When bands break up, members are free to branch out and establish their own identities and projects. But suddenly being responsible for making their own decisions and solving their own problems often leads to disaster. Members of the Pre-Fab Four, the sitcom-centric Monkees, were no exception.
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The life of an athlete can be short and bittersweet. After their competitive years are over, their lives can be just as hard. Debi Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist in figure skating, considered the best Black figure skater of her generation, went from extreme highs to extreme lows.
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Fans of the Discovery Channel's series "Deadliest Catch" have seen several tragedies in the lives of the cast, starting in 2010 when Captain Phil Harris died.
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Despite his accomplishments, Ivers is probably best remembered for how he died, his life and career cut short at the age of 36, when his star was still rising. And even today, there are still no clues as to the reason for Ivers's sudden and shockingly tragic death.
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Known in the automotive industry as an innovator, John DeLorean's life was one of rebellion, struggle, and peerless invention. We now know John DeLorean's car from the Back to the Future franchise, but his tragic life included many divorces and an FBI sting for smuggling cocaine.
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He talked of studying an undergraduate degree and continuing on to do a master's. Despite his family, hobbies, and plans for the future, however, Halladay battled with depression and addiction, and these would combine with his dangerous hobby to bring about his early demise.
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In his lifetime, Ishi, the last member of the Yahi tribe, watched his people be wiped off the Earth. This is the last member of the Yahi's tragic life story.
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They'd sing, play music, and go through a number of routines to keep the eyes looking their way. This would lead to a couple of stints in Hollywood before their death in the late 1960s. Unfortunately, the Hilton sisters didn't reach fame by living easy lives, and their deaths were equally tragic.
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Snuka, whose real name was James Reiher, was born in Fiji, grew up in Hawaii, and also lived in Camden County, New Jersey. After a successful stint as a bodybuilder, he started as a professional wrestler in the 1970s and made his WWE debut in 1982, helping the organization on its skyrocket rise.
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At that point in time, few had any true understanding the mental and physical complexities of anorexia nervosa. And sadly, it took seeing the young, fragile Karen Carpenter wither and waste away before the world's very eyes that made people stand up and take serious notice of the condition.
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Poison was among the most successful "hair metal" rock bands of the 80s. Life outside of the music wasn't always great. Here's the dark tale of Poison.
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No one knows for sure if their lyrical theories are right or wrong, since McLean likes to respond to questions about the song's meaning with statements like, "It means I never have to work again." That part, at least, is true. The song has made the artist millions.
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Born in Nashville and raised in Florida, Duane Allman was a popular session musician for Atlantic Records, playing out of the storied Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama well before he and his brother Gregg started their band.
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You'd think with the level of fame Lee amassed in geek and mainstream culture, the end of his life would've been pretty grand. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. His last days were filled with tragedy.
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In the early morning hours of February 4, 2018, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson asked his Uber driver to pull over. He wasn't feeling well and needed to get some air. In a tragic turn, Jackson and driver Jeffery Monroe were struck by a drunk driver who had swerved onto the shoulder.
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John Belushi lived a short but eventful life filled with both overwhelming success and heartbreaking tragedy. This is the tragic real-life story of John Belushi.
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Brockie's roommates found him unconscious at his home the night of March 23. They called the authorities, who pronounced Brockie dead; he was just 50 years old. The Associated Press later released the news that an autopsy revealed he had died of an accidental heroin overdose.
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Tragedy can strike at any time, even in moments of personal glory. Sadly, this was what happened to Nigerian soccer player Sam Okwaraji. Okwaraji, who played professional football for European clubs and represented Nigeria, tragically died during a World Cup qualifying match against Angola in 1989.
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Sometimes, it really sucks being part of a talented family. Even worse when you're the middle child. That was exactly how LaToya Jackson felt growing up. Unfortunately maligned throughout her career, Jackson's life has been dotted with pain and strife.
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Jackie Gleason was one of the biggest stars of the 20th century, but underneath his jocular, smiling public demeanor, he dealt with considerable inner turmoil.
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Old Hollywood icon Rock Hudson was best known for his dashing looks and roles in Giant and All That Heaven Allows. Behind Rock Hudson's fame was a tragic childhood, a manipulative Hollywood agent, and a struggle with his gay identity. Hudson was the first major celebrity to die with AIDs in 1985.
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The plane that crashed into a lake near Madison, Wisconsin, carried all but one of the members of the Bar-Kays, a soul ensemble from Memphis, Tennessee, who had done over a hundred shows with Redding on that tour. Only one member of the band, Ben Cauley, made it away from the wreckage with his life.
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Michael Landon was a star, popular for his roles on Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven. However, his life had some ups and downs.
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Celebrity marriages often get rocky, and that shouldn't be such a surprise. To be fair, relationships require a lot of time, work, and commitment — even in the best of conditions — and things inevitably become more complex when you throw in constant publicity, tabloid gossip, tours, schedules, much less being part of Van Halen, one of the biggest bands in rock history.
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Khambatta, an internationally known model from Mumbai (formerly Bombay), won Miss India in 1965 clad in an outfit she purchased right before the competition, according to the New York Times. She had appeared in Indian films before coming to Hollywood to play roles
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The stars of Old Hollywood dealt with alcoholism, erratic behavior, and sometimes, a bad end. Here are tragic stories about Old Hollywood's legendary actresses.
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Even among the booze-friendly Replacements, Bob Stinson could still out-drink everybody. Soon after the SNL incident, Stinson quit The Replacements, although other band members did make him seek help for his substance abuse issues. Stinson was never again a full-time musician.
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