Last Days

On January 14, 2016, Alan Rickman died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite a reputation as one of the kindest men in Hollywood, Rickman made his name portraying some of the great bad guys in cinema history - from Hans Gruber, to the Sheriff of Nottingham, to Severus Snape - and in the process forever changed what it means to be a movie villain. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 10, 2024, OJ Simpson — one of the most decorated football players and controversial figures of the last half of the 20th century — passed away after a brief battle with prostate cancer. His football and acting legacies were forever eclipsed by his criminal trial and eventual acquittal for the vicious double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson remained a polarizing figure until his last days, and his impact on American culture over the course of his life will not soon be forgotten. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 2, 2012, Junior Seau -- an NFL legend who redefined the linebacker position during his career -- took his own life, shocking his friends, family, and many fans. Known for his fierce playing style and leadership on the field, Seau's impact on football forever changed and modernized the sport, but it was his untimely death that sparked a crucial conversation about the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the league, shedding light on the long-term consequences of head injuries and prompting calls for greater player safety measures. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thirty years ago this week, on April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain - the Nirvana frontman whose raw, angst-ridden lyrics made him the voice for Gen X - killed himself in his Seattle home. Cobain’s death, brought on by years of drug use, physical pain, and depression, though tragic, cannot overshadow a singularly remarkable career that transformed American music. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 29, 2024, Lou Gossett Jr. – who rose to fame with his Emmy-award-winning portrayal of Fiddler in the miniseries Roots and an Academy Award-winning turn as drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentlemen – died after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of African-American actors, and as one of the kindest and most beloved men in Hollywood history. Hosts: Jason Beckerman and Charles Latibeaudiere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 5, 2022, Kirstie Alley -- best known for her iconic role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers and her memorable performances in movies like Look Who's Talking -- passed away from colorectal cancer at the age of 71. Alley's legacy was complicated by her public struggles with weight loss and personal views on various social and political issues, but such controversies never overshadowed her feisty wit and immense talents. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke – the singer and songwriter of some of the most recognizable soul and pop songs every written – including “Twisting the Night Away,” “You Send Me,” “Wonderful World,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” and so many more – was shot and killed in a Los Angeles motel. Cooke’s killing was perhaps the first modern true-crime story, involving the slaying of one of the most famous people of the era, under circumstances that were shrouded in mystery and steeped in controversy. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 2, 2004, Marlon Brando -- perhaps the most iconic film actor of the 20th century for his roles in classics like On the Waterfront and The Godfather -- passed away from a mysterious lung condition at the age of 80. Despite his personal troubles, Brando's groundbreaking and unconventional approach to acting ushered in a new era in Hollywood that continues to shape the art form to this day. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Bias was among the greatest basketball players ever who lived until his life was cut short by a lethal batch of cocaine. The true crime story of Bias’s death gripped the nation, but it left behind one of the most culturally destructive legacies in the history of sport. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Denver -- one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 70s -- tragically died in a plane crash in 1997 off the coast of California. Despite his untimely death, Denver's musical legacy continues to resonate with timeless hits like Take Me Home, Country Roads and Annie's Song, which remain cherished anthems to this day. But perhaps his most lasting impact on the music industry came in the form of his powerful testimony on behalf of artists facing mounting censorship forces in Congress. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 10, 2016, David Bowie - the visionary iconoclast who blended rock, glam, and avant-garde styles to revolutionize music - died of liver cancer in his NYC apartment. Bowie's evolving musical styles and various persona over a five decade career have been emulated by generations of musicians - from Madonna to Prince, Lady Gaga to Kanye West, and countless others. And even as his health deteriorated and he knew the end was near, David Bowie continued to produce works of staggering genius that solidified his unmatched legacy. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 28, 2022, Coolio -- the iconic rapper best known for hits like Gangsta's Paradise and C U When You Get There -- died from an accidental drug overdose at a home in Los Angeles. With his trademark braids and laid back style, Coolio left a profound mark on the music industry with his unique blend of simple and sincere lyrics set against classic funk beats. Despite his untimely death, his contributions to hip hop will continue to inspire and influence new generations of artists. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 7, 2018, Mac Miller – one of the brightest and most beloved young musicians in the world – died after taking counterfeit opioid pills laced with fentanyl. Three men accused of distributing the pills have since been brought to justice, but that is little solace to his family and friends who mourn his loss, and for his legion of fans who were deprived of a budding musical genius. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 2, 2024, Carl Weathers -- the man who brought Apollo Creed to life on the big screen in four Rocky movies -- passed away at the age of 76. Although most associated with his role as Stallone's foil-then-friend in that film franchise, Weathers left behind a rich and varied legacy in Hollywood, bringing his trademark charisma and wit to everything from zany Adam Sandler comedies like Happy Gilmore to the solemn world of space operas with his role in The Mandalorian. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On October 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve -- the man who ushered in the modern wave of comic book heroes on the big screen with his Superman movies -- died from heart failure due to complications from a blood infection. Reeve burst on the Hollywood scene in the late 70s, bringing boyish good looks, effortless charm, and real acting chops from Juilliard, but his last decade was defined by a tragic horseriding accident that forever changed the trajectory of his life. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein - one of the most notorious criminals in recent American history - was found dead of what was initially reported to be suicide by hanging. But over the next several weeks fissures emerged in the official story of Epstein's death with the revelation that prison guards and officials engaged in a cover-up to conceal what really happened the night Epstein died. And the most complicating factor of all... Epstein's death meant the world would never learn what he knew about the sexual indiscretions and possibly the criminality of some of the richest and most powerful men in the world. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late December 2016, one of the brightest starts from Hollywood's Golden Age Debbie Reynolds and her multi-talented daughter and Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher passed away within 24 hours of each other. Their lives and careers charted very different courses in entertainment, but the personal hardships and difficult battles never broke their enduring and loving bond. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Michael - the Wham! frontman turned legendary solo performer - died on Christmas day, 2016, from heart failure brought on by years of substance abuse. Michael's life was derailed by his 1998 arrest for a lewd act, which made him the butt of jokes and subjected the famously-private star to unwanted media scrutiny. But in death he finally found the rehabilitation he searched for so desperately in life, and with it a renewed appreciation for his art and the legacy he left behind. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we celebrate the New Year, Derek and Jason take the opportunity to reflect on some of the most memorable celebrities we didn't have a chance to cover on the podcast, focusing on their extraordinary lives and legacies. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2023 comes to a close, Derek and Jason take a look back at the most famous and influential celebrities we lost this year, and explore what made their lives and careers so memorable, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices