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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Donald Trump. I didn’t even know who he was until the Koi fish controversy.
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.
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.
OK, this is parody, right?
This whole thread really is.
How well known were the Sex Pistols before Sid Vicious killed Nancy Spungen and then OD’d?
Very.
That would have been Edwin Booth, John Wilkes much more famous brother.
Here’s a new one that I’ve never heard of–Boosie Badazz. (A Gospel singer, obviously.)
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 who became a serial killer.
“Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
Too soon?
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.
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:
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.