Tragically Murdered Celebs

There are certain celebrities that are simply unforgettable, no matter how long they've been gone. Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and Michael Jackson, for example, are all three legendary stars who seem to have had rather unexplainable deaths that still garner attention from the media and film industry. Whenever the world loses a celebrity, the public always becomes fascinated. We are reminded that although the rich and famous seem untouchable, they experience pain and death the same way anyone else would. There are also certain celebrity murders that still haunt us, because they were so shocking and so tragic. 

In cases like Elizabeth Short or "The Black Dahlia," the actor became more famous in death than she was in life, coincidentally. The body of aspiring actress Short was sadly found in a park in Los Angeles, California in 1947 — cleaned of all evidence (via ATI). There were many theories about what happened to her, along with lots of documentaries and films made, but her murder remains one of LA's biggest mysteries — even today. We'd like to propose a toast to some of our other favorite celebrities who were tragically murdered.

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in Harlem, New York, and was one of the most well-respected artists in the hip-hop community. Like Biggie Smalls, who was also shot and killed six months after Tupac, he was taken from us entirely too soon. He was only 25 years old, and it was unexpectedly at the hands of a gunman, per Biography. Tupac had done a short stint in prison, and his gang-affiliated lifestyle inspired him to create a certain music genre that appealed to his audience, as did his deceased adversary Biggie Smalls. Fan-favorites that are still consistently played on the radio or shared on playlists are "Changes," "California Love," and "Hit Em Up," to name a few.

In the 1990s, it was no secret that the gang rivalries between the East and West Coast were steadily increasing and becoming more dangerous. Sadly, in the case of Tupac, he was shot and killed after leaving a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas in 1996. Tragically, he passed away from his injuries six days later (via Britannica). Although no one was officially charged with Tupac's murder, police suspected fellow hip-hop artist Orlando Anderson, who was also sadly gunned down in 1998, per MTV. Tupac is best remembered for his incredible music, and acting roles in films like "Juice" and "Poetic Justice." In death, Shakur became even more of a rap legend.

Nicole Brown Simpson was famously married to football star O.J. Simpson before her life abruptly ended, resulting in one of the most widely known murder trials of the century. O.J. was on trial for the alleged murder of his former wife and her friend Ron Goldman; Simpson notoriously walked away an innocent man, shocking the entire nation.

According to Biography, Nicole, a former homecoming queen and blonde bombshell, met O.J. when she was working as a waitress in Los Angeles. The sports star divorced his first wife, and he and Nicole were married shortly after, eventually having two children; Sydney and Justin. Nicole was a devoted mother and cared deeply for her children. Unfortunately, O.J. became physically and emotionally abusive, as well as unfaithful; family and friends recall seeing Nicole with bruises on her body, which led to law enforcement getting involved. O.J. pleaded no contest to spousal battery, and the two were later divorced.

Nicole had told her mother that she was scared of her ex-husband, and thought that he was following her. On the night that she was tragically murdered along with her friend, model Ron Goldman, the two were found stabbed to death outside of her Los Angeles condo. After evidence pointed to her ex-husband, he was charged with both of their murders in a tumultuous trial that ended with a jury acquitting him of all charges (via Biography).

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Carl Switzer was best known for being a child actor who played the iconic role of Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" comedy (which is now affectionately known to most people as "The Little Rascals"). "Our Gang" was so successful that it became a television series and would employ Switzer for years to come. Who can forget those sweet, sneaky little boys!?

After "The Little Rascals," Switzer found himself much older, struggling for tiny roles on the big and small screen; it was clear that his days of being a successful actor were over (via History).  He made his money working random jobs like bartending, and, unfortunately, had quite a few episodes with the local police. This is sadly not surprising as so many child actors head down a path of destruction.

On the night he was killed, Switzer and a friend went to the home of someone who was believed to owe him money. According to PopCrush, he was shot to death during an argument over $50 – the equivalent of a little less than $500 today, per DollarTimes. Moses Stiltz, the shooter, said the former child star threw a knife at him so he retaliated by shooting him in the stomach.

Actor and comedian Phil Hartman made us laugh on "Saturday Night Live" and in many films. Hartman's comedic timing and the way he worked with the late Chris Farley on skits like "Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker" made Hartman a household name.

According to Biography, after two failed marriages, Hartman met his third wife, Brynn Omdahl, who was an aspiring model. Omdahl was previously addicted to cocaine, but was in recovery when she met and married Hartman. The couple had two children that he adored, and according to Hartman's friends, his career appeared to be thriving and he seemed incredibly content. Per the Los Angeles Times, Hartman told his friend Joe Dante, "I have a plane. I have a boat. I have a great house. I have a great family. In fact I have everything I ever wanted. It feels great."

However, Omdahl's career seemed to be at a stand-still, causing a rift between the couple and causing her to relapse. Her erratic behavior became increasingly worse, thus leading up to the tragic night. Per Biography, while under the influence, she shot and killed her husband Phil Hartman before turning the gun on herself. Hartman were survived by their now adult children, Birgen and Sean. Truly heart-breaking.

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