Celebrities have long been associated with a live fast die young mentality . For many, the stresses and weight that come with the territory come at a high cost.
Below is a list of celebrities who tragically never made it to see their 30th birthday . Their passing is a reminder to us all to cherish our time on earth and to never take it for granted.
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Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee was the son of the legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, and a rising star in his own right. While Brandon was filming a gunfight scene in The Crow , a prop gun mistakenly fired off a live round , fatally wounding Brandon.
Jonathan Brandis
True ’90s kids will remember Johnathan as Bastian from The Neverending Story II and as Bill Denbrough in Stephen King’s IT. When Johnathan was 27 years old, he attempted to hang himself and died the next day due to injuries sustained.
Tupac Shakur
2pac was a walking paradox. On the one hand, he was a thug raised by the streets, and on the other — he was an activist, poet, and artist. While attending a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas, 2pac was shot and killed by unknown assailants .
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was an immensely talented musician and singer, as well as a deeply tortured and haunted individual. Fans of her music were well aware of the artist’s struggles with drugs and alcohol , and on July 23rd, 2011, she passed away from alcohol poisoning.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah was not only an immensely talented R&B superstar, but she also had a budding acting career ahead of her. Back in 2001, the passenger plane that she and her entourage were traveling in crash-landed shortly after takeoff . All passengers on board were killed.
Christopher Wallace AKA Biggie Smalls
Yet another legendary talent come and gone too soon. To this day, Biggie Smalls is considered by many to be the greatest rapper who ever lived. He was murdered in a drive-by shooting at the age of 24.
Lee Thompson Young
Lee is best-known for his role as Chris Comer in Friday Night Lights and for portraying Barry Frost in Rizzoli and Isles. After battling with mental health issues for years, Lee died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound .
Brad Renfro
Throughout the ’90s, Brad Renfro was a rising star to watch. After churning out stellar performances in The Client as well as Apt Pupil , his acting prowess was as clear as day. After battling substance abuse issues for many years, Brad sadly passed away after an accidental heroin/morphine overdose.
Anton Yelchin
Of all the names on this list, no death is as sad and senseless as Anton Yelchin’s. While attempting to open the security gate to his apartment, Aton’s SUV rolled backward and pinned him between the car and the gate — crushing him to death.
Tim Bergling aka Avicii
I was actually lucky enough to see Avicii perform in my hometown, and it’s a musical experience I cherish and carry with me to this day. After battling his own inner demons , Tim tragically took his own life.
Kurt Cobain
The life a subsequent suicide of Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, have been well-documented. In death, Kurt has gone on to receive an almost prophet-like status in the music community, and his legacy and impact are still being felt today.
Selena
Selena was an inspiration, as well as a proverbial folk hero of the Mexican community. She died at the age of 27 in Corpus Christi, Texas, after being shot to death by a deranged fan . Ironically, the woman claimed to be Selena’s biggest fan.
River Phoenix
River Phoenix was the eldest brother of Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, as well as a rising talent in his own rite. At just 23 years old, River died of a drug overdose outside the infamous Viper Room nightclub in West Hollywood.
James Dean
James Dean was a cultural icon who embodied rebellion and teenage disillusionment in every sense of the word. James’ love for racing fast cars eventually caught up with him, and he perished in an automobile accident at 24.
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger lost his life before he ever got a chance to see The Dark Knight completed on the big screen. In a truly shocking turn of events, Ledger died of an accidental overdose as a result of mixing medications.
