If I told you that the number of Hollywood actors and actresses who died in 2021 and 2022 had doubled from the previous decade's average would you be surprised?
In a previous piece I wrote about searching the term “died unexpectedly” my search results brought up a website called ranker.com. I’m not suggesting this is a definitive list, but for comparison purposes I compared lists of actors and actresses who died in years 2018 to 2022 just using this website.
I’m not sure what I was looking for when I undertook this small research project, and I don’t think my results can be described as conclusive. It’s only when you add it to other clues do we get the sense of the bigger picture. Wouldn’t it be nice if evidence was clean cut and interpretation was clear. Unfortunately, we have to stumble around the crime scene looking for clues.
Over the last decade numbers of the dead Hollywood stars have varied, although the five year average for years 2012 to 2016 was 39. However, in 2021 and 2022 (so far) the average is 83, doubling previous years.
Does this need investigating?
The numbers don't lie there has been a significant uptick in deaths. I don't think this is being reported in the mainstream news. So, therefore, yes it needs further investigation.
Research note - many of the deaths listed on ranker.com required further research as to cause of death. Agents and families often understandably want to keep details secret. With time we have the advantage of being able to access the coroners reports, which I’d say constituted good evidence.
What age constitutes a good innings?
Whilst reaching eighty is seen as a good innings, we are not shocked by the death of someone in their seventies. Sixties can feel too young, but we all know people whose illnesses or health choices lead to an early grave. So under sixty is definitely too young, and under forty is tragic. This is the thinking behind my categories.
Hollywood Stars who died in 2018
According to ranker.com there were 40 deaths this year. Half of these were under 70. Only three under 40 and unfortunately all suicides.
Hollywood Stars who died in 2019
There were only 21 deaths listed this year. A third of them were under 60. Only three under 40, all suicides (ages 14, 16 and 20).
Hollywood Stars who died in 2020
In 2020 there were only 18 listed Hollywood deaths and a correspondingly low figure of four under 40s. Of these there were two suicides, one car crash and one person aged 38 who died at the end of December 2020 suddenly and unexpectedly.
Expectations
We have certain expectations that phrases such as dies peacefully at home, and died of natural causes, is applied to older folks. When we look at young deaths we generally expect to see suicides, over doses, accidents and knife/gun crime predominate. This is the usual fare to be found associated with very young deaths.
Given this is Hollywood there is also an additional association with drug overdoses and these do turn up regularly.
Hollywood Stars who died in 2021
Suddenly in 2021 there is a sharp rise in deaths to 85. The deaths predominate in the older categories. As a percentage young deaths have fallen. However, as overall numbers have increased so has the number of young people.
Eight under 40s are listed. In addition to the usual there are a couple of cancer cases. There is one case of a 44 year old who had what is now being described by many as a turbo cancer.
What is turbo cancer?
See this video where Dr /pathologist Ute Krueger talks about finding tumours in younger patients which are larger in size and are growing more rapidly and aggressively at the time of initial diagnosis.
Hollywood Stars who died in 2022 so far
With still two months to go of 2022 there have already been 80 Hollywood deaths listed by ranker.com (as of time of writing).
As an overall percentage young deaths (under 40) have decreased again with only 4 being included of which only one was a suicide. Two were sudden and unexpected, and the fourth one mysteriously drowned in a swimming pool.
What else I found arresting was that from the under 60 group five just died at home and three had turbo cancer.
Another striking feature was that the percentage of older people had increased, as well as the overall numbers in 2021 and 2022. How many of these folks died ahead of their time? Why the massive jump from 18 deaths to 85?
In summary
Deaths have doubled in 2021 and 2022 and this year looks set to increase deaths from 2021’s high. They have doubled across all age ranges, but they have increased the most in the older eighty plus category.
Looking at the deaths of those in the younger categories (under 60 and under 40) we can see that the nature of half the deaths have changed. From the usual associated deaths we must now add a number of unexpected, mysterious deaths starting in late December 2020.
Moving into 2022 we see an increase in actors and actresses dying from “turbo cancers”.
My research doesn’t give me any answers. What could possibly have changed in 2021 and 2022 to have impacted death totals so strikingly? We can only speculate.
