Gone Too Soon: 29 Famous Folks We Lost To Alcoholism

Addiction is a deeply personal struggle that does not discriminate and can affect literally anyone. No amount of talent, fame, or fortune makes a person immune. It also affects more than just the person struggling with it, as friends, family, and loved ones also can feel the burden and suffering.

Despite its powerful effects on the body, alcohol doesn't carry the same stigma as recreational drugs. Perhaps this is why we see high rates of health issues and complications from excessive use in a wide variety of people. For a long time the belief that having a drink here or there, or in social situations wasn't a problem, has come under scrutiny in recent years.

New research indicates that even an occasional glass of alcohol is no longer thought to be good and there may even be a direct link between alcohol consumption and increased risk for several cancers. The CDC states that excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for over 140,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

To compile a list of famous figures whose lives were devastated by alcoholism, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous lists published by addiction or alcoholism-related sites, then verified death dates and diagnoses from obituaries appearing in the New York Times and elsewhere. We have focused solely on people whose deaths were directly caused by or significantly worsened due to excessive alcohol use.

This post was updated July 28th, 2025 to reflect accurate figures and medical facts, as well as additional entries.

Here are 27 famous figures whose lives were devastated by alcoholism.

• Known as: Famed 19th-century lawyer, Congressman, and Secretary of State
• Died on: Oct. 24, 1852
• Age at death: 70
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced cirrhosis and subdural hematoma

• Known as: 14th President of the United States
• Died on: Oct. 8, 1869
• Age at death: 64
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced cirrhosis

• Known as: Esteemed Russian romantic-era composer ("Night on Bald Mountain")
• Died on: March 28, 1881
• Age at death: 42
• Cause of death: Delirium tremens caused by alcohol withdrawal

• Known as: Famed short story writer ("The Gift of the Magi")
• Died on: June 5, 1910
• Age at death: 47
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced cirrhosis

• Known as: Influential 1920s jazz cornetist and composer
• Died on: Aug. 6, 1931
• Age at death: 28
• Cause of death: Lobar pneumonia exacerbated by longtime alcoholism

• Known as: One of the greatest novelists of the 20th century ("The Great Gatsby," etc.)
• Died on: Dec. 21, 1940
• Age at death: 44
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced coronary arteriosclerosis

• Known as: Legendary '30s and '40s actor and comedian
• Died on: Dec. 25, 1946
• Age at death: 66
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced gastric hemorrhage

• Known as: Nobel Prize-winning author and playwright ("Babbitt," "It Can't Happen Here")
• Died on: Jan. 10, 1951
• Age at death: 65
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced heart attack

• Known as: Acclaimed Welsh poet and writer ("Under Milk Wood")
• Died on: Nov. 9, 1953
• Age at death: 39
• Cause of death: Severe lung infection and bronchopneumonia exacerbated by alcohol abuse

• Known as: U.S. Senator from Wisconsin; anti-communist demagogue
• Died on: May 2, 1957
• Age at death: 48
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced hepatitis

• Known as: Highly regarded and influential jazz tenor saxophonist
• Died on: March 15, 1959
• Age at death: 49
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced internal bleeding

• Known as: The greatest, most influential jazz singer of the 20th century
• Died on: July 17, 1959
• Age at death: 44
• Cause of death: Pulmonary edema and heart failure, exacerbated by alcohol-induced cirrhosis of the liver

• Known as: Author, poet, playwright, and political activist; considered one of the great Irish writers of all time
• Died on: March 20, 1964
• Age at death: 41
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced complications of diabetes

• Known as: Quintessential Beat Generation novelist and poet ("On the Road")
• Died on: Oct. 21, 1969
• Age at death: 47
• Cause of death: Cirrhosis-induced esophageal hemorrhage linked to lifelong alcohol abuse

• Known as: Influential R&B and rock'n'roll singer; founder of The Drifters
• Died on: June 13, 1972
• Age at death: 39
• Cause of death: Liver, heart, and kidney disease linked to alcohol abuse

• Known as: Glamorous actress in 1940s comedies and film noirs
• Died on: July 7, 1973
• Age at death: 50
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis

• Known as: Influential Led Zeppelin co-founder and drummer
• Died on: Sept. 25, 1980
• Age at death: 32
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced pulmonary aspiration

• Known as: AC/DC's Front man
• Died on: Feb 19, 1980
• Age at death: 33
• Cause of Death: Acute alcohol intoxication and choking on vomit

• Known as: Academy Award-winning Hollywood leading man; named one of classical Hollywood's 25 greatest male stars
• Died on: Nov. 12, 1981
• Age at death: 63
• Cause of death: Blood loss from laceration suffered from a fall while inebriated

• Known as: Famed Shakespearean actor turned box-office star; two-time husband to Elizabeth Taylor
• Died on: Aug. 5, 1984
• Age at death: 58
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced intracerebral hemorrhage

• Known as: Russian ballet star and actor
• Died on: May 18, 1995
• Age at death: 45
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced hepatitis

• Known as: Influential Texas singer-songwriter
• Died on: Jan. 1, 1997
• Age at death: 52
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced cardiac arrhythmia

• Known as: British soccer star; considered one of the best players of all time
• Died on: Nov. 25, 2005
• Age at death: 59
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced lung infection and multiple organ failure

• Known as: Record-breaking English soul and R&B singer
• Died on: July 23, 2011
• Age at death: 27
• Cause of death: Accidental alcohol overdose

• Known as: Actor, singer, teen idol
• Died on: Nov. 21, 2017
• Age at death: 67
• Cause of death: Alcohol-induced liver and kidney failure

• Known as: Comedian and actor (Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films)
• Died on: April 21, 2018
• Age at death: 49
• Cause of death: Suicide by alcohol poisoning

• Known as: Country music singer
• Died on: May 9, 1989
• Age at death: 34
• Cause of Death: Alcohol poisoning, BAC of .47