Fame is conducive to wealth and adoration, but also to suffocating pressure, perpetual judgment, and—to many—an all-too-simple route to drug abuse. The entertainment industry has lost some of its most talented members to overdose over the years, their careers and lives lost to addiction. They’re not just sad news stories—horrific reminders that no one, not even celebrities, is safe from the power of addiction. Here’s a glance at ten stars whose overdose deaths had a lasting influence, listed in reverse order of just how deeply their loss was felt worldwide.
10. Lil Peep
Gustav Åhr, aka Lil Peep to his fans, was a new, brash voice in the emo-rap genre. His lyrics brazenly discussed depression, heartbreak, and drug use—making him a representative of a generation that prized emotional candor. But in 2017, at only 21 years old, Peep died in an accidental overdose of fentanyl-tainted Xanax. His death brought out stern warnings regarding counterfeits and the glamorizing of drug abuse through music, mirroring the same issues he had lived through and written about in his songs.
9. Chris Farley
With limitless energy and a talent for physical humor, Chris Farley was a popular fixture on Saturday Night Live and in comedy movies. But off-camera, he had a battle with addiction and illness, often hiding behind humor to cover up his suffering. In 1997, he succumbed to a fatal combination of cocaine and morphine, surprising fans who observed just the guffaws—not the pain behind them.
8. Cory Monteith
Cory Monteith became famous for his nice-guy character Finn Hudson on Glee. Offscreen, though, he waged a long, secret battle with drug use. Monteith died in 2013 at age 31 from a mix of heroin and booze—a deadly combination that slowed the functions of his body to a lethal rate. His death was a heartbreaking shock to fans and was a somber reminder of how addiction can come back after one has overcome it.
7. River Phoenix
River Phoenix was a once-in-a-generation talent—dark, brooding, and self-possessed, yet wise beyond his years. With breakout performances in films such as Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho, he appeared to be destined for stardom. But at 23, Phoenix collapsed outside the Viper Room nightclub in 1993, the victim of a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine. His death shocked Hollywood and continues to be one of its most poignant “what might have been” moments.
6. Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse’s singing was raw, soulful, and unforgettable—but so were the addiction problems. As her popularity increased, so did the public scrutiny, and her struggles frequently became public spectacles. She died in 2011 of alcohol poisoning at age 27, joining the legendary and sad “27 Club.” Her death is still a warning of the cost of fame and the demons it can nourish.
5. Janis Joplin
With her rasping voice and wild energy, Janis Joplin emerged as rock’s most iconic figure. But behind the muscular performances was a profoundly isolated spirit who took solace in narcotics. In 1970, she died of an accidental heroin overdose at age 27. Her death was a crushing loss to the music community, and her influence still rings out across generations of musicians.
4. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix didn’t merely play the guitar—his sound revolutionized it. Psychedelic, innovative, and unmatched, his music was. Even geniuses, however, are not immortal. Hendrix passed away in 1970 at the age of 27, having choked to death during his sleep after ingesting barbiturates. His death resounded across the globe, another tragic loss from the “27 Club,” and a grim reminder of the cost to oneself of artistic genius.
3. Marilyn Monroe
Few stars have continued to be as enduringly iconic as Marilyn Monroe. Yet for all her beauty and success, Monroe suffered depression and addiction to prescription medication. In 1962, she overdosed on barbiturates under circumstances that remain enshrouded in mystery. Her sad demise is a reminder that even individuals who appear to “have it all” can be secretly suffering.
2. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston had one of the strongest voices the world has ever known. But behind the success were years of public and private struggles with addiction. In 2012, she was found dead in a hotel bathtub, where heart disease and cocaine use had led to her accidental drowning. Her death shocked fans and brought attention to the long-term consequences of drug use.
1. Michael Jackson
The globe was left stunned when the news of Michael Jackson’s death came in 2009. The King of Pop had succumbed to an overdose of propofol—a potent sedative used for surgery, not sleeping. His physician’s abuse of the drug was later deemed criminal, and Jackson’s death was one of the biggest celebrity surprises and preventable deaths ever. It also highlighted the risks of depending on drugs to deal with stress, sleeplessness, and the strain of fame.
Most of them were members of the notorious “27 Club,” a collection of creatives who passed away at the age of 27, typically from overdose or addiction. Their tales aren’t merely tragic—they’re cautionary tales about the risks of untreated mental illness and the true cost of fame. Behind every one of these names lay a person, not so different from the rest. If there’s one thing that these losses can teach us, it’s that compassion, understanding, and awareness are important—for everybody, regardless of how famous.