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.
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.
Mozart . . . oh wait . . .
Jerry Lewis, Randy Travis, Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando, Shelly Winters; none aged particularly well or later enjoyed near the early level of success.
It’s not too late, is it?
Oh, I wasn’t advocating, just trying to see the OP’s side of things. I’m all about the jumpsuits!
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.
If the members of U2 died after finishing Achtung Baby.
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.”
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?
What about Hot Shots Part Deux? I loved that movie.
That would be quite a trick, since Alive came out before Destroyer.
Yep. That thought was why I made this thread.
Jimmy Savile. As early as possible, preferably.
Beautiful Day and Walk On are their only notable songs since the late 90s. So no, you’re not dreaming.
before Face/Off and Adaptation?
Have to correct my earlier post: those are their only notable songs since the early 90s.
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.
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.
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.