# This is a crappy list of "bizarre" celebrity deaths - we can do better! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795 "2013-07-06T16:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [July 6, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/41 "2013-07-06T22:25:07Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Virginia Rappe, who died of a ruptured bladder after, um, partying with Fatty Arbuckle. Let’s just say that that is far too unclear to be listed as a fact. Randy California – guitarist for Spirit – died while rescuing his son (successfully) from a riptide. He was unable to escape it, and drowned. Doug Kenney – founder of **The National Lampoon** and screenwriter for **Animal House** and **Caddyshack** – died after he fell off a cliff in Hawaii. Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Band died in an apartment fire. He may have been too drunk to realize what was happening. A bizarre coincidence: Roger Bowen, who played Col. Henry Blake in the movie version of **M_A_S\*H** and McLean Stevenson, who played the role on TV, died within 24 hours of each other. The news of Bowen’s death was not released to the media for a week, to avoid people confusing them. Both men died of heart attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/42 "2013-07-06T22:52:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Virginia Rappe, who died of a ruptured bladder after, um, partying with Fatty Arbuckle. The way I read it, the jury of Roscoe’s last trial issued him a written apology, something I don’t think they would have done if they thought he was, um, culpable in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/43 "2013-07-06T23:14:48Z")
Boy, you weren’t kiddin’, OP! That linked list was\* weak!\* All the “celebrity” deaths I can think of aren’t bizarre enough for mention. Run of the mill air and car crashes. **Fun Fact:** Sonny Bono died in _Nevada_, not California. I was there that day, by the way. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/44 "2013-07-06T23:26:17Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > One of the most famous stunt drivers in Hollywood, whose name eludes both me and Google at the moment, was killed when his stunt car rolled over, at low speed, as he turned to return to the stunt location after a successful run. [Dar Robinson.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dar_Robinson#Death) The original lead singer of Norwegian black metal band **Mayhem** (ironically named “Dead”) killed himself with a shotgun blast to the head. What makes his death bizarre is that his creepy bandmates rearranged the body and took photographs (one of which famously ended up on a bootleg live album), crafted jewelry out of his skull fragments, and reportedly (though it was never proven) ate portions of his brain. **Jeff Porcaro** , famous session drummer for Toto, Steely Dan, and countless other bands, fell ill and died shortly after spraying insecticide at his home. However, his official cause of death was attributed to cocaine intoxication, thus robbing him of the distinction of dying in a bizarre gardening accident. Film director **Alan J. Pakula** died in a freak car accident – another vehicle kicked up a large chunk of metal, which smashed through his windshield and killed him instantly. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/45 "2013-07-07T00:17:11Z")
French president Felix Faure died while in the middle of some sex act with a much younger woman. There are many rumors as to what it might be, though a blowjob seems the most common explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/46 "2013-07-07T00:34:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Tennessee Williams was having difficulty opening a bottle of medicine with a childproof cap. He ended up prying the cap off with his teeth and accidentally swallowed it, causing his death. No shit?!? Did he choke on it or did it cause a blockage in his innards? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/47 "2013-07-07T00:57:07Z")
Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer got shot demanding $50 for a lost dog that was found. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/48 "2013-07-07T01:02:14Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > He was mentioned in the article. > > Jimi Heseldon - inventor of the segway - fell off a cliff while riding a segway. I don’t think he invented it, I think he just owned the company. I could easily be wrong. Either way that was one of the most laughable deaths I’ve ever heard of. Good call. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/49 "2013-07-07T01:03:59Z")
Tony Scott’s suicide was pretty bizarre. > **[Tony Scott’s Suicide Still A Mystery, Says LA County Coroner](https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/10/tony-scott-toxicology-test-suicide/)** > > By Jon Boon - Radar Reporter > > Legendary filmmaker Tony Scott died with an anti-depressant and a sleeping aid in his system when he jumped to his death in ---
**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:** [July 7, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/50 "2013-07-07T01:20:20Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > From the article in the OP about Michael Carradine’s death: > > Is this accurate? I always thought he’d been found dead. Yes, I think this is correct. Found dead…from autoerotic asphyxiation. > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > No shit?!? Did he choke on it or did it cause a blockage in his innards? Choked to death. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/51 "2013-07-07T01:34:44Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > From the article in the OP about Michael Carradine’s death: > > Is this accurate? I always thought he’d been found dead. He was dead when found. I think they just worded that sloppily. But you mean David Carradine, no? Or is the whole Carradine clan traipsing over here to engage in auto-erotic asphyxiation? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/52 "2013-07-07T01:35:34Z")
I don’t know if Aeschylus qualifies as a celebrity but he did die in a bizarre way. Eagles snatch up turtles and fly them up high and then drop them on rocks to crack open their shells so they can eat them. Aeschylus was bald and supposedly he was standing outside one day and an eagle mistook his head for a rock and dropped a turtle on him. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/53 "2013-07-07T01:40:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > French president Felix Faure died while in the middle of some sex act with a much younger woman. There are many rumors as to what it might be, though a blowjob seems the most common explanation. So you’re saying he came and went at the same time? ---
**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:** [July 7, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/54 "2013-07-07T01:41:17Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Herb Caen made a couple of sad references to the “Jon-Erik Hexum One Small Lapse in Judgment Award” in subsequent years. Much like [Terry Kath](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kath#Death), original guitarist for the group Chicago, whose last words were reportedly “Don’t worry. It’s not loaded.” Stone the Crows guitarist Leslie Harvey was electrocuted on stage when he grabbed an ungrounded microphone. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/55 "2013-07-07T02:07:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Much like [Terry Kath](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kath#Death), original guitarist for the group Chicago, whose last words were reportedly “Don’t worry. It’s not loaded.” . . . Chicago had recently releast the single [Baby What a Big Surprise](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby,_What_a_Big_Surprise). Boy howdy! ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/56 "2013-07-07T02:14:30Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > …Choked to death. Hmm, well whadayaknowabowtdat? I’ve always loved Tennessee Williams’ plays - though I’ve never seen one done live - ever since I first read _The Glass Menagerie_. I haven’t ever read any biography of him or anything - somewhat odd for me - so I really had no idea how he died. How sad that such a brilliant man should suffer such an ignoble fate. Almost like a Tennessee Williams play. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/57 "2013-07-07T02:44:09Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > And now on-topic: I hereby present for your consideration the death of French president [Félix Faure](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Faure), who died at his desk in the Elysée while having sex with his mistress (persistent rumours all state that she was fellating him when he apparently suffered a stroke). There’s been a controversy over the years whether Nelson Rockefeller died while having sex with a young aide named Megan Marshack. [See here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller#Death) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/58 "2013-07-07T03:30:46Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > There’s been a controversy over the years whether Nelson Rockefeller died while having sex with a young aide named Megan Marshack. [See here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller#Death) And speaking of the Rockefellers, Michael Rockefeller - youngest son of Nelson - disappeared while on an anthropological expedition in Papua, Indonesia, never to be heard or seen again. There is some speculation that he was [eaten by cannibals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Rockefeller#Speculation). [Barbara Olsen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Olsen) was a right-wing political talking head (basically Ann Coulter) who was killed in the 9/11 attacks. She was a passenger on AA Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon. She was on her way to California to appear on Bill Maher’s politically incorrect TV show at the time. During the episodes she was to appear on, Maher and the producers left the chair she would have occupied vacant as a memorial to her. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/59 "2013-07-07T03:46:26Z")
By coincidence I was reading earlier today that Emmy-award-winning actress [Beulah Bondi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beulah_Bondi) died after tripping over her cat. Actors [Sal Mineo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Mineo) and [Bob Crane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Crane) were both murdered ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795/60 "2013-07-07T03:57:26Z")
Actress Rebecca Schaeffer was murdered by an obsessed fan. > **[Rebecca Schaeffer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Schaeffer)** > > Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer (November 6, 1967 – July 18, 1989) was an American actress and model. She began her career as a teen model before moving on to acting. In 1986, she landed the role of Patricia "Patti" Russell in the CBS comedy My Sister Sam. The series was canceled in 1988, and she appeared in several films, including the black comedy Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills. At the age of 21, she was shot and killed by Robert John Bardo, a 19-year-old obsessed fan who had been s... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-crappy-list-of-bizarre-celebrity-deaths-we-can-do-better/662795.md?page=4)