10 Actors Who Tragically Died By Accident
Fate is cruel sometimes. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most famous Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives as a result of an accident.
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00:00 "Is it always this crazy?"
00:01 "No, it's a shock for me."
00:03 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at the most famous Hollywood actors
00:06 who tragically lost their lives as a result of an accident.
00:09 "I'm fortunate because I've been offered and given the opportunity to work on some
00:15 great projects with great people."
00:17 Bob Saget
00:20 On January 9, 2022, while on a stand-up tour in Florida, Bob Saget was found dead in his
00:25 Ritz-Carlton hotel room. The beloved actor and comedian rose to prominence as Danny Tanner
00:29 on the ABC sitcom Full House.
00:31 "Okay, are we gonna have fun or what? Hey, let's see some smiles."
00:40 He was also the original host of America's Funniest Home Videos,
00:43 and continued to perform stand-up after Full House ended.
00:46 "It was like part of you was missing. It was like part of all of us was missing.
00:49 But we stuck it out and we got through it. Just like we always do."
00:55 "Just like we always will."
01:01 Saget's shocking demise led to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike,
01:06 but it wasn't until an autopsy was conducted that the cause of his death was revealed. It
01:10 appears the actor died from blunt head trauma, likely due to an accidental fall he hadn't deemed
01:15 serious.
01:15 "Everything that I've been surrounded by has been a reminder of him and, you know,
01:21 a memory of him. And so it's been very, very sad, but also very beautiful."
01:27 Saget was laid to rest five days later in a private ceremony.
01:31 Jane Mansfield
01:32 She was the quintessential blonde bombshell who led a scandalous life and drew comparisons
01:36 to Marilyn Monroe.
01:37 "Jane Mansfield was the archetypal 1950s Hollywood dumb blonde.
01:41 But behind the pin-up image was a complex and intelligent woman."
01:45 While her films weren't very popular in real life,
01:47 Jane Mansfield played the role of a movie star to perfection. However,
01:50 her stint in the limelight was brief as she met her untimely end at the age of 34.
01:54 On June 29, 1967, Mansfield embarked on a road trip from Biloxi,
01:59 Mississippi, to New Orleans for a TV interview.
02:01 "At that period in her life, she was not a good early riser.
02:05 And what she wanted to do was, while she was still awake, was she wanted to get her
02:10 and the family to New Orleans so they could stay in a hotel so she could be right there."
02:15 Accompanying her were her lawyer and partner Sam Brody, a hired driver, and her three children,
02:20 one of whom was a young Mariska Hargitay. Tragically, the journey ended in a ghastly
02:24 accident that claimed the lives of all three adults, while the children escaped with minor
02:28 injuries.
02:28 "Hollywood star, the buxom and beautiful Jane Mansfield, is dead. She was killed instantly
02:34 when the car she was riding in collided with a truck a few miles from New Orleans early this
02:38 morning."
02:39 Matthew Perry
02:40 Best known for playing the quick-witted Chandler Bing on Friends,
02:43 Matthew Perry's career continued to blossom even after the show came to an end.
02:47 "What brings you here?"
02:48 "Um, some of your mail mysteriously found its way into my mailbox."
02:52 "What?"
02:52 "What?"
02:53 "Oh yeah, Sportscaster's Hall of Fame. That's me."
02:56 But despite his success, Perry personally dealt with substance use disorder, which sometimes
03:01 affected his career. On October 28, 2023, the actor was found dead in a pool at his
03:06 Los Angeles residence, but the cause was initially unclear. A post-mortem investigation eventually
03:10 ruled it an accident, attributed to acute effects of ketamine, which were compounded
03:14 by drowning and coronary heart disease.
03:16 "It is sometimes used recreationally, it can be found illegally, but recently it's
03:21 also been studied for its potential to treat mental health disorders, including depression,
03:25 and now it's being blamed for the death of Matthew Perry."
03:28 Apparently Perry had been undergoing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to manage his anxiety.
03:32 His death was a tragic loss for many fans who had grown to cherish Perry,
03:36 and indeed considered him a friend.
03:38 "He was happy, and he said so. And he hadn't said that for a long time.
03:44 It's a source of comfort, but also, you know, he didn't get to have his third act, and
03:49 that's...that's not fair."
03:54 Chance Perdomo
03:55 With prominent roles in shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Gen V,
03:59 Chance Perdomo seemed poised for a flourishing career in Hollywood.
04:02 "You lost?"
04:03 "I got it. Thanks."
04:10 "Well, there's some sweet moves last night. I was coming up with your superhero name,
04:14 you wanna hear it?"
04:15 "Bloody Marie."
04:17 Sadly, all of that promise was cut short in March 2024,
04:21 when the 27-year-old actor lost his life in a motorcycle accident.
04:24 Although details surrounding the incident remain limited, reports indicate that it
04:28 occurred while Perdomo was en route from upstate New York to Toronto for the filming
04:32 of the second season of Gen V. His untimely demise led to the suspension of production on the show.
04:37 Perdomo will be fondly remembered for his boundless charm and undying passion for his craft.
04:42 "I just keep hearing his laugh. I just keep hearing his laugh, and he just...he was such
04:46 a champion of so many people, and he was so open and understanding and kind and talented."
04:53 Anton Yelchin
04:54 A defective gear shift design in Fiat's Grand Cherokee line of cars tragically caused the
04:59 death of actor Anton Yelchin. Yelchin was a rising star in Hollywood, appearing in a
05:03 slew of successful movies, most notably the Star Trek reboot series.
05:07 "If my calculations are correct, they're creating a singularity that will consume the planet."
05:14 "They're creating a black hole at the center of Vulcan?"
05:19 "Yes."
05:20 On June 19, 2016, at just 27, Yelchin died when his car rolled backwards on the steep driveway
05:26 of his LA home, trapping him against a brick pillar and a security fence. He was discovered
05:31 by his friends after he failed to show up for a planned rehearsal. Notably, the Grand Cherokee's
05:35 faulty design had prompted a vehicle recall just two months prior to the tragic incident.
05:39 "But I think the focus really has to be to celebrate his life and his incredible spirit,
05:44 and at such a young age, he was only 27 years old, but he made such incredible contributions
05:51 creatively and made so many wonderful films, and people that worked with him just absolutely
05:56 adored him."
05:57 Following Yelchin's passing, Fiat reached a settlement with his family in a lawsuit.
06:01 Naya Rivera
06:02 After years working as a child actress and model, Naya Rivera found fame as Santana Lopez on Glee.
06:08 "Brit and I were wondering if you wanted to go out."
06:10 "On a date? With which one of you?"
06:14 "With both of us."
06:17 She remained on the show until its conclusion in 2015, the same year she welcomed her son Josie
06:22 with fellow actor Ryan Dorsey. On July 8, 2020, fans were thrown for a loop when Rivera was
06:27 declared missing after a boat trip with her son at Lake Piru.
06:30 "Do you remember what you said in those final face-time moments?"
06:34 "I told her, I go, 'Well, the water's getting choppy.' And I said, 'I love you,
06:38 and call me. Call me when you get off the water.'"
06:42 While Josie was found unharmed shortly after, Rivera remained missing until divers discovered
06:47 her body six days later. At the age of 33, the actress had died from accidental drowning after
06:52 managing to save her son. Upon the news of her death, social media was awash with tributes from
06:57 fans and several high-profile figures.
06:59 "I honestly don't think that she even knew the impact that she had.
07:03 People would come up to her all the time and say, 'You saved my life.'"
07:07 Brandon Lee
07:08 Brandon Lee followed in the footsteps of his father, legendary martial artist and
07:11 action star Bruce Lee, forging a career for himself in Hollywood.
07:14 After appearing in a few mildly successful films, he landed what was set to be his breakthrough
07:25 role in the 1994 superhero flick The Crow. Lee was almost done shooting all of his parts when
07:30 tragedy struck. While filming a scene in which his character would be shot and killed, the prop
07:34 gun malfunctioned and accidentally discharged a dummy bullet, which struck Lee in the abdomen.
07:39 "Mr. Lee's heart stopped, and efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful."
07:44 "Wednesday afternoon, Brandon Lee was pronounced dead."
07:47 He was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries hours later.
07:51 Lee was laid to rest next to his father, who had also died prematurely.
07:54 "He was in critical condition. Somehow at that point, I don't know, I mean,
07:58 I've got chills down right down my spine, and I felt that he's not going to make it."
08:04 Philip Seymour Hoffman
08:06 Philip Seymour Hoffman was more than just gifted and versatile. He was magnetic.
08:10 "Those are Mr. Lebowski's children, so to speak."
08:12 "Different mothers, huh?"
08:13 "No, they're not."
08:14 "Racially, he's pretty cool."
08:15 "They're not literally his children. They're the little Lebowski urban achievers."
08:22 As an actor, Hoffman had a wealth of distinctive characters under his belt,
08:25 earning him an Academy Award along the way. In his personal life, however,
08:29 Hoffman dealt with substance use disorder, but he sought rehabilitation early on
08:33 and managed to stay sober for a long time.
08:35 "And why did you decide to stop?"
08:38 "You get panicked. You get panicked. It was, um,
08:43 I was 22, and I got panicked for my life. It really was. It was just that."
08:48 Unfortunately, Hoffman relapsed in 2012 and tragically passed away two years later
08:53 in his apartment after ingesting a lethal drug cocktail, which was ruled an accident.
08:57 His death deeply affected the film industry, with many mourning the loss of his immense talent.
09:02 The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part I, one of his final movies, was dedicated to his memory.
09:07 "I need you to join this team now. I need someone she trusts."
09:11 James Dean
09:12 Although a hugely popular film star,
09:14 James Dean only starred in one film that saw the light of day during his lifetime.
09:18 "You're right. I am bad. I knew that for a long time."
09:22 "I didn't mean that, Cal. I spoke in anger."
09:24 "No. It's true."
09:27 Dean had appeared in a series of uncredited roles before landing a part in 1955's East of Eden,
09:32 which earned him an Oscar nomination. In September 1955, just a few months after the film's release,
09:37 Dean was traveling to participate in a sports car racing competition
09:40 when his Porsche 550 collided with another vehicle.
09:43 "There was a car coming in the opposite direction that was going to turn in front of James Dean."
09:50 "I think that his reaction was, 'I'm a race car driver and I'm gonna have to outmaneuver this car.'
09:57 But he lost control."
09:59 The actor sustained severe injuries in the accident and was rushed to the hospital,
10:02 where he was pronounced dead on arrival at the age of 24.
10:05 Rebel Without a Cause, the film for which he's best remembered, was released one month later.
10:10 "Why did we do this?"
10:11 "You gotta do something, now don't you?"
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10:29 Heath Ledger
10:31 At just 28, Heath Ledger had already amassed a diverse range of roles that could rival many
10:36 seasoned actors. "Pick you up on Friday then." "Oh right, Friday, uh-huh." "Well,
10:42 tonight I'll take you places you've never been before." "Like where, the 7-Eleven on Broadway?
10:47 Do you even know my name, screwboy?" "I know a lot more than you think."
10:52 From the queer-themed western Brokeback Mountain to playing an iteration of Bob Dylan in I'm Not
10:56 There and embodying the Joker in The Dark Knight, there was almost nothing Ledger couldn't do.
11:00 "But I know the truth. There's no going back. You've changed things. Forever."
11:06 "Then why do you want to kill me?" "I don't want to kill you. What would I do without you?"
11:14 But his unwavering dedication to his craft came at a cost. Throughout the production of The Dark
11:19 Knight, Ledger struggled with insomnia, which led to him misusing prescription drugs. Unfortunately,
11:24 on January 22, 2008, mere months before the film's premiere, Ledger was found dead in his home,
11:29 having accidentally overdosed on prescription medications.
11:32 "I've found meanings around the circumstance,
11:34 but the actual event itself still doesn't have a... I can't find a...
11:38 I can't find it. I can't find a meaning for it."
11:45 He didn't live long enough to see his performance earn widespread acclaim and, ultimately,
11:49 the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
11:51 Which of these accidental actor deaths affected you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
11:55 "Leslie Jordan may have suffered a medical emergency, causing him to lose control of his
11:59 Grey BMW before crashing into the side of this building here in Hollywood."
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