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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In 2013 she told Vanity Fair, "those two [last] records I made with almost no vocal ability at all. But I just acted like I was working with a limited palette, like a painter would do -- you know, it's only browns and ivory and black."
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While Merle Haggard had an illustrious career as a country musician, he led a rocky, tumultuous life. This is the tragic real-life story of Merle Haggard.
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When Wells was 16, she met an assistant to Berry Gordy Jr. of Motown Records, who brought her in to present a song she'd written for Jackie Wilson. Motown signed her and she recorded the song, "Bye Bye Baby," herself. She paired up with Smokey Robinson, and the result was a string of hits.
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Actress and humorist Carrie Fisher had an incredibly unusual life story. As the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher earned an iconic role in the original Star Wars trilogy. But behind Princess Leia was the tragic story of drug addiction, bipolar disorder, and sour marriages.
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According to the L.A. Times, Mayfield was performing a concert in Brooklyn when a freak accident occurred -- a lighting rig collapsed, striking Mayfield and fracturing three vertebrae in his neck. Mayfield was left permanently paralyzed from the neck down. He continued to compose and record.
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As the most prominent of the Marx Brothers, Julius Henry Marx –- known to the world as "Groucho" –- became one of the best-known comedians of his age, known both for his dazzling visual comedy and his acerbic, quick-witted one-liners.
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According to a piece by Hello! magazine, Michael found Christmas to be a particularly difficult time. He'd lost his mom and partner, Anselmo Feleppa around Christmas. They died five years apart.
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Up-and-coming 22-year-old pop singer Christina Grimmie was on the fast track to stardom in 2016 -- until a crazed fan brought everything to a halt.
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Scott had taken a break for three years before he got back to racing simply because he missed it so much. Scott was driving during the qualifying rounds for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) SuperNationals, moving at about 300 miles an hour when his Funny Car's engine exploded into flames.
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As reported by The New York Times, Hughes lost consciousness during the game. Medics rushed to his aid and tried to revive him, but he never woke up.
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The singer didn't know what it's like to be taken care of as a kid and didn't experience love and affection at home. His parents were too caught up in trying to provide for him and his siblings. "I was never praised, never held," he said. "So it wasn't exactly the Little House On The Prairie."
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Tragically, feuds and shifting careers have led Simon & Garfunkel to reunite and break up many times over.
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According to initial reports by the Orlando Sentinel, he died of the brain injury, but those reports turned out to be incorrect. According to U.S. Motorsport, Dr. Barry Myers, a professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University, reviewed Earnhardt's autopsy images.
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According to Leto, his father went out to get a carton of milk, only to metaphorically end up on a milk carton himself, back in the early 1970s when Leto was only a baby. The story gets a bit darker. Leto's dad remarried, and Leto never heard from the guy again.
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The Vietnamese-born actress Thuy Trang was on her way to a very successful Hollywood career when her life was tragically cut short in 2001.
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According to the Formula One website, Senna was aware of his limitations and didn't take his mortality for granted. He viewed racing as a way to learn more about himself. "For me, this research is fascinating," he said. "Every time I push, I find something more, again and again."
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