For one reason or another, we as human beings seem to be fascinated by celebrity deaths. Every year we mourn the loss of famous people who pass away, and 2002 was no exception. Many beloved actors died in 2002, including legendary comedian Milton Berle. Here's our list of the most notable people to die in 2002, ordered by how well-known they were.
All walks of famous people are on this list, including actors, athletes, musicians, politicians and more.Although the rich and famous are just like the rest of us, it's alarming how many of them have their lives cut short because of drug overdoses or other accidents. Still others live out many long years only to succumb to diseases like cancer late in life.
Which celebrities died in 2002? Scroll down and see for yourself....more
Milton Berle
Colorectal cancerMilton Berle (born Mendel Berlinger; Yiddish: מענדעל בערלינגער; July 12, 1908 – March 27,... moreJames Coburn
Myocardial infarctionJames Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American actor. He... moreDudley Moore
Progressive supranuclear palsy, PneumoniaDudley Stuart John Moore, CBE (19 April 1935 – 27 March 2002) was an English actor, comedian,... moreBilly Wilder
PneumoniaBilly Wilder (; German: [ˈvɪldɐ]; born Samuel Wilder, June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an... moreJoe Strummer
Congenital heart defectJohn Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known by his name from May of 1975,... moreAileen Wuornos
Lethal injection, Capital punishmentAileen Carol Wuornos Pralle (; born Aileen Carol Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002)... moreRod Steiger
PneumoniaRodney Stephen Steiger (April 14, 1925 – July 9, 2002) was an American actor, noted for his... moreRichard Harris
Hodgkin's lymphomaRichard St. John Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. He... moreDee Dee Ramone
Heroin overdoseDouglas Glenn Colvin (September 18, 1951 – June 5, 2002), known professionally as Dee Dee... moreMyra Hindley
Myocardial infarctionJohn Entwistle
Drug overdose, Myocardial infarctionJohn Alec Entwistle (9 October 1944 – 27 June 2002) was an English bass guitarist, singer,... moreKaty Jurado
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Renal failureMaría Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García (16 January 1924 – 5 July 2002), better known as... moreNobu McCarthy
Aortic aneurysmNobu McCarthy (née Atsumi; November 13, 1934 – April 6, 2002) was a Japanese Canadian actress,... moreStephen Jay Gould
Cancer, Lung cancerStephen Jay Gould (; September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002) was an American paleontologist,... moreDave Thomas
Liver tumourRex David Thomas (July 2, 1932 – January 8, 2002) was an American businessman, philanthropist,... moreLionel Hampton
Cardiovascular diseaseLionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist,... moreTed Williams
Cardiovascular diseaseTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American Major League Baseball left fielder, and later... moreChuck Jones
Heart failureCharles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator,... morePeggy Lee
Cardiovascular disease, Myocardial infarctionNorma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee,... moreLou Thesz
Surgical complicationsAloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz (April 24, 1916 – April 28, 2002) was an American professional... moreJohn Gotti
Cancer of the larynxDavey Boy Smith
Myocardial infarctionDavid Smith (27 November 1962 – 18 May 2002) was a British professional wrestler. Born in... moreLayne Staley
Heroin overdoseLayne Thomas Staley (born Layne Rutherford Staley, August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002) was an... moreHerb Ritts
PneumoniaHerbert "Herb" Ritts Jr. (August 13, 1952 – December 26, 2002) was an American fashion... moreJosh Ryan Evans
Heart failure, Surgical complicationsJoshua Ryan Evans (January 10, 1982 – August 5, 2002) was an American actor who became known... more
