# The Cruelest and Saddest Deaths In Movies/Music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877 "2019-09-08T12:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/1 "2019-09-08T12:18:08Z")
There are many, but I’ll start with the most obvious – John Lennon ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/2 "2019-09-08T12:20:09Z")
You mean real ones, or in movies/music? For the first, any overdose; for the second, just open any dramatic opera. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/3 "2019-09-08T12:30:57Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > You mean real ones, or in movies/music? For the first, any overdose; for the second, just open any dramatic opera. Yes, real ones. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/4 "2019-09-08T12:42:51Z")
Bambi’s Mom? Assuming you first saw it as a kid. Captain Miller from Saving Private Ryan. “James, earn this… earn it.” Spock “Wrath of Khan” though lessened as he got better in the next movie. ETA: OK, nevermind. John Lennon’s is the one that affected me the most. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/5 "2019-09-08T12:58:19Z")
Jaco Pastorious being beaten to death by a bouncer after he snuck back into the venue Carlos Santana was playing. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/6 "2019-09-08T13:00:05Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > Jaco Pastorious being beaten to death by a bouncer after he snuck back into the venue Carlos Santana was playing. That’s not what happened. I know because I grew up in South Florida, was a massive fan of his and knew the bar in question. ETA: > [@](#): > > Pastorius developed a self-destructive habit of provoking bar fights and allowing himself to be beaten up.[5] After sneaking onstage at a Carlos Santana concert on September 11, 1987 and being ejected from the premises, he made his way to the Midnight Bottle Club in Wilton Manors, Florida.[19] After reportedly kicking in a glass door, having been refused entrance to the club, he was in a violent confrontation with Luc Havan, the club’s manager who was a martial arts expert.[20] Pastorius was hospitalized for multiple facial fractures and injuries to his right eye and left arm, and fell into a coma.[21] There were encouraging signs that he would come out of the coma and recover, but they soon faded. A brain hemorrhage a few days later led to brain death. He was taken off life support and died on September 21, 1987 at the age of 35 at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.[19] > > Luc Havan faced a charge of second-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to twenty-two months in prison and five years’ probation. After serving four months in prison, he was paroled for good behavior.[22] > **[Jaco Pastorius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaco_Pastorius)** > > John Francis "Jaco" Pastorius III (/ˈdʒɑːkoʊ pæˈstɔːriəs/; December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bassist, composer, and producer. He recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader and was a member of the jazz fusion group Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. He also collaborated with numerous artists, including Pat Metheny and Joni Mitchell. > His bass style was influenced by funk and employed the use of fretless bass, lyrical solos, bass chords and innovative use of harmoni... ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/7 "2019-09-08T13:10:31Z")
Quite a few in classical music: [Dinu Lipatti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinu_Lipatti) [Ginette Neveu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginette_Neveu) [David Munrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Munrow) [Lorraine Hunt Lieberson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorraine_Hunt_Lieberson) and of course both Mozart and Schubert died far too young. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/8 "2019-09-08T13:54:23Z")
The baby ape from Escape from the Planet of the Apes. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/9 "2019-09-08T14:20:20Z")
Glenn Miller’s death/disappearance was big way back when. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/10 "2019-09-08T14:23:20Z")
James Dean, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson, all from transportation mishaps. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/11 "2019-09-08T15:05:21Z")
And SRV. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/12 "2019-09-08T15:11:36Z")
Judith Barsi, who voiced Ducky in the first Land Before Time: > [@](#): > > Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988) was an American child actress of the 1980s. Barsi began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series as well as in the films Jaws: The Revenge, The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven, providing the voices for animated characters in the latter two. She and her mother, Maria, were killed in July 1988 as a result of a double murder–suicide perpetrated in their home by her father, József Barsi. > **[Judith Barsi](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Barsi)** > > Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988) was an American child actress. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series, as well as the 1987 film Jaws: The Revenge. She also provided the voices of Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven. She and her mother, Maria, were killed in July 1988 in a double murder–suicide committed in their home by her father, József Barsi. > Barsi was born in Los Angeles County, Californ... ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/13 "2019-09-08T15:20:17Z")
Virginia Rappe. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/14 "2019-09-08T15:42:13Z")
In music, the death of Duane Allman affected me most (next to Lennon). Vivian Stanshall, mostly because of the circumstances: his apartment burnt down because he was smoking in bed. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/15 "2019-09-08T15:50:36Z")
Vic Morrow and the two kids on _The Twilight Zone_ set. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/16 "2019-09-08T15:54:32Z")
John Bonham Bob Marley Keith Moon ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/17 "2019-09-08T16:08:35Z")
Known primarily for his TV work but since he did do movies I’m going to put in a word for Jim Henson. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/18 "2019-09-08T16:11:33Z")
Jeff Buckley. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > In 1997, Buckley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to resume work on the album, to be titled My Sweetheart the Drunk, recording many four-track demos while also playing weekly solo shows at a local venue. On May 29, 1997, while awaiting the arrival of his band from New York, he drowned during a spontaneous evening swim, fully clothed, in the Mississippi River when he was caught in the wake of a passing boat; his body was found on June 4. I do believe he had a few more incredible albums in him. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/19 "2019-09-08T16:26:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > James Dean, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson, all from transportation mishaps. And Otis Redding. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877/20 "2019-09-08T16:29:54Z")
Just saw this on the news: Kylie Rae Harris > **[Sheriff: Kylie Rae Harris caused fatal crash that killed her and 16-year-old...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/09/06/kylie-rae-harris-caused-double-fatal-new-mexico-crash-taos-sheriff-says/2236658001/)** > > "At this time I will say with most certainty that Miss Cruz was an innocent victim of this senseless crash caused by Ms. Harris," Taos Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said. > [@](#): > > investigators believe Harris caused Wednesday’s crash and that speed appeared to be a contributing factor when she clipped the back of another vehicle, sending her into oncoming traffic. She then crashed head-on into an SUV driven by the teenage Cruz. > > The sheriff said Pedro Cruz, a Taos County Firefighter/EMT, responded to the scene and found his daughter dead at the scene. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruelest-and-saddest-deaths-in-movies-music/839877.md?page=2)