Selena Quintanilla was one of the biggest singers at the time of her death in 1995 . She had advance her first Grammy Award the year before , and her posthumous record album debuted at the top of the chart , make believe her the first Latin solo artist to achieve this .
1.First,Chadwick Bosemandiedin 2020 at the age of 43 from colon cancer. At the time of his death, Chadwick had just completed several big projects, likeDa 5 BloodsandMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, with the latter earning him a posthumous Oscar nomination. After the historic success ofBlack Panther, Chadwick was also slated to begin production onBlack Panther 2.
4.Selena Quintanilla-Pérez waskilledon 7 January 2025 outside a motel in Texas when she was only 23 years old. The year before her death, Selenawonher first Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album forSelenaand her posthumous albumDreaming of Youdebutedat the top of the Billboard 200, making Selena thefirst Latin solo artistto do so.
5.River Phoenixdiedin 1993 at the age of 23. Prior to his death, he starred in movies likeStand by Me, Running on Empty, My Own Private Idaho, and more.Running on Emptyearned him an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
6.Jimi Hendrixdiedin 1970 at age 27. At the time of his death, he was considered a genius musician and “a star, as brightly gorgeous as a star [who has] ever graced rock ‘n roll music.” His performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock in 1969earnedhim his one and only Grammy nomination. His influence is still felt today, and he is one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century.
7.Aaliyah waskilledin a plane crash in 2001 when she was only 22 years old. Prior to her death, she released three studio albums includingAaliyah, which came out a little over a month before her death. Posthumously, shereceivedthree Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
9.Tupac Shakur waskilledin Sept. 1996 while leaving a boxing match in Las Vegas. At the time of his death, he had released four studio albums includingAll Eyez on Me. The album charted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when itdebutedand has gone on to be considered one of the best albums of all time.
10.Mac Millerdiedin 2018 at the age of 26. At the time of his death, Mac had released five studios albums, with the latest beingSwimming, which earned him a posthumous Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album. In 2020,Circleswas released, which was the album Mac was working on at the time of his death. His final album receivedacclaim from criticsand debuted atNo. 3 on the Billboard 200.
11.Sharon Tate wasmurderedby members of the Manson Family in 1969 alongside four other people. Sharon had risen to widespread acclaim thanks to her performance inValley of the Dollsin 1967. The role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer — Female. At the time of her death, she wasthought to be"one of Hollywood’s most promising young starlets, even though her television and film appearances were not primarily in leading roles."
12.Kurt Cobaindiedin 1994 at age 27. At the time of his death, Nirvana had released three studio albums includingNevermind, which steadilyrose up the Billboard 200 chartseventually becoming the No. 1 album in 1992. Nearly two years after his death, Kurtwona posthumous Grammy alongside Nirvana for Best Alternative Music Performance for their legendaryMTV Unplugged in New Yorkalbum.
13.Angus Clouddiedat the age of 25 in 2023. At the time of his death, not only was he known for starring as Fez onEuphoria,but he has three films —Your Lucky Day, Freaky Tales, and an untitled movie from the team behindReady or Notand the newScreammovies — that are scheduled to release posthumously.
14.Cory Monteithdiedin 2013 when he was only 31 years old. At the time of his death, Cory was starring as Finn Hudson onGlee, a show that launched his career and received critical acclaim. His death was written into the series with the Season 5 episode “The Quarterback,” whichbrought in 7.4 million viewerswhen it aired, marking one of the biggest episodes for the series since early Season 4.
15.Cameron Boycediedin 2019 at just 20 years old. Cameron starred in the hit Disney Channel showJessiebefore landing the role of Carlos in theDescendantsmovie franchise. When the first filmdebuted, it received 10.5 million viewers, making it one of the biggest Disney Channel movies sinceTeen Beach Moviein 2013. Posthumously, Cameron had five projects release, includingDescendants 3,Mrs. Fletcher, andRunt.
16.Paul Walkerdiedin a car crash in 2013 at age 40. At the time, he was in the middle of starring in theFast and Furiousmovie franchise, which earned him widespread recognition. In 2014, following the release ofFast & Furious 6, Paul won Best On-Screen Duo at the MTV Movie Awards alongside Vin Diesel, an award they had previously won in 2002 when the first movie debuted.
17.Janis Joplindiedin 1970 at the age of 27. She had recorded four albums, with two of them being solo albums. She is widelyconsidered"one of the biggest female rock stars of her time" even before her death. In 1972, Janis was nominated for two Grammy Awards posthumously forPearl.
18.John Candydiedin 1994 from a heart attack at age 43. In the years leading up to his death, John was one of the most in demand comedic actors, starring in movies likePlanes, Trains and Automobiles, Splash, The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs, Cool Runnings, and more. In 1995, following his death, he wasawardedthe Earle Grey Award alongside theSCTVcast for their lifetime achievements in comedy.
19.Taylor Hawkinsdiedin 2022 at age 50. Considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, he was known for his work with the Foo Fighters. AlongsideseveralGrammy Awards, he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the band in 2021. Less than a month after his death, the Foo Fighterswonthree Grammy Awards for their latest album.
20.Brittany Murphydiedin 2009 from pneumonia at age 32. Leading up to her death, Brittany had starred in a string of successful movies likeClueless, Uptown Girls, Sin City, Girl, Interrupted, 8 Mile, and more. Posthumously, she appeared in two movies.
21.And finally, Steve Irwin waskilledby a stingray while filming a documentary in 2006 at age 44. He received global fame thanks to his nature seriesThe Crocodile Hunter, which he hosted alongside his wife Terri. At the time of his death, the Prime Minister of Australia John Howardsaidit was “a huge loss to Australia.”
