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Grace Kelly (1929–1982) - Grace Kelly made just seven movies including 'Rear Window' (1954) and 'High Society' (1956) before marrying Prince Rainier III and becoming Princess of Monaco. She died from injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

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Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) -

One of the great screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema, Taylor later became one of the first celebrities to take part in HIV/AIDS activism. She died of congestive heart failure.

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Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993) - Born in Brussels, Belgium, Hepburn remains an endearing film and fashion icon. She's also recognized for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She succumbed to appendiceal cancer.

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Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) -

The American jazz singer and pianist, nicknamed "The Divine One," was well-known for her rich voice and wide range. She died of lung cancer. 

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Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) - A member of the British royal family, Diana was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, and mother to Princes William and Harry. Her death in a car crash and subsequent funeral made headlines around the world.

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) - Monroe became one of the most popular beauty symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, and remains a hugely influential cultural icon. She was found dead of an apparent overdose of barbiturates.

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Ava Gardner (1922–1990) - Another great star of classic Hollywood cinema, Gardner was labeled a femme fatale for her numerous affairs and party lifestyle. She died of pneumonia in London, England.

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Suzanne Pleshette (1937–2008) - Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' (1963) numbers among the films Pleshette appeared in. She later made a successful transition into television. Lung cancer killed her.

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Rita Hayworth (1918–1987) - Described as "The Love Goddess" by the press and a legion of male admirers, Hayworth was one of the most glamorous screen idols of the 1940s. She ultimately fell victim to Alzheimer's disease,

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Aaliyah (1979–2001) - Singer, actress, and model Aaliyah Dana Haughton was enjoying huge success when she died along with eight others in a plane crash shortly after filming the music video for the single 'Rock the Boat.'

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Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967) - A major Hollywood beauty symbol in the 1950s and '60s, Mansfield was known for her voluptuous figure and a well-publicized personal life. She died in a car crash.

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Natalie Wood (1938–1981) - A child actor, Wood grew up to star in the musical films 'West Side Story' (1961) and 'Gypsy' (1962), among other Hollywood hits. The actress drowned off Catalina Island, California, in circumstances that are still being investigated today.

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Amy Winehouse (1983–2011) - The English singer and songwriter modeled her image on the girl groups of the 1960s—all beehive hairdo and Cleopatra makeup. Her successful but sometimes controversial career was cut short by accidental alcohol poisoning.

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Vivien Leigh (1913–1967) - Forever associated with her role as Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind' (1939), Leigh's beauty hid a troubled soul: she suffered from bipolar disorder, as well as recurrent bouts of chronic tuberculosis, an illness that eventually claimed her life.

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Alexandra Bastedo (1946–2014) - The British actress made her name as Sharron Mcready in the hit TV series 'The Champions.' Her stunning beauty drew admirers like Omar Sharif and Steve McQueen. She devoted her later life to animal welfare. Bastedo died from cancer.

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Josephine Baker (1906-1975) -

The American-born French entertainer, World War II spy, and civil rights activist had quite a life. She's largely remembered as a world-renowned performer who helped popularize the lively beauty of Black American culture across French music halls in the 1920s. She died after suffering a stroke. 

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Juliet Prowse (1936–1996) - A leggy dancer whose four-decade career included film, stage, and television, Prowse is fondly remembered for movies like 'Can-Can' (1960) and 'G.I. Blues' (1960), and a very sexy dance with Elvis Presley! She died of pancreatic cancer.

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Heddy Lamarr (1914–2000) - Austrian-born Lamarr won a beauty contest in Vienna at age 12. In 1937 she met MGM head Louis B. Mayer in London. A year later she found fame in Hollywood. She succumbed to heart disease.

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Slyvia Kristel (1952–2012) - Dutch model and actress Kristel gained an international reputation playing the title character in the French skin flick 'Emmanuelle' (1974). A heavy smoker from a young age, lung cancer eventually killed her.

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Anita Ekberg (1931–2015) - Best known for her role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film 'La Dolce Vita' (1960), the Swedish actress died of age-related illnesses.

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Lee Remick (1935–1991) -

An accomplished film and stage actress, Remick also studied dancing. She was considered as a replacement for Marilyn Monroe in 'Something's Got to Give' after the troubled star's death. Remick herself died of kidney cancer.

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Jill Ireland (1936–1990) - The English actress and singer was married to David McCallum of 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' fame before tying the knot with Charles Bronson, with whom she made 15 films. She was struck down with breast cancer and chronicled her battle with the disease in two books before passing away.

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Sharon Tate (1943–1969) - Tate regularly featured in fashion magazines as a model and cover girl before appearing in films and television. She is of course remembered as one of the victims of the ghastly murders committed by the Manson family.

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Lauren Bacall (1924–2014) - One of the legendary figures of cinema, Bacall began her career as a model before Hollywood beckoned. She made several films with Humphrey Bogart and eventually married the actor. She lived a long life but ultimately died of a stroke.

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Farrah Fawcett (1947–2009) - Fawcett was once voted "most beautiful" student by classmates at high school, and her model looks secured her the role as Jill Munroe in the first season of the TV series 'Charlie's Angels.' She died of cancer.

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Jean Seberg (1938–1979) - American-born but living half of her life in France, Seberg became an icon of French New Wave cinema. Politically active, she was investigated by the FBI for her alleged association with a number of political organizations. The pressure of being under such scrutiny led to an increasing fragile mental state, which ended with her apparently killing herself.

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Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez (1971–2002) - Young and sassy, Lopez was one-third of the R&B girl group TLC.  She was nicknamed "Left Eye" after a compliment from a man who once told her he was attracted to her because of her left eye. She was killed in car crash.

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Romy Schneider (1938–1982) - The Austrian actress found fame in her home country before deciding to live and work in France, where she found greater fame. She also enjoyed a brief stint in Hollywood. Cardiac arrest was cited as the cause of her death.

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Jane Russell (1921–2011) - A leading Hollywood beauty symbol, Russell cemented her reputation as a cinema vamp in 'The Outlaw' (1943), her motion-picture debut!

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Dorothy Stratten (1960–1980) - Canadian Playboy Playmate, model, and actress, Stratten fell victim to her estranged husband Paul Snider, who shot her dead before killing himself.

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Natasha Richardson (1963–2009) - A member of the influential Redgrave acting family, Natasha enjoyed a successful career as a film and stage actress. She was killed in a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada.

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Rebecca Schaeffer (1967–1989) -

Beginning her career as a teen model before moving on to acting, Schaeffer was on the cusp of greater stardom when she was shot dead by a crazed fan who'd been stalking her for three years.

See also: Who's the sexiest man NOT alive!

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