The passage of time is fleeting, and there is perhaps no more stunning glimpse at just how fast time flies than when you recall celebrities who have passed on and realize how old they would be had they lived to see today. Below is a list of 50 celebrities of all kinds — actors, singers, politicians — along with information about how old they were when they passed, how they died and how old they would be today.
Amy Winehouse
- Famous for: Singer-Songwriter
- Died: July 23, 2011 (Alcohol Poisoning)
- Age at death: 27
- Would be: 40 today
Aaliyah
- Famous for: R&B Singer and Actress
- Died: August 25, 2001 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 22
- Would be: 45 today
Heath Ledger
- Famous for: Actor (“The Dark Knight”)
- Died: January 22, 2008 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 28
- Would be: 45 today
Brittany Murphy
- Famous for: Actress (“Clueless”)
- Died: December 20, 2009 (Pneumonia)
- Age at death: 32
- Would be: 46 today
Paul Walker
- Famous for: Actor (“Fast & Furious” series)
- Died: November 30, 2013 (Car Accident)
- Age at death: 40
- Would be: 50 today
Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls)
- Famous for: Rapper
- Died: March 9, 1997 (Drive-by Shooting)
- Age at death: 24
- Would be: 52 today
River Phoenix
- Famous for: Film Actor (“Stand by Me,” “My Own Private Idaho”)
- Died: October 31, 1993 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 23
- Would be: 53 today
Selena Quintanilla
- Famous for: Tejano Singer
- Died: March 31, 1995 (Killed by Fan Club President)
- Age at death: 23
- Would be: 53 today
Tupac Shakur
- Famous for: Rapper, Actor, Activist
- Died: September 13, 1996 (Drive-by Shooting)
- Age at death: 25
- Would be: 53 today
Jeff Buckley
- Famous for: Singer-Songwriter (“Hallelujah”)
- Died: May 29, 1997 (Drowning)
- Age at death: 30
- Would be: 57 today
Kurt Cobain
- Famous for: Lead Singer of Nirvana
- Died: April 5, 1994 (Death by self-inflicted gunshot)
- Age at death: 27
- Would be: 57 today
Brandon Lee
- Famous for: Actor (“The Crow”)
- Died: March 31, 1993 (Accidental Shooting)
- Age at death: 28
- Would be: 59 today
Chris Farley
- Famous for: Comedian and Actor (“Saturday Night Live,” “Tommy Boy”)
- Died: December 18, 1997 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 33
- Would be: 60 today
Chris Cornell
- Famous for: Lead Singer of Soundgarden
- Died: May 18, 2017 (Death by self-inflicted hanging)
- Age at death: 52
- Would be: 60 today
Whitney Houston
- Famous for: Singer and Actress
- Died: February 11, 2012 (Drowning, Heart Disease, and Cocaine Use)
- Age at death: 48
- Would be: 61 today
Steve Irwin
- Famous for: Wildlife Expert and TV Host (“The Crocodile Hunter”)
- Died: September 4, 2006 (Stingray Attack)
- Age at death: 44
- Would be: 62 today
James Gandolfini
- Famous for: Actor (“The Sopranos”)
- Died: June 19, 2013 (Heart Attack)
- Age at death: 51
- Would be: 62 today
Michael Hutchence
- Famous for: Lead Singer of INXS
- Died: November 22, 1997 (Death by self-inflicted hanging)
- Age at death: 37
- Would be: 63 today
John F. Kennedy Jr.
- Famous for: Lawyer, Journalist, and Son of President John F. Kennedy
- Died: July 16, 1999 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 38
- Would be: 63 today
Princess Diana
- Famous for: British Royalty, Philanthropist
- Died: August 31, 1997 (Car Crash)
- Age at death: 36
- Would be: 63 today
Michael Jackson
- Famous for: King of Pop
- Died: June 25, 2009 (Cardiac Arrest due to Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 50
- Would be: 65 today
Prince
- Famous for: Singer, Songwriter, and Musician
- Died: April 21, 2016 (Fentanyl Overdose)
- Age at death: 57
- Would be: 66 today
Sid Vicious
- Famous for: Bassist of Sex Pistols
- Died: February 2, 1979 (Heroin Overdose)
- Age at death: 21
- Would be: 67 today
Freddie Prinze
- Famous for: Actor and Comedian (“Chico and the Man”), pictured at left
- Died: January 29, 1977 (Death by self-inflicted gunshot)
- Age at death: 22
- Would be: 69 today
Robin Williams
- Famous for: Actor and Comedian
- Died: August 11, 2014 (Death by self-hanging)
- Age at death: 63
- Would be: 73 today
Phil Hartman
- Famous for: Actor and Comedian (“Saturday Night Live”)
- Died: May 28, 1998 (Killed by Wife)
- Age at death: 49
- Would be: 75 today
John Belushi
- Famous for: Actor and Comedian (“Saturday Night Live,” “Animal House”)
- Died: March 5, 1982 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 33
- Would be: 75 today
David Bowie
- Famous for: Musician, Actor, and Cultural Icon
- Died: January 10, 2016 (Cancer)
- Age at death: 69
- Would be: 77 today
Bob Marley
- Famous for: Reggae Singer and Activist
- Died: May 11, 1981 (Cancer)
- Age at death: 36
- Would be: 78 today
John Denver
- Famous for: Singer-Songwriter (“Take Me Home, Country Roads”)
- Died: October 12, 1997 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 53
- Would be: 80 today
Jimi Hendrix
- Famous for: Guitarist and Rock Icon
- Died: September 18, 1970 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 27
- Would be: 81 today
Janis Joplin
- Famous for: Blues and Rock Singer
- Died: October 4, 1970 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 27
- Would be: 81 today
Jim Morrison
- Famous for: Lead Singer of The Doors
- Died: July 3, 1971 (Heart Failure)
- Age at death: 27
- Would be: 81 today
Sharon Tate
- Famous for: Actress and Model
- Died: August 9, 1969 (Killed by Manson Family)
- Age at death: 26
- Would be: 81 today
Otis Redding
- Famous for: Soul Singer (“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”)
- Died: December 10, 1967 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 26
- Would be: 82 today
Ritchie Valens
- Famous for: Rock and Roll Singer (“La Bamba”)
- Died: February 3, 1959 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 17
- Would be: 83 today
Bruce Lee
- Famous for: Martial Artist and Actor (pictured at right)
- Died: July 20, 1973 (Cerebral Edema)
- Age at death: 32
- Would be: 83 today
John Lennon
- Famous for: Musician, Member of The Beatles
- Died: December 8, 1980 (Assassination)
- Age at death: 40
- Would be: 83 today
Marvin Gaye
- Famous for: R&B Singer (“What’s Going On”)
- Died: April 1, 1984 (Shot by Father)
- Age at death: 44
- Would be: 85 today
Buddy Holly
- Famous for: Rock and Roll Singer
- Died: February 3, 1959 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 22
- Would be: 87 today
Patsy Cline
- Famous for: Country Singer
- Died: March 5, 1963 (Plane Crash)
- Age at death: 30
- Would be: 91 today
James Dean
- Famous for: Film Actor (“Rebel Without a Cause”)
- Died: September 30, 1955 (Car Accident)
- Age at death: 24
- Would be: 92 today
Sam Cooke
- Famous for: Singer (“A Change is Gonna Come”)
- Died: December 11, 1964 (Shot)
- Age at death: 33
- Would be: 93 today
Grace Kelly
- Famous for: Actress and Princess of Monaco
- Died: September 14, 1982 (Car Accident)
- Age at death: 52
- Would be: 94 today
Robert F. Kennedy
- Famous for: Politician, U.S. Senator
- Died: June 6, 1968 (Assassination)
- Age at death: 42
- Would be: 98 today
Judy Garland
- Famous for: Actress and Singer (“The Wizard of Oz”)
- Died: June 22, 1969 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 47
- Would be: 101 today
Frank Sinatra
- Famous for: Singer and Actor
- Died: May 14, 1998 (Heart Attack)
- Age at death: 82
- Would be: 108 today
- Famous for: Jazz and Blues Singer
- Died: July 17, 1959 (Drug Overdose)
- Age at death: 44
- Would be: 109 today
George Reeves
- Famous for: Actor (TV’s “Superman”)
- Died: June 16, 1959 (Death by gunshot)
- Age at death: 45
- Would be: 110 today