Fake celebrity deaths from suspected spy to baffling identity theft

Elvis Presley: Singer 'used replica' to fake death says recording

With rumours flooding the internet that Elvis Presley is still alive and Avril Lavigne has been replaced with a clone, it’s easy to get bogged down by fake celebrity news.

But over the years, some celebs did go as far as to fake their own deaths for various reasons.

Agatha Christie might have started the trend, who knows? The Miss Marple author disappeared for a whole 11 days without a word, reportedly just to cause a stir.

The mystery writer had just been dumped by her husband Archie, who admitted to having an affair with a younger woman – his secretary. Though the theories on why Agatha disappeared for more than a week afterwards vary, her car was found parked in a bush with a suitcase and coat still inside.

More than 1,000 police officers were brought in to start a manhunt, fearing Agatha dead. Even Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle was recruited to the cause to locate her.

Thankfully, Agatha had simply checked into a hotel under a fake name – borrowing that of her husband’s mistress. While she partied, her husband was being investigated for her murder. Unharmed, Agatha exposed her location and simply sat down, reading a newspaper that had her own disappearance on the front page.

Archie’s official story was that Agatha had suffered from amnesia after crashing her car – but plenty of fans reckon she was simply too angry with him to think rationally.

She’s far from the only one, however. Rappers, comedians and even an MP have faked their deaths for some reason or other.

South Korean rapper Ch1tkey confessed his reason for faking his own death was simply to promote a new piece of music.

The musician stirred reports that he had fallen off a roof while attempting a social media challenge, and plummeted to his death. But days later, he confirmed in an Instagram Live that he hadn’t actually died.

He said: “I’m not just seeking attention. I tried to make a comeback with my album, but I ended up being so smart that I deceived even my family. So the police, reporters came to my house and news reports came out.”

The rapper cryptically added: “God told me that I am good and Korean people are bad. So pretending to be moral while doing bad things online is wrong. What I’m doing is what God wanted, according to what God told me.”

John Stonehouse faked his death and was imprisoned for fraud (Image: Getty)

Though not strictly a celeb, MP John Stonehouse grabbed headlines when he faked his own death back in 1974. He’d started out in Harold Wilson’s Labour government in 1964, but just years later his life was falling apart.

John was being interrogated by MI5 on suspicion of espionage, and was headed for financial ruin while his career was falling apart. During the Cold War, he had regularly met Czech “diplomats” who were all intelligence operatives.

They claimed to have paid him £5,000 – though his daughter insists the money never reached him – and Stonehouse was accused of handing over state secrets.

To make matters worse, in the vein of Agatha’s husband, John had been having an affair with his secretary. He fled to Miami to stage a suicide. Then he emigrated to Australia to begin a new life.

But while visiting numerous banks across the country to make suspicious transactions, Stonehouse soon caught the attention of Melbourne cops. But it was a case of mistaken identity as they mistook him for peer Lord Lucan, who was wanted for the murder of his nanny back in London.

He eventually confessed to faking his death and was declared bankrupt when he headed back to the UK. Convicted of fraud, Stonehouse was sentenced to seven years behind bars, but was released on good behaviour by the end of the 70s. He died for real in April 1988.

Nigerian musician Oladips was forced to apologise after it was discovered he had faked his own death.

His death was announced via Instagram with a statement that read: “We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji, aka Oladips, passed away yesterday, Nov 14th, Tuesday evening, at precisely 10:14 pm. We are still in shock as we speak!

“For over two years, he has kept his battles within himself. His body is now with his family, and funeral services will be announced as soon as it is concluded! The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May God give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Later, the rapper was forced to apologise, admitting to Nigerian Billboard: “I apologize to Nigerians and my followers (core disciples). I will never play with people’s emotions like that. It was never a prank. I am really sorry for the confusion, distress and false alarm. I take full responsibility.”

The crooner had posted a video urging fans to take him to hospital, and even his management thought he had died.

Comedian Andy Kaufman was the subject of a hoax (Image: Getty)

Though this one is unconfirmed, it’s been said by comedian Andy Kaufman’s own brother that he faked his death back in 1984.

The Taxi star officially died rom lung cancer, but his brother Michael claimed to have received a letter from him more than a decade later in 1999, confirming he was still alive.

Michael has also claimed Andy welcomed a daughter five years after his official “death”, introducing her at an event in New York. The woman said: “He just wanted to be a stay-at-home dad, that’s why he wanted to leave the showbiz.

“He's pretty much a great dad, and raised us. My mom has her own business... He helps her with that kind of thing, paperwork and stuff, so he can work from home and he doesn't have to be hiding out [or] concealing himself. He just makes us food and takes care of the house."

But later, the woman was revealed to be – you guessed it – a fake. She was actress Alexandra Tatarsky, recruited by Michael to pose as his niece.

As for Andy, his death certificate remains online and lists his cause of death as renal failure, though fans maintain he is still alive and kicking as he was known for his elaborate pranks.