If we go through many different stages in life, there are three that we must know: his birth, his death and the most important: the first time that we drive a Honda Civic, the most perfect car in the world. Today we are going to focus on the death, and mainly on that of actors who could not see their last film released because they died before it was finished. It’s a tragic and sad subject and you will certainly not see me making a valve of the style “cut, it’s in the box” when speaking of a coffin.
1. James Dean: Giant
Hard to believe given his notoriety even today but James Dean only played in three films: The fury of living, East of Eden et Giant (not counting the four other films where he is an extra and is not even credited). This film by George Stevens is necessarily bathed in a special aura since James Dean killed himself in a car accident for which he was not responsible barely a week after the end of filming.
2. Marilyn Monroe: The Misfits
When Marylin Monroe died, two of her films were in full production: The misfits et My favorite wife which she had been excluded from filming but brought back thanks to her friend Dean Martin. Whatever, The misfits is considered her last film and was a failure in theaters upon its release despite the actress’ quite incredible performance.
3. Bruce Lee: Operation Dragon
Probably one of Bruce Lee’s most famous films, Enter the dragon (Operation Dragon) was released in theaters after the actor’s untimely death at just 32 years old. Not only has the film remained cult by potentially becoming his best, but it is also considered one of the greatest Kung Fu films. After his death, a stream of kung-fu films even saw the light of day in Hong Kong studios: the Bruceploitation.
4. Heath Ledger : L’imaginarium du Dr Parnassus
If the actor got a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker in The dark knighthis last work was being filmed at the time of his death, filmed by cursed director Terry Gilliam. L’imaginarium du Dr Parnassus is also signed “A film by Heath Ledger and his friends”, and the actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell took over his role to shoot the last takes. We recommend it to you.
5. Carrie Fisher: The Last Jedi
Carrie Fisher tragically died before the release of the shutter Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If you want my opinion, she didn’t miss anything since it was literally crap, but that won’t make us our Carrie. Moreover, to remind her good memories I recommend the best quotes from Carrie Fisher, she had some beautiful ones.
6. Charlbi Dean: Unfiltered
Actress Charlbi Dean died of a lung infection aged just 32 before the film was released Without filter who received the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2022. We had to remove his spleen following a car accident ten years earlier, which could have favored the development of such intoxication. It remains the loss of a truly promising actress.
7. Brandon Lee : The Crow
The Crow is a film surrounded by false captions: the actor Brandon Lee died during filming but it is not his death that we see in the image. Sadly, Bruce Lee’s son couldn’t see his last film (like his father) because of the dramatic accident that cost him his life in the middle of filming: he was shot with a real bullet instead of a blank ball.
8. John Hurt : That good night
When David Lynch says you’re the best actor in the world, it’s pretty classy. John Hurt had an exemplary filmography while starring in the movies Alien, Midnight Express, Elephant Man or Cineman by Yann Moix (no I’m kidding). His last film, however, came out after his death, and I can’t tell you about it because I haven’t seen it yet. Contrary to Cineman that I have seen and that I advise you as much as drinking ethanol.
9. Robin Williams : trois films
When Robin Williams tragically died, no less than three films were in production and were therefore released posthumously: Night at the museum 3, A damn Christmas tale et Absolutely Anything. Robin Williams had great valves and was like a father to all of us, just talking about him makes me want to cry.
10. Whitney Houston : Sparkle
While she started acting in films in the 90s, the singer who had one of the most incredible voices in history began to initiate a promising return to the screens by shooting the film Sparkle. She sadly passed away six months before the release, while the film was in post-production.
11. Philip Seymour Hoffman : Hunger Games 3
Well, I’m not going to lie to you, his last film was clearly not his best, but Philip Seymour Hoffman remains a great actor who left far too soon. He leaves behind a hell of a filmography which we can advise you on the fly: The master, Truman Capote or 7:58 a.m. that Saturdayeven if there are plenty of other good ones.
12. James Gandolfini : Enough Said
For most of us he will forever be the incredible actor who brought Tony Soprano to the screen in the series. The Sopranosbut James Gandolfini also acted in quite a few films including True Romance which is very very cool. His last, Enough Said is a romantic comedy where he is absolutely perfect and shares the screen with Julia Louis Dreyfus. He died a few months before the film was released from a heart attack.
13. Paul Walker : Fast and Furious 7
Obviously, the death of Paul Walker marked the cinema and the fans of the saga Fast and Furious when it happened while he was filming the seventh installment of the series. The film was obviously dedicated to him as well as the last touching scene which marks the character’s farewell to his gang of friends. I won’t lie any longer, I only saw the first two when they came out, is the rest worth it?
14. Natalie Wood : Brainstorm
Actress who began the profession at the age of seven, Natalie Wood has managed to maintain an eclectic and qualitative career in her adult life. Orson Welles had even said of her that she was such a good actress that it was scary, and that alone is class. She was in the middle of filming Brainstorm when she died at 43 in a boating accident and it sucks.
15. River Phoenix : Dark Blood
Older brother of Joaquin Phoenix, River was (according to critics) the most talented and promising actor of his generation. He played several roles from his childhood until his death at 23 and left the film Dark Blood incomplete for almost ten years until its director decided to release it. You’ve seen him play young Indiana Jones in The Last Crusadebut we recommend almost all of his filmography, and especially Stand by me.