Last Days

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final years of Paul Walker. A global superstar whose sudden death sparked widespread assumptions that still obscure what really happened. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 31, 1926, Harry Houdini — the world-famous escape artist and illusionist whose death-defying feats made him one of the first global superstars of modern entertainment — passed away at the age of 52. Born Erik Weisz to a poor immigrant family, Houdini rose from carnivals and dime museums to international fame through relentless discipline, physical endurance, and an obsession with master...

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final years of Amy Winehouse. A once-in-a-generation talent whose voice and songwriting reshaped modern soul. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 5, 2004, Rodney Dangerfield — the legendary comedian whose trademark line “I don’t get no respect” became one of the most iconic catchphrases in entertainment history — passed away at the age of 82. Rising from years of struggle in comedy clubs and working odd jobs, Dangerfield broke through with a relentless, self-deprecating style that reshaped stand-up comedy and influenced generatio...

On May 18, 2017, Chris Cornell — the iconic singer, songwriter, and one of the most powerful voices in rock history — passed away at the age of 52. Rising to prominence as the frontman of Soundgarden, Cornell helped define the Seattle grunge movement of the late 1980s and 1990s with his soaring vocal range and emotionally raw songwriting. He later expanded his legacy with Audioslave and Temple of...

As we celebrate the New Year, Derek and Jason take the opportunity to reflect on some of the most memorable celebrities we didn't have a chance to cover on the podcast, focusing on their extraordinary lives and legacies. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As 2025 comes to a close, Derek and Jason take a look back at the most famous and influential celebrities we lost this year, and explore what made their lives and careers so memorable, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On April 5, 2002, Layne Staley — the hauntingly gifted frontman of Alice in Chains whose voice carried the ache, rage, and beauty of an entire generation — died alone in his Seattle apartment at the age of 34, closing the final chapter on one of rock music’s most tortured and transcendent lives. From the moment Alice in Chains emerged out of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s, Staley’s raw, w...

On December 14, 2025, Rob Reiner — the groundbreaking actor-turned-director whose blend of humor, heart, and moral clarity helped shape the landscape of modern American film — was murdered along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home, bringing a tragic end to one of Hollywood’s most enduring creative and personal partnerships. From his Emmy-winning turn as Michael “Meathea...

On August 13, 1995, Mickey Mantle — the legendary New York Yankees center fielder who defined power, speed, and switch-hitting excellence in baseball — died at the age of 63 after a battle with liver cancer. Celebrated for his rare combination of strength and athleticism, Mantle revolutionized the game with towering home runs, blazing speed, and a fearless style of play that thrived on the sport’s...

On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen — the revolutionary guitarist who reshaped the sound and possibilities of rock music — died at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. Celebrated for his explosive tapping technique, innovative tone engineering, and fearless musical curiosity, Van Halen transformed guitar playing into a new art form with a style that blended virtuosity, rhythm, and pure a...

On March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads — the prodigiously gifted guitarist who helped redefine heavy metal’s sound in the early ’80s — died at the age of 25 in a plane crash while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Known for his blistering technique and classical-inspired precision, Rhoads brought sophistication and melody to a genre previously defined by raw power. His work on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Ma...

On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley — the Jamaican singer, songwriter, and cultural revolutionary who brought reggae and Rastafarianism to the global stage — died of cancer at the age of 36 in Miami. Born in rural Nine Mile and rising from the streets of Kingston’s Trenchtown, Marley fused spiritual conviction with political defiance in songs like “One Love,” “Redemption Song,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Tho...

On September 4, 1993, Hervé Villechaize — the French-born actor and artist best known as Tattoo on Fantasy Island and Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun — died by suicide the age of 50 in North Hollywood. Rising from a difficult childhood in Paris, he became a global television icon whose exuberant cry of “De plane! De plane!” made him a household name and a trailblazer for actors with dwarf...

On December 26, 1996, JonBenét Ramsey — a six-year-old beauty pageant contestant from Boulder, Colorado — was found dead in her family’s home, a tragedy that shocked the nation and has remained one of America’s most haunting unsolved cases. The discovery came just hours after her parents reported her missing following the appearance of a lengthy ransom note demanding $118,000. Despite intense medi...

On November 3, 2025, Dick Cheney — the former Vice President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, and one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in American political history — died at the age of 84 at his home in Wyoming. Cheney was a dominant force in Washington for more than four decades, shaping U.S. policy through intellect, discipline, and an unyielding belief in American power....

On May 8, 2020, Roy Horn — one half of the legendary Las Vegas magic duo Siegfried & Roy — passed away at the age of 75. Horn, alongside Siegfried Fischbacher, revolutionized live entertainment with their groundbreaking blend of illusion, spectacle, and their signature white tigers and lions, becoming synonymous with the glitz and grandeur of the Vegas Strip. Their partnership began in Europe and...

On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali — the three-time heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist, civil rights activist, and one of the most transformative figures in sports and culture — passed away at the age of 74. Ali first rose to prominence after stunning the world with his upset victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, and shortly thereafter changed his name to Muhammad Ali, declaring allegiance to his...

On September 20, 1973, Jim Croce — the singer-songwriter whose plainspoken poetry captured the heart of working-class America — died at the age of 30 in a plane crash just as his star was on the rise. With timeless hits like Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Operator, and Time in a Bottle, Croce helped revive the folk-rock and singer-songwriter tradition that stretched from Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan, blendin...

On October 11, 2025, Diane Keaton — the Oscar-winning actress, director, author, and one of the most singular voices in American cinema — passed away at the age of 79. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Keaton evolved from quirky ingénue to one of Hollywood’s most admired and enduring figures. She first drew notice in The Godfather, but it was her performance in Annie Hall — the role t...

On May 8, 1999, Dana Plato — the child star who captured America’s heart as Kimberly Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes — died at the age of 34 from a fatal overdose in Moore, Oklahoma. Once one of television’s most recognizable young faces, Plato’s life became a haunting symbol of the perils of early fame, marked by addiction, legal troubles, and an unrelenting struggle to reclaim her place in Hollywo...

On May 23, 1999, Owen Hart — a gifted wrestling star and member of one of sport's most legendary families — died at the age of 34 during a live pay-per-view event as a result of a tragic stunt gone terribly wrong. In a career defined by dazzling athleticism, sharp wit, and a willingness to reinvent himself, Hart carved out an identity that balanced technical mastery with playful showmanship and em...

On April 19, 2017, Aaron Hernandez — the former NFL star tight end for the New England Patriots whose meteoric rise was eclipsed by a shocking murder conviction and subsequent prison sentence — was found dead in his prison cell at the age of 27. Once a standout athlete at the University of Florida and a Super Bowl–appearing Pro Bowler, Hernandez’s career and life unraveled after his arrest and con...

On September 16, 2025, Robert Redford — the decorated actor, accomplished director, founder of the Sundance Film Festival, and one of Hollywood's leading lights for decades — passed away at the age of 89. In a career that stretched across six decades, Redford transformed from matinee idol in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, to the Oscar-winning director of Ordinary Peop...

On August 9, 1995, Jerry Garcia — the guitarist, singer, and spiritual leader of the Grateful Dead — died of a heart attack at the age of 53 in a California rehab facility. In a career that spanned three decades, Garcia became one of the most iconic figures of the counterculture, guiding the Dead from the psychedelic streets of Haight-Ashbury to stadiums packed with devoted Deadheads. With his war...