Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Dead

We all know these stars, but what not everyone may realize is that they have already passed away. The news of their deaths came as a shock to many fans and continues to surprise people to this day.

Amanda Peterson took Hollywood by storm as a child star in the 1980s. She made her breakthrough in 1987 with the teen romance "Can't Buy Me Love," starring alongside Patrick Dempsey. After a few more roles, she unexpectedly retired from show business in 1994. On July 3, 2015, Amanda Peterson died of an accidental overdose at the age of just 43. Her untimely death shocked many fans, who still remembered her as a lively teenager.

Michael Clarke Duncan captivated audiences in 1999 as the gentle giant John Coffey in "The Green Mile." His moving performance earned him an Oscar nomination. Duncan's career took off after that, and he starred in blockbusters such as "Planet of the Apes" and "Sin City." On September 3, 2012, the beloved actor died unexpectedly at the age of just 54 from a heart attack. His commanding presence and talent will never be forgotten.

Omar Sharif made his international breakthrough in 1962 with "Lawrence of Arabia." The film won seven Oscars, and Sharif received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1965, he played the title role in "Doctor Zhivago." Sharif remained active as a character actor well into his old age. On July 10, 2015, the charismatic actor died of a heart attack at the age of 83. His death marked the end of an era of classic Hollywood cinema.

Tony Burton achieved cult status as Duke in the "Rocky" film series. He appeared in all six original films alongside Sylvester Stallone. The series grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide and made Burton a beloved supporting actor. In addition to acting, he also had a successful career as a boxer. On February 25, 2016, Tony Burton passed away at the age of 78. His death, shortly before the release of “Creed,” reminded fans of his important role in the “Rocky” saga.

Jonathan Brandis was a celebrated child and teen star. His career stalled in the late 1990s, and he began suffering from depression. After years of illness, Jonathan Brandis took his own life in 2003—at the age of just 27.

Earl Hindmann played the role of the legendary neighbor "Wilson" in "Home Improvement," whose face was never fully shown to television viewers and was usually partially obscured by the garden fence. The actor died of lung cancer in 2003. He was 61 years old.

James Avery was an American actor who rose to fame primarily for his role as "Philip Banks" in the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." The actor died in 2013 from complications following heart surgery. He was 68 years old.

Nick Lashaway began his career as a child actor on "The X-Files." In 2010, he played a supporting role in the movie "The Last Song" alongside Miley Cyrus. In 2012, he appeared in an episode of the HBO series "Girls." On May 8, 2016, Nick Lashaway died in a car accident; he was only 28 years old. His untimely death shocked colleagues such as Lena Dunham, who publicly paid tribute to his talent.

Skye McCole Bartusiak played the role of "Susan Martin" in "The Patriot." The young actress was found dead on July 19, 2014. She was only 21 years old.