# Who were the Most Famous Suicides of the 20th Century? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364 "2008-09-19T20:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/21 "2008-09-19T21:48:52Z")
I admit, Kurt Cobain and Ernest Hemingway were the first people I thought of upon seeing the thread title. Then, after further thought, Alan Turing. > [@Zebra](#): > > The 9/11 hijackers. Not quite the 20th century, though. And, in one sense, they’re not really all that famous: How many of their names do you know? If you really want suicides who are famous for whom they took with them, how about Phil Hartman’s wife? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/22 "2008-09-19T21:50:05Z")
Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/23 "2008-09-19T22:00:58Z")
Hunter S. Thompson and R. Budd Dwyer. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/24 "2008-09-19T22:02:18Z")
Thich Quang Duc might just qualify as a famous suicide. > **[Thích Quảng Đức](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Qu%E1%BA%A3ng_%C4%90%E1%BB%A9c)** > > Thích Quảng Đức (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Vietnamese: \[tʰǐk̟ kʷâːŋ ɗɨ̌k\] ⓘ; chữ Hán: .mw-parser-output .vi-nom{font-family:"Han-Nom Gothic","Nom Na Tong","Han-Nom Ming","Han-Nom Minh","HAN NOM A","HAN NOM B","Han-Nom Kai","TH-Khaai-TP0","TH-Khaai-TP2","TH-Khaai-PP0","TH-Khaai-PP2","TH-Sung-PP0","TH-Sung-PP2","TH-Sung-TP0","T... ---
**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:** [September 19, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/25 "2008-09-19T22:13:09Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Hunter S. Thompson and R. Budd Dwyer. Nitpick, but Hunter S. Thompson did not commit suicide in the _20th_ century. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/26 "2008-09-19T22:22:40Z")
At the top of the sports world, you have to include [Donnie Moore](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Moore). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/27 "2008-09-19T22:50:10Z")
[Freddie Prinze](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Prinze), up-and-coming young (he was only 22) star of the TV series “Chico and the Man” made headlines when he killed himself on January 28, 1977. His death was initially ruled as a suicide, but later was re-ruled as “accidental due to the influence of Quaaludes.” Also contributing to the ruling of accidental death was the presence of his business manager, as suicidal people rarely kill themselves in the presence of witnesses. Also, Prinze had a history of pulling practical jokes such as playing with guns and faking suicide attempts in order to frighten his friends for his own amusement. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/28 "2008-09-19T22:55:35Z")
If you are going to count drug overdoses, the list is quite long - [Famous Drug Overdoses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_by_accidental_drug_overdose) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/29 "2008-09-19T23:12:56Z")
I had always thought of Monroe’s death to be more disputed. Looking it up after seeing her suggested so quickly (and doubly) in this Thread. Seems “Probable Suicide” came straight from the coroner and that other causes delve into conspiracy theory territory. I had always written murder off as conspiracy theory silliness, but I had always thought of it as a probable accidental overdose possible suicide. The 9/11 Terrorists and WWII Kamikaze pilots are not popularly known by name. I can accept the inclusion of Hitler on the list though I think his suicide was so very much the least noteworthy item in his biography. Brynn Hartman and the Columbine Shooters? For some reason I feel like Murder/Suicide ought to be a separate category. However, I can’t persuade myself that there is any reasonable justification for creating a separate category so I guess they count. I just think that in both those cases it was the murders that were so famous and the suicides almost incidental- maybe that’s why I wouldn’t have included Hitler or others from his court. I almost excluded Budd Dwyer from my own list simply because his fame really is _because of_ his suicide, but then I reasoned that “fame because of suicide” actually has more merit on a “Famous Suicides” list rather than less merit. Following this reasoning, I agree Thich Quang Duc qualifies. [QUOTE=CircleofWillis] I came in to this thread to say Michael Hutchence of INXS but as I looked at the wiki list it said disputed… What’s the dispute? The wiki entry on Hutchence himself says the dispute is that it was not suicide but accidental hanging. Ummmm… isnt that still suicide? or would it be considered… self negligent manslaughter? [/QUOTE] Accidental death by one’s own hand is still an accidental death. In suicide there is the _intent_ to take one’s own life. I have never heard it seriously suggested that either Hendrix or Jim Morrison committed suicide. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/30 "2008-09-19T23:15:30Z")
Charles Boyer killed himself with barbituates two days after his wife of more than forty years died. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/31 "2008-09-19T23:16:00Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > If you are going to count drug overdoses, the list is quite long - > > [Famous Drug Overdoses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_by_accidental_drug_overdose) Yeah, drug overdoses only count when they are intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Nurobath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e57/32.png) [@Nurobath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nurobath)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/32 "2008-09-19T23:18:54Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > In a Family Feud-type survey: “Name a famous person who killed themselves in the 20th century,” I would think the top three would be Hitler, Hemingway and Cobain. Speaking of Family Feud…[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray\_Combs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Combs) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/33 "2008-09-19T23:26:17Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Nitpick, but Hunter S. Thompson did not commit suicide in the _20th_ century. Nope, not a nitpick. Good call. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/34 "2008-09-20T00:07:47Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Ian Curtis is defintely up there… Doing the research would dull the point of my response: Who? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/35 "2008-09-20T00:08:33Z")
re Ray Combs: Good Answer! Good Answer! ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/36 "2008-09-20T00:29:27Z")
Since we’re nitpicking based on whether or not the suicides occurred during the 20th century, it’s worth pointing out that the 9/11 hijackers missed the cut-off by 9 months and 11 days. Also, while several people have mentioned R. Budd Dwyer’s suicide, I didn’t see anyone mention that it even had a fairly popular song written about it: [Hey Man Nice Shot - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Man,_Nice_Shot) ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/37 "2008-09-20T00:37:14Z")
> [@Erasmus\_Darwin](#): > > Since we’re nitpicking based on whether or not the suicides occurred during the 20th century, it’s worth pointing out that the 9/11 hijackers missed the cut-off by 9 months and 11 days. Since we’re nitpicking what constitutes the 20th century, it’s worth pointing out that September 11th, is eight months and eleven days after the cutoff. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/38 "2008-09-20T00:55:13Z")
[George Eastman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eastman), chronically ill and in intense pain, committed suicide. [Edwin Howard Armstrong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Howard_Armstrong), the inventor of FM radio, killed himself after years of dirty tricks and legal harassment by David Sarnoff drove him to bankruptcy and a mental breakdown. [Jean Seberg’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Seberg) suicide in 1979 was the final result of a mental breakdown that occurred after a campaign of harassment and dirty tricks by FBI head J. Edgar Hoover caused her to suffer a miscarriage. Cheery topic for a thread. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/39 "2008-09-20T01:12:12Z")
I couldn’t remember the name of a blonde actress from the 60’s who I really liked and who killed herself. The first Google hit was [this article](http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/368360/famous_actors_who_killed_themselves.html?page=3&cat=2), which got me the name I was looking for – Inger Stevens – but also mentioned Carole Landis. I didn’t know that! I wasn’t around when it happened, but it must have been a shocker. Carole Landis! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364/40 "2008-09-20T02:32:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The mass suicides at Jonestown And the Hale-Bopp suicides. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-most-famous-suicides-of-the-20th-century/464364.md?page=3)