25 Major Celebs Who Have Died of a Heart Attack

Heart disease has touched every corner of public life, and that includes the worlds of film, music, sports, and design. While these stars are remembered for their achievements, their stories also highlight how suddenly a heart attack can strike and how important it is to understand risk, symptoms, and timely care.

Below are twenty five well known figures whose lives were cut short by a heart attack. Each entry notes when and where they died, how old they were, and a few career landmarks that help explain why their legacies continue to matter.

James Gandolfini

The actor died on June 19, 2013 in Rome at age fifty one after suffering a heart attack while on a family trip. He was taken from his hotel to Policlinico Umberto I but could not be revived.
He is widely recognized for his role as Tony in the TV drama ‘The Sopranos’ and had a long stage and film career that included ‘True Romance’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’. He received multiple awards during his career and remained active as a producer and advocate for veterans’ projects.

John Candy

The comedian died on March 4, 1994 in Durango, Mexico at age forty three while filming the western ‘Wagons East’. The cause was a heart attack that occurred in his sleep.
He was known for films such as ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ and ‘Uncle Buck’ and for his work on ‘SCTV’. He built a wide ranging career that mixed family comedies with character roles and left a lasting mark on North American sketch comedy.

Peter Sellers

The British star died on July 24, 1980 in London at age fifty four following a major heart attack. He had experienced serious cardiac problems earlier in life and underwent surgery in the 1960s.
He became internationally known for the ‘Pink Panther’ films and for ‘Dr. Strangelove’. His work showed a rare range in physical comedy and character transformation that influenced later generations of performers.

Redd Foxx

The comedian died on October 11, 1991 in Los Angeles at age sixty eight after collapsing on the set of the TV show ‘The Royal Family’. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
He was a club and recording pioneer before breaking out on television with ‘Sanford and Son’. His albums and TV work documented a long career that bridged stand up, television, and film.

Richard Pryor

Pryor died on December 10, 2005 at his home in Los Angeles at age sixty five after a heart attack. He had a history of cardiac disease and had been open about longstanding health challenges.
He was a groundbreaking stand up performer and an actor in films like ‘Silver Streak’ and ‘Stir Crazy’. His recorded specials and albums altered modern stand up structure and continue to be studied and referenced.

Jerry Garcia

The musician died on August 9, 1995 in Marin County, California at age fifty three after a heart attack at a treatment facility. He had several health issues in the years leading up to his death.
He co founded the Grateful Dead and helped shape the San Francisco sound. His touring, studio work, and side projects created a large archive that documents American rock across several decades.

Clark Gable

The actor died on November 16, 1960 in Los Angeles at age fifty nine from a heart attack following an earlier cardiac episode that month. He had recently completed filming on ‘The Misfits’.
He starred in classic films such as ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘It Happened One Night’. His career spanned the transition from early talkies to postwar dramas and defined a style of American screen acting.

Orson Welles

Welles died on October 10, 1985 in Los Angeles at age seventy from a heart attack at his home. He had been active with writing and narration work until his final day.
He directed and starred in ‘Citizen Kane’ and ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ and later moved into radio and television projects. His innovations in sound, editing, and narrative structure influenced modern filmmaking practice.

Peter Finch

The actor died on January 14, 1977 in Beverly Hills at age sixty after a heart attack that occurred during a promotional trip. He was taken to a hospital but could not be saved.
He is remembered for ‘Network’ and many British and Australian films. His career included stage and screen work and he received major awards posthumously for his final performance.

Frank Sinatra

Sinatra died on May 14, 1998 in Los Angeles at age eighty two after a heart attack. He had a long history of cardiovascular issues late in life.
He recorded landmark albums and won an Academy Award for ‘From Here to Eternity’. His music catalog and film roles document a mid century career that crossed recording, movies, and live performance.

Davy Jones

The singer died on February 29, 2012 in Florida at age sixty six after suffering a heart attack while spending the morning with his horses. An autopsy noted significant coronary artery disease.
He was the lead singer of the pop group The Monkees and appeared on the TV series ‘The Monkees’. Touring reunions and solo projects kept him active in music and television across several decades.

Robert Palmer

Palmer died on September 26, 2003 in Paris at age fifty four after a sudden heart attack. He had been in the city for television work and promotional appearances.
He recorded hit singles such as ‘Addicted to Love’ and ‘Simply Irresistible’ and sang with The Power Station. His catalog covers blue eyed soul, rock, and electronic influenced pop across the 1970s and 1980s.

Joe Strummer

The musician died on December 22, 2002 at his home in Somerset, England at age fifty from a heart attack due to an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. He had been working on new material at the time.
He co founded The Clash and later formed The Mescaleros. His songwriting combined punk energy with global influences and he worked on film scores and radio projects during his later years.

Zaha Hadid

The architect died on March 31, 2016 in Miami at age sixty five after a heart attack while being treated for bronchitis. She had been admitted to a local hospital earlier that week.
She designed major buildings around the world including museums, bridges, and cultural centers. Her firm produced award winning work that brought parametric design and new materials into mainstream architecture.

Tim Russert

Russert died on June 13, 2008 in Washington, D.C. at age fifty eight after collapsing at his office. Medical examiners reported advanced coronary artery disease.
He served as moderator of ‘Meet the Press’ and held leadership roles at NBC News. His interviews with political leaders and his election coverage shaped American broadcast journalism practices.

James Caan

Caan died on July 6, 2022 in Los Angeles at age eighty two from a heart attack associated with coronary artery disease. Official records list chronic lung disease as an underlying factor.
He starred in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Misery’ and worked in film and television for many decades. His later career included independent films and recurring TV roles that kept him active with new audiences.

John Hughes

The filmmaker died on August 6, 2009 in New York City at age fifty nine after a heart attack during a morning walk. He was visiting family when the event occurred.
He wrote and directed films including ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’. His screenplays and production work shaped teen comedies and family films through the 1980s and 1990s.

John Entwistle

The bassist died on June 27, 2002 in Las Vegas at age fifty seven from a heart attack in his hotel room. A coroner reported the presence of cocaine as a contributing factor.
He was a founding member of The Who and also released solo albums. His technique and equipment choices influenced bass performance in rock and remain widely studied.

David Frost

Frost died on August 31, 2013 at age seventy four after a heart attack aboard a cruise ship departing from Southampton. The ship returned to port where his death was confirmed.
He hosted ‘That Was the Week That Was’ and conducted high profile interviews including a notable series with Richard Nixon. His television career covered satire, news, and long form interviews across several countries.

Puneeth Rajkumar

The Indian film star died on October 29, 2021 in Bengaluru at age forty six after a heart attack following a workout. He was brought to a city hospital where doctors were unable to resuscitate him.
He headlined many Kannada language films and was known for singing and television presenting. His production house supported new projects and he was active in philanthropy and eye donation campaigns.

Om Puri

The actor died on January 6, 2017 in Mumbai at age sixty six from a heart attack at his residence. A postmortem examination confirmed the cardiac cause.
He appeared in Indian cinema and international projects including ‘Ardh Satya’ and ‘East Is East’. His career spanned art house films, mainstream hits, and television in several languages.

Satish Kaushik

Kaushik died on March 9, 2023 in the Delhi region at age sixty six after suffering chest pain while traveling. Medical reports pointed to cardiac arrest due to coronary artery blockage.
He directed and acted in Hindi films and stage productions and worked as a producer. His filmography includes roles in comedies and dramas and several well known directorial projects.

KK

The singer Krishnakumar Kunnath died on May 31, 2022 in Kolkata at age fifty three after collapsing at a hotel following a concert. Doctors reported a heart attack with significant blockage.
He recorded playback vocals in multiple Indian languages and released solo albums. His touring schedule and studio work produced a large body of popular songs for film and independent releases.

Shane Warne

Warne died on March 4, 2022 on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand at age fifty two from a heart attack. Thai authorities reported natural causes linked to coronary artery disease.
He was a leading cricketer for Australia and later worked as a coach and broadcaster. His achievements include major tournament wins and record wicket tallies that shaped modern spin bowling.

M. F. Husain

The painter died on June 9, 2011 in London at age ninety five after a heart attack while hospitalized. He had been living and working internationally during his later years.
He was one of India’s most recognized modern artists and a founding figure of the Progressive Artists group. His canvases, public works, and film projects appear in collections and museums around the world.

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which stories or lessons from these lives stood out to you.