# Celebrities who have burst into flames? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442 "2017-12-13T21:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/21 "2017-12-13T23:33:26Z")
Thích Quảng Đức. Probably wasn’t much of a celebrity beforehand, though. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/22 "2017-12-13T23:40:26Z")
Great White and 100 or so fans ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/23 "2017-12-14T00:05:27Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Thích Quảng Đức. > > Probably wasn’t much of a celebrity beforehand, though. Similarly, Phan Thi Kim Phuc. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/24 "2017-12-14T00:36:33Z")
Gene Simmons had his hair catch on fire on several occasions after his fire-breathing act on stage. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/25 "2017-12-14T01:22:20Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Great White and 100 or so fans I don’t think anyone in the band Great White died. Although Dr Metal, a local DJ from Providence (had a show for as long as I can remember) died in The Station nightclub fire. Ace Bailey former NHL player, who was on one of the planes on 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/26 "2017-12-14T01:27:48Z")
Steve Marriott ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/27 "2017-12-14T01:46:36Z")
I’m sure one of those times a Julia Child flambe got outa hand. ETA: [ok maybe not the most illustrious person in this thread.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-wmw6ODc50) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/28 "2017-12-14T01:53:49Z")
Gracie Allen was scalded on one of her arms as a child (I think it was hot water, not flames). She was sensitive of it and almost always wore long or three-quarters sleeved blouses to cover the marks. Gus Sandberg, a back up catcher in the 1920s, was killed in 1930 when after siphoning gas out of his automobile tank, he lit a match to see how much fuel was left. Since his body was cremated, you might say he got a head start. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/29 "2017-12-14T02:01:58Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > I don’t think anyone in the band Great White died. Although Dr Metal, a local DJ from Providence (had a show for as long as I can remember) died in The Station nightclub fire. > > Ace Bailey former NHL player, who was on one of the planes on 9/11. 1)The OP didn’t specify deaths. and B) …[including his band member Ty Longley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_White) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/30 "2017-12-14T02:20:51Z")
Author Roald Dahl (_Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_, _The BFG_, etc.) got his start with a nonfiction account of how he almost died in a fiery crash, as a pilot in WWII. Being Dahl, he managed to make it hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/31 "2017-12-14T02:39:54Z")
Michael Skupin. He’s a celebrity for Survivor fans, anyway; he passed out from dehydration and fell into a campfire. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/32 "2017-12-14T02:44:02Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Michael Skupin. He’s a celebrity for Survivor fans, anyway; he passed out from dehydration and fell into a campfire. His life has also gone down in flames. He is, I think, in prison for child pornography possession. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/33 "2017-12-14T02:46:05Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Uriah Heep’s lead guitarist(?) or bassist(?) (there’s conflicting accounts) got electrocuted onstage in '74. That was [Gary Thain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Thain), who survived in bad shape. However [Les Harvey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Harvey) of _Stone the Crows_ died much the same way - touched an ungrounded mike while standing in a puddle. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/34 "2017-12-14T02:50:51Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > That was [Gary Thain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Thain), who survived in bad shape. > > However [Les Harvey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Harvey) of _Stone the Crows_ died much the same way - touched an ungrounded mike while standing in a puddle. [Keith Relf,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Relf) formerly of The Yardbirds, electrocuted himself in his home with an improperly grounded guitar. I don’t think any of these count as “bursting into flames”, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/35 "2017-12-14T02:59:37Z")
[Rick Nelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Nelson#Death), although he might have survived the fire and be killed when his plane crashed. Do we want to count Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at Montreux? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/36 "2017-12-14T03:43:08Z")
I’m surprised that we’ve gotten this far with no mention of seminal jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. > **[Django Reinhardt | Marriage and injury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt#Marriage_and_injury)** > > At the age of 17, Reinhardt married Florine "Bella" Mayer, a girl from the same Romani settlement, according to Romani custom (although not an official marriage under French law).: 9  The following year he recorded for the first time.: 9  On these recordings, made in 1928, Reinhardt plays the "banjo" (actually the banjo-guitar) accompanying the accordionists Maurice Alexander, Jean Vaissade and Victor Marceau, and the singer Maurice Chaumel. His name was now drawing international attentio Before ... ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/37 "2017-12-14T03:50:52Z")
Not a conflagration _per se_, footy great Carlos Tevez has a substantial burn scar down the right side of his face, neck and chest which he got when he was four after reaching up to a boiling pot and upending it on himself. According to wiki: “After joining Boca Juniors, Tevez refused an offer from the club to have them cosmetically improved, saying the scars were a part of who he was in the past and who he is today.” ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/38 "2017-12-14T07:33:15Z")
This [medieval celebrity](https://youtu.be/aZJZK6rzjns?t=38) managed to go up in flames, but that was just his way of teleporting. And if we’re gonna get explosion-y, Niel Sedaka took a turn for the worse on [Film Farm Report](https://youtu.be/GhM-hrTyzJo?t=172). I appreciated the death throes screamimg as his tattered remains floated back down. And, to be fair, I shouldn’t be so exclusionary by singling out Niel - that segment had many celebrities blow up. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/39 "2017-12-14T08:12:02Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > And if we’re gonna get explosion-y, Niel Sedaka took a turn for the worse on [Film Farm Report](https://youtu.be/GhM-hrTyzJo?t=172). I appreciated the death throes screamimg as his tattered remains floated back down. > And, to be fair, I shouldn’t be so exclusionary by singling out Niel - that segment had many celebrities blow up. He blowed up real good! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442/40 "2017-12-14T13:16:13Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > That was [Gary Thain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Thain), who survived in bad shape. > > However [Les Harvey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Harvey) of _Stone the Crows_ died much the same way - touched an ungrounded mike while standing in a puddle. It’s interesting that Thain survived the electrocution only to die of a heroin overdose the following year. And he’s another member of the 27 Club. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-have-burst-into-flames/804442.md?page=3)