50 iconic actors who didn't live to see their final movies

One of the sad truths of life is that people will leave the world far too soon. When an artist passes away, their work to come after carries a different aura to audiences and observers. Their art takes on a new life, and in a sense, continues their legacy beyond death. Whether they be painters, entertainers, or any other type of artist, the rest of their body of work becomes of interest, especially if they were a notable public figure.

In the world of Hollywood, several performers have died abruptly in the middle of their career, leaving one or more performances left for audiences to watch and take in. Watching their last films can be an eerie experience, and it is often bittersweet as anyone who has followed their filmography will reflect on their accomplishments and greatest performances. But worst of all, their last work may showcase the potential they had if they didn't pass on.

Often enough, illness takes many of these actors away. Some public figures, whether they keep their conditions public or among their closest set, will continue to work to the end. Others may suffer through accidents or health-related misadventures, even during the production of one of their films. In those cases, filmmakers have to conjure up ways to "complete" their performance without all of their material. This could be through recasting, recycling of old footage, or the use of CGI.

Any film that features an actor who the world has recently lost will undoubtedly inspire intrigue. Whether they intended this to be the case or not, their last work acts as a final statement on their work ethic and talent, and a final chance for their fans to spend some time with them.

Stacker dug through the annals of film history and chose 50 actors who didn't live to see the last roles they filmed. To qualify, the actor had to die between filming and the release date of the movie(s). The list is organized chronologically.

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