Famous People Who Died Young Trivia

1. The day when this 1950's rock musician's death at age 22 was known as "The day the music died." He is also the title of a 1994 song by Weezer. Who is he?

From Quiz Dead Before 27

Answer: Buddy Holly

If this question looks familiar, thanks for playing my other quizzes. I do indeed have another quiz that opens with a question about Buddy Holly. He just happens to fit into more than one sub-category of quizzes that I make. Buddy Holly started off as a member of a band called "The Crickets." He then went solo and released two more albums. Among these two albums were the hit songs "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy." He died in a plane crash. His death is "The Day The Music Died" in Don McLean's song "American Pie." Weezer had a hit song called "Buddy Holly" in 1994, in which singer Rivers Cuomo says that he looks like Buddy Holly. Cuomo wasn't kidding; he did indeed look like Buddy Holly.

From Quiz Dying Can Sure Give You The Blues

Answer: Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain (February 20,1967 - April 5, 1994) committed suicide at age 27. He was the driving force behind the group Nirvana, which had four Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits between 1991 and 1995, including two before Cobain's death: "Smells Like A Teen Spirit" (Number Six in 1991) and "Come As You Are" (Number 32 in 1992). In 2014, Nirvana (Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

From Quiz Chez '27'

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Although James Marshall 'Jimi' Hendrix (1942-1970) had a short mainstream career (around four years), he was still one of the most influential musicians in history. He died in London from an overdose of barbiturates, so we can never know what could have been. He achieved fame in the United States after the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. His last studio album, "Electric Ladyland" in 1968, was his only album to reach number one. In 1969 Jimi was the world's highest paid performer when he headlined Woodstock, and he is often rated as the greatest guitarist of all time. As for the other choices: Vaughn died at 36 in a helicopter crash, Tupac was shot at 25; Big Joe died of heart failure.

From Quiz They Didn't Make It Past 39 Years Old

Answer: TLC

Lisa Lopes was born May 27, 1971. She was the L of the group TLC. The L stood for "Left eye". She got that name because a man once complimented her on her left eye. TLC promoted safe sex, and Lopes would often wear a condom over her glasses over the left eye. She also got her left eyebrow pierced. On April 25, 2002, Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras.

From Quiz They Died in Their 30s

Answer: Patsy Cline

Marianne Faithfull has said of Patsy Cline, "She made country cool." With a beautifully rich and emotional singing voice, Cline was at the height of a successful career at time of her shocking death.

From Quiz More Short Lives

Answer: Kidney and renal problems

Harlow died in her twenties as a result of uremic poisoning. Her mother - a prominent force in her life - resisted the idea of getting her to a doctor until it was too late.

From Quiz They Died in Their 20s

Answer: John Keats

Keats' gravestone reads at bottom the following epitaph, 'Here lies one whose name was writ in water, Feb. 24th 1821'. Such a shame that one so young and talented had to leave us...

From Quiz Famous People Who Died Before Age 21

Answer: Anastasia

Among those claiming to be Anastasia were Anna Anderson and the Polish woman Franziska Schanzkowski, who was rescued from a canal in Berlin in 1920. It's my theory that she's currently residing in a spaceship hovering above the Earth, with Elvis and Jim Morrison. (In other words, I'm skeptical!)

From Quiz Dead Before 27

Answer: Selena

Selena Quintanilla, better known simply as Selena, was a singer who sang songs in Spanish. She has sold over 65 million albums worldwide, making her the best-selling Latin female pop star ever at the time. Her most popular album was "Amor Prohibido," which in English would be "Forbidden Love." Selena was shot at age 23 by the former president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. In 1997, a movie called "Selena" was released starring Jennifer Lopez as the title character. Selena Quintanilla is not to be confused with Selena Gomez, a completely different singer who made it to the 21st century alive.

From Quiz Dying Can Sure Give You The Blues

Answer: Selena

Selena Quintanilla-Perez (April 16, 1971-March 31,1994) was sometimes called the Queen of Tejano music. An actress, songwriter, and fashion designer as well as a vocalist, she had two Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits in 1995: "I Could Fall In Love" (Number Eight) and "Dreaming Of You" (Number 22). As of 2012, her albums had sold over 60 million copies worldwide. On March 31, 1994, Selena was shot and fatally wounded by a former employee and friend, Yolanda Saldivar, who had been caught embezzling money from Selena's boutiques and fan club.

From Quiz Chez '27'

Answer: Brian Jones

Brian Jones (1942-1969) was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm in East Sussex, England on July 3, 1969, at the age of 27. Jones was the founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones. He created the unique sound of the band by using folk instruments like the sitar and marimba. Imagine the Maroon 5 song as "Moves Like Jones"? The other choices also died young, i.e., Duane Allman at 24 in a motorcycle crash, Otis Redding at 26 in a plane crash, and Keith Moon (of The Who) died from an overdose at the age of 32.

From Quiz Gone Too Soon, Yet Not Forgotten

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Born in Dublin and having studied at Oxford, Wilde was one of the leading figures of the literary scene. His one and only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Grey" was well received, as were his plays, famous among them being "The Importance of Being Earnest". Unfortunately, his private prosecution of the Marquess of Queensberry for libel backfired. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas and to avoid being convicted himself managed to gather evidence of Wilde's homosexual lifestyle which was treated as a crime in those days. Found guilty, Wilde was sentenced to two years' hard labour. Once free, he moved to France leading a largely penniless life. He died in 1900 from a severe ear infection, though for years it was believed that the cause of his death was syphilis.

From Quiz They Died in Their 30s

Answer: Minnie Riperton

Riperton had a four-octave vocal range and was known for hitting those really high notes. President Jimmy Carter presented her with the American Cancer Society's Courage Award for her brave campaigning while suffering the effects of the terrible disease that took her life at such a young age.

From Quiz They Died in Their 20s

Answer: Booth & John Wilkes Booth & John Wilks Booth & John Booth & Boothe & John Wilkes Boothe & John Boothe & John W. Booth

Booth escaped Ford's Theater, where he had shot President Abraham Lincoln, with but a broken leg. Later he was shot in a barn in Virginia by Sergeant Boston Corbett where he had refused to give himself up.

From Quiz Famous People Who Died Before Age 21

Answer: Ritchie Valens

Valens was portrayed quite nicely by Lou Diamond Phillips in the film 'La Bamba'. Can't say I was too fond of the version of that song by Los Lobos though...

From Quiz Dead Before 27

Answer: Frankie Lymon

Frankie Lymon was born in Harlem (explaining the Mountain Goats' song title). He was a member of a band called The Teenagers, which consisted of five boys who really were teenagers. That band had a 1956 hit song called "Why do Fools Fall in Love." In 1957, Lymon went solo. His popularity went downhill after that, and he died at age 25 of a heroin overdose. Although his popularity didn't last, he was a big influence on Michael Jackson and the Beach Boys.

From Quiz Dying Can Sure Give You The Blues

Answer: Aaliyah

Aaliyah (Aaliyah Dana Haughton) was born on January 16, 1979 and died in the plane crash on August 25, 2001, along with several others. She was only 22. She had eight Billboard Top Pop 40 Hits between 1994 and 2000, including "Try Again" (Number One in in 2000), "Are You That Somebody?" (Number Four in 1998), and "Back & Forth" (Number Five in 1994). Posthumously, she had five more Top 40 Pop Hits from 2001-2003, including "Miss You" (Number Three in 2002).

From Quiz Chez '27'

Answer: Robert Johnson

Growing up in Mississippi, Robert Johnson (1911-1938) watched Son House, Willie Brown and Charlie Patton play, and he tried to play guitar during their breaks. Some years later he had acquired such great skill in such a short time, it was rumored that he sold his soul to the devil. Johnson had a great impact on the blues, with an influence on such greats as Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton. Some of the tunes that made Robert Johnson a legend are: "Crossroads", "Walkin' Blues", "Me and the Devil Blues" and "Come On in My Kitchen".

From Quiz They Didn't Make It Past 39 Years Old

Answer: Cass Elliot

Cass Elliot, known better as "Mama Cass" of The Mamas and The Papas (a music group) was born on September 19, 1941. On June 28th or 29th, 1974 after a concert, she died in her sleep from a heart attack. The rumor that she died eating a ham sandwich was most likely started when a half eaten sandwich was found in her room. However, the autopsy revealed there was no food in her windpipe.

From Quiz Gone Too Soon, Yet Not Forgotten

Answer: Martin Luther King, Jr.

King was a Baptist minister who became famous for his work towards obtaining basic civil rights for fellow African Americans. His well known speech "I Have a Dream" was delivered in 1963 during a political rally in Washington seeking greater civil and economic rights for African Americans. Inspired by Gandhi's non violent struggle for Indian independence, King, too, opted for the same route in his struggle for civil rights. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964 becoming the youngest recipient of the honour at that time. Four years later, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray at Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39 years old when he died.

From Quiz They Died in Their 30s

Answer: Brian Epstein

Epstein was the manager of The Beatles from 1962 until his death in 1967. It is said that Epstein "cleaned up" the scruffy Liverpool lads by suggesting that they wear suits and ties and stop swearing on stage.

From Quiz Short Lives

Answer: Arthur Rimbaud

Rimbaud had a curious relationship with Paul Verlaine. He jammed a lot of excitement - although not always happily - into a short life.

From Quiz They Died in Their 20s

Answer: Richthofen

Manfred Richthofen, aka the Red Baron, was the greatest German fighter pilot of World War I, but even his luck could not last forever. His 11th Chasing Squadron was also called 'Richthofen's Flying Circus'...Monty Python eat your heart out!

From Quiz Dead Before 27

Answer: Duane Allman

Duane and Gregg Allman were the leaders of a band called The Allman Brothers. They achieved fame with their first live album, which was called "At Fillmore East" and released in 1971. That album opens with a cover of Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues," which Rolling Stone Magazine ranked as the ninth best guitar song of all time in 2008. Shortly after that live album, the guitarist responsible for that work died at age 24 in a motorcycle accident.

From Quiz Chez '27'

Answer: Ron McKernan

While all the choices played for The Grateful Dead, Ron Charles "Pigpen" McKernan (1945-1973) was a founding member of the San Francisco band, and was with them from 1965 to 1972. Among the best of the 'Pigpen' era was the 1969 song "Turn on Your Love Light" from the album "Live/Dead". The recording was 15 minutes long, but when the band played it at Woodstock, it reportedly lasted 45 minutes. The next year they had another hit called "Easy Wind" from "Workingman's Dead". Ron was diagnosed with congenital biliary cirrhosis in 1972, and was found dead in his home the following year.

From Quiz They Didn't Make It Past 39 Years Old

Answer: Jesus Christ

By tradition Jesus was born in 1 A.D. but due to problems with the dating system it appears he was actually born a few years before that. While on Earth, he claimed to be the Son of God and performed many miracles. Some people believed he was the Messiah while others believed he was just a magician of some kind. At age 33, he was tried for blasphemy and found guilty. He was nailed to a cross to die. Christians believe, however, that three days later he arose from the grave, conquering death. They believe His death, burial and resurrection paid the price for all sinners, and that all people have to do to go to Heaven is accept His gift of salvation.

From Quiz Gone Too Soon, Yet Not Forgotten

Answer: Lord Byron

Born George Gordon Byron, this British poet's well known works include "She Walks in Beauty", "When We Two Parted" and "Don Juan" among many others. He had a string of high profile affairs and ultimately left England to escape the scandals. On receiving a request from the Greeks to aid them in their quest for independence from the Ottoman Empire, Byron sailed to the Ionian Islands in 1823. While preparing to attack a Turkish occupied fort in the Gulf of Corinth, Byron contracted fever and the primitive methods of bloodletting used in his treatment further aggravated his condition. He succumbed to the fever on April 19th, 1824 dying at the age of 36.

From Quiz They Died in Their 30s

Answer: John Belushi

Belushi died at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood after a night of partying with celebrity pals, including Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. He was the first of two Saturday Night Live alumni to die at 33 of a drug overdose (Chris Farley was the other).

From Quiz More Short Lives

Answer: Christopher Marlowe

The mysterious Christopher Marlowe was a curious figure. Presumably, he was murdered, was involved in espionage, etc. Many have doubted the "official version"; some have said Marlowe wrote Shakespeare's plays.

From Quiz Short Lives

Answer: John Steinbeck

Steinbeck was the author; Raymond Massey was the co-star. Dean also starred in "Giant" and, of course, "Rebel Without A Cause".

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