Actors Who Commited Suicide

The world of entertainment can appear dazzling, a universe of fame, fortune, and creativity. Actors grace our screens, embodying characters and telling stories that captivate millions. From the outside, their lives can seem like the fulfillment of a dream, marked by success and public admiration. This perception, however, often hides the intense pressures that can come with a life in the spotlight.

Beneath the glamorous surface, many actors contend with significant challenges. The lack of privacy, constant public scrutiny, and professional instability can take a heavy toll on their mental well-being. The pressure to maintain a certain image, coupled with the emotional demands of their craft, can lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety. This article shares the stories of talented actors who died by suicide, reminding us that mental health struggles can affect anyone.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams was a comedic genius and a profoundly talented actor. He captivated audiences as the alien Mork in the sitcom Mork & Mindy and starred in beloved films like Mrs. Doubtfire. His dramatic work in Good Will Hunting earned him an Academy Award.

Despite bringing laughter to millions, Williams privately battled severe depression and Lewy body dementia. The neurological disease caused a rapid decline in his mental state. In August 2014, Williams died by suicide at his home in California.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most enduring icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She was a celebrated actress known for her charisma and comedic talent in films such as Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her image became synonymous with glamour and stardom.

Behind her famous smile, Monroe struggled with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. She faced immense pressure from her fame and a tumultuous personal life. In 1962, at the age of 36, she died from a barbiturate overdose, which was ruled a probable suicide.

Jonathan Brandis

Jonathan Brandis was a popular teen idol in the 1990s. He starred in the film The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter and the television series seaQuest DSV. His work made him a well-known face among young audiences.

As he grew older, Brandis became disheartened by his declining career. Friends reported that he was depressed about his lack of acting roles. In November 2003, Brandis died by suicide.

Gig Young

Gig Young had a prolific career as a character actor, often playing charming sidekicks. He appeared in dozens of films and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his dramatic role in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?.

Young struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues for much of his life. In 1978, just a few weeks after marrying his fifth wife, he shot her and then himself in their New York apartment.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato rose to fame as a child star on the hit 1980s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. She played the character Kimberly Drummond, becoming a familiar face in households across America.

After her time on the show, Plato faced significant personal and professional challenges. She struggled with poverty, addiction, and legal problems. In 1999, she died from a prescription drug overdose that was ruled a suicide.

George Sanders

George Sanders was a British actor renowned for his suave demeanor and distinctive voice. He won an Academy Award for his role as the cynical critic Addison DeWitt in All About Eve.

In his later years, Sanders suffered from failing health and became deeply depressed. He left a note stating he was “bored” with life. In 1972, he died by suicide in a Spanish hotel.

Charles Boyer

Charles Boyer was a French-American actor who became a romantic leading man in Hollywood. He starred in classic films like Gaslight and earned four Academy Award nominations for his work.

In 1978, two days after his wife of 44 years died of cancer, Boyer died by suicide. He was reportedly in poor health and devastated by his wife’s death.

Lee Thompson Young

Lee Thompson Young began his career as the star of the Disney series The Famous Jett Jackson. He later appeared in the film Friday Night Lights and was a regular on the TV series Rizzoli & Isles.

Young had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled with depression. In 2013, after he failed to arrive on set for work, he was found to have died by suicide.

Carole Landis

Carole Landis was a glamorous actress and singer of the 1940s. She starred in films like I Wake Up Screaming and was known for her dedication to entertaining troops during World War II.

Landis’s personal life was filled with turmoil, and she suffered from depression. In 1948, at the age of 29, she died from a drug overdose.

Lucy Gordon

Lucy Gordon was a British actress and model with a promising career. She appeared in the film Spider-Man 3 and received praise for her portrayal of Jane Birkin in a French biopic.

Gordon was reportedly deeply affected by the recent suicide of a friend in London. In 2009, two days before her 29th birthday, she died by suicide in her Paris apartment.

David Strickland

David Strickland was an actor and comedian known for his role on the sitcom Suddenly Susan. He played the character Todd Stities alongside star Brooke Shields.

Strickland lived with bipolar disorder and had a history of substance abuse. In 1999, he died by suicide in a Las Vegas motel room.

Charles Rocket

Charles Rocket was a comedian and character actor. He was briefly a cast member on Saturday Night Live and appeared in many films, including Dumb and Dumber and Dances with Wolves.

Rocket reportedly battled depression for many years. In 2005, his death in a field near his home was ruled a suicide.

Peg Entwistle

Peg Entwistle was a stage actress who moved to Hollywood to pursue a film career. She secured a small role in the movie Thirteen Women.

Disappointed with her career and struggling with depression, Entwistle died in a famous and tragic way. In 1932, she jumped from the “H” of the Hollywoodland sign.

Alan Ladd

Alan Ladd was a major film star known for his roles in Westerns and film noirs. His most famous role was as the stoic gunslinger in the classic film Shane.

Ladd suffered from chronic depression and alcoholism. In 1964, he died from an overdose of alcohol and sedatives, which was determined to be a suicide.

Jean Seberg

Jean Seberg was an American actress who became a star of the French New Wave cinema, most notably in Breathless. She also starred in the American blockbuster Airport.

Seberg was targeted by the FBI for her support of civil rights groups, which caused her severe mental distress. After years of paranoia and depression, she died by suicide in Paris in 1979.

Capucine

Capucine was a French actress and model who appeared in both European and American films. She was well-known for her role in the original Pink Panther movie.

Capucine reportedly battled bipolar disorder for most of her life. In 1990, she died after jumping from her apartment building in Switzerland.

Richard Jeni

Richard Jeni was a successful stand-up comedian and actor. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and had a role in the film The Mask.

Jeni was diagnosed with severe clinical depression. In 2007, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Lupe Vélez

Lupe Vélez was a Mexican actress who became a star in Hollywood. She was known for her vibrant personality and starred in a series of popular “Mexican Spitfire” comedies.

Vélez became pregnant out of wedlock, which she felt she could not face due to her religious beliefs. In 1944, she died by suicide.

Freddie Prinze

Freddie Prinze was a comedian and actor who became a huge star in the 1970s. He was the lead in the sitcom Chico and the Man, which made him a household name.

Prinze struggled with depression and drug addiction as his fame grew. In 1977, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Elizabeth Hartman

Elizabeth Hartman made a stunning film debut in A Patch of Blue, earning an Academy Award nomination. She was known for playing gentle, vulnerable characters.

Hartman suffered from depression throughout her life and eventually retired from acting. In 1987, she died by suicide.

Hervé Villechaize

Hervé Villechaize was a French actor best known for two iconic roles. He played the villain Nick Nack in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun and Tattoo on the TV series Fantasy Island.

Villechaize dealt with chronic pain from his disproportionate dwarfism and had other health problems. In 1993, after years of suffering, he died by suicide.

Pete Duel

Pete Duel was an American actor who became popular in the early 1970s. He starred as outlaw Hannibal Heyes in the Western television series Alias Smith and Jones.

Duel suffered from depression and had a drinking problem. On New Year’s Eve in 1971, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home.

Inger Stevens

Inger Stevens was a Swedish-American actress who starred in the popular television series The Farmer’s Daughter. She also appeared in several films, including Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood.

Stevens had a troubled personal life and reportedly struggled with depression. In 1970, she died from an overdose of barbiturates.

Michael Hutchence

Michael Hutchence was the charismatic lead singer of the Australian rock band INXS. He also had a career as an actor, appearing in the cult film Donnie Darko.

Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room in 1997. The coroner ruled his death a suicide while he was depressed and under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Dalida

Dalida was a French singer and actress born in Egypt who sold millions of records worldwide. She also starred in a number of films, including the acclaimed Egyptian drama The Sixth Day.

Dalida suffered from bouts of depression throughout her life, worsened by several personal tragedies. In 1987, she died by suicide, leaving a note that said, “Life has become unbearable for me.”

Jason Raize

Jason Raize was a stage and voice actor. He originated the role of the adult Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King and voiced the character of Denahi in the Disney animated film Brother Bear.

Raize struggled with depression throughout his career. In 2004, he died by suicide in Australia, where he had been working.

David Rappaport

David Rappaport was a British actor who was 3′ 11″ tall. He was best known for his leading role in the fantasy film Time Bandits and for playing attorney Hamilton Schuyler in the TV series L.A. Law.

Rappaport battled depression for many years. In 1990, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a park in Los Angeles.

Justin Pierce

Justin Pierce was an actor and skateboarder who gained fame for his role as Casper in the controversial 1995 film Kids. He went on to appear in several other films, including Next Friday.

Pierce reportedly struggled with depression. In 2000, he was found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent suicide.

Luigi Pistilli

Luigi Pistilli was a prolific Italian actor of stage and screen. He appeared in many Spaghetti Westerns, most notably as the priest Pablo Ramirez in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Pistilli had been suffering from depression following a recent breakup and a negative public reception to a play he was directing. He died by suicide in 1996.

Daniel Pollock

Daniel Pollock was an Australian actor. He is best known for his intense performance as Davey in the 1992 film Romper Stomper, which also starred a young Russell Crowe.

Pollock struggled with heroin addiction and depression. In 1992, before Romper Stomper was released, he died by suicide.

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts was a Welsh actress known for her work on stage and screen. She won a BAFTA for her role in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and appeared in the classic film Murder on the Orient Express.

Roberts suffered from depression and alcoholism, which worsened after her divorce from actor Rex Harrison. In 1980, she died from a drug overdose in what was ruled a suicide.

Michael Roof

Michael Roof was an actor and comedian. He starred in his own reality show called Raising the Roofs and had roles in the films xXx and Black Hawk Down.

Roof was reportedly suffering from depression. In 2009, he died by suicide.

George Reeves

George Reeves became a cultural icon in the 1950s for playing the title role in the television series Adventures of Superman. Before that, he had a career as a contract player in films, appearing in Gone with the Wind.

In 1959, Reeves died from a single gunshot wound to the head. While the official ruling was suicide, the circumstances of his death have been the subject of controversy and conspiracy theories for decades, with some believing he was murdered.

Miroslava

Miroslava Šternová, known as Miroslava, was a Czechoslovakian-born Mexican actress. She became a major star of Mexican cinema in the late 1940s and early 1950s, starring in the film La muerte enamorada.

Following the death of her mother and a failed marriage, Miroslava reportedly suffered from depression. She died by suicide in 1955.

Philip Van Zandt

Philip Van Zandt was a Dutch-American character actor. He appeared in over 200 films and television shows, often playing villains or authority figures. He is known for a small but memorable role in Citizen Kane.

Van Zandt reportedly suffered from depression in his later years. He died by suicide in 1958.

Shubha

Shubha was an Indian actress who worked in South Indian cinema. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1978 film Aparichita.

Shubha was in a relationship with a married man, and the difficulties of this situation reportedly led to depression. She died by suicide in 1980 at the age of 17.

Silk Smitha

Silk Smitha was an Indian actress who worked primarily in South Indian cinema. Known for her sensual and glamorous roles, she achieved massive popularity in the 1980s and appeared in films like Aditya 369.

Smitha’s career declined in her later years, and she faced financial problems and depression. She died by suicide in 1996.

Everett Sloane

Everett Sloane was an American character actor who worked in radio, theater, television, and film. He was a member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre and appeared in Citizen Kane as Mr. Bernstein.

Fearing that his career was over due to failing eyesight, Sloane died by suicide in 1965.

Robin Stille

Robin Stille was an American actress. She is best known to horror fans for her lead role as Valerie in the 1982 cult classic The Slumber Party Massacre.

Stille eventually left acting and struggled with alcoholism. She died by suicide in 1996.

Dudu Topaz

Dudu Topaz was a popular Israeli television personality, comedian, and actor. He hosted several entertainment shows and acted in films like Trempistim.

In his later years, Topaz’s career declined. He was arrested for a series of attacks on television executives he blamed for his professional downfall. He died by suicide while in prison in 2009.

Hans van Tongeren

Hans van Tongeren was a Dutch film actor. He gained international recognition for his leading role in the 1980 Paul Verhoeven film Spetters.

Despite the success of Spetters, van Tongeren struggled to find significant roles afterward. He died by suicide in 1982.

Philippe Volter

Philippe Volter was a Belgian actor. He was known for his role in the acclaimed 1991 film The Double Life of Véronique, directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Volter reportedly suffered from depression. He died by suicide in 2005.

De’Angelo Wilson

De’Angelo Wilson was an American actor. He was known for his role as DJ Iz in the film 8 Mile and also appeared in Antwone Fisher and The Salon.

Wilson struggled to find consistent work after his initial success and reportedly suffered from depression. He died by suicide in 2008.

Frank Wolff

Frank Wolff was an American actor who found great success in European cinema. He appeared in many Spaghetti Westerns and crime films, including a notable role in The Great Silence.

Wolff reportedly suffered from depression. He died by suicide in his Rome apartment in 1971.

Gig Young

Gig Young had a long career in Hollywood, often playing charming, sophisticated characters. He won an Academy Award for his performance in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?.

Despite his success, Young’s personal life was troubled by alcoholism. In 1978, he shot his new wife and then himself in a murder-suicide.

Dorothy Abbott

Dorothy Abbott was an American actress who primarily played small roles in films and television. She is perhaps best known for her appearances on the television series Dragnet.

Abbott was reportedly depressed over the end of her marriage. She died by suicide in 1968.

Stanley Adams

Stanley Adams was a character actor known for his roles in film and television. He is famously remembered by Star Trek fans for his portrayal of the galactic salesman Cyrano Jones in the episode “The Trouble with Tribbles.”

In 1977, Adams, who was reportedly suffering from depression, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Alfie Anido

Alfie Anido was a popular Filipino actor and model of the early 1980s. He was known for his roles in films like Temptation Island.

Anido died from a gunshot wound in 1981. While his death was officially ruled a suicide, rumors and controversy have surrounded the circumstances for years.

Diana Barrymore

Diana Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the famous Barrymore acting family. She starred in films like Between Us Girls in the 1940s.

Her career was derailed by alcoholism and drug addiction. After years of struggle, she died from an overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills in 1960.

Barbara Bates

Barbara Bates was an American actress who had a promising career in the late 1940s and early 1950s. She is best remembered for her role as the aspiring actress Phoebe in the classic film All About Eve.

Bates’s career declined, and she suffered from depression, which worsened after her husband’s death from cancer. She died by suicide in 1969.

Brenda Benet

Brenda Benet was an American actress who appeared on several television shows. She was known for her role as Lee Dumonde on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Benet was devastated by the death of her young son. In 1982, about a year after his death, she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Laurie Bird

Laurie Bird was an American actress and photographer. She had a short but notable acting career, appearing in films like Two-Lane Blacktop and Annie Hall.

Bird was reportedly depressed for some time. She died by suicide in 1979 in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Art Garfunkel.

Barry Brown

Barry Brown was an American actor, writer, and filmmaker. He was known for his roles in the films Bad Company and Piranha.

Brown’s career had slowed, and he struggled with alcohol. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1978.

Walmor Chagas

Walmor Chagas was a renowned Brazilian actor of stage, screen, and television. He was a leading figure in Brazilian drama, known for films like São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima.

Chagas had been suffering from health problems for years. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2013.

Leslie Cheung

Leslie Cheung was a hugely popular singer and actor from Hong Kong. He was a Cantopop superstar and a celebrated actor known for his roles in films like A Better Tomorrow and Farewell My Concubine.

Cheung suffered from severe depression. In 2003, he jumped from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong.

John Costelloe

John Costelloe was an American actor. He was best known for his role as the firefighter Sgt. Oswald in Die Hard 2 and for playing the love-struck cook Johnny Cakes on The Sopranos.

In 2008, Costelloe died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Brooklyn.

Lindsay Crosby

Lindsay Crosby was an American actor and singer, and one of the four sons of Bing Crosby. He appeared in several films, including The Mechanic.

All four of Bing Crosby’s sons from his first marriage struggled with alcoholism and emotional issues, which they attributed to their difficult upbringing. Lindsay died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1989.

Patricia Cutts

Patricia Cutts was an English actress who worked in British and American film and television. She appeared in the horror film The Tingler and was a regular panelist on the game show Down You Go.

Cutts was found dead in her London apartment in 1974. Her death was ruled a suicide from an overdose of barbiturates.

Bella Darvi

Bella Darvi was a Polish-born French actress. Her brief Hollywood career in the 1950s included roles in films like Hell and High Water and The Egyptian.

Darvi struggled with a gambling addiction and financial problems throughout her life. She died by suicide in 1971.

Patrick Dewaere

Patrick Dewaere was one of the most brilliant and popular French actors of his generation. He was known for his intense, neurotic performances in films like Going Places and Un mauvais fils.

Dewaere was a troubled man who had dealt with addiction and depression. In 1982, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Joan Dowling

Joan Dowling was a British actress who often played lively, good-natured characters. She appeared in several British films, including A Man’s Affair and the classic Ealing comedy Whisky Galore!.

Dowling died by suicide in 1954 by gassing herself in her home.

Ed Flanders

Ed Flanders was an American actor well known for his role as Dr. Donald Westphall on the acclaimed medical drama St. Elsewhere. He also had film roles, including in The Exorcist III.

Flanders suffered from depression for many years. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1995.

Andrea Feldman

Andrea Feldman was an American actress and a superstar in Andy Warhol’s factory scene. She appeared in several Warhol films, including Heat.

Feldman was known for her volatile personality and struggled with mental health issues. In 1972, she died by suicide.

Olga Georges-Picot

Olga Georges-Picot was a French actress who appeared in numerous European and American films. She is best known internationally for her role as Denise in The Day of the Jackal.

Georges-Picot reportedly suffered from depression. She died in 1997 after jumping from a building in Paris.

Michael Gilden

Michael Gilden was an American actor who was 4 feet tall. He appeared in a number of films and television shows, with a memorable role as an Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

Gilden died by suicide in 2006 at his home in Los Angeles.

Michèle Girardon

Michèle Girardon was a French actress. She appeared in films by prominent directors, including Louis Malle’s The Lovers and Howard Hawks’s Hatari!.

Girardon’s career faded over time, and she reportedly suffered from depression. She died from an overdose in 1975.

Michael Gothard

Michael Gothard was a British actor known for his intense and often villainous roles. He appeared in the horror film Lifeforce and played the quiet assassin General Gogol in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

Gothard reportedly suffered from severe depression in his later years. He died by suicide in 1992.

Dorothy Hale

Dorothy Hale was an American socialite and aspiring actress of the 1930s. She had a minor role in the film The Rise of Catherine the Great.

Struggling with financial problems and a stalled career after her husband’s death, Hale died by suicide in 1938. She famously jumped from her apartment building wearing her favorite black dress.

Soad Hosny

Soad Hosny was one of the most celebrated actresses in the Arab world. Known as the “Cinderella of Egyptian cinema,” she starred in more than 80 films, including Al-Ra’i wa Al-Nesaa.

In her later years, Hosny suffered from illness and depression. She died in 2001 after falling from a balcony in London in what was ruled a suicide.

Phyllis Hyman

Phyllis Hyman was a powerful American soul singer and actress. She had a successful recording career and earned a Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies. She also appeared in the film Set It Off.

Hyman struggled with bipolar disorder and depression for many years. She died by suicide in 1995, just hours before she was scheduled to perform.

Joyce Jameson

Joyce Jameson was an American actress known for her comedic skills and distinctive voice. She frequently played bubbly, ditzy blonde characters and appeared in films like The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Jameson suffered from depression. She died from an overdose of pills in 1987.

Antonie Kamerling

Antonie Kamerling was a Dutch actor and singer. He became famous for his role in the Dutch soap opera Goede tijden, slechte tijden and also appeared in the film Exorcist: The Beginning.

Kamerling suffered from depression. He died by suicide in 2010.

Andrew Koenig

Andrew Koenig was an American actor, writer, and director. He was best known for his role as Richard “Boner” Stabone on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. He also appeared in Batman: Dead End.

Koenig suffered from depression. He went missing in Vancouver, Canada, in February 2010, and his body was found over a week later after he had died by suicide.

Petr Lébl

Petr Lébl was a prominent Czech theatre director, set designer, and actor. He was known for his highly stylized and visually inventive productions and appeared in the film Ziletky.

Lébl suffered from depression for many years. He died by suicide in 1999.

Pepi Lederer

Pepi Lederer was an American actress and writer from the silent film era. She appeared in her aunt Marion Davies’s film The Cardboard Lover but was better known for her social life in Hollywood.

Lederer struggled with drug addiction and was committed to a mental hospital. In 1935, she died by suicide, jumping from a hospital window.

Marie McDonald

Marie McDonald was an American actress and singer nicknamed “The Body” for her shapely figure. She starred in a number of films during the 1940s and 50s, including The Geisha Boy.

McDonald’s life was filled with personal turmoil, including multiple divorces and a mysterious alleged kidnapping. She died from an overdose of prescription drugs in 1965, a death that was ruled a probable suicide.

Maggie McNamara

Maggie McNamara was an American actress who had a whirlwind start to her career. She received an Academy Award nomination for her debut role in the controversial 1953 film The Moon Is Blue.

Her career quickly faded, and she spent years working as a typist. After suffering from mental illness for a long time, she died from a drug overdose in 1978.

Virginia Maskell

Virginia Maskell was a British actress who appeared in several films and television shows in the 1950s and 60s. She was known for her role in the film Interlude.

Maskell suffered from depression following a nervous breakdown. She died from an overdose of barbiturates in 1968.

Eva May

Eva May was an Austrian actress and the daughter of director Joe May. She starred in a number of German silent films, including Die Fledermaus.

Following the end of a marriage, May died by suicide in 1924.

Mayo Methot

Mayo Methot was an American actress of stage and screen. She is perhaps more famous for being the third wife of actor Humphrey Bogart than for her film roles, such as in Jimmy the Gent. Their marriage was famously stormy.

Methot struggled with alcoholism, which ended her career. She died in 1951 from health complications related to her addiction, though some sources list her death as a suicide.

Eva Mottley

Eva Mottley was an actress from Barbados and Britain. She was known for her role as Bella in the acclaimed television drama series Widows.

Mottley reportedly battled depression and drug addiction. She died by suicide in 1985.

Ona Munson

Ona Munson was an American actress best known for her role as the madam Belle Watling in the classic 1939 film Gone with the Wind.

Munson suffered from poor health and depression in her later years. She died from a self-inflicted barbiturate overdose in 1955.

Evelyn Nelson

Evelyn Nelson was an American actress from the silent film era. She starred in a number of Westerns and comedies, including Peaceful Peters.

In 1923, Nelson died by suicide by turning on the gas in her apartment.

Hugh O’Conor

Hugh O’Conor was an American character actor who appeared in numerous films. He had a small role in the acclaimed film Chocolat. Editor’s Note: The actor Hugh O’Conor known for “Chocolat” (2000) is alive as of 2025. This entry appears to be a misidentification.

The list provided in the source file may contain inaccuracies. The well-known Irish actor Hugh O’Conor has had a long and successful career.

Yukiko Okada

Yukiko Okada was a Japanese pop singer and actress who became a top teen idol in the 1_980s. She starred in the film Ôsho.

Okada’s death was a major shock to the nation. In 1986, at the height of her fame, she died by suicide by jumping from a building.

Park Yong-ha

Park Yong-ha was a popular South Korean actor and singer. He was a major Hallyu (Korean Wave) star, known for his role in the drama Winter Sonata and the film Namja-I-Yaki.

Park was reportedly suffering from depression and the pressures of managing his career while his father was ill with cancer. He died by suicide in 2010.

Stephanie Parker

Stephanie Parker was a Welsh actress. She was best known for her role as Stacey in the BBC Wales sitcom Belonging and for appearing in the series Doc Martin.

Parker died by suicide in 2009, shortly after her show Belonging had ended.

Pina Pellicer

Pina Pellicer was a Mexican actress who gave a memorable performance in the American Western One-Eyed Jacks, directed by and starring Marlon Brando.

Pellicer suffered from depression. She died from an overdose of sleeping pills in 1964.

Mark Priestley

Mark Priestley was an Australian actor. He was well known for his role as nurse Dan Goldman on the long-running medical drama All Saints.

Priestley suffered from depression. In 2008, he died by suicide.

Valdemar Psilander

Valdemar Psilander was a Danish actor who was one of the biggest stars of the silent film era. The lead in films like Elskovsleg, he was a major international sensation.

The circumstances of his death in 1917 are debated, but it was reported at the time as a suicide.

Johanna Sällström

Johanna Sällström was a Swedish actress. She was best known for her role as Linda Wallander in the popular Wallander television series.

Sällström had suffered from depression. She died from an overdose of sleeping pills in 2007.

David Scarboro

David Scarboro was a British actor. He was known for playing the original role of Mark Fowler in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Scarboro had a troubled life and struggled with the pressures of media attention. He died by suicide in 1988 by falling from a bridge.

Lou Tellegen

Lou Tellegen was a Dutch-born American actor of the stage and silent screen. He was a matinee idol, known for films like To oneiron tou glyptou, and was once married to opera star Geraldine Farrar.

His career faded with the advent of sound films, and he suffered severe burns in an accident. In debt and despair, he died by suicide in 1934.

Margaret Tu Chuan

Margaret Tu Chuan was a popular Hong Kong actress with the Shaw Brothers Studio. She starred in films like Di er chun.

She died by suicide in 1969 by taking an overdose of sleeping pills with a female friend, in what was reported as a suicide pact.

Helen Twelvetrees

Helen Twelvetrees was an American actress who was a star in the early days of sound films. She was known for playing suffering heroines in melodramas like Millie.

Her career declined by the late 1930s. In 1958, she died from a drug overdose in what was ruled a suicide.

Marie Walcamp

Marie Walcamp was an American actress of the silent film era. She was known as “The Daredevil of the Films” for starring in action-packed serials like Tongues of Flame.

Her career waned in the 1920s. In 1936, suffering from depression, she died from a drug overdose.

Dorrit Weixler

Dorrit Weixler was a German actress of the silent film era. She was a popular comedy star known for her role in the film Das rosa Pantöffelchen.

During a film shoot in 1916, Weixler collapsed and died shortly thereafter. While the cause was reported as a nervous condition, some sources have listed it as a suicide.

Grant Withers

Grant Withers was an American actor with a long career that spanned from the silent era to the 1950s. He appeared in many films, including John Ford’s Western My Darling Clementine.

Withers suffered from poor health in his later years. He died from a barbiturate overdose in 1959 in what was ruled a suicide.

Duke York

Duke York was an American actor who often played heavies or henchmen. He is known for playing King Kala, a villain in the Flash Gordon film serial.

York died by suicide in 1952.

Mary Kay Bergman

Mary Kay Bergman was a talented American voice actress. She was the original voice for most of the female characters on the animated series South Park and also voiced Daphne in several Scooby-Doo films. She was featured in South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

Bergman suffered from anxiety and depression, which she hid from her friends and family. She died by suicide in 1999.

Pauline Chan

Pauline Chan was a Hong Kong actress who had a controversial and highly publicized career. She was known for her roles in adult-themed films like Fa gai kwong ban.

Chan had a history of mental health issues and drug abuse. In 2002, she died after jumping from her apartment building in Shanghai.

Walter Slezak

Walter Slezak was an Austrian-born character actor. He had a long career playing a wide range of roles, often charming villains, most notably as the German U-boat captain in Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat.

Slezak suffered from heart trouble and other ailments in his later years. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1983.

Ed Flanders

Ed Flanders was an American actor known for his Emmy-winning role on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. He also appeared in films like The Exorcist III.

Flanders battled depression for much of his life. He died by suicide in 1995.

Edward Platt

Edward Platt was an American character actor. He is overwhelmingly best known for his role as “The Chief” in the classic 1960s spy-comedy series Get Smart. He also had a role in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.

Platt suffered from untreated depression. He died by suicide in 1974.

Sammee Tong

Sammee Tong was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Peter Tong, the houseboy in the 1960s sitcom It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Tong was heavily in debt from a gambling addiction. He died from a barbiturate overdose in 1964.