You scroll through TikTok or Insta and see celebs flexing on red carpets, in luxury fits, living what looks like a dream life. But real talk? Even the most famous celebrities are battling stuff way darker than what we see. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse — there’s actually an ugly side of fame that never really makes the highlight reel.
Mental health doesn’t care how rich, talented, or iconic you are, and sometimes the pain stays completely hidden. And when it does, the world is left shocked, wondering how someone who “had it all” could be hurting so much inside. Below I present to you stories of famous celebrities who committed suicide after long battles with mental health.
Reality check: Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. with over 49,000 deaths in 2023 alone (CDC).
10 Celebrities Who Committed Suicide
1. Robin Williams
Born / Died: 1951 – 2014
Suffered from: Depression, anxiety, Lewy body dementia
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
Robin Williams was that actor and comedian you swore could never feel pain — Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society — literal legend. But behind the laughs, he was secretly dealing with depression and early-stage Lewy body dementia. When the news broke, the world heart was shattered. It was like, wow… even comedy legends aren’t safe from mental health struggles. Robin’s wife later shared he was “always warm, even in his darkest moments,” and his kids remember him as gentle and loving, asking others to “seek to bring joy to the world as he sought.”
2. Chris Cornell
Born / Died: 1964 – 2017
Suffered from: Depression, substance abuse
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman had one of the most powerful voices in rock, but behind the music, Chris Cornell was fighting a long battle with depression, anger and addiction. “I was depressed for a long time,” he once told Men’s Health. “If you’re depressed long enough, it’s almost a comfort, a state of mind that you’ve made peace with because you’ve been in it so long.” His suicide in 2017 stunned the music world, happening just before Chester Bennington’s. Their deaths showed how mental health and the effects of anger on the body can take down even the strongest performers.
3. Chester Bennington
Born / Died: 1976 – 2017
Suffered from: Depression, substance abuse, childhood trauma, anxiety
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
Linkin Park’s lead singer, Chester Bennington, poured every ounce of pain into tracks like Numb and Crawling, which connected with millions. But his own demons never left. Despite being a rock icon, he dealt with depression for decades before he tragically killed himself—just two months after his close friend Chris Cornell died. Chester also revealed he endured sexual abuse as a child, a trauma that fueled his struggles with drugs and alcohol. His friend Sean Dowdell once said Chester “had this brighter-than-the-sun-type attitude when he was around you. The pain he was feeling he didn’t outwardly share.”
4. Anthony Bourdain
Born / Died: 1956 – 2018
Suffered from: Depression, substance abuse, burnout
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
Bourdain made the world feel smaller with Parts Unknown, mixing food, travel, and culture in a way no one else could. But fame and years of substance abuse left scars. Despite being a TV legend, he fought heavy depression and tragically ended his life while filming on location in France. Friends later said he was “absolutely exhausted” and felt “lonely,” “uncertain,” and worn out by fame’s expectations in the days before his death—which is unfortunately the case for so many celebrities on this list.
5. Verne Troyer
Born / Died: 1969 – 2018
Suffered from: Depression, alcoholism
Cause of death: Alcohol poisoning (ruled suicide)
No one can forget Mini-Me from Austin Powers, but most find it hard to believe the actor was privately fighting depression and addiction. Verne Troyer’s death was ruled a suicide from alcohol intoxication, after spending his final three weeks in hospital. It may never be entirely clear whether or not the actor intended to end his life via alcohol poisoning, but during the emergency call, Verne had repeatedly claimed he wanted to die (according to the coroner’s report).
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6. Kurt Cobain
Born / Died: 1967 – 1994
Suffered from: Depression, chronic pain, substance abuse
Cause of death: Suicide by gunshot
Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s frontman, was basically the voice of a generation. Fame hit him hard and fast, but depression, anxiety, addiction, and chronic stomach pain made life unbearable. He often admitted success isolated him, and in 1994, he tragically killed himself. His friend and biographer Michael Azerrad noted Kurt had “several clinically established risk factors for suicide, including inhuman levels of professional pressure, chronic and severe physical pain, and a heroin addiction that he just couldn’t seem to shake (or didn’t want to).” Azerrad also pointed out Kurt’s long family history of suicide.
7. Simone Battle
Born / Died: 1989 – 2014
Suffered from: Depression, financial pressures
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
Simone, an X Factor finalist turned G.R.L. singer, was young, insanely talented, and full of potential. But behind the scenes, she struggled with depression and money problems. At just 25, she took her own life, right as her career was taking off. Her bandmates tweeted, “We will carry her memory with us in everything we do. Words cannot express the depth of our loss. Simone’s incredible talent was only surpassed by the size of her heart.” The unbearable grief even led to G.R.L.’s breakup just nine months later. Today, youngsters often turn to therapy or online wellness tools—for instance, you’ll find threads full of feedback about Liven or Better Help resources—but Simone’s story is a reminder of how many still suffer in silence.
8. Alexander McQueen
Born / Died: 1969 – 2010
Suffered from: Depression, anxiety, grief over mother’s death
Cause of death: Suicide by hanging
Alexander McQueen was one of the most famous people in fashion, completely changing the game with his bold, theatrical runway shows. But behind the glamour, he had been struggling with anxiety and depressive disorder. His psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen Pereira, shared that McQueen had twice taken overdoses as “cries for help,” adding, “He was very close to his mother. I think on top of the grief he felt there was that one link that had gone from his life and there was very little to live for.” When his mother passed, the grief pushed him into a devastating depression, and in 2010, McQueen tragically killed himself — leaving behind not just a fashion empire, but a heartbreaking reminder that even creative geniuses aren’t safe from mental health struggles.
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9. Avicii
Born / Died: 1989 – 2018
Suffered from: Anxiety, substance abuse, burnout
Cause of death: Suicide (self-inflicted)
Tim Bergling — aka Avicii — shot to fame crazy fast with bangers like Wake Me Up and Levels, but the nonstop grind eventually broke him down. His family later said he “could not go on any longer” and “wanted to find peace,” calling him a “fragile artistic soul” stuck in the harsh music industry. At just 28, he ended his life. His dad later shared they’d even tried an intervention, since Avicii was battling painkiller addiction and anxiety. His death was a wake-up call for the EDM world, sparking way more open conversations about mental health in the music scene.
10. Naomi Judd
Born / Died: 1946 – 2022
Suffered from: Severe depression, anxiety, PTSD
Cause of death: Suicide by gunshot
Naomi Judd was a country music legend: 14 No. 1 songs, 5 Grammys, and part of The Judds duo. But she lived with mental illness and PTSD for years. Her daughter Wynonna said of her final days, “With the same determination she had to live, she was determined to die.” On the morning of her death, she’d texted “pls help,” and Ashley Judd later said she had previously tried to comfort her mom, telling her, “I’ve seen how much you’ve been suffering.” Sadly, Naomi killed herself at the age of 76, the day before she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out — talking saves lives. Contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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