The Last Known Photos of 30 Famous People
Who had the most famous photograph taken shortly before their death? John Lennon tops our list. The “Imagine” singer had his photograph taken while signing an autograph for Mark David Chapman, who murdered him several hours later on December 8, 1980. Jim Morrison’s final photograph was taken on June 28, 1971, with his girlfriend Pamela Courson. Morrison allegedly died of a heroin overdose in Paris on July 3, 1971.
Jimi Hendrix’s last photo was taken on Sept. 17, 1970, by Monika Danneman in the garden behind her apartment. Hendrix died on Sept. 18, 1970, from a barbiturate-related asphyxia in London. A final photograph of Robert Kennedy was taken just moments after he was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan on June 5, 1968. He died the following morning.
Kathy Griffin tweeted this photo of her friend and Larry Sanders Show co-star, Garry Shandling, just four days before his passing. Shandling died on March 24, 2016.
Taken the day he died. Dean loved to race cars and died in an auto accident on September 30, 1955. While traveling on Route 466 in Cholame, California, Dean swerved his fast-driving Porsche to avoid an oncoming car.
Signing an autograph for Mark David Chapman, who murdered him several hours later on December 8, 1980.
Taken in 1991. Mercury died November 24, 1991, of bronchial pneumonia due to AIDS.
WIth marine biologist Chris Jones on his boat, Croc 1. He died two days later, on September 4, 2006, after a stingray’s poisonous spine pierced his heart.
Williams is seen here with his monkey, Crystal, just days before he took his own life. Neighbors say he looked frail and thin in his final weeks.
Taken on January 8th, the date of his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, by longtime photographer Jimmy King. Bowie died January 10th, 2016, after an 18-month battle with cancer.
Taken August 26, 2011. Jobs died October 5, 2011, due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
Making his way through a crowd when confronted by his assassin, Nathuram Godse, who shot him three times in the chest on January 30, 1948
In Gorki on May 15, 1923, following a third stroke that left him mute and bedridden. He died of syphilis on January 21, 1924.
Surveying bomb damage in Berlin on April 28, 1945. Hitler shot himself two days later to avoid capture as Soviet troops marched into the city.
In April 1910. Twain died of a heart attack on April 21, 1910.
In Princeton, NJ, in March 1955. Einstein died on April 18,1955 after an abdominal aortic aneurysm caused severe internal bleeding.
With jazz pianist Buddy Greco in August 1962, the last weekend she was alive. Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood Los Angeles home by her psychiatrist on August 5, 1962
Taken on June 28, 1971, with his girlfriend Pamela Courson. Morrison allegedly died of a heroin overdose in Paris on July 3, 1971.
Taken on Sept. 17, 1970, by Monika Danneman in the garden behind her apartment. Hendrix died on Sept. 18, 1970, from a barbiturate-related asphyxia in London.
Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan on June 5, 1968. The photo was taken moment after the shooting, and Kennedy died early the next morning.
Taken in London on July 12, 2011. WInehouse died on July 23, 2011, from alcohol overdose. She was in her London home.
Taken in 1942. Frank died in early March 1945 at the hands of Nazis in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Taken in Munich, Germany, a few months prior to his death. Marley died of cancer May 11, 1981, in Miami, FL
Taken at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977, just after midnight. Elvis died of complications due to a drug habit and a bad heart on August 16, 1977, in Memphis, TN.
McCandless ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in solitude. The photo was found in his undeveloped camera. He died in while on his adventures in August 1992.
Taken as Earhart packed for her fatal flight. Attempting to make a circumnavigational flight of the world, Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937.
Taken at Warm Springs, GA, on April 11, 1945. Roosevelt suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and passed away on April 12, 1945.
Photo taken for the booklet of Jools Holland’s album Small World, Big Band, which was released in 2001. Harrison suffered from lung cancer and passed away on Nov. 29, 2001 in Los Angeles.
Ledger suffered an accidental overdose from perscription medication on Jan. 22, 2008 in New York. The photo is from his last film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which was released in 2009.
Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX, on November 22, 1963. This photo was taken from his caravan in Dallas just before his assassination.
Candy suffered a heart attack while filming Wagons East in Durango, Mexico on March 4, 1994. This photo was taken on the set of the film.
Taken on Sept. 6, 1978, at a pre-party and premiere of The Buddy Holly Story. Moon died of an overdose of Heminevrin, a drug intended to curb alcohol abuse, on Sept. 7, 1978, in London. Alcohol and cocaine were also found in his system at the time of his death.
Taken at a Pyongyang supermarket on Dec. 14, 2011. Kim Jong-Il was in ill health and suffered a stroke. He died on Dec. 17, 2011, in North Korea.
