Statesman)

Birthdate: 0247 BC

Birthplace: Carthage, Tunisia

Died: 0183 BC

 10 

Margot Kidder

(Actress and Activist Known for Her Role as ‘Lois Lane’ in the ‘Superman Film Series’)

Birthdate: October 17, 1948

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Yellowknife, Canada

Died: May 13, 2018

Margot Kidder is best remembered for her roles as Lois Lane in the Superman movie franchise and as Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror. Fans also loved her in the hit Broadway play The Vagina Monologues. She was a vocal anti-war and pro-environment activist. She eventually died by suicide.

 11 

Adolf Hitler

(Nazi Dictator and Chancellor of Germany (1933-1945))

Birthdate: April 20, 1889

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Braunau am Inn, Austria

Died: April 30, 1945

One of the most powerful leaders of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler was a German dicator whose policies started the WWII that resulted in the death of millions of people. He had a visceral hatred for Jews and during his regime nearly six million Jews were killed in Holocaust.

 12 

Avicii

(Swedish DJ & Remixer Known for His Single 'Levels')

Birthdate: September 8, 1989

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 20, 2018

Avicii was a Swedish international DJ, remixer, musician and songwriter. He attained fame with his single, Levels, in 2011. His debut studio album, True, released in 2013 received positive reviews. His second studio album, Stories, was released in 2015. He suffered from mental health issues and died by suicide at age 28. His third album, Tim, was released posthumously in 2019.

Birthdate: November 9, 1979

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Enfield, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Died: February 15, 2020

A British television personality, Caroline Flack presented many shows ranging from I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW!  to The X Factor. Accused of assaulting her boyfriend, she was one of the four participants of the dating reality series Love Island who committed suicide. She stated in her autobiography that he had dated Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.  

Birthdate: February 21, 1962

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ithaca, New York, United States

Died: September 12, 2008

David Foster Wallace was an American author who is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential writers of the past 20 years. His best-known work, Infinite Jest, was named one of the best English-language novels between 1923 and 2005 by Time magazine. Wallace continues to serve as an inspiration to writers like Darin Strauss and George Saunders.

Birthdate: November 15, 1891

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany

Died: October 14, 1944

Known as The Desert Fox, Nazi field marshal Erwin Rommel led the Axis forces during World War II. For his plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944, he was given a choice to either commit suicide by consuming a cyanide pill or face a trial and execution. He chose the former.

 16 

Junior Seau

(American Football Player)

Birthdate: January 19, 1969

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA

Died: May 2, 2012

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Birthdate: December 15, 0037

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Anzio, Italy

Died: June 9, 0068

Nero was the fifth Roman emperor whose rule was associated with tyranny. Five years into his reign, he had his mother Agrippina killed. The Great Fire of Rome, which occurred during his reign, is believed to have been instigated by him for political reasons. He was also responsible for eliminating many Christians from the empire.

Birthdate: April 13, 1976

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Danbury, Connecticut

Died: November 12, 2003

Jonathan Brandis began as a child actor/model and made his acting debut with One Life to Live. He was best known for his Saturn Award-nominated performance in The Never Ending Story II and for his role of Lucas Wolenczak in seaQuest DSV. He eventually committed suicide due to depression.

 19 

Mark Rothko

(American Painter Known or His Abstract Expressionism and Color Field Paintings)

Birthdate: September 25, 1903

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Daugavpils, Latvia

Died: February 25, 1970

Considered part of the New York school of painters of the 1940s, Mark Rothko was best known for his signature color field paintings, consisting of vertically set rectangular patches of color. A significant figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement, he also experimented with murals and mythological themes.

Birthplace: Roman Empire

Pontius Pilate was a Roman governor of Judaea, who served under Emperor Tiberius. The Bible mentions him as the one who presided over Jesus’s trial and ordered his crucifixion. The Gospels describe him as someone who was reluctant to kill Jesus, and the Ethiopian Church venerates him as a saint.

Birthdate: November 8, 1908

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Died: February 15, 1998

 22 

Freddie Prinze

(American Actor and Stand-up Comedian Known for His TV Sitcom ‘Chico and the Man’)

Birthdate: June 22, 1954

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Hell's Kitchen, New York, United States

Died: January 29, 1977

Freddie Prinze, father of Freddie Prinze Jr., was best known as Chico Rodriguez from Chico and the Man. A trained ballet dancer, Freddie had dropped out of high school to become a stand-up comedian. He shot himself to death, though a jury later ruled it an accidental and medicine-induced death.

Birthdate: 0004 BC

Birthplace: Córdoba, Spain

Died: 0065 AD

Roman Stoic philosopher and dramatist Seneca the Younger is remembered for his tragic plays such as Medea and Phaedra. He was exiled to Corsica by emperor Claudius but later returned as a tutor to Nero. He became Nero’s advisor later but committed suicide for being part of the Pisonian conspiracy.

 24 

Tony Scott

(Director Known for His Successful Thriller Films: ‘Top Gun’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’ and ‘Days of Thunder')

Birthdate: June 21, 1944

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Tynemouth, England

Died: August 19, 2012

Tony Scott was an English actor, film director, and producer. He directed several highly successful action and thriller films including Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop II. He graduated from the Royal College of Art and began his career directing commercials. He soon shifted to films and enjoyed tremendous success. He died by suicide in 2012.  

 25 

Elliott Smith

(American Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist)

Birthdate: August 6, 1969

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Omaha

Died: October 21, 2003

Folk singer and guitarist Elliott Smith is best remembered for his tracks Needle in the Hay and Miss Misery, the latter being part of the Oscar-nominated soundtrack of Good Will Hunting. He pioneered the technique of "multi-tracking.” He apparently stabbed himself to death, though the autopsy was inconclusive.

 26 

Jean Seberg

(Known for Her Performance in the French Film ‘Breathless’)

Birthdate: November 13, 1938

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Marshalltown, Iowa, United States

Died: August 30, 1979

Jean Seberg, a French New Wave cinema heroine, had also appeared in many Hollywood films. Some of her notable films were Breathless, Macho Callahan, and Gang War in Naples. The FBI was blamed for causing her suicide by spreading derogatory rumors due to her support for the Black Panther Party.

Birthdate: January 5, 1914

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Woolstock, Iowa

Died: June 16, 1959

George Reeves was an American actor best known for playing the iconic superhero, Superman,in the popular television series, Adventures of Superman. A committed role model, George Reeves avoided smoking cigarettes around children and eventually quit smoking. His death, at the age of 45, was mourned by many and it remains a controversial subject.

Birthdate: March 29, 1994

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Busan, South Korea

Sulli was a South Korean model, actress, and singer who achieved international recognition as part of the girl group f(x). In Korea, Sulli was recognized as a pop culture icon, mainly thanks to her outspoken persona. Her suicide at the age of 25 left many fans mourning and evoked a strong reaction on various social media platforms.

 29 

Keith Emerson

(English Keyboardist and Former Member of the Trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer)

Birthdate: November 2, 1944

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

Died: March 11, 2016

Legendary English keyboardist Keith Emerson gained international fame as a founding member of the progressive rock group trio, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. He was also known for his work with The Nice. A victim of depression in his later years, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Birthdate: November 8, 1986

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Chicago

Died: January 11, 2013

Aaron Swartz was an internet hacktivist, best remembered for creating the web feed RSS, Markdown, and Creative Commons. He also worked with Reddit and founded Demand Progress, which supports internet freedom. He was later charged with computer fraud after breaking into a system at MIT and eventually died by suicide.

 31 

Keith Flint

(Singer, Dancer and Motorcycle Racer Who Was a Member of the Electronic Dance Act ‘The Prodigy’)

Birthdate: September 17, 1969

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Redbridge, London, England

Died: March 4, 2019

Keith Flint, founding member of the electronic dance group The Prodigy, has delivered international hits such as Firestarter and Breathe. He later led the band Flint. He also owned a motorcycle racing team that became Isle of Man TT champions four times. He is known for his tattoos and piercings.

Birthdate: February 16, 1954

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States

Died: July 1, 1996

Margaux Hemingway was an American actress and fashion model. During the mid-1970s, Hemingway became known as a supermodel and graced the covers of popular magazines, such as Time, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. Margaux Hemingway struggled with drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression, which culminated in her suicide by drug overdose at the age of 42.

Birthdate: March 14, 1923

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Died: July 26, 1971

Birthdate: May 12, 1995

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Brownwood, Texas

Died: April 23, 2015

Sawyer Sweeten gained prominence with his performance in Everybody Loves Raymond. He took his own life from a self-inflicted gunshot a fortnight before his 20th birthday. The news of his death left his fans and co-stars shocked.

Birthdate: August 28, 1899

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Figeac, France

Died: August 26, 1978

French-American actor Charles Boyer appeared in more than 80 films in a career that spanned over half a century. He pursued a theatrical career as a young man and eventually moved into films. He achieved extreme popularity with his roles in romantic movies like The Garden of Allah and Love Affair in the 1930s. He received four Academy Award nominations.

 36 

Thich Quang Duc

(Former Vietnamese monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963)

Birthdate: 1897 AD

Birthplace: Hội Khánh, Vietnam

Died: June 11, 1963

 37 

Eva Braun

(Mistress and Later Wife of Adolf Hitler)

Birthdate: February 6, 1912

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Munich, Germany

Died: April 30, 1945

Eva Braun was a long-time companion of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. She was previously Nazi photographer Heinrich Hoffman’s assistant. Hitler and Eva got married just 40 hours before committing suicide together. Eva apparently ingested cyanide, while Hitler shot himself, at the Führerbunker, as the Red Army marched into Berlin.

 38 

Mindy McCready

(Platinum-selling country music singer who is known for albums like 1996's Ten Thousand Angels)

Birthdate: November 30, 1975

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Died: February 17, 2013

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Birthdate: February 3, 1960

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Niagara Falls, New York, United States

Died: February 18, 1993

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Birthdate: July 12, 1854

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Waterville

Died: March 14, 1932

George Eastman revolutionized the world of photography with his Eastman Kodak Company and the roll film, which also came to be used in movies. Initially a banker, he later devoted himself to his camera company. A dedicated philanthropist, too, he contributed financially to music, dentistry, and medicine.

 41 

Inger Stevens

(Swedish-American Actress Best Known for Her TV Series ‘The Farmer's Daughter’)

Birthdate: October 18, 1934

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 30, 1970

Inger Stevens was a Swedish-American actress whose promising career was cut short when she committed suicide at age 35. Stevens is remembered for her performance in TV series like The Farmer's Daughter, for which she received the Golden Globe for Best TV Star – Female in 1963. Her performance in the series also earned her an Emmy nomination in 1964.

 42 

Chelsie Kryst

(Beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2019.)

Birthdate: April 28, 1991

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Jackson, Michigan, United States

Died: January 30, 2022

 43 

Phil Ochs

(Singer)

Birthdate: December 19, 1940

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: El Paso, Texas, USA

Died: April 9, 1976

Birthdate: August 18, 1774

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Ivy, Colony of Virginia

Died: October 11, 1809

Best known for his exploration of the Pacific Northwest and Oregon, Meriwether Lewis led the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition. He had also been the governor of Louisiana. His mysterious death at age 35, due to gunshot wounds, sparked a huge debate on whether it was a murder or a suicide.

 45 

Don Cornelius

(Television show host)

Birthdate: September 27, 1936

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died: February 1, 2012

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

 46 

Yukio Mishima

(One of the Most Important Japanese Authors of the 20th Century)

Birthdate: January 14, 1925

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Yotsuya, Tokyo, Japan

Died: November 25, 1970

Japanese author, poet, and playwright Yukio Mishima is counted amongst the most important Japanese authors of the 20th century. His best-known works feature a fusion of traditional Japanese and modern Western literary styles. He was the founder of the Tatenokai, an unarmed private militia dedicated to traditional Japanese values. He was considered controversial due to his political activities. 

 47 

Capucine

(Model)

Birthdate: January 6, 1928

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Saint-Raphaël, Var, France

Died: March 17, 1990

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

 48 

Melvin Purvis

(FBI agent)

Birthdate: October 24, 1903

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Timmonsville, South Carolina, USA

Died: February 29, 1960

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

 49 

Hugh O'Connor

(Actor)

Birthdate: April 7, 1962

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Died: March 28, 1995

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Birthdate: July 15, 1892

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Died: September 26, 1940

Walter Benjamin was a German Jewish essayist, philosopher, and cultural critic. An eclectic thinker, Benjamin made significant contributions to literary criticism, aesthetic theory, and historical materialism. Although Benjamin's work did not earn much recognition during his lifetime, it continues to be revered by academics several years after his death.