Famous People Who Died At 28

The list of famous people who died at 28 includes Heath Ledger, Avicii, Brandon Lee, Jennifer Syme, Caligula. Famous personalities featured on this list, include emperors & kings, poets, artists and actors and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 28 includes people from United States, Germany, United Kingdom & France and many more countries.
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 1 
Heath Ledger
(Australian Actor Best Known for His Role as ‘The Joker’ in the Film ‘The Dark Knight’)
Heath Ledger
179
Birthdate: April 4, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Perth, Australia
Died: January 22, 2008

An Australian actor, Heath Ledger grabbed limelight in America with the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. However, it was role in Brokeback Mountain that made him a star and earned him comparisons with greats actors like Marlon Brando. The brilliant actor gave his last performance as Joker in The Dark Knight which became a massive success.

 2 
Avicii
(Swedish DJ & Remixer Known for His Single 'Levels')
Avicii
277
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 8, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: April 20, 2018

Avicii was a Swedish international DJ, remixer, musician and songwriter. He attained fame with his single, Levels, in 2011. His debut studio album, True, released in 2013 received positive reviews. His second studio album, Stories, was released in 2015. He suffered from mental health issues and died by suicide at age 28. His third album, Tim, was released posthumously in 2019.

 3 
Caligula
(Roman Emperor From 37 AD to 41 AD)
Caligula
69
Birthdate: August 31, 0012
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Anzio, Italy
Died: January 24, 0041

Caligula, the third Roman emperor, is often described as a cruel man who forced his subjects to worship him as their god. Considered an insane tyrant, Caligula is accused of incest and forcing the audience to enter a sporting arena to be eaten alive by wild beasts during the intermission. His stories are famous in popular culture.

 4 
Viktor Tsoi
(Soviet Singer-Songwriter and Co-Founder of the Rock Band 'Kino')
Viktor Tsoi
10
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 21, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: August 15, 1990

Viktor Tsoi, the lead singer of the legendary Russian rock band Kino, broke the hearts of his fans across the world when he died in a tragic car crash at age 28. A symbol of rebellion, Tsoi transformed rock music from an underground movement to a mainstream phenomenon in Russia.

 5 
The Big Bopper
(Singer, Musician, Disc jockey, Songwriter)
The Big Bopper
36
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 24, 1930
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Port Arthur
Died: February 3, 1959
 6 
Philip I of Castile
(King of Castile)
Philip I of Castile
6
Birthdate: July 22, 1478
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium
Died: September 25, 1506

Philip the Handsome, son of Roman emperor Maximilian I, served as the Duke of Burgundy from 1482 to 1506 and then as the first Habsburg King of Castile, as Philip I, in 1506. Also known as the Fair, Philip died of typhoid fever in September 1506, although many suspected poisoning.

 7 
Jim Elliot
(Missionary)
Jim Elliot
18
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 8, 1927
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon
Died: January 8, 1956
 American Christian missionary Jim Elliot was one of five people killed during Operation Auca. He is still remembered for his selfless devotion to God and his zeal, tempered by love, to guide people. The Journals of Jim Elliot contains volumes of documents written over many years by Jim Elliot in which the missionary has detailed his mission work.
 8 
Edie Sedgwick
(American Actress, Socialite, and Model)
Edie Sedgwick
17
Birthdate: April 20, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Died: November 16, 1971
Model/actor Edie Sedgwick was touted as the “It Girl” for her appearances in avant-garde filmmaker Andy Warhol’s short films of the 1960s. Vogue dubbed her a "Youthquaker." Some of her notable films were Poor Little Rich Girl and Beauty No. 2. She died of a drug overdose at 28.
 9 
The Rev
(Musician, Drummer)
The Rev
12
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 9, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California, United States
Died: December 28, 2009
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 10 
Steve Gaines
(Musician)
Steve Gaines
19
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 14, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Miami, Oklahoma, USA
Died: October 20, 1977
 11 
Egon Schiele
(Austrian Expressionist Painter, Draftsman, and Printmaker)
Egon Schiele
15
Birthdate: June 12, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Tulln, Austria
Died: October 31, 1918

Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter whose work is well-known for its raw sexuality and intensity. An early exponent of Expressionism, Schiele was one of the early-20th century's most prominent figurative painters. His life and career inspired the 1980 biographical film Excess and Punishment, in which Schiele was played by German actor Mathieu Carrière. 

 12 
Shannon Hoon
(Former Lead Singer of the Band 'Blind Melon')
Shannon Hoon
30
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 26, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Died: October 21, 1995
Shannon Hoon is best remembered as the lead singer of the rock band Blind Melon, which delivered chartbusting hits such as No Rain. He died of a drug overdose at age 28. He was known for his outrageous behavior, such as urinating on a fan and getting naked on stage.
 13 
John Basilone
(United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant)
John Basilone
30
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 4, 1916
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States
Died: February 19, 1945

John Basilone was a US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who played a crucial role in the Battle for Henderson Field, for which he was honored with the Medal of Honor. Basilone died during the Battle of Iwo Jima and was posthumously honored with the Navy Cross, becoming the only enlisted Marine to receive these two decorations in World War II.

 14 
Karen Silkwood
(Former chemical technologist known for raising concerns about corporate practices related to health and safety in a nuclear facility)
Karen Silkwood
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Longview, Texas, United States
Died: November 13, 1974
 15 
Dražen Petrović
(Basketball player)
Dražen Petrović
33
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 22, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Šibenik, Croatia
Died: June 7, 1993
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 16 
Mitch Lucker
(Best Known as the Lead Singer for the Deathcore Band ‘Suicide Silence’)
Mitch Lucker
10
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 20, 1984
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Riverside, California, United States
Died: November 1, 2012

Mitch Lucker was an American singer and songwriter remembered for his work as the lead vocalist of the band Suicide Silence. A tattoo enthusiast, Mitch Lucker was known for his extensive collection of tattoos that covered his torso, arms, fingers, and neck. After his death at age 28, his bandmates established the Kenadee Lucker Education Fund to benefit his daughter.

 17 
Bradley Nowell
(Lead Singer and Guitarist Of the Ska Punk Band 'Sublime')
Bradley Nowell
37
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Died: May 25, 1996
Bradley Nowell is best remembered as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the punk band Sublime. His dalmatian, Lou Dog, was the band’s mascot and often appeared on stage with the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose, at 28, at a hotel in San Francisco, while touring with Sublime. 
 18 
Johnny Lewis
(Actor)
Johnny Lewis
10
Birthdate: October 29, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: September 26, 2012
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 19 
Big Pun
(The First Latino Artist to Go 'Platinum')
Big Pun
26
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 10, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: February 7, 2000

Big Pun was an American songwriter and rapper. Well-known for his heavy use of alliteration and exceptional breath control, Pun was also widely regarded as one of the best MCs ever. He struggled with weight issues and obesity throughout his life, which eventually led to his death caused by respiratory failure and a heart attack at the age of 28.

 20 
Anne Neville
(Former Queen Consort of England (1483 - 1485))
Anne Neville
2
Birthdate: June 11, 1456
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Warwickshire, England
Died: March 16, 1485
Anne Neville was the younger daughter of Richard Neville. She was the Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster and the Queen of England, as the wife of King Richard III. Her marriage to Edward was a political alliance to end the Wars of the Roses.
 21 
Emiliano Sala
(Argentine Professional Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Emiliano Sala
78
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 31, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cululú, Argentina
Died: January 21, 2019

Emiliano Sala was an Argentine football player who played for prominent French clubs like Bordeaux and Nantes. He was renowned for his powerful strike and eye for goal. In 2019, he was included in the Nantes Team of the Decade. Emiliano Sala died in a plane crash on 21 January 2019. His body was recovered four days after the crash.

 22 
Scott Newman
(Prominent role in The Towering Inferno and Breakhart Pass)
Scott Newman
0
Birthdate: September 23, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
Died: November 20, 1978
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 23 
Sergei Grinkov
(Russian Figure Skater and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Sergei Grinkov
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 4, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: November 20, 1995
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 24 
Cuauhtémoc
(Aztec Emperor from 1520 to 1521)
Cuauhtémoc
2
Birthdate: 1497 AD
Birthplace: Tenochtitlan
Died: 1525 AD

Cuauhtémoc was the Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan who reigned from 1520 to 1521. The last Aztec Emperor, Cuauhtémoc is an important historical figure in present-day Mexico. His image has appeared on Mexican banknotes and coins. Over the years, he has been a popular subject of paintings and music in Mexico.

 25 
Bix Beiderbecke
(Musician)
Bix Beiderbecke
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 10, 1903
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Davenport, Iowa, United States
Died: August 6, 1931
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 26 
Lucy Gordon
(Actress)
Lucy Gordon
4
Birthdate: May 22, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Oxford, England
Died: May 20, 2009
 27 
Aloysius Pang
(Singaporean Actor)
Aloysius Pang
5
Birthdate: August 24, 1990
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Singapore
Died: January 24, 2019

Aloysius Pang was a Singaporean actor best remembered for his association with multiple Mediacorp dramas. In 2015, he was honored with the Star Award for Best Newcomer. Aloysius Pang died at the age of 28 while training as part of the Singapore Army.

 28 
Stephen Crane
(Writer, Journalist, Poet, Baseball player, Novelist, Screenwriter)
Stephen Crane
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 1, 1871
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newark
Died: June 5, 1900
 29 
Tim Buckley
(Guitarist, Singer-songwriter)
Tim Buckley
8
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 14, 1947
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: June 29, 1975
 30 
Jochen Rindt
(German-Born Austrian Racer Who Became the First Posthumous F-1 Champion)
Jochen Rindt
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 18, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mainz, Germany
Died: September 5, 1970

Though born in Germany, racer Jochen Rindt competed for Austria throughout his illustrious career, which saw him score 6 Grand Prix wins. At 28, he was killed in a practice race for the Italian Grand Prix. He later became the only racer to be posthumously named the F-1 World Champion.

 31 
Edmund the Martyr
(King)
Edmund the Martyr
0
Birthdate: 0841 AD
Birthplace: Nuremberg, Germany
Died: November 28, 0869
 32 
Brandon Lee
(American Actor, Martial Artist and Son of Film Star Bruce Lee)
Brandon Lee
86
Birthdate: February 1, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: March 31, 1993

The son of the legendary martial artist and actor, Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee followed in his father’s footsteps. Trained in martial arts, he made his film debut in the 1980s and became a successful star in his own right. He was accidentally wounded while filming The Crow and died. The film, dedicated to him, became a hit.

 33 
Amrita Shergil
(Greatest avant-garde women artists of the early 20th century)
Amrita Shergil
3
Birthdate: January 30, 1913
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: December 5, 1941

Amrita Sher-Gil was a Hungarian-Indian painter best remembered as a pioneer of modern Indian art. Widely regarded as one of the early-20th century's greatest avant-garde women artists, Sher-Gil's work has influenced several Indian artists like Arpita Singh and Sayed Haider Raza. Her life and career inspired the 1969 documentary film Amrita Sher-Gil which was directed by Bhagwan Das Garga.

 34 
Novalis
(German Romantic Poet and Philosopher Known for His Poems ‘Hymns to the Night’ and ‘Spiritual Songs’)
Novalis
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 2, 1772
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Wiederstedt, Germany
Died: March 25, 1801

Poet and philosopher Friedrich Leopold, better known as Novalis, was a significant figure of German Romanticism. He narrated the loss of his 15-year-old fiancé to tuberculosis in his Hymns to the Night. He himself died of the disease a few years later. He was also well-versed in natural sciences.

 35 
Jennifer Syme
(Actress)
Jennifer Syme
22
Birthdate: December 7, 1972
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Pico Rivera, California
Died: April 2, 2001

In her short career, American actress Jennifer Syme acted in few films like Lost Highway and also worked as musician DaveNavarro's personal assistant. She briefly dated Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves. The couple broke up after the death of their daughter who was stillborn. Tragically, the actress died at the young age of 28, when her vehicle crashed into a row of parked cars.

 36 
Audrey Mestre
(Freediver)
Audrey Mestre
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 11, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Île-de-France, France
Died: October 12, 2002
 37 
Marcelino Sánchez
(Puerto Rican Actor )
Marcelino Sánchez
5
Birthdate: December 5, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cayey, Puerto Rico
Died: November 21, 1986
 38 
Chuck Hughes
(American football player)
Chuck Hughes
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 2, 1943
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 24, 1971
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 39 
Anne of Bohemia
(Queen of England)
Anne of Bohemia
0
Birthdate: May 11, 1366
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia
Died: June 7, 1394
 40 
Gino Hernandez
(Wrestler)
Gino Hernandez
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 14, 1957
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Highland Park, Texas, United States
Died: February 2, 1986
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 41 
Isabella Beeton
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 12, 1836
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London
Died: February 6, 1865
 42 
Dylan Rieder
(American Professional Skateboarder and Model)
Dylan Rieder
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 26, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Westminster, California, United States
Died: October 12, 2016
 43 
Keith Green
(Pianist)
Keith Green
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: July 28, 1982
 44 
Sarah Baartman
(A Freak Show Attraction)
Sarah Baartman
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1787 AD
Birthplace: Gamtoos River, Kouga Local Municipality, South Africa
Died: 1815 AD
Sara Baartman, a popular subject of feminist criticism, was a South African Khoikhoi woman who was made a freak-show attraction, as the Hottentot Venus, in the 19th century, due to her large buttocks. She was a victim of the European men’s obsession with “exotic” Black women, whom they objectified.
 45 
Anthony Veasna So
(Former American Writer known for short stories)
Anthony Veasna So
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 20, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stockton, California, United States
Died: December 8, 2020
 46 
George Washington Adams
(Politician, Lawyer)
George Washington Adams
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 12, 1801
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: April 30, 1829
 47 
Hristo Botev
(One of the Heroes of the Bulgarian National Revolution and Poet)
Hristo Botev
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 6, 1848
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kalofer, Bulgaria
Died: June 1, 1876

Hristo Botev was a Bulgarian poet and revolutionary. Widely regarded as a national hero by Bulgarians, Botev was thought to be ahead of his peers in his aesthetic, philosophical, and political views. An influential and important figure in the history of Bulgaria, Botev has several monuments, schools, football clubs, and stadiums named after him.

 48 
Frédéric Bazille
(French Painter)
Frédéric Bazille
0
Birthdate: December 6, 1841
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montpellier, France
Died: November 28, 1870
 49 
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent
(Noblemen)
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 5, 1301
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England
Died: March 19, 1330
 50 
Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia
(Aristocrat)
Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 9, 1871
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pushkin, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 10, 1899