Show Stopper Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

Thomas (Tommy) Frederick Cooper (1921 - 1984) had a heart attack on stage, live on television, during the recording of a variety show. As his act involved magic tricks going wrong, his collapse was thought to be part of his act - 'till the curtain was brought down.

To be as bad at something, as Tommy appeared to be, first one has to learn it properly. Other examples of this include Eric Morecambe and Les Dawson on the piano and Ted Ray who was a violinist

Answer: Self inflicted gun shot to the head while drunk

John Marshall Alexander, Jr. (1929 - 1954), stage name Johnny Ace, owned a .22 gun which he often used to shoot road signs. Witness accounts vary, but one suggestion was that his last words seemed to suggest that he thought the gun to be empty.

In a career lasting only six years, Johnny had eight hit singles in a row and produced several albums.

Answer: Richard Versalle

Richard Versalle (1932 - 1996) had a heart attack while ten feet (three metres) up a ladder during the first song of the opera "The Makropulos Case" by Janáček. He fell to the stage and stopped the show. Ironically, the theme of the opera is eternal life.

Answer: Shot by two assassins

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the police arrested Edson and Luiz Antonio da Silva who were suspected of killing Antario Teodoro Filho. He was a radio show presenter, who was also a local politician, during his New Year's Eve live show. His last words live on air were, "This has to be a joke".

Answer: Nelson Eddy

Nelson Ackerman Eddy (1901 - 1967) started working in Hollywood to promote his singing career. After a career spanning forty years, he died doing the job that he loved, singing with his (singing) partner, Gale Sherwood at the Sans Souci Hotel, Palm Beach, Florida.

Answer: Les Harvey

Leslie Cameron Harvey (1944 - 1972) made the mistake of going on stage at the Top Rank club in Swansea with wet hands. He touched a live microphone and died on stage. As he was the boyfriend of "Stone The Crows" lead singer, Maggie Bell; he almost caused the death of the band too. They survived to the following year.

Answer: Playing Russian Roulette using a blank

Jon-Erik Hexum (1957 - 1984) found out the hard way that blanks used in guns can kill if not handled correctly. The wadding used to seal the blank will leave a gun at a high speed. In his case it caused a small fracture to the skull and the pieces of bone that broke away, penetrated his brain causing massive bleeding which caused his death.

Answer: Television

Christine Chubbuck (1944 - 1974) spoke her last words live on her own television news show, "Suncoast Digest".

"In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts' and, in living colour, you are going to see another first; attempted suicide."

She had done her research properly by asking the police the best way to suicide. She also left behind a script for an announcement of her action, stating that she remained in a critical condition.

Answer: Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim (1932 - 1996), birth name Herbert Khaury, had a heart attack on stage at a ukulele festival in September 1996. He was advised by doctors not to perform again due to his varied health problems, but he ignored their advice. On 30th November he played ukulele for the last time in a gala benefit and had a second heart attack from which he did not recover.

Answer: John Ritter

The death of the much loved actor John Ritter (1948 - 2003) was the inspiration behind the Ritter Rules. Time and level of pain are the two most critical factors in the survival of victims of aortic dissection. John Ritter was first thought to have suffered a heart attack. By the time the correct diagnosis was made and he was taken for surgery, the damage could not be repaired.

Warne Marsh (tenor saxophonist), Leonard Warren (opera baritone) and Dick Shawn (actor / comedian) all died on stage, performers till the end.