Celebrities Who Have Almost Died
Fame does not erase real life danger. Even the biggest names in music, movies, and TV have faced moments when everything nearly ended. Some were split second accidents. Others were sudden health crises that changed how they live.
These close calls are a reminder that survival stories can be messy and inspiring at the same time. From wild stunts that went wrong to medical scares that came out of nowhere, here are well known figures who stared down the worst and made it back.
Harrison Ford
The legendary star of ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Star Wars’ survived a terrifying plane crash when his vintage aircraft lost power and went down on a golf course. He suffered serious injuries and needed surgery and a long recovery.
Ford later returned to flying and to movie sets with the same steady focus fans know so well. He has spoken about risk with calm honesty and has shown a remarkable ability to keep moving forward.
Travis Barker
The Blink 182 drummer lived through a deadly plane crash that killed four people and left him with severe burns. He spent months in hospitals and endured many surgeries and skin grafts.
Barker had to overcome a deep fear of flying and rebuild his life step by step. He credits family, therapy, and music for helping him return to the stage stronger than before.
Emilia Clarke
While filming ‘Game of Thrones’ she suffered two brain aneurysms that required urgent procedures. Recovery was slow and exhausting and for a time she worried her acting career was over.
Clarke later founded a charity to support others with brain injury. She has been open about memory lapses and fatigue and her honesty has helped many people feel less alone.
Demi Lovato
Lovato survived a life threatening overdose that led to multiple complications and an uncertain path back to health. The incident forced a complete reset of habits and support systems.
They later returned to music with a renewed commitment to sobriety and self care. Their openness has turned a painful chapter into advocacy for mental health and recovery.
50 Cent
Before global fame he was shot nine times at close range and rushed into emergency care. The attack left him with lasting scars and a long period of rehabilitation.
He rebuilt his body and voice through patient work and persistence. The experience shaped his outlook and fueled the drive that later defined his career.
Kanye West
A late night car crash almost killed him and left his jaw wired shut. He recorded music through the pain and used the scare as creative fuel.
The near loss sharpened his sense of urgency and belief in taking big swings. It also gave fans one of the most memorable origin chapters in modern music.
Post Malone
A private jet made an emergency landing after losing tires on takeoff and weeks later he was in a serious car accident. He walked away twice and called the survival a blessing.
The close calls nudged him toward a healthier routine on the road. He kept touring and kept connecting with fans while staying mindful of safety.
Leonardo DiCaprio
A skydiving jump turned harrowing when one parachute failed and the reserve opened just in time. He also had a shark cage scare when a great white thrashed its way inside.
DiCaprio has laughed about the chaos after the fact but the stories reveal how thin the line can be. He still pushes himself while keeping a clear respect for risk.
Jason Statham
During a rehearsal for ‘The Expendables 3’ the brakes failed on a truck and he plunged into the sea. A trained diver, he escaped the sinking vehicle and swam to safety.
The incident could have ended his career or worse. Instead it became the kind of lesson that veteran stunt performers carry with them forever.
Zac Efron
While filming an adventure project overseas he contracted a serious infection and had to be flown to a major hospital. Doctors stabilized him and he recovered fully.
Efron later said the experience reshaped how he thinks about travel and health. The scare added gravity to his love of adventure and to the preparation behind it.
Bono
Mid flight a plane he was on lost a door and gear in the cargo area. The jet landed safely but the situation could have gone another way.
Bono has also bounced back from a brutal bike crash that required extensive treatment. He keeps performing with gratitude and a touch of gallows humor about his luck.
George Clooney
A high speed scooter collision sent him flying and left him badly shaken and injured. He has said he thought the end might be near in that instant.
Clooney recovered and dialed back the motorcycle rides. The incident reinforced his love for family and his careful approach to future stunts.
Sharon Stone
A sudden brain hemorrhage nearly took her life and left her with cognitive and physical challenges. Doctors had to act fast and the recovery took years.
Stone rebuilt her speech and balance through relentless therapy. She went on to return to acting and to champion awareness of stroke symptoms.
Nikki Sixx
The Mötley Crüe bassist flatlined after a heroin overdose and was revived by emergency medical staff. He has spoken candidly about the dark spiral that led there.
Sixx turned the near death into a personal turnaround. He committed to sobriety and used music and writing to process what happened.
Ozzy Osbourne
An ATV crash left him with broken bones and a damaged neck that required emergency care. For a while his future looked uncertain.
He underwent surgery and a long rehab that tested his patience. Ozzy being Ozzy, he eventually returned to the stage with stubborn energy.
Kevin Hart
A violent car crash left him with severe back injuries and an uphill rehabilitation. He had to relearn simple movements and rebuild strength.
Hart credits discipline and perspective for getting him through. He came back to work with fresh appreciation for time and health.
Bear Grylls
A parachute failed during a training jump and he broke his back in several places. Doctors were not sure how complete his recovery would be.
He fought his way back to full strength and later climbed Everest. His survival shaped the grit and caution that anchor his television adventures.
Orlando Bloom
As a young actor he fell from a rooftop and broke his back. He was told he might never walk again which was a terrifying thought.
Bloom recovered through steady therapy and a stubborn mindset. The experience stays with him and fuels his calm attitude when work gets tough.
Jackie Chan
While filming ‘Armor of God’ a stunt went wrong and he fractured his skull. The injury caused bleeding in the brain and required immediate surgery.
Chan carries a small plug in his head to this day. He remains the face of practical stunts and now speaks often about planning and safety.
Sylvester Stallone
During ‘Rocky IV’ he took a body blow that sent him to intensive care with a damaged heart. For a moment the situation was more than just a movie fight.
Stallone recovered and finished the film after careful monitoring. The scare added respect for the line between acting and real danger.
Brendan Fraser
On ‘The Mummy’ a hanging gag went too far and he blacked out. Crew members rushed in and brought him back around.
Fraser later joked about it but the moment was real. It is a reminder that even controlled sets carry risk when timing slips.
Isla Fisher
During a water escape scene for ‘Now You See Me’ she got tangled and could not reach the safety button right away. Some crew thought she was acting which delayed help.
Fisher kept her calm and freed herself before things got worse. She has since stressed the value of extra rehearsals and clear signals on set.
Jeremy Renner
A massive snow machine rolled over him and caused life threatening injuries. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent multiple procedures.
Renner faced a grueling recovery and kept fans updated with quiet determination. His return to walking felt like a small miracle and a tribute to resilience.
Eminem
He overdosed on powerful painkillers and doctors told him he came very close to losing his life. The episode forced a full reset of priorities.
Eminem entered treatment and stayed focused on long term recovery. The close call still echoes in his music and in the way he talks about health.
Selena Gomez
Complications from lupus led to a kidney transplant when her condition became critical. A friend stepped in as a donor and the surgery saved her life.
Gomez has been open about the physical and emotional aftermath. She balances work with careful health management and encourages others to seek help early.
Share your thoughts on these survival stories in the comments and tell us which ones you remember most vividly.