50 Online Tributes to Celebrities Who Died Young

Those who die young leave a trail of particular sadness whether they are famous or not. Many of the famous people listed below died at the peak of their careers or before. We’ve heard their music, read their words, admired their athleticism, or watched them so many times on the silver screen that their faces are as familiar as the faces of our friends.

In short, we feel like we know them because they’ve given us something, and we’ll always wonder what else could have been.

Here are some of the most moving and thoughtful tributes we’ve found for these talented individuals (in no particular order) who left us too early.

Brittany Murphy: Showcases Brittany’s sense of style and her talent; includes a video of her last interview.

Heath Ledger: An exploration of the qualities that made Heath Ledger so special.

Kurt Cobain: Thoughtful reminder that Cobain’s music has a lasting influence.

Natalie Wood: An overview of Natalie’s career and the very fine work she did in Hollywood from childhood and onward.

James Dean: Moving tribute to the “rebel” who became an icon of a generation and sadly, the very symbol of what it means to be an actor who dies too young.

Jimi Hendrix: Beautiful personal reminiscence about what Jimi’s life and music meant to the writer.

River Phoenix: Poetic meditation on River’s life and influence.

John Lennon: Poignant recollections of Lennon’s music, life, and death.

Marilyn Monroe: A tribute in Marilyn’s own voice and the voices of those who knew her; an evocative look at the woman herself rather than the symbol she became.

Aaliyah: Sweet remembrance of Aaliyah that includes video.

Buddy Holly: Series of interviews with Buddy Holly’s friends; a rare and personal look at his life.

Bruce Lee: Thoughtful exploration of Bruce Lee and martial arts philosophy.

Brandon Lee: Great overview of Brandon’s career and the sad accident of his death.

Jim Morrison: Fantastic overview of Jim Morrison’s life, including some of Morrison’s own poetry.

John Belushi: Excellent section-by-section account of Belushi’s life and influence. Includes video.

Tupac Shakur: Personal remembrance of Tupac’s influence on the author growing up; touching and thoughtful.

Princess Diana: Poignant overview of Diana’s life, with photos.

Andy Kaufman: Great, well-organized tribute to Andy Kaufman, his amazing spirit, and his influence on the world of comedy.

Elvis Presley: A space for personal recollections of the King.

Jonathan Brandis: A collection of moving tributes to this young actor. Includes valuable information on suicide prevention rather than glossing over his death.

Rebecca Schaeffer: A collection of videos about Rebecca Schaeffer, as well as a good overview of her too-short career and heartrending death.

Freddie Prinze: Personal, heartfelt remembrances of Freddie Prinze Sr., with some good photos.

Sharon Tate: Site dedicated to Sharon Tate and efforts to place a posthumous start on the Walk of Fame. Includes personal recollections and photos.

Adrienne Shelly: Recollections of this talented actress and director from multiple people who knew her and followed her work.

Carole Lombard: Brilliant, well-written tribute to Lombard’s beauty, wit, and life.

Jean Harlow: Great, comprehensive site about Harlow and her work.

Gilda Radner: This is a site that lives up to its goal: truly the “ultimate” Gilda Radner site.

Selena: Beautiful reminder of the talent that we lost with Selena’s death.

Hank Williams: Review of “Hank Williams Revealed: The Unreleased Recordings” that is as much a thoughtful, evocative tribute to Williams as it is a music review.

Robert Johnson : Anyone who doesn’t already own some of Johnson’s music will be tempted to do so after reading this excellent overview of Johnson’s life and work.

Ritchie Valens : If you’ve ever sung along to La Bamba, you have a reason to be grateful to Valens, only 17 at his death. This piece offers a window into the development of his too-short musical career.

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Comprehensive site about Stevie Ray Vaughn that includes space for readers to add their recollections.

Bob Marley: The only way this site could be better would be if Bob Marley were still alive.

Janis Joplin: This moving, thorough tribute to Janis will help fans know her even better. Includes video. “What she is owed, most of all, is for her songs to be played.”

Brad Renfro: This interview paints a clear picture of Renfro in all his brash and youthful glory. Includes photos.

Sylvia Plath: This site and its associated blog are must-reads for anyone interested in Plath’s work.

John Keats: This site showcases (among other excellent information) the thoughts of Keats’s contemporaries on his life and death.

Arthur Rimbaud: This post captures Rimbaud’s shooting-star life perfectly.

Otis Redding: Otis Redding’s songs can make your heart melt, and so will this reminder of his legacy. Includes video.

Steve Irwin: Includes messages from readers and a fantastic quotes page that showcases Steve Irwin’s exuberant personality.

David Foster Wallace: If you’re a DFW fan, you’re sure to appreciate this very appropriate tribute. (There should really be a footnote here…on the other hand, DFW himself was anything but a footnote.)

Reggie Lewis: This deeply poignant tribute reminds us of the “countless lives he touched away from the bright lights of the NBA.”

Lou Gehrig: This short bio of Gehrig is directed towards schoolchildren, but is all the more powerful for that.

Flannery O’Connor: Beautiful, evocative tribute to one of the great writers of 20^th century America.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery : Thorough overview of the life of the author of “The Little Prince” and “Nigh Flight” with many of de Saint-Exupery’s own words.

Patsy Cline: This site with comprehensive information on Cline’s life and career includes many thoughtful recollections from fans.

Vincent Van Gogh: Great resource for all things Van Gogh.

Rudolph Valentino: Informative, well-written site that will yield new information even to diehard Valentino fans.

Nick Adenhart: We challenge you to read this without a lump in your throat.

Chris Farley: Chris Farley would appreciate this pitch-perfect tribute, and so will you.

We know that there are many more out there! Please add your thoughts in the comments.

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