7 Actors Who Got a Frightening Farewell After Horror Films

Brittany Murphy

Brittany was considered a talented and successful young actress who became famous through her work in Don't Say a Word, 8 Mile, Uptown Girls, and other films. The actress' last role was in the psychological thriller Something Wicked, which premiered after Murphy's death.

On December 20, 2009, Murphy's body was found in the bathroom in her home. According to the official report, the star died of pneumonia. Brittany's sudden death under disputed circumstances immediately became the subject of heated discussion in the press.

Many suggested that the actress was using illegal drugs, which may have led to her death. However, Brittany's family refuted the rumors on the basis of the official medical report. In fact, the actress was found to be under the effect of multiple prescription drugs, so substance misuse was one of the factors causing her death.

Brandon Lee

Many people remember Bruce Lee and know about the actor's tragic death. But there was yet another unfortunate death in the family: the famous actor's only son Brandon died on the set in 1993.

Brandon Lee starred in the thriller The Crow, where he played a rock musician who rises from the dead to take revenge on his abusers. In the final scene, the character is shot and dies again. In fact, that happened to be the last scene that Brandon ever played: when Michael Massee, acting as the murderer of Crow, fired the prop gun at him, the plug from the barrel went through Lee in the stomach and lodged near his spine. The 28-year old actor underwent hours of surgery, but that wasn't enough.

Jack MacGowran

In 1973, Jack starred in The Exorcist. It had been reported that there were many mystical occurrences on the set, but the most terrible one was yet to come. Shortly before the movie came out, McGowren got sick with influenza, which caused serious heart complications. The actor passed away on the day of the film's premiere.

Dominique Dunne

Dominique is known for her role in the Poltergeist franchise, which was rumored to be cursed because four actors died soon after participating in the project. Dunn was one of them. In 1982, the actress was to star in the second part of the film. One night, Dominique was rehearsing at home, and her ex-boyfriend John Sweeney came in. The couple had an argument, and John attempted to strangle Dominique. The actress fell into a coma and died four days later without regaining consciousness.

Julian Beck

Julian was another victim of the Poltergeist curse. The actor died of cancer at the age of 60. At the time, the second part of the franchise was still in production, so the film's creators had to hire another actor who looked similar to Beck.

Heather O'Rourke

A few years after the second movie was released, young Heather O'Rourke passed away too. The 12-year-old actress died of septic shock due to congenital stenosis of the lower intestine.

Will Sampson

The Poltergeist actor had heart transplant surgery in 1987 and passed away a month and a half later.