13 Famous Missing People

Celeb Stalker Power
Ranker 74,197 views 13 items

Who are some of the most famous missing people in history? This list includes very well-known actors and actresses, journalists, musicians, socialites and even heads of state who have all, at some point, been reported missing. The circumstances of their disappearances are all fascinating, and some, sadly, have never been found.

One of the more high-profile missing persons cases of 2012 isn't actually a missing persons case at all. Katherine Jackson was reported as missing in late-July of 2012, by her nephew, Trent Jackson. The whole situation is totally bizarre. Ms. Jackson was, when she was supposedly missing, actually in Arizona with other Jackson family members, playing Uno.

Some of the most well-known missing people on this list vanished forever, with no trace left behind. Their bodies were never found, and friends and family were left to wonder forever what happened. Conspiracy theories about their fates, not surprisingly, run rampant. A few musicians on this list, including Kurt Cobain, are members of the so-called "27 Club," because they vanished and/or died when they were just 27 years old.

Other famous missing persons listed here were discovered weeks, months, or even years later. A status update is included for each person on this list.

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6

Jason Mewes

Actor Jason Mewes's troubles with substance abuse were well documented. In 2001, Mewes failed to appear at a mandatory court hearing stemming from his arrest on heroin charges. A warrant was issued, and Mewes was found to be essentially off the grid.

Status: Found

In April of 2003, Jason Mewes resurfaced, appearing in a Freehold, New Jersey, courtroom to answer to charges. A judge sentenced the Jay and Silent Bob star to mandatory rehab for several months. He was also given probation through 2005.
7

Philip Taylor Kramer

Philip Taylor Kramer was a musician with the band Iron Butterfly before he pursued a career in aerospace engineering. He went on to found the multimedia company Total Multimedia Inc. By all accounts, Kramer's life was going swimmingly.

In February of 1995, things took a bizarre turn. Just after having made what some believe was a monumental discovery: a math formula "for transmissions at 'faster than light' speed," Taylor Kramer left his home to pick up a business associate at LAX. He never arrived. His final calls were strange and unsettling. He called former musician friends, telling him he loved them, and then he called his wife, saying, "Whatever happens, I'll always be with you." His final call? It was to 911. He told the dispatcher, "This is Philip Taylor Kramer, and I am going to kill myself."

A massive search was launched to find Kramer, but years went by with no sign. It seemed the man had simply vanished into thin air. The case of the missing Kramer was featured on a lot of high-profile talk shows and crime shows, and still, no new leads were ever generated.

Status: Dead

Finally, in late-May of 1999, skeletal remains later positively identified as those of Philip Taylor Kramer were found inside a minivan in Decker Canyon, just outside of Malibu, California. Given his suicide call to 911 before he vanished, his death was ruled a probable suicide by police -- a decision that Kramer's family still disputes. Was Philip Taylor Kramer murdered?
8

James Allan

Glasvegas singer James Allan gave fans (and band mates) quite a scare when he disappeared for several days in September of 2009. News that Allan had apparently vanished went global after he failed to appear at the Mercury Awards (where Glasvegas was set to perform). Initial reports said that the Scottish singer was ill, but behind the scenes, everyone was worried.

Status: Found

Five days later, James Allan let Glasvegas's manager know he was fine. He was apparently in New York City, though it's not clear why he took off from Europe for the U.S. Allan eventually joined Glasvegas in Boston a few days later, where the band was opening for Kings of Leon.

Several Glasvegas dates were canceled in 2009, including a high profile gig at the Coachella music festival. At the time, reports cited Allan's "exhaustion" as the reason, but in March of 2011, Allan admitted in an interview with The Sun that he'd suffered "an overdose."
9

Harold Holt

Austrailian Prime Minister Harold Holt vanished more than four decades ago. The 59-year-old Holt was last seen on December 17, 1967, swimming in the rough currants of Cheviot Beach (near Melbourne) with friends. According to the witnesses who were there that day, despite the dodgy conditions (including a lot of high waves), Holt decided that a dip was in order. As he swam farther from shore, friends called out, telling him to turn back -- but he disappeared, never to be seen again.

Status: Presumed dead

A massive search and rescue operation was launched in the waters surrounding Cheviot Beach, but Holt's body wasn't found. Within days, he was "presumed dead," and a state funeral was held on December 22, 1967.

The disappearance of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt remains a mystery, and the subject of some wild theories: Did Holt fake his own death? Did he commit suicide? The suicide theory is even the subject of the 2007 documentary, Who Killed Harold Holt?
10

Richey James Edwards

Manic Street Preachers guitarist and songwriter Richey Edwards vanished on February 1, 1995, last spotted at the Embassy Hotel in London, England. After checking out of the hotel, Edwards apparently drove to his apartment in Cardiff, Wales. The 27-year-old musician's car was discovered more than two weeks later, parked at the Severn View services station.

Status: Presumed dead

Richey Edwards's body was never found, but in November of 2008 - more than 13 years after his disappearance - his parents had him officially declared as "presumed dead." The mystery surrounding Edwards continues to this day. No one seems to know exactly what happened, and reported sightings of Edwards are ongoing. Is Richey Edwards actually dead? Did he just decide to vanish, or did he possibly take his own life?