Celebs Who Tragically Lost Their Best Friends

Losing a best friend changes a person’s life in an instant, and when it happens in the public eye, the grief can be hard to carry quietly. Many celebrities have faced that kind of heartbreak—sometimes after decades-long friendships, other times after intense creative bonds that formed on set, on stage, or behind the scenes.

Below are stories of well-known figures who lost someone they openly called a best friend. Each entry focuses on what connected them, what happened, and how they honored those friendships in the aftermath.

Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix

Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix formed a close bond while working together on Gus Van Sant’s ‘My Own Private Idaho’. Their friendship stretched beyond the film, with Reeves crediting Phoenix’s talent and presence for shaping parts of his own early career and choices that followed. They remained in touch in Los Angeles, where their circle overlapped with musicians, actors, and indie filmmakers.

River Phoenix died in 1993 in West Hollywood. Reeves later spoke about how he kept mementos and memories from their time on ‘My Own Private Idaho’, and how projects they discussed stayed with him long after. The loss is often cited by colleagues as a pivotal moment in Reeves’s life and as a reminder of Phoenix’s enduring impact on peers from that era.

Eminem and Proof

Before global fame, Eminem and Deshaun “Proof” Holton were inseparable collaborators in Detroit’s rap scene. Proof helped shepherd early battles, pushed Eminem to perform, and was a central figure in D12, the group they co-founded. Their partnership predated record deals and anchored Eminem’s rise from underground venues to major-label releases.

Proof was shot and killed in 2006 in Detroit. Eminem has consistently credited Proof as the person who believed in him first and loudest, dedicating performances and songs to his memory. Tours, liner notes, and interviews have reiterated Proof’s role in structuring the early D12 era and in shaping Eminem’s live shows and studio approach.

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker met filming the first ‘Fast & Furious’ installment and quickly developed a friendship that extended well beyond the action franchise. They spent time together off set, sharing family milestones and anchoring a cast that frequently spoke of their camaraderie as the engine behind the films’ longevity.

Paul Walker died in a car crash in 2013 in Santa Clarita, California. Diesel named his daughter Pauline in Walker’s honor and has continued to attend and support events hosted by Walker’s family and foundation. Within the ‘Fast & Furious’ series, tributes and narrative choices were shaped to commemorate Walker’s role and their off-screen bond.

John Stamos and Bob Saget

John Stamos and Bob Saget became friends working on ‘Full House’, where their chemistry translated into a real-life connection that endured for decades. They toured together, appeared on each other’s projects, and shared a long-running comedic rhythm that fans recognized from reunions and interviews.

Bob Saget died in 2022 in Florida. Stamos delivered eulogies, organized remembrances with castmates, and participated in specials celebrating Saget’s stand-up and charity work. The ‘Full House’ community—across original and revival eras—highlighted how the pair maintained a close friendship through changing careers and life events.

Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins

Taylor Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in the late 1990s, becoming Dave Grohl’s creative partner on stage and in the studio. Their friendship was visible in live shows, drum swaps, and documentary segments, where Hawkins’s energy and Grohl’s leadership fused into the band’s identity.

Hawkins died in 2022 while the band was on tour. Grohl and the Foo Fighters organized tribute concerts that featured artists from multiple genres, with performances of songs associated with Hawkins’s favorite acts. Proceeds and partnerships from those events supported music education and underscored the pair’s shared commitment to nurturing younger musicians.

Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg

Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg’s friendship started in Long Beach and carried into Death Row Records, where they, alongside Warren G, helped define the G-funk sound. Nate’s hooks became a signature across Snoop’s singles, and their collaborations established a reliable formula that influenced West Coast hip-hop.

Nate Dogg died in 2011 after health complications. Snoop honored him with tributes at festivals and in releases that sampled or referenced Nate’s most recognizable melodies. Anniversary performances have continued to spotlight their shared catalog, reminding audiences how their partnership shaped a pivotal era.

Ed Sheeran and Jamal Edwards

Ed Sheeran credits entrepreneur Jamal Edwards—founder of SBTV—with giving him crucial early exposure through acoustic performance videos. Their friendship developed as Sheeran moved from small gigs to global tours, with Edwards continuing to advise, connect, and champion new artists through his platform.

Jamal Edwards died in 2022 in London. Sheeran has dedicated songs and performances to him and has supported initiatives linked to Edwards’s community and youth projects. In media appearances, Sheeran consistently outlines how SBTV’s early sessions changed his trajectory, a message echoed by other UK artists who benefited from Edwards’s work.

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller first collaborated on the track “The Way” and developed a friendship that continued through tours and studio sessions. Even after their romantic relationship ended, they stayed connected through shared collaborators and work that overlapped between projects.

Mac Miller died in 2018 in Los Angeles. Grande paid tribute during live shows and through setlist choices that nodded to their shared history. She has used interviews and social media to highlight Miller’s musicianship and generosity in the studio, directing attention to organizations focused on mental health and substance use awareness.

Heather Morris and Naya Rivera

Heather Morris and Naya Rivera forged a tight bond on ‘Glee’, where their on-screen partnership paralleled a deep off-screen friendship. They trained, rehearsed, and toured together during the show’s run, appearing at fan conventions and charity events that kept the cast connected.

Naya Rivera died in 2020 in a lake accident in California. Morris joined cast memorials, posted choreographed tributes, and participated in remembrances that raised funds for causes Rivera supported. The ‘Glee’ community has continued to mark anniversaries of Rivera’s passing with messages that recount her mentorship and friendship on set.

Billy Crystal and Robin Williams

Billy Crystal and Robin Williams met on the comedy circuit and developed a decades-long friendship that spanned stand-up, films, and charity specials. They co-hosted events for organizations like Comic Relief, where their timing and improvisation translated into significant fundraising for social causes.

Robin Williams died in 2014 in California. Crystal delivered widely shared tributes and continued to commemorate Williams during award shows and retrospectives. Archives of Comic Relief and late-night appearances document how often the two collaborated, reinforcing how their friendship underpinned both entertainment and philanthropic work.

Éric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain

Chef Éric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain met through New York’s restaurant scene and built a friendship that blended fine-dining precision with travel storytelling. Ripert appeared in episodes of Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ and ‘No Reservations’, adding context about regional cuisines and culinary technique.

Anthony Bourdain died in 2018 while on location in France. Ripert has participated in memorial events, culinary scholarships, and tributes that align with Bourdain’s support of emerging chefs. Episodes featuring their trips are regularly cited by viewers for capturing the generosity and curiosity at the center of their friendship.

Quavo and Takeoff

Quavo and Takeoff, family as well as groupmates in Migos, grew up making music together in Georgia. Their partnership produced charting singles and collaborative albums, with Takeoff’s flow and Quavo’s hooks forming a recognizable dynamic across features and live performances.

Takeoff was shot and killed in 2022 in Houston. Quavo released musical tributes and joined commemorations organized by the music community, emphasizing the duo’s shared history from early home recordings to arena stages. Public appearances have doubled as memorials, connecting fans to the group’s origins and legacy.

Elton John and Princess Diana

Elton John’s friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales, developed through charitable work and a shared interest in using public platforms to address health crises. They were seen together at events supporting research and care, and their correspondence reflected a long-running connection.

Princess Diana died in 1997 in Paris. Elton John performed a reworked version of Candle in the Wind at her funeral and later dedicated proceeds to causes aligned with her advocacy. The single’s success helped fund organizations focused on medical research and social services, echoing the priorities that bonded their friendship.

Kanye West and Virgil Abloh

Kanye West and Virgil Abloh began collaborating in the mid-2000s, working across album art, fashion, and stage design. Their creative partnership included roles at design houses, touring productions, and brand launches that influenced how music and fashion intersected in mainstream culture.

Virgil Abloh died in 2021 after a private cancer battle. West honored him in listening events, merchandise designs, and stage visuals that referenced their early projects and shared aesthetic language. Fashion and music communities marked the loss by revisiting shows and installations the two built, underlining how their friendship powered high-profile creative risks.

Harry Styles and Caroline Flack

Harry Styles and Caroline Flack met through television work, maintained a friendship over the years, and were photographed together at public events supporting entertainment and charity campaigns. Their connection extended to shared colleagues across UK television and music.

Caroline Flack died in 2020 in London. Styles wore a black ribbon at the BRIT Awards and made charitable donations in her memory, while peers in broadcasting launched campaigns around mental health support in the industry. The tributes highlighted professional milestones and the personal ties that persisted beyond television projects.

Share your thoughts and any stories we missed in the comments so others can learn how these friendships shaped lives and legacies.