The death of a famous person is a tragedy for not just their own families, but also their entire community of fans. While it is a known fact that everyone has to die one day or the other, untimely deaths of celebrities always shake us to the core. It is relatively easier to accept the natural death of an aged celebrity but the news of the tragic and unnatural death of a famous personality breaks the hearts of the fans in a way words can’t describe. To die of drowning is indeed one of the most painful ways to die. When we hear of a celebrity drowning to their death, we can’t but wonder if this could have been somehow prevented? When singer Whitney Elizabeth Houston was found dead drowned in her bathtub in 2012, her fans were devastated. Similar had been the world’s reaction when the much loved founder of the Rolling Stones, Brian Jones, had died by drowning in the swimming pool in 1969. Le Corbusier, Hart Crane, and Dennis Wilson are also among the celebrities who drowned to their deaths. Check out this section to know more about famous people who died by drowning.
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Birthdate: August 9, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: February 11, 2012
Amongst the best-selling recording artists of all time and an inspiration to millions of budding artists, Whitney Houston achieved stardom with her eponymous debut album. The success of her later albums consolidated her position and earned her a spot in the Guinness World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time. She struggled with drug abuse and troubled marriage and died of drowning in her hotel's bathtub.
Birthdate: July 20, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: November 29, 1981
Amongst the top child artists of her generation, Natalie Wood garnered fame at the age of eight with the movie Miracle on 34th Street. Later, as an adult, she successfully established herself as a talented and sought after actress with movies like Splendor in the Grass and West Side Story. Her vibrant life came to an end after she died of drowning.
3
Matthew Perry(Best Known for His Role of 'Chandler Bing' on the TV Sitcom 'Friends')
Birthdate: August 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 28, 2023
Matthew Perry gained worldwide popularity for playing the character of Chandler Bing on the television sitcom Friends. The sitcom ran from 1994 to 2004 and remains one of the most popular ones till date. He also starred in other television series and a number of films. He had issued with vicodin, methadone, amphetamines and alcohol addiction.
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Naya Rivera(Actress and Singer Best Known for Playing 'Santana Lopez' on 'Glee (2009-2015)')
Birthdate: January 12, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, United States
Died: July 8, 2020
A talented actress who felt deeply about social issues, Naya Rivera was known for playing roles that reflected her standing on issues like racism and queer representation. She openly championed for LGBT+ rights, immigrants' rights, and women's rights. The brilliant young woman met a tragic end when she drowned in a lake in 2020.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: August 4, 1792
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Warnham, United Kingdom
Died: July 8, 1822
Legendary English Romantic poetry P.B. Shelley is remembered for his masterpieces such as Ode to the West Wind, To a Skylark, and Prometheus Unbound. He was known for his poetic imagery, and his popularity soared after his premature death due to drowning while boating at age 29.
6
Dennis Wilson(musician)
Birthdate: December 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Inglewood, California, United States
Died: December 28, 1983
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
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Dolores O'Riordan(Lead Vocalist and Lyricist for the Alternative Rock Band ‘The Cranberries')
Birthdate: September 6, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland
Died: January 15, 2018
Dolores O'Riordan went from being a church singer to becoming the lead vocalist of the Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries and a rock icon of the 1990s. She stunned her fans with her death as a result of accidental drowning due to intoxication at age 46.
Birthdate: August 5, 1908
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stanmore
Died: December 17, 1967
Harold Holt was an Australian politician and the 17th prime minister of Australia. On 17 December 1967, Holt disappeared while swimming in rough conditions at Cheviot Beach. Following his disappearance, which gave rise to several conspiracy theories, Harold Holt was presumed dead. The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne is named in his honor.
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Brian Jones(English Multi-Instrumentalist, Singer and Founder of the Rock Band 'The Rolling Stones')
Birthdate: February 28, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Died: July 3, 1969
Brian Jones was an English musician credited with founding the world-renowned rock band, The Rolling Stones. He was also considered the original leader of the band before his fellow band members, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, took over the musical direction of the band. Jones became the first member of the infamous 27 Club, when he died at age 27.
Birthdate: November 17, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Anaheim, California, United States
Died: May 29, 1997
Jeff Buckley was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. His only studio album, Grace, was included in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. Since his untimely death at the age of 30, Jeff Buckley has been the subject of several documentaries. His death also inspired several artists to record songs in tribute to his life and career.
11
Sridevi(Indian Actress Cited as the 'First Female Superstar' of Indian Cinema)
Birthdate: August 13, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sivakasi, Madras State, India
Died: February 24, 2018
Sridevi was an Indian film actress who appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam language films. Considered one of the most popular actresses of all time, Sridevi was dubbed theFirst Female Superstarin India. With several prestigious awards under her belt, she was also regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Birthdate: July 13, 1864
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rhinebeck Village, Rhinebeck, New York, United States
Died: April 15, 1912
Business tycoon, real-estate developer, and writer John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV had also served in the Spanish–American War. He belonged to the famed Astor family of New York. Astor died in the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and was the richest passenger aboard the liner.
Birthdate: 1450 AD
Birthplace: Algarve
Died: May 29, 1500
Bartolomeu Dias was a nobleman of the Portuguese royal household in the 15th century. Famous as an explorer, he sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa and set up a route from Europe to Asia. He became the first European to anchor in Cape Good Hope, South Africa, during the Age of Discovery. He perished in 1500.
14
Franco Columbu(Italian Bodybuilder and Actor)
Birthdate: August 7, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ollolai, Italy
Died: August 30, 2019
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Birthdate: March 18, 1858
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: September 29, 1913
Rudolf Diesel was a German mechanical engineer and inventor best remembered for inventing the Diesel engine. After Diesel's demise, his engine became an important substitution for the steam piston engine. The engine became widespread in applications, such as agricultural machines, submarines, ships, and trucks. His life inspired the 1942 biographical film Diesel, in which he was played by Willy Birgel.
Birthdate: September 6, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: January 13, 1985
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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Shad Gaspard(American Professional Wrestler and Actor)
Birthdate: January 13, 1981
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: May 17, 2020
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
Birthdate: November 6, 1953
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Marietta, Ohio, United States
Died: June 27, 1987
19
Isidor Straus(U.S. House Representative from New York (1894-1895))
Birthdate: February 6, 1845
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Otterberg, Germany
Died: April 15, 1912
Birthdate: February 7, 1873
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Comber, County Down, Ireland
Died: April 15, 1912
Birthdate: July 4, 1925
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santa Paula, California, United States
Died: September 28, 1966
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
22
Benjamin Guggenheim(Businesspeople)
Birthdate: October 26, 1865
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 15, 1912
Birthdate: September 6, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: County Limerick, Ireland
One of the best-known faces of Irish alternative rock, Dolores O’Riordan headed the band The Cranberries. Known for her international chartbusters such as Zombie, she later slipped into depression and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She died of accidental drowning due to intoxication at age 46 and was posthumously nominated for a Grammy.
24
Jay Moriarity(American Surfer)
Birthdate: June 16, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Georgia, United States
Died: June 15, 2001
25
Eddie Aikau(Hawaiian Surfer Who Was the First Lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the Island of Oahu)
Birthdate: May 4, 1946
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kahului, Hawaii, United States
Died: March 17, 1978
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Birthdate: May 19, 0701
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Suiye, Tang Empire (now Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan)
Died: November 30, 0762
Li Bai was a Chinese poet whose works helped Chinese poetry flourish in the Tang dynasty. Acclaimed as a genius, Li is credited with popularizing traditional poetic forms. His poetry has been influential from his own time to the present day. Along with Zhang Xu's calligraphy and Pei Min's swordplay, Li's poetry is counted among the Three Wonders in china.
27
Piero the Unfortunate(Ruler of Florence Known for His Bad Decisions that Led to His Downfall)
Birthdate: February 15, 1472
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Died: December 28, 1503
A 15th-century lord of Florence, Piero the Unfortunate was the eldest son of Italian statesman Lorenzo de' Medici. Throughout his 2-year rule, he made foolish errors such as making an agreement accepting all the demands of French king Charles VIII, leading to a revolt in his kingdom.
28
Josef Mengele(German Physician Known for His Atrocities at the Auschwitz II Concentration Camp)
Birthdate: March 16, 1911
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bavaria, Germany
Died: February 7, 1979
Known as Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele was the chief doctor of Auschwitz concentration camp and was responsible for killing thousands of Jews as well as torturing the prisoners mercilessly and conducting inhuman experiments on them. These included injecting them with chemicals and stitching twin children together. Despite his horrible crimes, the infamous Nazi doctor could never be captured.
Birthdate: 1122 AD
Birthplace: Haguenau, France
Died: June 17, 1190
Frederick Barbarossa, or Frederick I, reigned as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 to 1190. He had been the king of Germany and the king of Burgundy, too, and had earned the name Barbarossa for his red beard. He died while fighting in the Third Crusade in 1190.
Birthdate: February 28, 1873
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dalbeattie, Scotland
Died: April 15, 1912
Scottish sailor William McMaster Murdoch was the First Officer on the RMS Titanic. The officer in charge on the bridge when the ship collided with an iceberg, he was one of the more than 1,500 casualties when the ship sank. He died under mysterious circumstances, and it is rumored that he died by suicide shortly after the collision.
31
Maeve Kennedy McKean(Lawyer)
Birthdate: November 1, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Died: April 2, 2020
Birthdate: August 5, 1877
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Claremont, Pickering, Canada
Died: July 8, 1917
Tom Thomson was a Canadian artist best remembered for producing some of Canada's most iconic works, namely The West Wind and The Jack Pine. Thomson's work has had a profound influence on Canadian art and he is often regarded as an unofficial member of the famous Group of Seven as he died shortly before the establishment of the iconic group.
33
Ray Emery(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Birthdate: September 28, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died: July 15, 2018
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
34
Audrey Mestre(Freediver)
Birthdate: August 11, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Île-de-France, France
Died: October 12, 2002
35
Ida Straus(Businessperson)
Birthdate: February 6, 1849
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Worms, Germany Worms, Germany
Died: April 15, 1912
Birthdate: September 11, 1771
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Selkirkshire, Scotland
Died: July 19, 1806
37
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence(Duke)
Birthdate: October 21, 1449
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: February 18, 1478
38
Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator(Pharaoh of Egypt (51–47 BC))
Birthdate: 0062 BC
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: January 13, 0047
The son of pharaoh Ptolemy XII, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator co-ruled with his sister, Cleopatra VII. Faced with a civil war after he forced his sister to flee to Syria, he later ruled with Arsinoe IV, another sister. He was killed while battling Julius Caesar’s forces in the Alexandrian War.
39
Elisa Lam(Chinese-Canadian Tourist Who Was Found Dead in Los Angeles Cecil Hotel)
Birthdate: April 30, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Died: February 1, 2013
40
Pete Farndon(Former English bassist and founding member of the rock band the Pretenders.)
Birthdate: June 12, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Hereford, England
Died: April 14, 1983
Birthdate: April 2, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
Died: June 17, 2012
A black man, Rodney King became a victim of police brutality by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1991. He was brutally beaten up by a group of police officers when he was trying to evade getting arrested for drunk driving. His case made international news and caused a public furor. King died of accidental drowning in 2012.
42
Randy California(Guitarist, Singer)
Birthdate: February 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: February 2, 1997
43
Robert Maxwell(British Politician and Member of Parliament for Buckingham from 1964 to 1970)
Birthdate: June 10, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Solotvyno, Ukraine
Died: November 5, 1991
Media magnate Robert Maxwell set up Pergamon Press, served as a Labour MP, and acquired media houses such as the Mirror Group and Macmillan. Apart from his lavish lifestyle, he is remembered for embezzling the Mirror Group pension funds. He died after falling off his yacht in the Atlantic Ocean.
44
Johnny Burnette(Singer, Musician)
Birthdate: March 25, 1934
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: August 14, 1964
45
Deon Dreyer(Diver)
Birthdate: August 7, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: South Africa
Died: December 17, 1994
46
Peter Minuit(Colonial Governor)
Birthdate: 1580 AD
Birthplace: Wesel, Germany
Died: August 5, 1638
47
William the Aetheling(King)
Birthdate: August 5, 1103
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Winchester, Hampshire, England
Died: November 25, 1120
48
Tor Eckhoff(Norwegian YouTube Vlogger)
Birthdate: November 22, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kristiansund, Norway
Died: November 27, 2021
49
Jack Phillips(Wireless telegraphist)
Birthdate: April 11, 1887
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Farncombe, Surrey, England
Died: April 15, 1912
50
Suleyman Shah(Ertuğrul's father)
Birthdate: 1165 AD
Birthplace: Middle east
Died: 1235 AD
