# Minor celebrities who've become more famous for a bad reason **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106 "2019-04-05T21:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/81 "2019-04-08T19:35:45Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I will also go with Dale Earnhardt who died during a NASCAR race in 2001. The man was certainly well known among NASCAR fans but he became known to the rest of us following his accident. I would not agree with this. If Dale Earnhardt wasn’t the most famous NASCAR driver ever, he was in the top three, even before his death. He probably had only a year or two of racing left in him, and his legacy was cemented long before 2001. My guess is that he’d be exactly as famous if he were currently enjoying his retirement. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/82 "2019-04-08T19:44:24Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > You don’t get out much do you? > > Richardson is a member of _both_ the Richardson _and_ Redgrave families and she was married to Liam Neeson. Just being her made her famous. She won several awards including a Tony. Her early death did not really add much to her fame. > > Payne Stewart won the PGA championship once and the US Open twice. The last Open win was months before his death. He was a quite well known golfer. I think more people associate his name with golf still than a plane accident. Add me to those who didn’t know Ms. Richardson (or her family) until she died. I had to google Liam Neeson upon reading this post. I’ve probably heard the name, but until now couldn’t have told you his profession. Like Payne Stewart, I remember how she died, not what she did before then. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/83 "2019-04-08T20:20:00Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Lou Gehrig was a great baseball player with a record that would stand for 56 years, but he wasn’t even the biggest celebrity on the Yankees. I’d bet than at least 50% of the people on this Board know more about Lou Gehrig’s Disease than Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak. Speaking of, I wonder if Stephen Hawking would have been as well-known to the general public if he didn’t have the same disease. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/84 "2019-04-08T21:15:53Z")
I think we have to distinguish here between personal knowledge of someone and their fame in general. For example, there’s a lot of people around who somehow never learn the name of the current VP. But to claim Mike Pence isn’t famous is absurd. Liam Neeson was the title character in a movie that won 7 Academy Awards. Plus being in a bunch of other highly esteemed films. If you haven’t heard of him that’s specific to you. He is quite well known in general. It would also work the other way around. I’m sure there more several people who knew Kato Kaelin back when. But his fame in general had been basically zero. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/85 "2019-04-08T22:05:54Z")
In terms of Payne Stewart, he was actually the 2nd sports figure to die in that type of odd plane crash. The first was FB coach Bo Rein. The crash for Rein was very similar plane flew until it ran out of fuel and they are not sure the cause. In the Rein crash it went into the ocean so there was less evidence of the cause. [Bo Rein - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Rein) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/86 "2019-04-08T23:08:54Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Mostly people I never heard of before they died or got arrested. > > Murder victims: Gianni Versace, Tupac Shakur, and Selena. Sal Mineo’s death happened before I started paying attention to the news or saw any of his movies. Though I’ve since seen at least two of his movies, I probably wouldn’t recognize his name if not for his murder. > > Murderers: Aaron Hernandez, Sid Vicious, Oscar Pistorius, Christian Brando > > Accident victims: Paul Walker, Natasha Richardson, and Payne Stewart. Also River Phoenix (I had seen two of his movies but when he died I didn’t recognize his name) Versace, Tupac and Selena are really stretching the definition of “minor celebrity”, I think. I’m a nerdy middle-aged white guy, not hugely into couture, hip-hop, or Latin pop; but I’d heard of all three before their deaths. I’ll concede that I would never have heard of Biggie Smalls if I hadn’t known of Tupac first. My contribution: Jared, sex offender and former Subway pitchman. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/87 "2019-04-09T00:05:45Z")
Donald Trump. I didn’t even know who he was until the Koi fish controversy. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/88 "2019-04-09T00:10:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Marion Barry. Just in case anyone doesn’t recall, Barry was the former mayor of D.C. who got busted on video smoking crack. Very early 90s, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/89 "2019-04-09T08:18:31Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Yeah, this (OJ’s level of fame) was debated here not that long ago. Your take is pretty much spot on. He was doing movies, commercials, tv guest spots, NFL commentary, etc all > > In general, all this stuff is relative and people here take great pride in not knowing about entertainers and pop culture and even sports ball players to some degree. I live in another country, and have zero interest in American sports. Perhaps it’s because he had moved to movies, commercials, tv guest spots and commentary that I’d heard of him at all. But his name was known even here. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/90 "2019-04-09T08:42:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I had to google Liam Neeson upon reading this post. OK, this is parody, right? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/91 "2019-04-09T09:22:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > OK, this is parody, right? This whole thread really is. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/92 "2019-04-09T14:20:31Z")
How well known were the Sex Pistols before Sid Vicious killed Nancy Spungen and then OD’d? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/93 "2019-04-09T15:21:41Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > How well known were the Sex Pistols before Sid Vicious killed Nancy Spungen and then OD’d? Very. ---
**Author:** ![jimlette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/97f17d/32.png) [@jimlette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimlette)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/94 "2019-04-09T16:08:10Z")
> [@squidfood](#): > > My understanding is that Booth was one of the more famous leading men of the day, would be equivalent to the shock value of say Brad Pitt shooting the president. That would have been Edwin Booth, John Wilkes much more famous brother. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/95 "2019-04-09T20:14:31Z")
Here’s a new one that I’ve never heard of–[Boosie Badazz](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/boosie-badazz-arrested-in-georgia-faces-felony-gun-and-drug-charges-news.76743.html). (A Gospel singer, obviously.) ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/96 "2019-04-09T20:51:18Z")
Little Boosie… ☹ Free Little Boosie. Lots of mentions ITT of folks who had far more relative fame than Smollett. How about a [17th round NFL draft choice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Woodfield) who became a serial killer. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/97 "2019-04-09T23:08:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > He wasn’t nearly as well known as his brother Edwin. More like Stephen Baldwin shooting the president.😉 > > I was being a little facetious, but John Wilkes Booth’s name is only known today because of the assassination. “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” Too soon? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/98 "2019-04-10T00:09:57Z")
Interesting thread premise as posed by the OP but totally derailed when all the people who don’t understand the words “minor celebrities” started including folks who were huge stars before their deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/99 "2019-04-10T05:49:43Z")
[John Rocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rocker) was a pretty run-of-the-mill MLB pitcher who became famous when he responded to an interview question about [playing for a New York team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rocker#Controversies): > [@Rocker](#): > > I’d retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-wracking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you’re riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It’s depressing… The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106/100 "2019-04-10T12:57:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > He wasn’t nearly as well known as his brother Edwin. More like Stephen Baldwin shooting the president.😉 > > I was being a little facetious, but John Wilkes Booth’s name is only known today because of the assassination. To be sure, we’ve forgotten most of the 19th century theatrical actors. As I understand it, JWB was more of a heartthrob than Edwin. Maybe it would be like Tom Jones shooting the president. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-celebrities-whove-become-more-famous-for-a-bad-reason/832106.md?page=6)