Whether it's a Hollywood celeb or another famous figure, this list of famous suicides goes to show fame doesn't always buy happiness. From Robin Williams to Swedish DJ Avicii, plenty of rich and famous stars struggle with mental health—among other hardships. To put things into perspective, just check out this complete list of the most famous suicides in history, including a lot of Hollywood suicides.
Some of these famous suicides happened by overdose, as many of those who took their own lives were consumed by depression. An actor or two on this list was also believed to have killed himself, though the results of his death report has been disputed. The list below shows all celebrity suicides and all other notable people who ended their lives. Anthony Bourdain was a beloved celebrity chef, author, and TV personality, and unfortunately, one of famous suicidal deaths on this list of celebs who took their lives.
What celebrities have committed suicide? This list features recent celebrity suicides, as well as actors who died by suicide long ago, such as Carole Landis. This list also includes information about the methods of committing suicide used by each of these famous people who killed themselves. In short, numerous notable actors, musicians, and other famous professionals have become victims of suicide. You will find famous American suicides below, as well as some by stars from other countries.
If you find this list interesting, check out these lists of famous suicide notes and of these suicidal celebrities who attempted to kill themselves.
Steve Bing
1965-03-31Stephen Leo Bing (March 31, 1965 – June 22, 2020) was an American businessman, film producer, and donor to progressive causes. He is the founder of the Shangri-La Entertainment, an organization with... moreJeffrey Epstein
1953-01-20Birthplace: Coney Island, New York City, New York
Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and convicted sex offender. Epstein began his professional life as a teacher, then changed to the banking and... moreAaron Swartz
1986-11-08Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Aaron Hillel Swartz (November 8, 1986 – January 11, 2013) was an American computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, political organizer, and Internet hacktivist. He was involved in the development... moreAbbie Hoffman
1936-11-30Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
Abbot Howard Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was an American political and social activist, anarchist, and revolutionary who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies"). He was... moreAhn Jae-hwan
1972-04-25Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
South Korean actor, carbon monoxide poisoningAhn Jae-hwan (June 8, 1972 – August 22, 2008) was a South Korean actor. Ahn was found dead in his car on August 22, 2008, but the exact time of his death has not been revealed; police confirmed that... moreAlan B. Krueger
1960Birthplace: Contiguous United States, Livingston, United States of America, United States, with Territories
Alan Bennett Krueger (September 17, 1960 – March 16, 2019) was an American economist who was the James Madison Professor of Political Economy at Princeton University and Research Associate at the... moreAlbert Ayler
1936-07-13Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
American jazz saxophonist, jumped into New York City's East RiverAlbert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer.After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during... moreAlice de Janzé
1899-09-28Birthplace: Buffalo, New York
American heiress, committed suicide with a firearm.Alice de Janzé, née Silverthorne (28 September 1899 – 30 September 1941), also known as Alice de Trafford and holder of the noble title Comtesse (Countess) de Janzé for a few years, was an American... moreBirthplace: New York City, New York
Alfred Henry Maurer (April 21, 1868 – August 4, 1932) was an American modernist painter. He exhibited his work in avant-garde circles internationally and in New York City during the early twentieth... moreBirthplace: Buckingham Palace, London, England
Member of the British Royal Family, shot himselfAlfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Alfred Alexander William Ernest Albert; 15 October 1874 – 6 February 1899), was the son and heir apparent of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.... moreAllyn King
1899-02-01Birthplace: North Carolina
Allyn S. King was an American stage and film actress and singer who began her career in vaudeville, and later as a Ziegfeld Follies performer. King's 1930 suicide was the end result of her long... moreAmbrose Olsen
1985-11-27Birthplace: Homer, Alaska
Ambrose Olsen (November 27, 1985 – April 22, 2010) was an American male fashion model. He was known for appearing in dozens of ad campaigns for Armani and Hugo Boss.... moreAndre Waters
1962-03-10Birthplace: Belle Glade, Florida
Andre Maurice Waters (March 10, 1962 – November 20, 2006) was an American football safety who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1984... moreAnne Sexton
1928-11-09Birthplace: Newton, Massachusetts
Anne Sexton (November 9, 1928 – October 4, 1974) was an American poet known for her highly personal, confessional verse. She won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1967 for her book Live or Die. Her... moreAndrew Koenig
1968-08-17Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Joshua Andrew Koenig () (August 17, 1968 – c. February 16, 2010) was an American character actor, film director, editor, writer, and human rights activist.... moreAnthony Bourdain
1956-06-25Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
Died at 61 (1956 - 2018)
Anthony Michael Bourdain (; June 25, 1956 – June 8, 2018) was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian who starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international... moreAntonin Moine
1796-06-30Birthplace: Saint-Étienne, France
Antonin-Marie Moine (30 June 1796 – 18 March 1849) was a French romantic sculptor in the first half of the 19th century.... moreAssia Wevill
1927-05-15Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
German born lover of English poet Ted Hughes; murder-suicide of her daughter with Hughes, gasAssia Esther Wevill (15 May 1927 – 23 March 1969) was a German woman who escaped the Nazis at the beginning of World War II and emigrated to Mandate Palestine, then later the United Kingdom, where... moreAvicii
1989-09-08Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Tim Bergling (8 September 1989 – 20 April 2018) known professionally as Avicii, was a Swedish DJ, electronic musician, and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2011 with his single "Levels." His... moreBeatrice Hastings
1879-01-27Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Beatrice Hastings was the pen name of Emily Alice Haigh (27 January 1879 – 30 October 1943) an English writer, poet and literary critic. Much of her work was published in The New Age under a variety... moreBenjamin Hendrickson
1950-08-26Birthplace: USA, Huntington, New York
Benjamin Hendrickson (August 26, 1950 – July 3, 2006) was an American actor known for playing Harold "Hal" Munson, Jr., the Chief of Detectives for the mythical town of Oakdale on the daytime soap... moreBob Welch
1945-08-31Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. (August 31, 1945 – June 7, 2012) was an American musician who was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974. He had a successful solo career in the late 1970s. His singles... moreBrian Bianchini
1978-07-16Birthplace: California, United States of America
Brian Leo Bianchini (July 16, 1978 – March 16, 2004) was an American male model, and occasional film actor, active from the late 1990s through the mid-2000s.... moreBrad Delp
1951-06-12Birthplace: Peabody, Massachusetts
Bradley Edward Delp (June 12, 1951 – March 9, 2007) was an American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock bands Boston and RTZ.... moreButch Trucks
1947-05-11Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
Drummer for the Allman Brothers Band, shot himself in West Palm Beach, FL, on January 24, 2017.
Claude Hudson "Butch" Trucks (May 11, 1947 – January 24, 2017) was an American drummer. He was best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. Trucks was born and raised in Jacksonville,... more
