The 10 Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of the Last Decade

The last decade has been ten years full of celebrity deaths, many of them occurring just this past year. We, as a society, have lost many of the most treasured actors. Anytime a beloved star dies it is shocking to most people. Sometimes it is shocking because it was sudden and unexpected. Sometimes, even if the death was expected, it is shocking because the celebrity was so loved. Also, often in Hollywood, it is easy to see the path the celebrity is on may very well lead to any early death. However, whatever the cause of death, foreseen or not, it is sad and shocking.

Here is my list of the 10 most shocking celebrity deaths of the last decade:

1. Michael Jackson

Now this is a big one! I do not think there is a person alive who has not heard of Michael Jackson. Long known as "The King of Pop", Jackson was loved by many. His death occurred June 25, 2009 and was a shock to most. At the time of his death Michael had recently been given many drugs by his physician. There is currently an investigation underway concerning this matter. Whatever the cause of Michael Jackson's death he will be sorely missed!

2. Heath Ledger

To his audience, Heath Ledger seemed to have it all. He had looks and talent. I first saw Heath in 10 Things I Hate About You. It was an adorable movie and Heath provided a great performance. I never would have guessed, though, that he would turn out to be such a great actor. With rolls in Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight, he proved himself to be one of the Hollywood greats. He died January 2, 2008, with prescription drugs in his system. We will never know for sure if his death was accidental or suicide.

3. David Carradine

David Carradine is one of my favorites! It was a complete shock when he died. He was not a known drug user, and he did not seem to have many personal issues. He is probably best known as Bill in the Kill Bill series and also the 70's television series Kung Fu. Carradine was found dead in Thailand on June 3, 2009. He was found hanging in a very strange position and it is not known if it was murder or suicide. RIP David Carradine!

4. Brittany Murphy

This is the most recent of the top 10 most shocking celebrity deaths this decade. She was found dead December 20, 2009, only two days ago at the time of this writing. This one shocked the heck out of me. Apparently there were rumors of her drug use before her death, with even Saturday Night Live comedians performing a skit about it. It is not yet known why she died, other than cardiac arrest.

5. Anna Nicole Smith

I think many people were not too surprised by the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Due to her inhibited behavior most people were aware of her struggles with addiction. She was once the thin model for Guess Jeans. Although still beautiful, her weight had ballooned. Shortly before her death she had lost the weight and seemed to be making a comeback. Then her son, Daniel Smith, died from an overdose of prescription drugs. Anna Nicole Smith's son's death was very shocking and Anna went into a deep depression. She also then died from a combination of prescription drugs.

6. John Ritter

One of America's most beloved stars passed away on September 11, 2003. John Ritter was the classic American actor. I grew up watching him play Jack on Three's Company, but this guy was more than a television star. He was also great on the big screen with roles in, Bad Santa and others. John Ritter died of a congenital heart disorder that had been undiagnosed. For me, this takes number one as the most shocking celebrity death of the last decade.

7. Christopher Reeve

After becoming a paraplegic in 1995, Christopher Reeve died October 10, 2004 due to complication of his paralysis. It is common for paraplegics to have complications such as Reeve's did. It was still very shocking when he died. Even though he was a paraplegic, many still thought of his as Superman. Sadly, he was only human!

8. Dudley Moore

This star of the Arthur series was known for his charming, yet playboy personality. In his late 50's his health really went downhill. He suffered a heart attack and four strokes, and then in 1999 we learned he also had a brain disorder. He died March 27, 2002 due to Pneumonia. Even though Dudley Moore's health had begun to fail, I don't think the general public was aware how series it was. When he passed away it was quite shocking.

9. Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter" to his fans died while swimming with Sting Rays. Sting Rays are not very aggressive and the death was a complete accident. This loveable personality was taken far too early. He died September 4, 2006 and left a wife and young child behind. Such a sad story!

10. Billy Mays

Known as the boisterous T.V. salesman, Billy Mays death on June 28, 2009 came as a complete surprise. This All-American guy died from heart disease most likely induced by his cocaine use. He was loud and very hyper but I never would have thought he would die from cocaine. People who knew him described him as a very loving person. His commercials kind of grew on me and he will be missed.

Resources:
www.wikipedia.com