Most recently that of British singer Amy Winehouse who passed away on July 23, 2011. While news of this tragic death isn’t the first time a celebrity’s passing has caught many off guard, it sadly won’t be the last.

Celebuzz remembers all of the other Hollywood stars who met an untimely end, and the impact their loss made on the world.

While there are the more obvious ones such as Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith, let’s not forget about stars such as actress Natasha Richardson‘s tragic skiing accident and the upsetting tales of DJ AM and Heath Ledger.

Take a look through the gallery to see other stars who were simply gone too soon.

amy winehouse through the years

29 Photos »

]]> http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-07-23/gone-too-soon-stars-who-died-suddenly-photos/feed/ 21 http://www.celebuzz.com/2010-04-22/dj-am-will-hit-the-big-screen-from-beyond-the-grave-in-iron-man-2/ http://www.celebuzz.com/2010-04-22/dj-am-will-hit-the-big-screen-from-beyond-the-grave-in-iron-man-2/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:50:52 +0000 Alex Blagg http://?p=164422
You haven’t seen the last of DJ AM yet. AM (born Adam Goldstein)—who died of a drug overdose last August after surviving a horrific plane crash earlier in late 2008—will be making a cameo appearance in Iron Man 2, which hits theaters on May 7.  In the scene, the celebrity DJ spins at billionaire Tony...Read more»

]]> You haven’t seen the last of DJ AM yet. AM (born Adam Goldstein)—who died of a drug overdose last August after surviving a horrific plane crash earlier in late 2008—will be making a cameo appearance in Iron Man 2, which hits theaters on May 7. 

In the scene, the celebrity DJ spins at billionaire Tony Stark’s birthday party at his Malibu mansion, where the industrialist, played by Robert Downey Jr., gets a little tipsy and busts out some moves to Tupac Skakur’s “California Love.” Later, as the evening progresses and a fight breaks out, Stark turns to the deejay and declares, “Adam, I need a fat beat.”

According to Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau, who was distraught by Goldstein’s death, the decision to leave the scene in the movie was difficult, but he feels it will be worth it for those who appreciated Goldstein’s talents: 

“We tried to make it respectful, and for people who know him, they’ll get a kick out of it, and for people who don’t, it will sort of slide by without much notice.”

During his time on the set, Goldstein also had an impact on Downey, who attended his memorial service at the Hollywood Palladium in September. According to Favreau,

“It was supposed to be a one-day bit. But Robert took a real shine to him, as we all did. His energy was amazing, he was such a inspiring guy and there was a lot of depth to him and this positive energy. He ended up staying on with us for about a week and it was just great; we set up this turntable and between takes he would give me pointers.”

In addition to the cameo, the film will also be dedicated to Goldstein.

Last week, MTV announced that it would air one of AM aka Adam Goldstein‘s last projects—the recently recorded eight-episode reality series in which he tries to persuade young addicts to go to rehab.

Watch the trailer below:

The series premieres on Monday October 12 at 10 pm. Will you be watching?

TMZ reports that the New York City Medical Examiner has determined that AM—born Adam Goldstein, and found dead in his New York apartment in late August at the age of 36—died accidentally, of substance abuse.

The substances in question, according to the ME’s report, were cocaine, oxycodone, hydrocodone (a/k/a Vicodin), Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Benadryl and Levamisole, which is used as an adulterant for cocaine. The official cause of death is listed as “acute intoxication.”

Goldstein had struggled with drug addiction throughout the years, and had reportedly promised to undergo rehab again in the days leading up to his death. Police found a crack pipe and a baggie of crack near Goldstein when they discovered his body in his apartment.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, MTV is planning to air the deceased deejay’s intervention-style reality series, Gone Too Far, even though AM—born Adam Goldstein—was found dead from a presumed drug overdose at the age of 36 in his New York apartment in August.

According to sources, MTV is in consultation with Goldstein’s family about the timing of the series. Goldstein shot eight episodes of the series, wrapping up filming just days before his death. The network originally planned to debut the series on October 3, though that seems unlikely at this point.

According to the report, some believe that the show’s anti-drug message could be even more powerful in light of his death, if handled properly.

But can it be handled properly?

Let us know in the comments section: Do you think it’s a good idea for MTV to air Gone Too Far?

Check out this video of DJ AM—born Adam Goldstein—that was shown at the all-star memorial service for the deceased turntablist at the Hollywood Palladium on September 3. (Goldstein was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28, presumably of a drug overdose.)

Goldstein’s pal Mike B., who assembled the video, notes, “Many thanks to Dan Terndrup who edited the piece and did an amazing job.”

Let us know in the comments section: Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard that DJ AM had died?

TMZ reports that the sporting-apparel company has put off plans to issue a limited-edition line of Nike Dunks designed by the DJ, who was found dead in his New York apartment last Friday of a suspected drug overdose.

Apparently, DJ AM—real name Adam Goldstein—had been working with the company for months on the line, which were to be emblazoned with his logo. Goldstein was a well-known sneaker fanatic who owned approximately 700 pairs of Nikes.

Let us know in the comments section: Is this a smart move, or would a line of DJ AM signature Nikes be a fitting tribute? Would you buy a pair of DJ AM Nike Dunks?

People magazine reports that some of Hollywood’s best and brightest flocked to the Hollywood Palladium on Thursday for a memorial service to honor the turntablist, who was found dead in his New York apartment last Friday from a suspected drug overdose at the age of 36.

The attendees at the Palladium—where AM (real name Adam Goldstein) and Travis Barker played a comeback show after surviving a tragic plane crash—included Goldstein’s former fiancée Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson, Robert Downey Jr., Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, and Tom Arnold.

During the 2 1/2 hour event—which drew hundreds of invited guests—model Hayley Wood, Goldstein’s last girlfriend, told the crowd, “He was my soulmate and now he is my soul…He is my amazing grace.”

See video of the arrivals for the memorial below:

E! Online reports that Goldstein will be buried at 3 p.m. today at the Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in West Los Angeles, following a private on-site funeral that a friend of the family says is for “family only.”

Hillside Memorial also serves as the final resting place for Jack Benny, Milton Berle and Michael Landon.

In the meantime, investigators are still looking into the circumstances behind his death. While early evidence suggests that he died of a possibly intentional drug overdose, the official cause of death will most likely not be known for several weeks.

A source tells the magazine that Goldstein had eight undigested OxyContin pills in his stomach and a ninth in his mouth when he was found, suggesting that he binged on the powerful painkillers in an effort to kill himself.

“He wanted to die,” says the source. “He was going unconscious when he took the last one. He didn’t even swallow it.”

When police entered Goldstein’s New York apartment, the source adds, their progress was impeded by a mirror propped against the inside of the front door. Once they pushed that mirror aside and gained entry, they discovered that a second mirror had been propped up against the door of the bedroom, where they eventually found Goldstein’s body.

The source notes that a crack pipe was lying next to Goldstein’s body and, when they moved the body, they discovered crack underneath it. The source theorizes that Goldstein “smoked a lot of crack, barricaded the doors and killed himself.”

Police also found a Valentine’s Day card from Goldstein’s last girlfriend Hayley Wood on the living-room coffee table, along with a handful of photos of the two. It’s been reported that Goldstein had been depressed because the two had broken up recently, though Wood denies that they had split.

Let us know in the comments section: Do you think Goldstein’s death was accidental or intentional?

While earlier reports indicated that DJ AM—born Adam Goldstein—and Wood had ended their near-year-long relationship shortly before Goldstein was found dead, spurring his relapse into drug use, Wood says they were happily together right up till the end.

“Any indication that this horribly tragic accident happened because of a rumored breakup is not only untrue but disgusting,” Wood, 22, writes in a statement to Us Magazine. “We were very much together at the time of his passing, and I love him very much.”

Goldstein was found dead by police on Friday at his New York City home, with crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia near his body.

Intimates of the celebrity DJ—born Adam Goldstein—have told police that the tune-spinner, who has struggled on and off with addiction, had grown increasingly erratic over the past few weeks, uncharacteristically missing appointments. Goldstein’s West Coast manager and recovery sponsor grew so concerned about the change of behavior that they booked a red-eye flight to New York on Wednesday night, confronting him in his SoHo apartment.

Upon their arrival, Goldstein refused to let the manager in, but allowed the sponsor inside—at which point he lit up a crack pipe and popped pills in front of him, according to investigators.

Goldstein eventually promised to check into a rehab clinic in California after performing a show at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday. However, he missed his flight to Vegas and was found dead by police in the late afternoon that day, with crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia near his body.

“It very slowly and subtly reawakens addiction,” Pinsky says, according to Popeater. “I’m not saying it was inappropriately prescribed, I’m saying he didn’t know the risks.”

When police found DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein)—who struggled with addiction for years but had claimed that he had long been sober—they found a crack pipe, a bag half full of prescription bottles, and prescription pills near his body.

It’s also believed that anti-anxiety medications that Goldstein was taking to stave off his fear of flying may have contributed to the reactivation of his drug addiction.

TMZ reports that DJ AM—born Adam Goldstein—had been on anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax since surviving a 2008 plane crash that killed four people, so that he could continue to fly to his various career engagements.

Benzodiazepines, the class of drug that Goldstein was treating his fear of flying with, can reportedly easily trigger relapse in recovering addicts such as Goldstein, who was found with a crack pipe and half-full bag of crack cocaine next to his body.

TMZ adds that sources say that DJ AM’s relapse was “recent” and, despite prior theories, had “absolutely nothing to do with his recent breakup” with model Hayley Wood.

Just prior to her performance at the Hollywood Palladium presented by Sounds of Buzz and Coca-Cola on Saturday night, Katy sat down for an exclusive interview with Marc Malkin, who was reporting for SoundsofBuzz.com and E! Online. The “I Kissed a Girl” singer offered some stern words of caution for would-be contestants.

“I might become a little bit of a buddy with [tart-tongued judge] Simon [Cowell], because whenever I watch that show, as much as he’s an a*shole, he’s a very truthful, honest a*shole,” Perry says. “I’m not there to build them up, buttercup. It’s weird, because I don’t want to break their hearts, but how many of us know that one person who’s been trying and trying and doing karaoke and been doing little gigs here and there at open mics, and nobody has told them that they can’t sing on pitch for, like, 15 years? And you’re like, ‘Someone needs to say something.’ And, unfortunately, I might be that gal, to tell you the truth. I always have been.”

But lest anyone think that the “Waking Up in Vegas” chanteuse is completely cold-hearted, she also offered some poignant thoughts on the recent passing of DJ AM, with whom she performed at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

“I think that he left a really wonderful legacy,” Perry says. “I wasn’t really good friends with him—I only met him a few times—but every time I’ve met him, he was such a wonderful person—full of life, very bright. [His passing] reminds everybody just to live life to the fullest and love the people around you and don’t ever hold back.”

Unless, of course, you can’t sing in pitch. In which case, back away from the karaoke machine.

Watch the online World Premiere of Katy Perry’s Hello Katy Tour live from Hollywood exclusively on Soundsofbuzz.com.

In an interview to promote his upcoming reality show about drug abuse, DJ AM—who was found dead at the age of 36 in his apartment on Friday with drug paraphernalia near his body—talks about his continuing struggle with substance abuse.

Describing how he bought a crack pipe on the show to demonstrate how easy it is, DJ AM—born Adam Goldstein—recalls, “I bought a crack pipe … that was my drug of choice. And I walked out and I’m holding it … and then I realized after I was holding it that my palms were sweaty and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, this is not smart for me to be holding this.’”

“This night is really hard for us on stage,” bassist Mark Hoppus said from the stage. “We lost a dear friend yesterday. His name was Adam Goldstein. You probably know him as DJ AM. He was an innovator and a genius and he loved music more than anything else. Above all he was a dear friend.” (Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who collaborated with DJ AM under the moniker TRV$ DJ-AM, also survived a plane crash that took the lives of four others with Goldstein last year.) 

After asking for a moment of silence and dimming the house lights, the band tore into their 2004 single “Down.”

A source tells the magazine that a split with his girlfriend, Hayley Wood, had left him distraught and led him to become more isolated.

“She ended it, and he didn’t want it to end,” the source says. “The breakup hurt him. He hadn’t been in a good place lately. For the past week, he wasn’t really around, he was keeping to himself, and he was blowing people off.”

Goldstein was found dead in his New York City apartment on Friday afternoon, after a concerned friend dropped by to check in on him and called 911 after receiving no response. Police broke the door down and found Goldstein’s body with drug paraphernalia nearby.

Check out our photo gallery for a look back on the brief but eventful life of Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM.

Adam Goldstein—better known by his professional name DJ AM—has died, TMZ reports.

According to police, Goldstein was found dead in his New York City apartment on Friday.

The cause of death is not yet known.

Goldstein, who survived a plane crash with musical collaborator Travis Barker last year, was 36.