Unusual Deaths of Famous People

Famous people have almost every move they make thrown into the public eye. Unfortunately, the following famous people died before their time. They drew as much attention for the unusual circumstances that surrounded their deaths as the amount of publicity they received when they were alive.

1. Sherwood Anderson - In 1941, this well known writer of short stories swallowed a toothpick at a cocktail party and died of peritonitis on an ocean liner during a trip to Brazil.

2. Tommy Dorsey - In 1956, this popular Trombonist from the Big Band era choked to death in his sleep after being sedated from sleeping pills and choking on food that had lodged in his windpipe.

3. Isadora Duncan - In 1927, the popular dancer died of accidental strangulation when her scarf caught in a car wheel.

4. Michael Findlay- In 1977, the horror film maker died after being decapitated by a helicopter blade on the roof of the then Pan Am building in NYC. He also invented a new portable 3-D camera, which he was planning to demonstrate on the day of his death.

5. Stanford White - The architect that designed Madison Square Garden died in 1906, after being shot, ironically, on top of Madison Square Garden while attending an event.

6. Timothy Treadwell - After living among grizzly bears for 13 summers in Alaska, this well known environmentalist and photographer died in 2003 along with his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, after being attacked and partially eaten by a grizzly bear.

7. John Augustus Roebling - The designer of the Brooklyn Bridge died in 1869 of a tetanus infection that he received after having his leg crushed by a ferry while overseeing construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

8. Keith Relf - The band member of "The Yardbirds" died in 1976 after being electrocuted while playing his electric guitar.

9. Jon-Erik Hexum - This popular and handsome actor died in 1984 from an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound. He jokingly put a prop revolver to his head and pulled the trigger. The wadding from the blank cartridge shattered his skull and he died a week later.

10. Tennessee Williams - The very famous writer died after he choked to death on a bottle cap in 1983.