8 Celebrity Deaths That Still Remain A Mystery

Note: This post includes mentions of murder, suicide, and sexual assault. 

While Hollywood, the music industry, and the "world of celebrity" are often synonymous with glamour, wealth, and fame, frequently darker stories are hidden beneath the surface.

On a late night, I'll find myself in the depths of a Wikipedia page, or listening baffled at the stories on You Must Remember This, one of my personal favorite podcasts about Hollywood's secret and dark histories. "Why have I never heard of this before!?!" I'll ask myself. I'll then transform into an amateur investigator in the confines of my bedroom, researching and cobbling all the information I can find about whatever wild rabbit hole I'm led down.

So, as Halloween marks the end of the spooky season, I thought it fitting to compile a list of some of the mysterious Hollywood and celebrity deaths that continue to leave me, fans, true crime enthusiasts, and even investigators with countless questions. Let's get into them:

1. George Reeves, Superman, 1959

At the time of death, Reeves's fiancée, Leonore Lemmon, was in the house with guests. According to the police report, Lemmon strangely predicted he was going to shoot himself to the guests after he came downstairs to tell them to be quiet. According to the police report, Lemmon said, "He is going to shoot himself." They then heard a bedside drawer open. "He is getting the gun out now, and he is going to shoot himself," Lemmon allegedly continued, according to the report. A shot rang out. Forty-five minutes later, they called the police.

The 2006 film Hollywoodland brought renewed interest to Reeves's mysterious death, presenting three possible scenarios: that he indeed did die by suicide, that Lemmon shot him, or that a hitman murdered him under orders from MGM executive Eddie Mannix. Speculation about Mannix's involvement arose because, according to the Daily Beast, Reeves had previously had an affair with Mannix's wife, Toni. Mannix was rumored to have mafia connections, which led to theories that he may have ordered Reeves's death. Still, despite the numerous theories and unresolved questions, no further investigation into Reeves's death ever occurred.

2. Virginia Rappe, silent film starlet, 1921

Initially, Arbuckle told the media that Rappe had become "hysterical" after drinking, began tearing off her clothes, and called him for help; however, in court, he testified that he found Rappe in pain on the bathroom floor and tried to help by giving her water and lying her down.

The defense further argued that Rappe's death could have been due to pre-existing health issues, as she allegedly had a history of bladder problems and was known to suffer from sudden abdominal pain. Witnesses also portrayed Rappe in a negative light, testifying that she was promiscuous and often drank heavily at social events. Ultimately, no concrete evidence and conflicting testimonies led to Arbuckle's acquittal, but the media coverage damaged his career and public image. The case remained controversial, leaving Virginia Rappe's death a forever unresolved, dark mystery in early Hollywood history.

Speculation about the motive behind the shooting quickly arose, with many believing it was gang-related after his altercation earlier in the night. Additionally, some pointed to the escalating feud between East Coast rap, represented by Biggie Smalls and Diddy of Bad Boy Records, and West Coast rap, associated with Tupac and Suge Knight's Death Row Records.

4. Christopher Wallace, aka The Notorious B.I.G., 1997

Many quickly theorized that the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry contributed to Biggie's murder, particularly that his death may have been retaliation for Tupac's murder. Russell Poole, the former Los Angeles Police Department detective who was a main investigator in Biggie's death, proposed that corrupt police officers orchestrated the murder alongside Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Cops tapped Suge Knight as a suspect in 1999, but no arrest was ever made.

Biggie's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD, accusing the department of covering up police involvement in the murder. However, after years of legal proceedings, the lawsuit was eventually dismissed. Despite extensive theories and investigations, no convictions have been secured, leaving Biggie's murder unsolved and rife with speculation.

5. Paul Bern, MGM producer, 1932

The "frightful wrong" in the note led to speculation that Bern was impotent and couldn't provide for Harlow sexually, which was further fueled by the media. However, while officially ruled a suicide, suspicions of foul play and speculation around his death spanned decades. First, when Bern's household staff found his body, they did not immediately call the police, but MGM studio executives, who had access to the crime scene for two hours before police were called. This has led many to theorize that the studio tampered with evidence, possibly to cover something up.

Complicating the case into more mystery, Bern's former wife, Dorothy Millette, was found dead in a river just two days after his death, leading to speculation that she was involved. Some believe that MGM orchestrated a cover-up to prevent a scandal, while others suspect that Millette, Harlow, or even the studio itself played a role in Bern's death.

6. Thelma Todd, Hollywood actress, 1935

Mysterious details include death threats Todd received in the weeks leading up to her death demanding her to pay $10,000, her car still having fuel in it despite the engine running for two days, and reports of her being seen alive after her supposed time of death. Potential suspects included West, her reportedly violent ex-husband Pat DiCicco, and mobster Lucky Luciano, with whom she had affairs. Still, no one was ever charged with Todd's death, and what really happened the night of her death remains unresolved and ripe with speculation.

One of the most infamous conspiracies suggests Marilyn was having extramarital affairs with both John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, and was subsequently murdered to prevent the affairs from going public. Other theories speculate that the mafia killed her, that her death was staged, or that the CIA or FBI had some involvement, as Monroe was under FBI surveillance due to her connections with powerful political figures.

However, doubts quickly arose. Wood's sister, Lana, argued Wood was afraid of water and wouldn't attempt to board the dinghy alone at night. She told the New York Times, "Natalie didn't swim. Her fear of dark water was deeply ingrained." At CrimeCon, she added, "She certainly would not get into a dinghy in her nightgown by herself."

Davern's statements prompted the Sheriff's Department to reopen the case in 2011, and the coroner's office changed the cause of death to "drowning and other undetermined factors" in 2012. At the time, Wagner released a statement supporting the investigation but also suggested Davern's statements might be an attempt to profit from his book and the upcoming 30th anniversary of Natalie’s death.

Wagner previously admitted in his 2008 autobiography that he argued with Wood before she disappeared, but he has maintained that he was not involved. "Did I blame myself? If I had been there, I could have done something," he said. "But I wasn't there. I didn't see her. The bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened."

In 2018, LA County Sheriff investigators named Wagner a person of interest, though as of May 2022, they reportedly cleared his name. "All leads in the Natalie Wood case have been exhausted, and the case remains an open, unsolved case," Lt. Hugo Reynaga told Page Six in 2022.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.