Yes, so did Monroe, Dean, and Kennedy. I think the point is that these people became MORE famous because they died, not that they became famous in the first place.
Um, I think it would have been a bit hard for Lennon to become MORE famous after he died. Surely, though they’re still alive, most people have heard of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and even Yoko Ono, right? Remember Lennon’s line about the Beatles being bigger than Christ? It wasn’t merely an empty boast. It was a fairly accurate summation of their cultural status. So I’ve got to disagree on this one. I do agree, however, that Sid would probably have merited no more than a footnote in rock history.
JOhn Lennon was already famous…look at Paul, George and Ringo?
WH Harrison was famous as a war Hero…Tippecanoe?
Hmmm…let’s see…Rasputin might not be QUITE as notorious, if not for the fantastic way he was offed!
President McKinley
Archduke Ferdinand…had he not been assassinated, and had there not been a war…no one would have heard of him!
Oh yeah, I was trying to think of her name earlier, but it just now came to me: Lupe Velez.
This lady is the champion in the “became more famous because she died” category.
Definitely Patrick Henry (“I regret I have but one life to give for my country.”) He’s remembered for his execution, not particularly for what he was executed for.
Leno and Mary LaBianca Killed by the Manson Family shortly before the Tate Party murders.
Jesus has to be the best call in the list. Without the martyrdom of crucifiction, J.C.'s an obscure answer in Trivial Pursuit, the Centenium Edition. Good one, Torgo.
Gotta disagree to a slight degree about Buddy Holly. The guy was already one of the biggest names in rock’n roll. His sudden death provided some “what if” mystique, but didn’t compound his fame, IMO.
If Andy Worhol hadn’t been shot, he would have been the person most criticized for exceeding his 15 minutes of fame. Once that association was made, the quote would have changed to simple irony and sour grapes, and been forgotton, along with him.
uh, that’s Nathan Hale - Henry was “give me liberty, or give me death…” Hale was hung as a spy, and belongs on the list.
Not entirely true.
If Ferdinand had not been assassinated, he’d have been the ruler of Austria Hungary. Certainly he’d have been heard of.
Now, it IS true that he is more famous now, than he likely would have been even as ruler of Austria Hungary.
With that in mind, Nicholas II’s entire family also qualify, except for possibly Nicholas himself, and Alexei.
The Grand Duchess Anastasia, in particular, qualifies–though mostly because it was rumored that she had survived.
YIKES. Thanks for the correction, LurkerNoMore!
How about (Union Army) Major-General Sedgwick, whose (reputedly) immortal last words were:
It’s sad to think that a military leader would end up being remembered largely for uttering the punchline to his whole life. Still, given a choice, I suppose I wouldn’t mind being remembered for uttering something as ironically memorable as he.
~~Baloo
JFK and RFK for certain. Both pretty mediocre as far as real accomplishments go.
Lincoln would’ve been great and famous anyway, but early death definitely gave him a big bump.
Gotta agree: JC has to be #1 on this list.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by OrcaChow *
Leno and Mary LaBianca Killed by the Manson Family shortly before the Tate Party murders.
Just popping in to say Leno and his wife were killed the day AFTER the Tate murders.
Popping in to concur on Elvis. At the time of his death, he’d been yesterday’s news for several years’ worth of yesterdays. Then he dies, and all of a sudden he’s a big deal. If he were still alive, there would be no Elvis industry.
I’ve got mixed reactions with respect to Jim Morrison. The Doors’ music doesn’t need residual PR from Morrison’s death to have the place it has. But OTOH, comparing Morrison with someone from the same era, and similarly accomplished (Neil Young, perhaps?), it seems to me that death gave Mr Mojo Risin’s reputation a slight uptick. But not a really huge one, I don’t think.
Hey now! I believe Buddy Holly would still be famous had he not died at 22. Just my opinion, but his music holds up better almost 50 years later than anyone of his era, including elvis.
True, he’d grow old, put out a bunch of crappy albums in the 60s, go on oldies tours in the 70s, etc.
But really. I think he’d be held in the same esteem as roy orbison, frank sinatra, and others who actually lived on.
McCartney’s work will still be viewed with reverence for a long time, despite the fact he hasn’t done anything worthwhile for 30 years now. Buddy would have enjoyed the same respect.
Ack. Now i have to defend andy warhol. heh.
He was shot in the late 60s, i believe. He lived well into the 80s when he died due to post-operative complications of a relatively minor surgery (forgot the exact details). But Warhol did not die before his time… he was, i believe at least into his 50s, and his artistic fame was long behind him when he died.
He is judged by his prime in the late 60s-early 70s.
“McCartney’s work will still be viewed with reverence for a long time, despite the fact he hasn’t done anything worthwhile for 30 years now.”
Lemme see, I don’t think his light went out when the Beatles did… a few notes maybe…
1973 - Won a grammy for “Band On The Run”. Released very successful albums in 1975, 1976, 1978, and 1979. Millions of albums sold post Beatles era.
1977 - Mull of Kintyre sets a new record for singles sales.
Stayed married to Linda to the end and they say he never spent a day apart from her except when he was jailed 10 days for possesson of pot in Japan.
No scandalous flings with other women either…
1989 World Tour - sold out.
Liverpool Oratio - He composes classical music.
1996 - Knighted for good citizenship, particulary in regard to an immense amount of charity and animal rights work.
point taken, feynn. I’m not saying PM has been completely worthless for the last 30 years.
“Band on the run” was a nice little song, but PM will be remembered for his work with the beatles in the 60s. Not his marriage to linda, not his pot bust, and not his classical music.
I didn’t mean to dismiss what he did in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It’s worthwhile, but his work with the beatles, in his prime, is what he’ll be remembered for.
Oh, Jiminy Cricket, I KNEW when I saw this thread title that I would have to jump to the defense of Lupe Velez (Ike, prepare your wisecracks). LUPE VELEZ DID NOT DROWN IN HER TOILET. That was one of the many lies invented by Kenneth Anger is his little treasure “Hollywood Babylon.” To paraphrase Lillian Helman, “Every word in it is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘the.’” It is physically impossible to drown in a toilet, unless you have someone holding you by the heels and dunking you.
Now, back to the OP:
• Rudolph Valentino. A huge star, but he had a thick Italian accent, so his death just before talkies was an excellent career move. He died at the top, whereas in a few years he’d just have been another character actor.
• Peg Entwistle, the failed starlet who jumped to her death in 1932 from the “H” in the “Hollywoodland” sign.
- Marie Antoinette. How many other queens of France are remembered today?
Yup, JC would have to be #1.
You are talking about Jim Croce, right?
Buddy Holly would have become a nauseating country singer.
Crispus Attucks – though being Black helped, too. 
The only fact anyone really knows about him is that he was killed in the Boston Massacre.
Jim Croce and Harry Chapin would just be known as obscure washed-up singers if they had lived (Harry’s brother Tom should be who comes to mind when you hear the name “Chapin.”).
The main thing people remember about Catherine the Great is her death – even though it is an urban legend.