Famous Celebs Who Were Reported Dead While Still Alive

Mistaken death reports have followed public figures since newspapers first raced to break big stories. Sometimes a mix up snowballs into headlines, and sometimes a hacked account or a copycat prank fools millions in minutes. Either way, the person at the center has to prove they are very much alive while the rumor burns across the world.

These mix ups have started with everything from misheard tips to automated hoax sites that auto fill names into fake accident stories. A few cases were corrected within hours, while others lingered for years as running jokes. Here are memorable times famous names were reported dead while they were still alive, plus the basic facts that set things straight.

Mark Twain

In 1897 a reporter in London chased a rumor that Mark Twain had died and contacted him to confirm it. Twain explained that a relative had been ill and that the story had morphed as it moved from person to person. He answered with a line that newspapers then repeated around the world.

The humorist clarified that he was in good health and still working. The incident became a textbook example of how early wire reports and word of mouth could combine to create a false obituary long before social media existed.

Abe Vigoda

Abe Vigoda was mistakenly described as the late Abe Vigoda in a 1982 magazine piece while he was actively working after his run on ‘Barney Miller’. He responded with good humor and continued to take roles on television and in films, which kept the joke alive in entertainment circles.

As the mistake became a pop culture reference, a simple website tracked whether he was alive as a quick fact check. The gag resurfaced on shows like ‘Late Night with David Letterman’, but each time the actor or his representatives confirmed that he was fine and still appearing on screen.

Paul McCartney

The phrase Paul is dead began circulating among college students in 1969 and then jumped to radio shows and newspapers. Fans started listing supposed clues on album covers and lyrics, with the ‘Abbey Road’ cover getting special attention as amateur sleuths tried to connect details that were never meant as hints.

McCartney ended the speculation with interviews and photo sessions that documented his daily life at home. Band associates and record label staff also spoke on the record to confirm that he was writing and recording, which closed the loop for major outlets that had echoed the rumor.

Jon Bon Jovi

In December 2011 a prank report claimed Jon Bon Jovi had died, and it spread across social platforms by late afternoon. The story cited no official source but still triggered a wave of reposts that made it trend.

Bon Jovi quickly posted a photo holding a handwritten sign with the current date and a note that he was alive and at a charity event in New Jersey. His team followed with confirmations through official channels, and entertainment outlets updated readers with the correction.

Jeff Goldblum

On June 25, 2009 a fake story generator pushed a claim that Jeff Goldblum had fallen from a cliff in New Zealand. The hoax piggybacked on a day of heavy breaking news, which helped it gain traction before editors could verify it.

Goldblum’s representatives contacted major outlets to confirm that he was not in New Zealand and that he was working as scheduled. He then made an on air appearance on ‘The Colbert Report’ to underline the correction for viewers who had seen the rumor earlier in the day.

Morgan Freeman

In 2012 a wave of social posts declared Morgan Freeman dead and attached memorial graphics to make the hoax look legitimate. The messages offered no official source and often linked to pages that harvested clicks rather than reliable news.

Freeman’s spokesperson denied the report and asked outlets to disregard the false posts. The actor later addressed the issue by pointing fans to verified pages, which helped reduce the spread of lookalike accounts that had seeded the rumor.

Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson has been the subject of repeated fake death notices that used the branding of a major network to add credibility. Some of the links in those posts led to malicious sites that encouraged users to share the story before viewing it.

Atkinson’s publicist confirmed each time that he was alive and working, including new appearances connected to ‘Mr. Bean’. Technology reporters also published reminders on how to spot cloned news graphics, which helped people identify the scam template behind the recurring hoax.

Sylvester Stallone

In early 2018 a false claim about Sylvester Stallone circulated with fabricated details about an illness. The story spread quickly through fan groups and pages that repost celebrity headlines without verification.

Stallone addressed the rumor on his verified accounts and stated that he was healthy and on set. Family members and colleagues echoed the update to reach audiences that might not follow his pages directly, which helped close out the hoax within a day.

Eddie Murphy

A copy and paste hoax repeatedly claimed that Eddie Murphy had died in a snowboarding accident at a European resort. The story reappeared under the same structure with only names and dates changed, which confused casual readers who saw screenshots out of context.

Murphy’s representatives and newsrooms debunked the claim by confirming his location and schedule each time it surfaced. Reporters also pointed to the telltale signs of the hoax template, including generic quotes and lack of official statements, which helped readers identify the pattern.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan has dealt with several false death reports beginning around 2011 that resurfaced in later years. The posts often included manipulated images and urged readers to share quickly, which created a loop that made the rumor feel more credible.

Chan used his official social pages to post current photos and simple updates confirming that he was fine. His team reminded fans to rely on verified announcements for health news, and entertainment outlets updated their pages to reflect the corrections.

Macaulay Culkin

In 2014 a rumor that Macaulay Culkin had died began trending after a series of misleading posts. Some sites copied each other without attribution, which amplified the claim before fact checking could catch up.

Culkin responded on social media with fresh photos from the road and continued to perform with his band, which served as a visible confirmation that he was active and well. Entertainment reporters followed with corrected items that noted the timeline and the absence of any official confirmation in the original rumor.

Lil Wayne

In 2013 Lil Wayne was hospitalized after seizures, and during that period false posts announced that he had died. The premature messages turned speculation into headlines as unverified accounts passed along hearsay.

His label and representatives issued statements that clarified his condition and confirmed that he was alive. The artist later used his own channel to thank supporters, which helped steer attention back to verified updates rather than third party claims.

Tanya Roberts

On January 3, 2021 multiple outlets reported that Tanya Roberts had died after receiving information from her partner and publicist. Hospital staff later clarified that she was still alive at that time, and corrected updates were issued.

Roberts died two days later, and the obituaries published then included the full medical timeline. Editors added notes to earlier stories to explain the initial error and to document when each correction was made.

DMX

On April 8, 2021 posts began to appear that said DMX had died while he was on life support. The messages came from unofficial accounts and were shared widely, which led to confusion as fans looked for reliable updates.

His family and representatives asked the public to wait for official statements and confirmed that he was still alive at that point. DMX died the following day, and news outlets published verified obituaries that included the correct date and statements from the hospital and family.

Share the cases you remember in the comments so we can add more verified examples that set the record straight.