There are many ups and downs that come with the life of a celebrity. It may seem like all glitz and glam, but the rich and famous actually have to deal with some pretty tumultuous situations. Celebs must always be ready to be perceived and judged by the public, which can come with a lot of scrutiny and criticism. Not only is it stressful to be on constant display for the whole world to see, but being famous can also be downright dangerous. From being stalked by fans to harassment by the paparazzi, celebs are constantly at risk. But did you know that there are times when their lives are actually in danger? Unfortunately, there are a number of celebs who have actually been killed in heinous circumstances. And some of these celebs lost their lives in the most tragic ways. To learn more about these celebs, check out these actors you may have never known were tragically murdered.
Sharon Tate
One of the most heinous celeb murders took place when Sharon Tate and her friends were killed in 1969. Tate was a young Hollywood star with a promising career, and only 26 years old at the time of her death. She had just been featured in four films in 1969, and was living with her husband, director Roman Polanski, at the home of their friend and record producer Terry Melcher. Pregnant at the time, Tate was at home with two friends when they were all brutally murdered. The murder was compared to a cult ritual, and the culprits were later discovered to be followers of cult leader Charles Manson.
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman was a popular performer and actor in the 1980’s and 90’s. He is well known for his work on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, and was one of the co-creators of Pee-Wee Herman. Known also as a family man, his third marriage to Brynn Omdahl was troubled, and ended in tragedy. In 1998, Omdhal killed Hartman in his bed, and was later found to have cocaine and alcohol in her system.
Bob Crane
Bob Crane started his career off as a drummer, but eventually turned to acting to better support his family. He was one of the stars of Hogan’s Heroes, and led him to two Emmy nominations for best male comedy lead. Crane’s success opened him up to a lifestyle of sexual exploits. He began filming his sexual endeavors, which was aided by video salesman John Henry Carpenter. In 1978, Crane was found strangled and beaten, left for dead at 49 years old. Carpenter was the main suspect, but there was never enough evidence to convict; and Crane’s murder is still unsolved to this day.
Jefferson Machado
Former journalist Jefferson Machado shifted to entertainment through various roles in television and music videos. He eventually started acting when he got his big break in 2022 with the soap opera “Reis.” But soon after, he was murdered. His body was found in a trunk, which was covered with cement.
Ramon Navarro
Ramon Navarro was known for his lead role in the silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ. He became more reclusive in his later years, and only worked in small roles for television. Navarro was also known for hiring male prostitutes, and hired two to come to his home in 1968. The two men, brothers Tom and Paul Ferguson, beat Novarro viciously, who eventually choked to death on his own blood.
Rebecca Schaeffer
Rebecca Schaeffer was known for her acting work in the 1980’s, which included her sitcom My Sister Sam. She was a rising star who never got a chance to reach her full potential. She was murdered by a stalker, Robert John Bardo, in 1989.
