Death in the time of celebrity

The easiest ticket to immortality for the modern celebrity seems to be an untimely death. Ask James Dean fans whether they care that he only starred in three feature films before his death. Or what Anna Nicole Smith was famous for, for that matter. Here are seven celebrities who died before their time, some reaching iconic status, some serving as cautionary tales, and others becoming a source of fascination.

Anna Nicole Smith

Former Playmate of the Year, Smith attracted a lot of attention when she married the oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall, 63 years older than her. Smith was basically a white trash it-girl, famous for being famous. She was found dead in a hotel in Hollywood on Feb. 8, 2007 at the age of 39. The cause of her death is still undetermined, presumably a lethal combination of prescription drugs.

James Dean

Having died in a high-speed car accident on Sep. 30, 1955 at the age of 24, James Dean soon gained an iconic status, with only three feature films under his name. His troubled rebel persona in Rebel Without a Cause and the loner in East of Eden reinforced the image of an evocative, brooding actor.

Heath Ledger not there anymore

Last week the news that Australian actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment, was immediately met with surprise, shock and a sense of despair. Soon his family stressed that their son's death wasn't suicide or drug-related


Last week was packed with action in Hollywood but the news that silenced everyone came Wednesday morning: Heath Ledger's untimely death.

The news of the young Australian actor's death was immediately met with surprise, shock and a sense of despair, reminding some of his two-year-old daughter and some of the scene where Ennis Del Mar breaks down, clenching at the love of his life in the last minutes of Brokeback Mountain.

The news that his dead body was found in his New York apartment on Jan. 22 brought a feeling of disbelief. To a text message coming to his mobile, “Heath Ledger is dead,” a studio executive answered, “His career?” Soon his family spoke out to the press, adding ''accidental'' in front of ''untimely passing,'' to stress that their son's death wasn't suicide or drug-related. His ex-girlfriend, mother of his daughter Matilda and his co-star in Brokeback Mountain, Michelle Williams, received the news in Sweden, where she was on location for a film.