People We Wish Were Still Alive

Over 176.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of People We Wish Were Still Alive
Voting 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.

Photo: Metaweb / CC-BY
Ranked by
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
    1
    Dec. at 39 (1929-1968)
    58,094 votes
    • Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
    Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 ...more
  • Diana, Princess of Wales
    2
    Dec. at 36 (1961-1997)
    52,121 votes
    • Birthplace: Sandringham, England
    Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the mother of ...more
  • Albert Einstein
    3
    Dec. at 76 (1879-1955)
    65,373 votes
    • Birthplace: Ulm, Germany
    Albert Einstein ( EYEN-styne; German: [ˈalbɛɐ̯t ˈʔaɪnʃtaɪn] (listen); 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two ...more
  • Bob Ross
    4

    Bob Ross

    Dec. at 52 (1942-1995)
    11,409 votes
    • Birthplace: Daytona Beach, Florida, United States of America
    Robert Norman Ross (October 29, 1942 – July 4, 1995) was an American painter, art instructor, and television host. He was the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional television ...more
  • Prince
    5
    Age: 64
    49,695 votes
    • Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
    Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. With a career spanning four decades, Prince was known ...more
  • Abraham Lincoln
    6
    Dec. at 56 (1809-1865)
    42,326 votes
    • Birthplace: Hodgenville, Kentucky, USA
    Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. ...more