When you think of 10 famous people and their glamorous lives, you probably picture red carpets, awards, and paparazzi. Yet behind the glitter, some of these well‑known personalities have been involved in incidents that ended in another person’s death – sometimes by accident, sometimes by design. Below we dive into ten surprising cases that show fame doesn’t shield anyone from tragedy.
What 10 Famous People Can Teach Us About Responsibility
10 Laura Bush
Fourteen years before she became the First Lady, a 17‑year‑old Laura Welch ran a stop sign and collided head‑on with another vehicle, killing the teenage driver of that car. For many years she kept the incident private, but in a 2010 interview with the New York Times she confessed to feeling “wracked by guilt for years after the crash, especially after not attending the funeral and for not reaching out to the parents of the dead teenager.”
The tragedy even inspired a stage production. In 2018 the off‑off‑Broadway play Laura Bush Killed a Guy, written by Ian Allen, imagined three alternate accounts of the crash, starring Lisa Hodsoll as Bush. Critics, including the New York Times, praised the piece as a romantic comedy rather than a political satire, noting its inventive take on a grim real‑life event.
9 Phill Lewis
Born to American Peace Corps parents in Uganda, Phill Lewis broke into film with the 1988 dark comedy Heathers, a story filled with teenage fatalities that would eerily echo his own future. In 1991, at age 23, Lewis was arrested after his intoxicated driving caused the death of a woman. His blood‑alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, and his own attorney described it as “extraordinarily high.” Lewis later claimed he could not recall the ten hours leading up to the crash, a gap the court linked to his severe intoxication.
Initially sentenced to five years, his term was reduced to one year after he spent much of his incarceration performing with a prison‑based theater troupe that highlighted drug‑ and alcohol‑abuse consequences. Post‑release, Lewis landed guest spots on shows like Married… with Children and Boy Meets World, eventually scoring a lead role on Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zach and Cody.
8 Rebecca Gayheart
Rebecca Gayheart, a former teen model and star of 1999’s cult classic Jawbreaker, first made waves playing the fictional axe‑murderer Lizzie Borden in a school production. After becoming the face of Noxzema and appearing on shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, she faced a heartbreaking incident in 2001: a nine‑year‑old boy was struck by her car and died the following day.
Gayheart issued a public statement expressing that “the pain of this tragedy will live with me forever,” while maintaining that the accident was truly unfortunate. Charged with vehicular manslaughter, she received three years of probation and a license suspension.
7 Matthew Broderick
Best known for playing the carefree teen Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick found himself behind the wheel of a rental car in Northern Ireland when he inadvertently crossed into the opposite lane. The resulting head‑on collision killed a mother and daughter instantly, while Broderick and his passenger, actress Jennifer Grey, escaped with minor injuries.
Broderick later claimed he could not remember the crash before being rushed to the hospital. Charged with careless driving, he ultimately paid a modest $175 fine for the loss of the two lives. Years later, in 2012, he appeared in a high‑budget Honda Super Bowl ad, prompting a victim’s brother to quip, “It wasn’t the greatest choice of drivers, knowing his past.”
6 Ryan Grantham
At just 21, Canadian actor Ryan Grantham shot his mother while she practiced piano at home. When questioned, Grantham explained the murder was part of a larger, delusional plan aiming to assassinate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and conduct a mass shooting in British Columbia; he claimed killing his mother would spare her the pain of his future crimes.
Authorities apprehended Grantham before he could act on his broader scheme. Prior to the tragedy, he was recognized for a brief comedic role as a sixth‑grader in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and a guest appearance on the teen drama Riverdale.
5 Brandy Norwood
Rising to fame as the lead of the 1996 sitcom Moesha, Brandy Norwood later dazzled audiences as Disney’s animated Cinderella and earned a Grammy for her 1998 album Never Say Never. In 2006, however, a chain‑reaction crash on a Los Angeles freeway linked back to her vehicle. Her car struck another, which then hit a divider and was subsequently hit by a third car, resulting in a fatality.
Brandy faced vehicular‑manslaughter charges but was acquitted, as investigations found no alcohol, drugs, or phone use, and no evidence she was distracted. She has never publicly discussed the incident.
4 Don King
Before becoming the flamboyant boxing promoter behind legendary bouts like the “Thrilla in Manila” and the “Rumble in the Jungle,” Don King ran a bookmaking operation out of a basement. During that period, he shot a man who attempted to rob one of his gambling houses; the killing was ruled justifiable homicide.
Thirteen years later, King was convicted of stomping an employee to death over a $600 debt, a crime that was clearly not justifiable. He served just under four years in prison for that murder.
3 Caitlyn Jenner
In 2024, Olympic gold‑medalist Caitlyn Jenner sparked controversy after posting “Good riddance” on social media in response to the death of alleged murderer O.J. Simpson. Critics quickly reminded the public that Jenner herself had been involved in a 2015 Malibu car crash that killed a driver on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Investigators concluded Jenner was only guilty of a basic speeding violation, not manslaughter or reckless driving. Nevertheless, public outcry suggested she received lenient treatment because of her fame. Jenner ultimately paid $800,000 to the victim’s family and expressed condolences, but she did not serve any jail time.
2 Phil Spector
While you may not instantly recognize Phil Spector’s name, you’ve almost certainly heard his productions—from The Beatles’ Let It Be to The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” Unlike many on this list, Spector’s crime was premeditated. In 2003, after a night out, he invited actress Lana Clarkson to his home; she was found shot dead the next morning.
Spector claimed the shooting was a suicide, but multiple women testified during his trial that he had previously threatened them with firearms. He was convicted of first‑degree murder and sentenced to 19 years, though he died in 2021 before completing the term.
1 Ted Kennedy
The Kennedy curse seems relentless. In 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy was driving across a bridge with Mary Jo Kopechne when his car veered over the barrier and plunged into the ocean. Kennedy managed to swim to safety; Kopechne, however, drowned.
After reaching his hotel on Chappaquiddick Island, Kennedy waited until morning before notifying authorities, a delay that likely cost Kopechne’s life. Many believe he was intoxicated and sought to avoid legal repercussions, while others suspect a more deliberate motive.
The incident, dubbed the “Chappaquiddick” scandal, is widely regarded as the primary reason Kennedy never pursued the presidency. It remains a haunting chapter in American political history, especially for younger generations who only know the Kennedys through cinematic portrayals of JFK.
Older Americans may recall the tragedy, but for many, learning that a member of the iconic Kennedy family could be linked to a death is a startling revelation.