Sonny Bono  -    skiied into a tree


Natasha Richardson  -  ski accident resulting in a head injury that caused her death...




I'm sure there are others... and I'm sure y'all will find them...  ;D

Vic Morrow . Helicopter crashed on him while filming on set.

Owen Hart: Wrestler. Was supposed to be lowered from the rafters just before a wrestling match. Equipment malfunction and he crashed into the wrestling ring and died.

The actor George Sanders - death by boredom!  He died by overdose of pills and alcohol.  His suicide note advised he was bored and had lived long enough...

Brandon Lee who died of an accidental shooting on the set of a film.

Owen Hart: Wrestler. Was supposed to be lowered from the rafters just before a wrestling match. Equipment malfunction and he crashed into the wrestling ring and died.

next Friday will make it 15 years since his passing.  :\'(

Jon-Erik Hexum, who died on the set of a TV production Cover Up.

He took a .44 Magnum that was loaded with blanks, put it to his head, and fired the gun.  Bad move, the blank charge propelled the wadding into his brain.

Adding insult to injury the character he played on the show was a weapons expert.

Also Electric Light Orchestra founding member Mike Edwards.

He died when a large bale of hay rolled down a hill and smashed into his van whilst he was out driving.

Brandon Lee who died of an accidental shooting on the set of a film.



jon erik hexum from Voyagers too...  on the set of Cover Up



ETA:  LB beat me to it


Jon-Erik Hexum, who died on the set of a TV production Cover Up.

He took a .44 Magnum that was loaded with blanks, put it to his head, and fired the gun.  Bad move, the blank charge propelled the wadding into his brain.

Adding insult to injury the character he played on the show was a weapons expert.

jon erik hexum from Voyagers too...  on the set of Cover Up



ETA:  LB beat me to it



Me too.  I was going to say the same thing. 

Steve Irwin, "the Croc Hunter" (1962-2006) died when a stingray pierced his heart with its tail spine.  I suppose it was an occupational hazard as a naturalist who earned his fame by handling the world's deadliest animals, but I was afraid he would make the wrong move on one of those 20-foot saltwater crocodiles.  The stingray strike surprised everybody.

To dovetail on LB's gun screw-ups, back in 1978, Terry Kath, guitarist for the band Chicago, killed himself with a 9mm.  The media reported it was Russian roulette and also that it was suicide.  It was neither, just an accident.  Kath was playing with his friends guns.  He took the clip out of a 9mm and, figuring it was safe, thought it would be laff riot to point it at his head and pull the trigger.  Unfortunately, for old Terry, he didn't check the chamber.  I'll leave the gun safety admonitions to others!

Steve Irwin, "the Croc Hunter" (1962-2006) died when a stingray pierced his heart with its tail spine.  I suppose it was an occupational hazard as a naturalist who earned his fame by handling the world's deadliest animals, but I was afraid he would make the wrong move on one of those 20-foot saltwater crocodiles.  The stingray strike surprised everybody.

To dovetail on LB's gun screw-ups, back in 1978, Terry Kath, guitarist for the band Chicago, killed himself with a 9mm.  The media reported it was Russian roulette and also that it was suicide.  It was neither, just an accident.  Kath was playing with his friends guns.  He took the clip out of a 9mm and, figuring it was safe, thought it would be laff riot to point it at his head and pull the trigger.  Unfortunately, for old Terry, he didn't check the chamber.  I'll leave the gun safety admonitions to others!


The Steve Irwin death really stunned Australians at the time...

On 18 March 2007, international cricketer, professional cricket coach and also a professional commentator Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. The initial report was that Woolmer had died of a heart attack. On 22 March, Jamaican police confirmed that a murder investigation had been launched due to the circumstances of Woolmer's death, based on a report by pathologist Ere Seshaiah that Woolmer had died of asphyxia via manual strangulation. Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields led the investigation.

On 12 June 2007, Lucius Thomas, the commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, announced that the investigation had concluded that Bob Woolmer died of natural causes, and was not murdered as indicated by the earlier pathologist's report. Three independent pathologists' reports commissioned by the police had found that the initial conclusion of manual strangulation was incorrect, and toxicology tests found no evidence of poisoning. The findings of the pathologists, and of Metropolitan Police detectives who had visited Jamaica to assist with the investigation, were reported in the weeks leading up to the announcement, which was widely expected by the time it was made. Reports suggested that Woolmer suffered from health problems including an enlarged heart and diabetes, which may have contributed to his death.

On 6 November, coroner Patrick Murphy asked for further tests to be carried out on samples taken from Woolmer's body following discrepancies in the toxicology reports by forensic scientists from the Caribbean and the UK.

After hearing twenty-six days of evidence, the jury at the inquest returned an open verdict, refusing to rule out the controversial strangulation theory put forward by Ere Seshaiah.

In an interview with Fox News, former South African cricketer Clive Rice claimed that Woolmer was murdered by organised crime groups, saying “These mafia betting syndicates do not stop at anything and they do not care who gets in their way.”

The Steve Irwin death really stunned Australians at the time...
...it stunned the whole world.

Isadora Duncan, dancer and wife of the Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, died of a broken neck when her long scarf caught on the wheel of a car in which she was a passenger.


Charles Drew, the inventor of the “blood bank” and pioneer of successful blood transfusions, died during a failed blood transfusion after a car accident in North Carolina.


American author Tennessee Williams died when he choked on an eyedrop bottle-cap in his room at the Hotel Elysee in New York. He would routinely place the cap in his mouth, lean back, and place his eyedrops in each eye.


Children’s entertainer Rod Hull died while adjusting the television aerial on the roof of his house. He had been watching a Manchester United European Cup match with his 19-year-old son Oliver. In his attempt to improve reception, he slipped from the roof and fell through an adjoining greenhouse. The 63-year-old entertainer suffered a severe skull fracture and chest injuries. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Conquest Hospital in Hastings.


Jimi Heselden, British owner of the Segway motorized scooter company, was killed when he accidentally drove off a cliff on a Segway at his estate at Thorp Arch near Boston Spa.

David Carradine died of accidental asphyxiation in Bangkok, Thailand.  Yeah, it was one of those kinds of asphyxiations.  ::)

Famous TV director Boris Sagal, father of the Doublemint Twins Liz and Jean Sagal  :-* .

Died when he walked into the tail rotor of a helicopter.  :o

In 455 BC, Aeschylus, the great Athenian author of tragedies was killed by a tortoise dropped by an eagle that had mistaken his head for a rock suitable for shattering the shell of the reptile.

The Steve Irwin death really stunned Australians at the time...


that incident sure stunned me!  :o

In 2008 David Phyall (50), the last resident in a block of flats due to be demolished in Bishopstoke, near Southampton, Hampshire, England, decapitated himself with a chainsaw to highlight the injustice of being forced to move out

In 2008 David Phyall (50), the last resident in a block of flats due to be demolished in Bishopstoke, near Southampton, Hampshire, England, decapitated himself with a chainsaw to highlight the injustice of being forced to move out


Man, that had to hurt.

Does not sound like an accident though ...  :-\\

Man, that had to hurt.

Does not sound like an accident though ...  :-\\
But freaky!


William Bullock (1813–1867) invented the web rotary printing press. Several years after its invention, his foot was crushed during the installation of a new machine in Philadelphia. The crushed foot developed gangrene and Bullock died during the amputation.

In 2008 David Phyall (50), the last resident in a block of flats due to be demolished in Bishopstoke, near Southampton, Hampshire, England, decapitated himself with a chainsaw to highlight the injustice of being forced to move out


was he a celebrity or was he better known after his death? I am not familiar with the name

was he a celebrity or was he better known after his death? I am not familiar with the name
He would could a local celebrity.

How about a topic on celebrities that have committed suicide?

On June 4, 2009, David Carradine was found dead in his room at the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Hotel on Wireless Road, near Sukhumvit Road, in central Bangkok, Thailand. He was in Bangkok to shoot his latest film, entitled Stretch. A police official said that Carradine was found hanging by a rope naked in the room's closet, causing immediate speculation that his death was suicide. However, reported evidence suggested that his death was the result of autoerotic asphyxiation. Two autopsies were conducted and concluded that the death was not a suicide. The cause of death became widely accepted as "accidental asphyxiation".

Famous TV director Boris Sagal, father of the Doublemint Twins Liz and Jean Sagal  :-* .

Died when he walked into the tail rotor of a helicopter.  :o


That'll do it!
:o

That reminds me of '80s porn star Chanel Price, who at 6'4" with a husky voice I thought was a tranny, but she was all woman; anyway she was helicoptered in for a bachelor party and stepping out raised her hands to greet the fans got her fingers hacked off by the propeller blades.  But that's not what killed her so it doesn't count.  They reattached the fingers, but that was the end of her porn career.  She died in a garden variety overdose of sleeping pills and booze a few years later at the age of 35.

What kind of wood doesn't float?
Natalie Wood.
This movie star pitched over the side of a yacht and drowned in 1981 at the age of 43.  There are lingering questions about whether she fell or was pushed, but her death is still ruled an accident.

In 2009 an up and coming young Canadian folk singer named Taylor Mitchell was hiking in the wilderness of Cape Breton, NS, when she was set upon and killed by three Coyotes.  Ms. Mitchell bears the distinction of being the only adult known to be killed by coyotes.

In 1926 the world-famous escape artist Harry Houdini died of a blow to the stomach.  Houdini was showing off his his invincibility as part of his schtick.  He was daring audience members to punch him in the gut.  One fellow belted him before he was ready for it and it felled the great Houdini to his death.

File under not a dignified way to go:

Actress Lupe Velez, "The Mexican Spitfire," drowned in the toilet in 1944 at the age of 36.  Velez, ex of Johnny Weismueller, then sweetheart of Gary Cooper, wrote a suicide note, and downed a bunch of Seconal.  However, the sleeping pills made her sick to her stomach before they put her out, so she made haste to the WC to upchuck, plunged headfirst into crapper, blacked out, and drowned.  Velez was pregnant at the time with the child of actor Harald Melesch.

Then there was Jayne Mansfield, a drop-dead gorgeous actress, who died in a car crash at the age of 34.  But it wasn't an ordinary car crash and started a persistent rumor that Mansfield had been decapitated.  Mansfield and her kids were on Route 90 going to New Orleans on July 29, 1967, when she crashed her car into the back of a tractor trailer.  The trailer slid over the hood of the car, crashed through the windshield, and crushed Ms. Mansfield to death.  No, she was not decapitated.  Her head was merely squished like a grape.
Also killed were her friends Rupert and Edna O'Neil.  The kids, who were riding in the back seat, survived. 

He would could a local celebrity.

How about a topic on celebrities that have committed suicide?


That's a good idea.

Terry Kath
Freddie Prinze  (was ruled a suicide, later it was ruled an accident)

Terry Kath
Freddie Prinze  (was ruled a suicide, later it was ruled an accident)


The ruling on Freddie's "accidental" death was baloney. He left a suicide note.

The ruling on Freddie's "accidental" death was baloney. He left a suicide note.


Agreed.  He was also bipolar (albeit undiagnosed in the 70s). He had a habit of calling friends and threatening to kill himself. His manager was in the room when he shot himself. It was no "accident"

Macho Man Randy Savage

Was Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston deaths freak accidents?

Was Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston deaths freak accidents?


MJ's maybe.

Whitney's was simply drug overdose, death by misadventure.

MJ's maybe.

Whitney's was simply drug overdose, death by misadventure.
Whitney Houston was taken a bath and slipped, knocked herself out, and fell into the water and drowned.

Whitney Houston was taken a bath and slipped, knocked herself out, and fell into the water and drowned.


This is a quote from her official autopsy report:


"The decedent possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, over the counter medications, and alcohol.  Minor external trauma was noted and there are no signs of foul play."

"Toxicology tests showed cocsine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, marijuana, cyclobenzaprine (Flexiril), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl)."

"Death was due to d due to effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.  No foul play is suspected. The mode of death is accident."



The report went on to itemize, in numerous locations in the hotel suite, open containers of beer and champagne (not that unusual) as well as multiple sightings of bottles and bubble packs of prescription meds (including 3 different Xanax bottles).  No mention whatsoever about "slipping in the bathtub and knocking herself out" or any particular head injuries.

So officially this was called as an accident, but I do not believe it could be considered a "freak accident".

It's sad about all of them, really. I noticed a post about Lupe Velez. I read about her a few days ago, when I started watching her films. Just the idea she was an unwed mother and ended her life because of that, makes me so sad. Her death really bothers me because it wasn't just her that died, but her poor baby too.

Then there was Jayne Mansfield, a drop-dead gorgeous actress, who died in a car crash at the age of 34.  But it wasn't an ordinary car crash and started a persistent rumor that Mansfield had been decapitated.  Mansfield and her kids were on Route 90 going to New Orleans on July 29, 1967, when she crashed her car into the back of a tractor trailer.  The trailer slid over the hood of the car, crashed through the windshield, and crushed Ms. Mansfield to death.  No, she was not decapitated.  Her head was merely squished like a grape.
Also killed were her friends Rupert and Edna O'Neil.  The kids, who were riding in the back seat, survived.


One of those kids was Marisa Hargatay who is a star (in her own right) on one of crime shows... I think Law and Order maybe?

I dunno if it would be considered a freak accident, but she was murdered by some freaks, Sharon Tate.

Georgi Dobrovolsky, 43, Viktor Patsayev, 38, Vladislav Volkov, 35 - Cosmonauts
In space Soyuz II
A valve opened as the descent module separated from the orbital module depressurizing the space craft.  The crew died within 45 seconds.

Mar 27, 1977 Eve Meyer 48, June 1955 Playmate of the month, film producer Tenerife, Canary Islands Pan Am/KLM
Boeing 747
Two jumbo jets collided on the runway after the KLM captain took off without clearance. 583 out of 644 killed.

May 16, 1977    Michael Findlay 33, horror film director New York New York Sikorsky S61L helicopter
N619PA

While boarding the helicopter the gear collapsed due to a fatigue fracture, decapitating Findlay and killing 3 other passengers.

Jun  28, 1979 Philippe Cousteau 39, son of Jacques Cousteau Off Lisbon, Portugal PBY-6A Catalina Crashed while attempting to land and was killed when one of the plane's propellers separated and cut through the cockpit.

Famous TV director Boris Sagal, father of the Doublemint Twins Liz and Jean Sagal  :-* .

Died when he walked into the tail rotor of a helicopter.  :o


He was also "Married with Children" star Katy Sagal's father too.

One of those kids was Marisa Hargatay who is a star (in her own right) on one of crime shows... I think Law and Order maybe?


Law & Order Special Victims Unit.  She also crossed over into Law & Order Criminal Intent, which starred Vincent DiNofrio and Kathryn Erbe,  with Christopher Meloni.  And periodically Kathryn and Vincent would cross over into L&O SVU.

Law & Order Special Victims Unit.  She also crossed over into Law & Order Criminal Intent, which starred Vincent DiNofrio and Kathryn Erbe,  with Christopher Meloni.  And periodically Kathryn and Vincent would cross over into L&O SVU.


I watched an old documentary about this--because I like Jayne more than Marilyn--and supposedly, her son, Mariska's brother came thisclose to being killed. He had been riding in the front seat with his mother and during a stop, he was moved into the backseat by Jayne, so he could sleep better. And shortly after that, the accident occured. Surely, the boy would have been crushed if he'd stayed where he was. He was only about 6 then...Mariska was 3, I beleive.

I watched an old documentary about this--because I like Jayne more than Marilyn--and supposedly, her son, Mariska's brother came thisclose to being killed. He had been riding in the front seat with his mother and during a stop, he was moved into the backseat by Jayne, so he could sleep better. And shortly after that, the accident occured. Surely, the boy would have been crushed if he'd stayed where he was. He was only about 6 then...Mariska was 3, I beleive.


Mariska was 3 so she wouldn't have remembered about anything that happened.  But she does have a zig zag scar down the side of her face from the accident.

Then there was Jayne Mansfield, a drop-dead gorgeous actress, who died in a car crash at the age of 34.  But it wasn't an ordinary car crash and started a persistent rumor that Mansfield had been decapitated.  Mansfield and her kids were on Route 90 going to New Orleans on July 29, 1967, when she crashed her car into the back of a tractor trailer.  The trailer slid over the hood of the car, crashed through the windshield, and crushed Ms. Mansfield to death.  No, she was not decapitated.  Her head was merely squished like a grape.
Also killed were her friends Rupert and Edna O'Neil.  The kids, who were riding in the back seat, survived. 


There was a movie that recently came to DVD called Jayne Mansfield's Car.  I was in best buy and I commented to my buddy "I wonder if it stars Mariska Hargitay in the back seat".  Some lady overheard and she quietly made a snide comment to her friend about my remark lol

One of those kids was Marisa Hargatay who is a star (in her own right) on one of crime shows... I think Law and Order maybe?


Mariska Hargitay on L&O SVU.....she was also on Er.

She was an er desk attendant who dated Matk Green (Anthony Edwards)

Law & Order Special Victims Unit.  She also crossed over into Law & Order Criminal Intent, which starred Vincent DiNofrio and Kathryn Erbe,  with Christopher Meloni.  And periodically Kathryn and Vincent would cross over into L&O SVU.


That's not actually accurate.


Mariska H. and Chris Meloni both appeared on crossover eps of the original Law & Order (there was some L&O crossover onto SVU as well). 

They also appeared on one ep of the short lived Trial by Jury that starred Bebe Newirth.

They never appeared on Criminal Intent. 

Also Vincent D'onofrio never appeared on SVU. 
Kathryn Erbe did appear on two episodes of SVU as Eams (the character she played on L&O: CI) a year after her show went off the air.

There was a movie that recently came to DVD called Jayne Mansfield's Car.  I was in best buy and I commented to my buddy "I wonder if it stars Mariska Hargitay in the back seat".  Some lady overheard and she quietly made a snide comment to her friend about my remark lol


I can't think of the episode title but there's an ep of L&O SVU where someone is talking to Benson (Mariaka's character) about a car accident that nearly decapitates a driver.  That scene always bugged me because I feel like it was insensitive to her history. Granted if she really cared she could've had them rewrite it but it still bugged me.

There was a movie that recently came to DVD called Jayne Mansfield's Car.  I was in best buy and I commented to my buddy "I wonder if it stars Mariska Hargitay in the back seat".  Some lady overheard and she quietly made a snide comment to her friend about my remark lol


Siouxsie & the Banshees' "Kiss them for Me"  is about Jayne Mansfield.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I3S8lPM6qM

That's not actually accurate.


Mariska H. and Chris Meloni both appeared on crossover eps of the original Law & Order (there was some L&O crossover onto SVU as well). 

They also appeared on one ep of the short lived Trial by Jury that starred Bebe Newirth.

They never appeared on Criminal Intent. 

Also Vincent D'onofrio never appeared on SVU. 
Kathryn Erbe did appear on two episodes of SVU as Eams (the character she played on L&O: CI) a year after her show went off the air.


That's right.  Jerry Orabach did appear in a couple of episodes of L&O CI before he died and Chris Noth appeared in L&O SVU.  There was another actress filling in for Mariska Hargitay while she was on maternity leave but I don't remember the actress's name.

Terry Kath


Terry Kath's last words: "Don't worry, it's not loaded"

I don't know if you want to count sports figures as celebrities but it was a freak accident that killed
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny:  A boat he was riding in hit a wave and caused him
to fall forward overboard. The boat ran over him and its propeller slashed his neck and his jugular vein.

Lest we forget Butterfly McQueen.  She burned to death when a kerosene heater she was lighting up, exploded back in '95.

http://media0.giphy.com/media/5W4pgiavuuTLO/200_s.gif

Rasputin's death was not really that freakish other than the fact that it took so many people and so much time to murder him.

Rasputin's death was not really that freakish other than the fact that it took so many people and so much time to murder him.

It's amazing how many of the 'younger  generation' do not know of Rasputin.

The extremely wealthy owner of my company has this guy who provides odd advice and it is always assumed to be "right" (it often goes sour, but the owner seeks his advice anyway).  Anyway on more than one occasion I have commented "I wonder what Rasputin has to say about this".

Inevitably somebody says "Who are you talking about?".  I reply... "you know, Rasputin... counselor to the royal family and intriguing mystic".  They look at me odd and say "who is Rasputin? I don't get it".  ;D

Mariska Hargitay on L&O SVU.....she was also on Er.

She was an er desk attendant who dated Matk Green (Anthony Edwards)


Oh!  Then that is where I (probably) remember her from.  I used to watch that show (in reruns) consistantly.

Oh!  Then that is where I (probably) remember her from.  I used to watch that show (in reruns) consistantly.


She was also on In The Heat Of The Night as a brainless sidekick to a guy who goes on a killing spree.

John Balance from the British Industrial/Experimental group Coil lost his balance on the second floor balcony of the home he shared with fellow-Coil member Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson.  A fall from the second story is often survivable, but it wasn't for Balance.  Balance was drunk at the time, but he was drunk most of the time.  That was in 2002.  I think Balance was 42 years old. 

http://37.media.tumblr.com/b4f7942eb9e66bbc93389fa492035b9d/tumblr_n0p2scFzl71sixuiuo1_1280.jpg
Peter, John circa 1984

Electronic music composer of the Fluxus movement, friend of Yoko Ono, and "happenings" events arranger Richard Maxfield (1927-1969) died from a leap or a fall from the third floor of the Figueroa Hotel in Los Angeles in June of 1969.  Maxfield was 42. He was noted to be battling drug addiction when he died, but nobody says what he was addicted to.  I do know Terry Riley introduced him to psychedelic mushrooms in the early 1960s, which might have (positively) influenced his composing.  However, one does not get "addicted" to 'shrooms.  Maxfield's death is called a suicide, but if he was on shrooms, it might have just been an accident.  Anyway, whether it was accident or suicide, or if you can or cannot call an obscure Fluxus composer such as Maxfield a celebrity, he left behind a body of work I'm crazy about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0-0BBbigL4

How did Sleazy fall off the balcony? Did he lose Balance? ???

How did Sleazy fall off the balcony? Did he lose Balance? ???


Balance lost his balance and fell off the balcony.  Sleazy died in 2010 in Thailand of not AIDS.  They never said what it was, but it's nothing short of miraculous that he lived to be 55!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Christopherson

Speaking of falling of the balcony, Ephraim Lewis (wasn't terribly well known in America, but I fell in love with the song so I knew of him.)

Ephraim Lewis (1968 – 18 March 1994) was an English soul/neo-soul and R&B singer and songwriter. He was one of many highly anticipated performers that emerged in the early 1990s. However, he died with only one album to his name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEQp6KkmegU

Lewis died on 18 March 1994 in Los Angeles in what was ruled a suicide. The coroner ruled that Lewis had jumped from a fourth floor balcony. The exact events that occurred on that day are disputed. The LAPD were present during his jump and what exactly transpired has not been agreed upon. Some reports indicated that Lewis had been stunned with a Taser after a hyperactive exchange. Lewis was taking methamphetamines at the time. His death remains controversial to this day.