Last Days

On April 10, 2024, OJ Simpson — one of the most decorated football players and controversial figures of the last half of the 20th century — passed away after a brief battle with prostate cancer. His football and acting legacies were forever eclipsed by his criminal trial and eventual acquittal for the vicious double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson rem...

On May 2, 2012, Junior Seau -- an NFL legend who redefined the linebacker position during his career -- took his own life, shocking his friends, family, and many fans. Known for his fierce playing style and leadership on the field, Seau's impact on football forever changed and modernized the sport, but it was his untimely death that sparked a crucial conversation about the prevalence of chronic tr...

Thirty years ago this week, on April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain - the Nirvana frontman whose raw, angst-ridden lyrics made him the voice for Gen X - killed himself in his Seattle home. Cobain’s death, brought on by years of drug use, physical pain, and depression, though tragic, cannot overshadow a singularly remarkable career that transformed American music. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn...

On March 29, 2024, Lou Gossett Jr. – who rose to fame with his Emmy-award-winning portrayal of Fiddler in the miniseries Roots and an Academy Award-winning turn as drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentlemen – died after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of African-American actors, and as one of the kindest and most beloved men in Hollywood history. Hosts: Jason Beck...

On December 5, 2022, Kirstie Alley -- best known for her iconic role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers and her memorable performances in movies like Look Who's Talking -- passed away from colorectal cancer at the age of 71. Alley's legacy was complicated by her public struggles with weight loss and personal views on various social and political issues, but such controversies never overshadowed her feisty...

On July 2, 2004, Marlon Brando -- perhaps the most iconic film actor of the 20th century for his roles in classics like On the Waterfront and The Godfather -- passed away from a mysterious lung condition at the age of 80. Despite his personal troubles, Brando's groundbreaking and unconventional approach to acting ushered in a new era in Hollywood that continues to shape the art form to this day. H...

Len Bias was among the greatest basketball players ever who lived until his life was cut short by a lethal batch of cocaine. The true crime story of Bias’s death gripped the nation, but it left behind one of the most culturally destructive legacies in the history of sport. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Denver -- one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 70s -- tragically died in a plane crash in 1997 off the coast of California. Despite his untimely death, Denver's musical legacy continues to resonate with timeless hits like Take Me Home, Country Roads and Annie's Song, which remain cherished anthems to this day. But perhaps his most lasting impact on the music industry came in t...

On January 10, 2016, David Bowie - the visionary iconoclast who blended rock, glam, and avant-garde styles to revolutionize music - died of liver cancer in his NYC apartment. Bowie's evolving musical styles and various persona over a five decade career have been emulated by generations of musicians - from Madonna to Prince, Lady Gaga to Kanye West, and countless others. And even as his health dete...

On September 28, 2022, Coolio -- the iconic rapper best known for hits like Gangsta's Paradise and C U When You Get There -- died from an accidental drug overdose at a home in Los Angeles. With his trademark braids and laid back style, Coolio left a profound mark on the music industry with his unique blend of simple and sincere lyrics set against classic funk beats. Despite his untimely death, his...

On September 7, 2018, Mac Miller – one of the brightest and most beloved young musicians in the world – died after taking counterfeit opioid pills laced with fentanyl. Three men accused of distributing the pills have since been brought to justice, but that is little solace to his family and friends who mourn his loss, and for his legion of fans who were deprived of a budding musical genius. Hosts:...

On February 2, 2024, Carl Weathers -- the man who brought Apollo Creed to life on the big screen in four Rocky movies -- passed away at the age of 76. Although most associated with his role as Stallone's foil-then-friend in that film franchise, Weathers left behind a rich and varied legacy in Hollywood, bringing his trademark charisma and wit to everything from zany Adam Sandler comedies like Happ...

On October 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve -- the man who ushered in the modern wave of comic book heroes on the big screen with his Superman movies -- died from heart failure due to complications from a blood infection. Reeve burst on the Hollywood scene in the late 70s, bringing boyish good looks, effortless charm, and real acting chops from Juilliard, but his last decade was defined by a tragic hor...

On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein - one of the most notorious criminals in recent American history - was found dead of what was initially reported to be suicide by hanging. But over the next several weeks fissures emerged in the official story of Epstein's death with the revelation that prison guards and officials engaged in a cover-up to conceal what really happened the night Epstein died. And...

In late December 2016, one of the brightest starts from Hollywood's Golden Age Debbie Reynolds and her multi-talented daughter and Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher passed away within 24 hours of each other. Their lives and careers charted very different courses in entertainment, but the personal hardships and difficult battles never broke their enduring and loving bond. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Dere...

George Michael - the Wham! frontman turned legendary solo performer - died on Christmas day, 2016, from heart failure brought on by years of substance abuse. Michael's life was derailed by his 1998 arrest for a lewd act, which made him the butt of jokes and subjected the famously-private star to unwanted media scrutiny. But in death he finally found the rehabilitation he searched for so desperatel...

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 2023 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 August 9, 2008, Bernie Mac -- star of countless movies and one of The Original Kings of Comedy -- died in a Chicago hospital after a lengthy battle with a rare lung disease. Although he only found mainstream success later in life, Mac left an indelible mark on the comedy world with his brash style that blended his often shockingly provocative takes with genuine paternal warmth. Hosts: Jason Bec...

Special Update: Matthew Perry's Cause of Death - The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has released the autopsy report revealing Matthew Perry's official cause of death, providing answers to the questions surrounding his sudden and tragic passing. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On January 12, 2023, Lisa Marie Presley - the daughter and later the wife of, respectively, perhaps the two most famous entertainers of the 20th century - died from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to weight loss surgery she'd undergone years before. Lisa Marie was a singer and a performer, a devoted mother, and the candle-bearer for her father's legacy, but she ultimately succumbed...

On December 5, 2023, Norman Lear -- the man responsible for revolutionizing television in the 70s with a string of hit sitcoms, including All in the Family and Good Times -- passed away in his Los Angeles home at the age of 101. Already a television legend by his mid-50s, Lear could have spent the remainder of his incredible life basking in the glow of his accomplishments, but instead continued to...

On March 4, 2019, Luke Perry died from a stroke at a Los Angeles hospital. Though Perry enjoyed a remarkable career renaissance near the end of his life, he will always be remembered for his portrayal of brooding heartthrob Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 - the breakout star from the iconic show that changed television forever. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad ch...

On April 10, 1992, Sam Kinison -- who turned screaming rants in small comedy clubs into a burgeoning career in Hollywood -- died after drunk driver crashed into his car on a California highway. Although remembered for his indulgent lifestyle, Kinison's tragic death at the age of just 38 had nothing to do with his vices and cut short one of the most unique careers in entertainment history. Hosts: J...

On September 14, 2021, Norm Macdonald -- the legendary SNL alum and one of the greatest stand-up comedians of his generation -- passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer that he had waged privately for many years. His death shocked even some of his closest friends in the comedy world, but his fearless and wholly unique voice left behind a legacy that won't soon be forgotten. Hosts: Jason Beck...