# Which entertainer's legacy would have benefited most from an early death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601 "2013-01-09T08:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/21 "2013-01-09T20:01:22Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Artists who brushed up with fame, but had a more diehard niche following - if they died early their work and influence might be reconsidered and elevated - folks like \*\*Bob Mould \*\*of Husker Du; \*\*Paul Westerberg \*\*of the Replacements, even guys with longer runs like **Joe Jackson**. As a huge fan of both Bob Mould and Paul Westerberg, I must protest the early killing of … well, most certainly Bob. His excursions into dance music were pretty annoying, but he has produced so much solo stuff that I’ve liked that I’d hate for him to have been hit by a bus in the mid-1990s. Paul, on the other hand, has not really had the sparkling solo career so many fans thought he was going to have when the Replacements splintered. I mean, he’s certainly had his moments. But if we’re going to try the early-death-as-career-boost trick, I’m more willing to give him up. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/22 "2013-01-09T20:02:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But you’d lose the image of him shaking hands with Nixon! > Look, reasonable people can disagree over whether to lose the bell-bottoms-and-lei-clad Elvis singing _An American Trilogy_ You maybe don’t like _In The Ghetto_, we can talk. But, please, rethink what you’re proposing here: it’s now or never! Are you the devil in disguise? Viva Las Vegas! Elvis dies right after the “Suspicious Minds/Kentucky Rain” sessions. And in a better way. Eddie Murphy might be called the best comedian ever if he’d died young. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/23 "2013-01-09T20:04:32Z")
Mozart . . . oh wait . . . ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/24 "2013-01-09T20:07:21Z")
Jerry Lewis, Randy Travis, Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando, Shelly Winters; none aged particularly well or later enjoyed near the early level of success. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/25 "2013-01-09T20:22:02Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Justin Bieber. It’s not too late, is it? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/26 "2013-01-09T21:31:04Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But you’d lose the image of him shaking hands with Nixon! > > And, c’mon: you’d lose the image of him in black leather, singing _Are You Lonesome Tonight_, plus you’d lose him in the white jumpsuit, singing _Burning Love_ - just so we can lose _Return To Sender_ and everything from _Can’t Help Falling In Love_ to _Suspicious Minds_? Look, reasonable people can disagree over whether to lose the bell-bottoms-and-lei-clad Elvis singing _An American Trilogy_ You maybe don’t like _In The Ghetto_, we can talk. But, please, rethink what you’re proposing here: it’s now or never! Are you the devil in disguise? Viva Las Vegas! Oh, I wasn’t advocating, just trying to see the OP’s side of things. I’m all about the jumpsuits! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/27 "2013-01-09T21:45:35Z")
Should have stepped in front of a bus the day they completed: Lindsay Lohan, _Mean Girls_ Nicolas Cage, _Con Air_ Andy Dick, _NewsRadio_ Charlie Sheen, _Hot Shots!_ Paris Hilton, birth. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/28 "2013-01-09T22:09:34Z")
If the members of U2 died after finishing _Achtung Baby_. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/29 "2013-01-09T22:20:16Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > George Lucas dies in 1981, right after following STAR WARS with THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, having moved from AMERICAN GRAFFITI to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. If he did we’d probably having the conversation “Wow, it’s 2013. Imagine if George Lucas had lived pass 1981 all the great movies he would have made over the past 3 decades. A huge body of work that only got better as time went by and he honed his craft. So sad that he’s gone. We can only dream about what may have been.” ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/30 "2013-01-09T22:30:26Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > If the members of U2 died after finishing _Achtung Baby_. I know I’m dreaming. If I am interpreting this dream correctly, there is actually somebody on here, besides me, who doesn’t love all of the crap that they’ve putting out for the last 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/31 "2013-01-09T22:40:59Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Should have stepped in front of a bus the day they completed: > > Charlie Sheen, _Hot Shots!_ What about Hot Shots Part Deux? I loved that movie. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/32 "2013-01-09T22:55:09Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > KISS, right after _Destroyer_ and before _KISS Alive_. That would be quite a trick, since _Alive_ came out before _Destroyer_. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/33 "2013-01-09T23:24:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > If he did we’d probably having the conversation “Wow, it’s 2013. Imagine if George Lucas had lived pass 1981 all the great movies he would have made over the past 3 decades. A huge body of work that only got better as time went by and he honed his craft. So sad that he’s gone. We can only dream about what may have been.” Yep. That thought was why I made this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/34 "2013-01-09T23:28:05Z")
Jimmy Savile. As early as possible, preferably. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/35 "2013-01-09T23:34:26Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I know I’m dreaming. > > If I am interpreting this dream correctly, there is actually somebody on here, besides me, who doesn’t love all of the crap that they’ve putting out for the last 20 years? _Beautiful Day_ and _Walk On_ are their only notable songs since the late 90s. So _no_, you’re not dreaming. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/36 "2013-01-09T23:34:28Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Should have stepped in front of a bus the day they completed: > > Nicolas Cage, _Con Air_ > . before Face/Off and Adaptation? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/37 "2013-01-09T23:44:48Z")
Have to correct my earlier post: those are their only notable songs since the _early_ 90s. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/38 "2013-01-09T23:53:53Z")
I think the idea of the thread goes beyond just sticking a pin in the timeline after an entertainer’s best work. I’m not really comfortable suggesting that death would be preferable, but I can see the argument in a case where someone has really come off the rails and is known for DUI arrests or Domestic Disturbance calls rather than for early brilliance. I’m not aware of any character issues with the members of U2, Nicolas Cage or lots of the folks mentioned. I wish Robert DeNiro had said no to a few films - starting after Cop Land, but I don’t think that he’s done anything to his legacy that eclipses Taxi Driver or Raging Bull. When actors talk about his work in 20 years it will still be those films, and not Meet the Fockers. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/39 "2013-01-10T00:03:40Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > When actors talk about his work in 20 years it will still be those films, and not Meet the Fockers. Speaking of which, I was going to ask when Dustin Hoffman last had a decent film but checking the interweb it looks like he’s had some recent award nominations (for _Last Chance Harvey_ and _Barney’s Version_) so I guess he’s not done yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601/40 "2013-01-10T00:28:11Z")
Perhaps Van Cliburn who in 1958 won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in the Soviet Union, made the cover of “Time” magazine and became the only classical musician to ever get a New York tickertape parade. Wiki is kind of vague on his career later but my understanding is that the record label and management went for easy early success instead of building his career slowly. All kinds of athletes like Mike Tyson, Bobby Hull, Pete Rose and Steve Garvey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-entertainers-legacy-would-have-benefited-most-from-an-early-death/646601.md?page=3)