10 Actors Who Tragically Died By Accident
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VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio
WRITTEN BY: Don Ekama
Fate is cruel sometimes. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at the most famous Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives as a result of an accident. Our countdown includes Bob Saget, Chance Perdomo, Anton Yelchin and more.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most famous Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives as a result of an accident. Which of these accidental actor deaths affected you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
On January 9th 2022, while on a stand-up tour in Florida, Bob Saget was found dead in his Ritz-Carlton hotel room. The beloved actor and comedian rose to prominence as Danny Tanner on the ABC sitcom “Full House.” He was also the original host of “America's Funniest Home Videos” and continued to perform stand-up after “Full House” ended. Saget’s shocking demise led to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike, but it wasn’t until an autopsy was conducted that the cause of his death was revealed. It appears the actor died from blunt head trauma, likely due to an accidental fall he hadn’t deemed serious. Saget was laid to rest five days later in a private ceremony.
She was the quintessential blonde bombshell who led a scandalous life and drew comparisons to Marilyn Monroe. While her films weren’t very popular, in real life, Jayne Mansfield played the role of a movie star to perfection. However, her stint in the limelight was brief, as she met her untimely end at the age of 34. On June 29th 1967, Mansfield embarked on a road trip from Biloxi, Mississippi to New Orleans, for a TV interview. Accompanying her were her lawyer and partner, Sam Brody, a hired driver, and her three children, one of whom was a young Mariska Hargitay. Tragically, the journey ended in a ghastly accident that claimed the lives of all three adults, while the children escaped with minor injuries.
Best known for playing the quick-witted Chandler Bing on “Friends,” Matthew Perry’s career continued to blossom even after the show came to an end. But despite his success, Perry personally dealt with substance use disorder, which sometimes affected his career. On October 28th 2023, the actor was found dead in a pool at his Los Angeles residence, but the cause was initially unclear. A post-mortem investigation eventually ruled it an accident, attributed to “acute effects of ketamine,” which were compounded by drowning and coronary heart disease. Apparently, Perry had been undergoing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to manage his anxiety. His death was a tragic loss for many fans who had grown to cherish Perry and indeed considered him a friend.
With prominent roles in shows like “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Gen V,” Chance Perdomo seemed poised for a flourishing career in Hollywood. Sadly, all of that promise was cut short in March 2024, when the 27-year-old actor lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Although details surrounding the incident remain limited, reports indicate that it occurred while Perdomo was en route from Upstate New York to Toronto for the filming of the second season of “Gen V.” His untimely demise led to the suspension of production on the show. Perdomo will be fondly remembered for his boundless charm and undying passion for his craft.
A defective gear-shift design in Fiat’s Grand Cherokee line of cars tragically caused the death of actor Anton Yelchin. Yelchin was a rising star in Hollywood, appearing in a slew of successful movies, most notably the “Star Trek” reboot series. On June 19th 2016, at just 27, Yelchin died when his car rolled backwards on the steep driveway of his LA home, trapping him against a brick pillar and a security fence. He was discovered by his friends after he failed to show up for a planned rehearsal. Notably, the Grand Cherokee’s faulty design had prompted a vehicle recall just two months prior to the tragic incident. Following Yelchin’s passing, Fiat reached a settlement with his family in a lawsuit.
After years working as a child actress and model, Naya Rivera found fame as Santana Lopez on “Glee.” She remained on the show until its conclusion in 2015, the same year she welcomed her son, Josey, with fellow actor Ryan Dorsey. On July 8th 2020, fans were thrown for a loop when Rivera was declared missing after a boat trip with her son at Lake Piru. While Josey was found unharmed shortly after, Rivera remained missing until divers discovered her body six days later. At the age of 33, the actress had died from accidental drowning after managing to save her son. Upon the news of her death, social media was awash with tributes from fans and several high-profile figures.
Brandon Lee followed in the footsteps of his father, legendary martial artist and action star Bruce Lee, forging a career for himself in Hollywood. After appearing in a few mildly successful films, he landed what was set to be his breakthrough role in the 1994 superhero flick “The Crow.” Lee was almost done shooting all of his parts when tragedy struck. While filming a scene in which his character would be shot and killed, the prop gun malfunctioned and accidentally discharged a dummy bullet which struck Lee in the abdomen. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries hours later. Lee was laid to rest next to his father, who had also died prematurely.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was more than just gifted and versatile, he was magnetic. As an actor, Hoffman had a wealth of distinctive characters under his belt, earning him an Academy Award along the way. In his personal life however, Hoffman dealt with substance use disorder, but he sought rehabilitation early on and managed to stay sober for a long time. Unfortunately, Hoffman relapsed in 2012 and tragically passed away two years later in his apartment after ingesting a lethal drug cocktail, which was ruled an accident. His death deeply affected the film industry, with many mourning the loss of his immense talent. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” one of his final movies, was dedicated to his memory.
Although a hugely popular film star, James Dean only starred in one film that saw the light of day during his lifetime. Dean had appeared in a series of uncredited roles before landing a part in 1955’s “East of Eden,” which earned him an Oscar nomination. In September 1955, just a few months after the film’s release, Dean was traveling to participate in a sports car racing competition when his Porsche 550 collided with another vehicle. The actor sustained severe injuries in the accident and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival, at the age of 24. “Rebel Without a Cause,” the film for which he is best remembered, was released one month later.
At just 28, Heath Ledger had already amassed a diverse range of roles that could rival many seasoned actors. From the queer-themed Western “Brokeback Mountain” to playing an iteration of Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There,” and embodying the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” there was almost nothing Ledger couldn’t do. But his unwavering dedication to his craft came at a cost. Throughout the production of “The Dark Knight,” Ledger struggled with insomnia, which led him to misuse prescription drugs. Unfortunately, on January 22nd 2008, mere months before the film’s premiere, Ledger was found dead in his home, having accidentally overdosed on prescription medications. He didn’t live long enough to see his performance earn widespread acclaim and ultimately, the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Bob Saget
On January 9th 2022, while on a stand-up tour in Florida, Bob Saget was found dead in his Ritz-Carlton hotel room. The beloved actor and comedian rose to prominence as Danny Tanner on the ABC sitcom “Full House.” He was also the original host of “America's Funniest Home Videos” and continued to perform stand-up after “Full House” ended. Saget’s shocking demise led to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike, but it wasn’t until an autopsy was conducted that the cause of his death was revealed. It appears the actor died from blunt head trauma, likely due to an accidental fall he hadn’t deemed serious. Saget was laid to rest five days later in a private ceremony.
Jayne Mansfield
She was the quintessential blonde bombshell who led a scandalous life and drew comparisons to Marilyn Monroe. While her films weren’t very popular, in real life, Jayne Mansfield played the role of a movie star to perfection. However, her stint in the limelight was brief, as she met her untimely end at the age of 34. On June 29th 1967, Mansfield embarked on a road trip from Biloxi, Mississippi to New Orleans, for a TV interview. Accompanying her were her lawyer and partner, Sam Brody, a hired driver, and her three children, one of whom was a young Mariska Hargitay. Tragically, the journey ended in a ghastly accident that claimed the lives of all three adults, while the children escaped with minor injuries.
Matthew Perry
Best known for playing the quick-witted Chandler Bing on “Friends,” Matthew Perry’s career continued to blossom even after the show came to an end. But despite his success, Perry personally dealt with substance use disorder, which sometimes affected his career. On October 28th 2023, the actor was found dead in a pool at his Los Angeles residence, but the cause was initially unclear. A post-mortem investigation eventually ruled it an accident, attributed to “acute effects of ketamine,” which were compounded by drowning and coronary heart disease. Apparently, Perry had been undergoing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to manage his anxiety. His death was a tragic loss for many fans who had grown to cherish Perry and indeed considered him a friend.
Chance Perdomo
With prominent roles in shows like “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Gen V,” Chance Perdomo seemed poised for a flourishing career in Hollywood. Sadly, all of that promise was cut short in March 2024, when the 27-year-old actor lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Although details surrounding the incident remain limited, reports indicate that it occurred while Perdomo was en route from Upstate New York to Toronto for the filming of the second season of “Gen V.” His untimely demise led to the suspension of production on the show. Perdomo will be fondly remembered for his boundless charm and undying passion for his craft.
Anton Yelchin
A defective gear-shift design in Fiat’s Grand Cherokee line of cars tragically caused the death of actor Anton Yelchin. Yelchin was a rising star in Hollywood, appearing in a slew of successful movies, most notably the “Star Trek” reboot series. On June 19th 2016, at just 27, Yelchin died when his car rolled backwards on the steep driveway of his LA home, trapping him against a brick pillar and a security fence. He was discovered by his friends after he failed to show up for a planned rehearsal. Notably, the Grand Cherokee’s faulty design had prompted a vehicle recall just two months prior to the tragic incident. Following Yelchin’s passing, Fiat reached a settlement with his family in a lawsuit.
Naya Rivera
After years working as a child actress and model, Naya Rivera found fame as Santana Lopez on “Glee.” She remained on the show until its conclusion in 2015, the same year she welcomed her son, Josey, with fellow actor Ryan Dorsey. On July 8th 2020, fans were thrown for a loop when Rivera was declared missing after a boat trip with her son at Lake Piru. While Josey was found unharmed shortly after, Rivera remained missing until divers discovered her body six days later. At the age of 33, the actress had died from accidental drowning after managing to save her son. Upon the news of her death, social media was awash with tributes from fans and several high-profile figures.
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee followed in the footsteps of his father, legendary martial artist and action star Bruce Lee, forging a career for himself in Hollywood. After appearing in a few mildly successful films, he landed what was set to be his breakthrough role in the 1994 superhero flick “The Crow.” Lee was almost done shooting all of his parts when tragedy struck. While filming a scene in which his character would be shot and killed, the prop gun malfunctioned and accidentally discharged a dummy bullet which struck Lee in the abdomen. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries hours later. Lee was laid to rest next to his father, who had also died prematurely.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman was more than just gifted and versatile, he was magnetic. As an actor, Hoffman had a wealth of distinctive characters under his belt, earning him an Academy Award along the way. In his personal life however, Hoffman dealt with substance use disorder, but he sought rehabilitation early on and managed to stay sober for a long time. Unfortunately, Hoffman relapsed in 2012 and tragically passed away two years later in his apartment after ingesting a lethal drug cocktail, which was ruled an accident. His death deeply affected the film industry, with many mourning the loss of his immense talent. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” one of his final movies, was dedicated to his memory.
James Dean
Although a hugely popular film star, James Dean only starred in one film that saw the light of day during his lifetime. Dean had appeared in a series of uncredited roles before landing a part in 1955’s “East of Eden,” which earned him an Oscar nomination. In September 1955, just a few months after the film’s release, Dean was traveling to participate in a sports car racing competition when his Porsche 550 collided with another vehicle. The actor sustained severe injuries in the accident and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival, at the age of 24. “Rebel Without a Cause,” the film for which he is best remembered, was released one month later.
Heath Ledger
At just 28, Heath Ledger had already amassed a diverse range of roles that could rival many seasoned actors. From the queer-themed Western “Brokeback Mountain” to playing an iteration of Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There,” and embodying the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” there was almost nothing Ledger couldn’t do. But his unwavering dedication to his craft came at a cost. Throughout the production of “The Dark Knight,” Ledger struggled with insomnia, which led him to misuse prescription drugs. Unfortunately, on January 22nd 2008, mere months before the film’s premiere, Ledger was found dead in his home, having accidentally overdosed on prescription medications. He didn’t live long enough to see his performance earn widespread acclaim and ultimately, the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
