People We Wish Were Still Alive
List Rules
Vote up the famous people who died before they lived up to their complete potential.
RIP to our world's greatest achievers, those who changed the way we live and the ways we thought. This list of people we wish were still alive includes some of the greatest humanitarians, artists, politicians, and celebrities we wished could have stayed with us longer. These notable dead people passed ahead of their time; regardless of the reason or timing, these are famous people who died while they still had very much to contribute to the world.
There are myriad great people who died too soon on this list. Among them, composers like Mozart, rock musicians like Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, politicians like JFK, and even celebrity personalities like the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. All these famous dead people left too soon, and left a void most people can never fill. This list of dead celebrities features many beloved icons who are still very missed. You'll see great people who have died, like Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana. Prince is a famous dead entertainer who many would likely kill to have back in this world. Robin Williams is another famous dead person who many still celebrate and miss. This list of dead people is really a space to celebrate those we wish had never passed.
Who are some famous dead celebrities who should still be alive? These famous deceased people were gone way too soon. Who are the celebrities that died before their time? There are many reasons you might want to vote up your favorite notable deceased person, so make sure to do so on this list of famous people you wish were still alive. If your favorite dead celebrity isn't listed, feel free to add them to the discussion.
Ranked by
- 31Dec. at 27 (1942-1970)
- Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States of America
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His mainstream career lasted only four years, ...more - 32Dec. at 54 (1957-2012)
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957 – September 3, 2012) was an American actor best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile (1999), for which he was nominated for the ...more - 33Dec. at 63 (1929-1993)
- Birthplace: Ixelles, Belgium
Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during Hollywood's Golden ...more - 34Dec. at 56 (1955-2011)
- Birthplace: California, United States of America
Steven Paul Jobs (; February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American business magnate, entrepreneur and investor. He was the chairman, chief executive officer (CEO), and co-founder of Apple Inc., ...more - 35Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)
- Birthplace: Virginia, United States of America
George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He presided over the convention ...more - 36Dec. at 50 (1958-2009)
- Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States of America
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of ...more - 37Dec. at 35 (1756-1791)
- Birthplace: Salzburg, Austria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. Born in ...more - 38Dec. at 87 (1910-1997)
- Birthplace: Skopje, Yugoslavia
Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu (born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Albanian: [aˈɲɛzə ˈɡɔndʒɛ bɔjaˈdʒiu]; 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), commonly known as Mother Teresa and honoured in the Roman Catholic Church ...more - 39Dec. at 78 (1869-1948)
- Birthplace: Porbandar, India
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful ...more - 40Dec. at 77 (1911-1989)
- Birthplace: Jamestown, New York, United States of America
Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, model, entertainment studio executive and producer. She was the star of the self-produced sitcoms I Love ...more - 41Dec. at 51 (1564-1616)
- Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
William Shakespeare (bapt. 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest ...more - 42Dec. at 53 (1936-1990)
- Birthplace: Greenville, Mississippi, USA
James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, filmmaker, and screenwriter who achieved worldwide notice as the creator of ...more - 43Dec. at 57 (1952-2009)
- Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States of America
Patrick Wayne Swayze (; August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009), was an American actor, dancer, singer, and songwriter. Gaining fame with appearances in films during the 1980s, he became popular for ...more - 44Dec. at 74 (1942-2016)
- Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Nicknamed "The Greatest," he is widely regarded as ...more - 45Dec. at 74 (1928-2003)
- Birthplace: Latrobe, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) was an American television personality, musician, puppeteer, writer, producer, and Presbyterian minister. He was known as the creator, ...more - 46Dec. at 65 (1940-2005)
- Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois, United States of America
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling ...more - 47Dec. at 82 (1930-2012)
- Birthplace: Ohio, United States of America
Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who was the first person to walk on the Moon. He was also a naval aviator, test pilot, and ...more - 48Dec. at 33 (1949-1982)
- Birthplace: Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American comedian, actor, and singer. He was one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live ...more - 49
JonBenét Ramsey
Dec. at 6 (1990-1996)- Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
JonBenét Patricia Ramsey (; August 6, 1990 – December 25, 1996) was an American child beauty queen who was killed at the age of 6 in her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. A lengthy handwritten ...more - 50Dec. at 72 (1907-1979)
- Birthplace: Winterset, Iowa, United States of America
Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor, filmmaker, and Presidential Medal ...more - 51Dec. at 69 (1901-1971)
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo, Satch, and Pops, was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist and occasional actor who was one of the most influential ...more - 52Age: 101
- Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States of America
Betty Marion White Ludden (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. A pioneer of early television, with a career spanning seven decades, White was noted for her ...more - 53Dec. at 40 (1809-1849)
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Edgar Allan Poe (; born Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales ...more - 54Dec. at 71 (1937-2008)
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. He was known for his black comedy and reflections on politics, the ...more - 55Dec. at 39 (1897-1937)
- Birthplace: Atchison, Kansas
Amelia Mary Earhart (, born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937) was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set ...more - 56Dec. at 87 (1904-1991)
- Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts
Theodor Seuss Geisel ( or (listen); March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was an American children's author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He is ...more - 57Dec. at 37 (1853-1890)
- Birthplace: Zundert, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Vincent Willem van Gogh (Dutch: [ˈvɪnsɛnt ˈʋɪləm vɑŋ ˈɣɔx] (listen); 30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the ...more - 58Dec. at 83 (1925-2008)
- Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, producer, race car driver, IndyCar owner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He won and was nominated ...more - 59Dec. at 27 (1967-1994)
- Birthplace: Aberdeen, Washington, United States of America
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the rock band Nirvana. He is remembered as one of ...more - 60Dec. at 54 (1948-2003)
- Birthplace: Burbank, California, USA
Jonathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor and comedian. He was the son of the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason and Tyler ...more
