Shocking celebrity deaths in 2024: stars who died tragically

In 2024, numerous fans had to say goodbye to their stars; some died at a young age due to crimes or accidents. These celebrity deaths were particularly tragic…

Actor Christian Oliver (1972-2024) died in a plane crash off the coast of Bequia earlier this year, on January 4th. Oliver’s daughters, whom he shared with his ex-wife Jessica Klepser (50), were also on board. The two girls, aged ten and twelve, also lost their lives in the tragic accident.

The reason for the crash appears to have been engine failure, according to Klepser’s Pilates studio posted. “Our daughters Madita and Annik were on their way back from a vacation in the Caribbean with their father Christian when the single-engine plane they were traveling in had engine failure and crashed into the sea. Unfortunately, all four passengers on the small plane did not survive ” said the statement.

Later, director Nick Lyon (54), who had filmed with Oliver just a few weeks earlier, claimed that he shouldn’t be on the plane at all: Lyon said that Oliver urgently wanted to go back to Los Angeles and explained: “He wasn’t actually supposed to be on the plane “But American Airlines had canceled his original flight and he wouldn’t have been able to fly until four days later,” said Lyon. A diving school owner then offered Oliver to fly. It was not known how extensive his flying experience was.

Oliver celebrated great success both nationally and internationally: In Germany he gained fame primarily through his role as Chief Inspector Jan Richter in the action series “Alarm für Cobra 11 – The Motorway Police”. Oliver also appeared alongside Cate Blanchett (55) and George Clooney (63) in the thriller “The Good German – In the Ruins of Berlin”.

In February of this year, the British royal family had to cope with a serious blow of fate: Thomas Kingston (1978-2024), the husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston (43), died at the age of 45. , emergency services were called to an address in Gloucestershire in southwest England. Kingston’s life could no longer be saved there.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother. Tom was an extraordinary man who brightened the lives of everyone who knew him. His death is a great shock to the entire family.” , Kingston’s relatives around his wife then explained. King Charles (76) and his wife Queen Camilla (77) also expressed their condolences in an official statement from the palace: “The King and Queen have been informed of Thomas’ death and mourn with Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all who “In particular, their Majesties send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and the entire Kingston family.”

A few days after the tragic stroke of fate, the cause of death was determined: everything indicated that he had taken his own life.

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Kingston worked as a banker. In May 2019, he married the then Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent (82), in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. This in turn is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). After her husband’s death, Lady Gabriella Kingston reportedly moved out of their house in Notting Hill and has been living with her parents in Kensington Palace ever since – that.

Johnny Wactor (1986-2024) also died under tragic circumstances. In May, the actor’s mother announced that he had been shot in Los Angeles. He was traveling with a colleague in the metropolis when several men tampered with his car. According to the US portal, Wactor did not try to defend himself or stop the men, but they still shot at him. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Shortly after the sad news of his death, it turned out that Wactor even stood protectively in front of his colleague. “He came across them and thought his car was being towed. So he said something to the guys like, ‘Hey, are you towing?’ “When he turned around, he saw what was happening and put his colleague behind him and then they shot him,” said Wactor’s brother Grant. The colleague herself also commented on the incident a little later. “He was senselessly killed by a coward with no regard for the wonderful life he would steal. […] My heart is broken and I am incredibly angry. My only comfort is knowing that I was with him and he didn’t have to be alone. My other consolation will be to bring the perpetrators to justice,” she mourned.

After his funeral in June, four suspects were arrested, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Accordingly, there were three 18-year-olds and a man four years older than him.

Wactor was best known for his roles in various series. He celebrated his television debut in 2007 with “Army Wives”: This was followed by other productions such as “General Hospital” and “Criminal Minds”.

Child star Benji Gregory (1978-2024) died at the age of just 46. His sister Rebecca confirmed to the US portal that Gregory was dead in his car in the parking lot of a bank in Peoria, in the US state, a month earlier Arizona, was found. The exact circumstances were not yet known at this point. However, his family suspected that Gregory fell asleep in the car and died of heat stroke due to the high temperatures. His dog was also found dead in the car.

Two months later the cause of death was determined: the former actor actually died as a result of heat stress and the onset of liver cirrhosis. Accordingly, Gregory’s death is considered an accident.

Gregory became famous in the 1980s with his role as young Brian Tanner in the cult sitcom “Alf”. But after the series ended, his career stalled and there were no bigger roles. After studying at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, Gregory completely ended his career as an actor.

Shannen Doherty (1971-2024) battled cancer for years until she died of complications from the disease in July. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the death of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after battling the disease for many years,” her publicist said.

Doherty became famous worldwide through the series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed”. She was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time in 2015. In the meantime, Doherty was considered cured, but the illness returned in 2017. Three years later, her cancer was considered incurable. At the end of 2023, she announced that her bones were also affected by cancer.

Shortly before her death, the actress gave another health update – and was hopeful. “It’s like a big wake-up call, but at the same time I have to say that there is also something positive, and the positive thing is that the molecular structure of my cancer cells has recently changed, which means that there are many more options for me, that I can try out so that I have hope again for the first time in maybe a few months,” Doherty reported at the time.

In October, the terrible news broke that Liam Payne (1993-2024) had died at the age of just 31. The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. What is clear so far is that Payne had consumed alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant several times in the 72 hours before his death – according to the Argentine public prosecutor’s office. Accordingly, the investigations showed that “the victim did not adopt a reflexive position to protect himself during the fall, so it can initially be assumed that he could have fallen into a state of semi- or complete unconsciousness.”

As part of the investigation, three suspects were arrested a few weeks after Payne’s tragic death, including a hotel employee. According to the police, suicide can be ruled out.

The funeral took place around a month later in Payne’s home of Amersham, near London. A coffin decorated with flowers was brought to the church by a white horse-drawn carriage through the streets of the town. Numerous guests were waiting there: Those present included Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy (25), his ex-partner Cheryl Cole (41), with whom he was in a relationship for around two years until 2018, and their son Bear (7).

Payne became famous as a teenager with the band One Direction: In 2010, the boy band of Payne, Zayn Malik (31), Harry Styles (30), Niall Horan (31) and Louis Tomlinson (32) was featured on the show “The X Factor” founded. They enjoyed worldwide success with songs like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Night Changes”. The band finally split up in 2015 and since then the members have pursued their solo careers. Payne’s former bandmates also appeared at the memorial service.