Hollywood Actresses Who Tragically Died by Suicide

The history of Hollywood is filled with stories of immense success and glamour, yet it also contains deeply somber chapters involving its brightest stars. Behind the silver screen, many actresses faced private battles with mental health, professional pressure, and personal loss. These tragedies served as stark reminders of the human toll behind the entertainment industry’s public facade. The following list honors the memory of several talented women who took their own lives, leaving behind significant cinematic legacies.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was discovered deceased in her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962, due to a barbiturate overdose. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office officially ruled her death a “probable suicide” after finding a high concentration of drugs in her system. She was a global icon known for her roles in films such as ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’. Her passing at the age of 36 shocked the world and remains one of Hollywood’s most discussed tragedies.

Peg Entwistle

Peg Entwistle became known as the “Hollywood Sign Girl” after she jumped to her death from the top of the “H” on the Hollywoodland sign in 1932. The British-born actress had appeared in the film ‘Thirteen Women’ but struggled to find continued success in the competitive film industry. A hiker found her body along with a note expressing her despair over her career. Her story has since become a cautionary tale regarding the harsh realities of the pursuit of fame.

Lupe Vélez

Lupe Vélez was a prominent star during the 1930s and 1940s, famous for her role in the ‘Mexican Spitfire’ film series. In December 1944, she was found dead in her home following an intentional overdose of Seconal. Reports indicated that she was pregnant at the time and felt unable to cope with the social stigma surrounding her personal life. She was 36 years old at the time of her death, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing Latina actress.

Carole Landis

Carole Landis achieved stardom in the 1940s with leading roles in movies like ‘One Million B.C.’ and ‘To the Shores of Tripoli’. She was found dead in her Pacific Palisades home on July 5, 1948, after consuming a large quantity of Seconal. Her death was linked to a troubled personal life and a publicized affair that had recently ended. Landis was just 29 years old and had performed extensively for troops during World War II.

Elizabeth Hartman

Elizabeth Hartman earned an Academy Award nomination for her debut role in ‘A Patch of Blue’ in 1965. Despite her early success and roles in films like ‘The Beguiled’, she struggled with severe depression and social anxiety throughout her life. In 1987, she died after jumping from the window of her fifth-floor apartment in Pittsburgh. She had largely withdrawn from the industry years before her death to seek treatment for her mental health.

Margaux Hemingway

Margaux Hemingway was a successful supermodel and actress who starred in the 1976 thriller ‘Lipstick’. She was the granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway and faced public battles with addiction and clinical depression. In 1996, her body was discovered in her California home, and the coroner determined the cause of death was an intentional overdose of phenobarbital. She passed away exactly one day before the anniversary of her grandfather’s own suicide.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato rose to fame as Kimberly Drummond on the popular sitcom ‘Diff’rent Strokes’. After the series ended, she faced significant challenges finding work and struggled with substance abuse and financial issues. In 1999, she died from an overdose of prescription medication while visiting her fiancé’s family in Oklahoma. Her death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, marking a tragic end for the former child star.

Lucy Gordon

Lucy Gordon was a rising British actress known for her appearances in ‘Spider-Man 3’ and the biopic ‘Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life’. In May 2009, she was found dead in her Paris apartment just days before the Cannes Film Festival. Investigators confirmed the cause of death as suicide by hanging. She was 28 years old and was considered a promising talent in both independent and mainstream cinema.

Capucine

Capucine was a French actress and fashion model best known for her role as Simone Clouseau in ‘The Pink Panther’. She had a prolific career appearing in international films such as ‘The Lion’ and ‘Fellini Satyricon’. In 1990, she took her own life by jumping from her eighth-floor apartment in Lausanne, Switzerland. Reports indicated she had long suffered from bipolar disorder and had made previous attempts on her life.

Pier Angeli

Pier Angeli was an Italian-born actress who found success in Hollywood films like ‘Teresa’ and ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’. She was famously linked to James Dean and faced several professional and personal setbacks in the late 1960s. In 1971, she died from an overdose of barbiturates at the age of 39. Friends reported she was despondent over her aging and the decline of her film career.

Gia Allemand

Gia Allemand gained national recognition as a contestant on the reality television series ‘The Bachelor’. Beyond reality TV, she worked as a model and actress, appearing in various media projects. In August 2013, she was found in her New Orleans home and died two days later after being taken off life support. Her death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging following a domestic dispute.

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