Photos Insert

Illustration. Tiny double bassist Jane Little, the holder of a Guinness World Record for the longest tenure with a single orchestra, tumbled to the stage near the end of what already was planned to be the final number of her career. Photo by Dustin Chambers, courtesy of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Tiny double bassist Jane Little, the holder of a Guinness World Record for the longest tenure with a single orchestra, tumbled to the stage near the end of what already was planned to be the final number of her career. Photo by Dustin Chambers, courtesy of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

LEFT: A more concise headline has never been written. Coffeyville (KS) Daily Journal, May 10, 1904, via Newspapers.com

RIGHT: Everyone agreed that the death of Joe Greenwald made for a sensational headline, but few would agree on his final words. Binghamton (NY) Press, April 2, 1938, via Newspapers.com

Illustration. Broadway star David Burns, best known for his role opposite Carol Channing in Broadway’s Hello, Dolly!, died of a heart attack out of town, onstage in Philadelphia during a tryout run of the musical 70, Girls, 70. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Broadway star David Burns, best known for his role opposite Carol Channing in Broadway’s Hello, Dolly!, died of a heart attack out of town, onstage in Philadelphia during a tryout run of the musical 70, Girls, 70. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Illustration. Aerial artist Pedro Aunión Monroy was opening for the band Green Day at the Mad Cool music festival when he fell a hundred feet to his death. Courtesy of Monica Aunión Monroy

Aerial artist Pedro Aunión Monroy was opening for the band Green Day at the Mad Cool music festival when he fell a hundred feet to his death. Courtesy of Monica Aunión Monroy

Illustration. The last photo of dialect comedian Harry Einstein, a.k.a. Parkyakarkus. After his hilarious routine at the Friars Club testimonial dinner for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, he plotzed into Milton Berle’s lap. Los Angeles Herald-Express, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The last photo of dialect comedian Harry Einstein, a.k.a. Parkyakarkus. After his hilarious routine at the Friars Club testimonial dinner for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, he plotzed into Milton Berle’s lap. Los Angeles Herald-Express, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Illustration. Comedian Al Kelly (left), the king of double-talk, flummoxes fellow Friar and king of jokes Joey Adams on a 1953 quiz show. When Al collapsed during an ovation from a star-studded crowd at the Friars Club, he was carried out and pronounced dead atop the Round the World Bar. Publicity still

Comedian Al Kelly (left), the king of double-talk, flummoxes fellow Friar and king of jokes Joey Adams on a 1953 quiz show. When Al collapsed during an ovation from a star-studded crowd at the Friars Club, he was carried out and pronounced dead atop the Round the World Bar. Publicity still

Illustration. Comedian Dick Shawn’s habit of lying motionless onstage before and during intermission of his one-man show led to confusion when he dropped from an apparent heart attack. Publicity still

Comedian Dick Shawn’s habit of lying motionless onstage before and during intermission of his one-man show led to confusion when he dropped from an apparent heart attack. Publicity still

When comic magician Tommy Cooper collapsed and died on live television, audiences in the theater and at home laughed. Video still

Illustration. Left: When lecherous British comedy star Sid James suffered a fatal heart attack onstage, someone asked, “Is there a doctor in the house?” The audience laughed. So did the doctor. Publicity still Right: Mentalist Washington Irving Bishop often fell into a death-like cataleptic state during his performances. After he was stricken onstage at the Lambs Club in Manhattan in 1889, doctors removed his brain before he could recover.

LEFT: When lecherous British comedy star Sid James suffered a fatal heart attack onstage, someone asked, “Is there a doctor in the house?” The audience laughed. So did the doctor. Publicity still

RIGHT: Mentalist Washington Irving Bishop often fell into a death-like cataleptic state during his performances. After he was stricken onstage at the Lambs Club in Manhattan in 1889, doctors removed his brain before he could recover.

Illustration. “Amazing Joe” Burrus in the plastic-and-glass coffin in which he would perform his final stunt. Seven tons of wet cement made sure of it. Courtesy of Joseph Burrus

“Amazing Joe” Burrus in the plastic-and-glass coffin in which he would perform his final stunt. Seven tons of wet cement made sure of it. Courtesy of Joseph Burrus

Illustration. Mysterious Chinese magician Chung Ling Soo, celebrated for his ability to catch bullets, was not really Chinese, and, as he proved in his final performance, couldn’t really catch bullets. Courtesy of Mike Caveney’s Egyptian Hall Museum

Mysterious Chinese magician Chung Ling Soo, celebrated for his ability to catch bullets, was not really Chinese, and, as he proved in his final performance, couldn’t really catch bullets. Courtesy of Mike Caveney’s Egyptian Hall Museum

Illustration. Left: Frederick Federici, famed for his roles in Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, was playing the demon Mephistopheles in Faust when he suffered a fatal heart attack while descending beneath the stage to “hell.” Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co., courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Right: The death of baritone Leonard Warren onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House led to a journalism scandal, and also a Pulitzer Prize. Publicity still

LEFT: Frederick Federici, famed for his roles in Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, was playing the demon Mephistopheles in Faust when he suffered a fatal heart attack while descending beneath the stage to “hell.” Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co., courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

RIGHT: The death of baritone Leonard Warren onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House led to a journalism scandal, and also a Pulitzer Prize. Publicity still

Illustration. Conductor Israel Yinon tumbled headfirst from the podium while conducting a concert titled The Healing Alps, one of many conductors to die by the baton. Photo by Etan J. Tal, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IsraelYinon2003.jpg

Conductor Israel Yinon tumbled headfirst from the podium while conducting a concert titled The Healing Alps, one of many conductors to die by the baton. Photo by Etan J. Tal, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IsraelYinon2003.jpg

Illustration. Left: Heavy metal guitar hero “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was shot to death onstage during a show in Columbus, Ohio, on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon. Photo by April Ashford-Forsythe, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dimebag.jpg Right: A nightclub security camera recorded a six-foot-five, schizophrenic ex-marine as he ran across the stage of the Alrosa Villa club and shot “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, killing the heavy metal guitar god and three others. Video still, Columbus Division of Police, Columbus, OH

LEFT: Heavy metal guitar hero “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was shot to death onstage during a show in Columbus, Ohio, on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon. Photo by April Ashford-Forsythe, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dimebag.jpg

RIGHT: A nightclub security camera recorded a six-foot-five, schizophrenic ex-marine as he ran across the stage of the Alrosa Villa club and shot “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, killing the heavy metal guitar god and three others. Video still, Columbus Division of Police, Columbus, OH

Illustration. After Edmond Turner suffered a massive heart attack while playing Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” onstage in a Mexican restaurant, they had to peel his fingers from the neck of this Stratocaster guitar. Photo by Kriss Famous, courtesy of the photographer

After Edmond Turner suffered a massive heart attack while playing Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” onstage in a Mexican restaurant, they had to peel his fingers from the neck of this Stratocaster guitar. Photo by Kriss Famous, courtesy of the photographer

Illustration. When jam band godfather Colonel Bruce Hampton collapsed onstage during the encore of his all-star seventieth birthday celebration, the other musicians played on. They assumed it was part of his act. Video still

When jam band godfather Colonel Bruce Hampton collapsed onstage during the encore of his all-star seventieth birthday celebration, the other musicians played on. They assumed it was part of his act. Video still

Illustration. Sparks flew as Romanian metal band Goodbye to Gravity opened their last show with the song “The Day We Die.” When another pyrotechnic display later in their set ignited a fire, four out of five band members did die. Video still, Arhiva Mea

Sparks flew as Romanian metal band Goodbye to Gravity opened their last show with the song “The Day We Die.” When another pyrotechnic display later in their set ignited a fire, four out of five band members did die. Video still, Arhiva Mea

Illustration. Left: Pub rocker Nick Lowe was electrocuted to death onstage in 1968 but brought back to life—a life made very comfortable after his song “(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding” was featured on the soundtrack album for the movie The Bodyguard, the bestselling soundtrack of all time. Photo by Juan Gonzalez Andres, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nick_Lowe1.jpg Right: Country star Onie Wheeler (right) with A. J. and Doyle Nelson, just moments before Wheeler fell down dead of a heart attack in the sacred circle at the Grand Ole Opry. Courtesy of Karen Wheeler

LEFT: Pub rocker Nick Lowe was electrocuted to death onstage in 1968 but brought back to life—a life made very comfortable after his song “(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding” was featured on the soundtrack album for the movie The Bodyguard, the bestselling soundtrack of all time. Photo by Juan Gonzalez Andres, courtesy of the photographer, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nick_Lowe1.jpg

RIGHT: Country star Onie Wheeler (right) with A. J. and Doyle Nelson, just moments before Wheeler fell down dead of a heart attack in the sacred circle at the Grand Ole Opry. Courtesy of Karen Wheeler

Illustration. It took several years and a radio station campaign for R&B star Jackie Wilson to get a marked grave, but when he did, he was hailed not only as Mr. Excitement but also as The Complete Entertainer. Photo by John Shetler, courtesy of the photographer

It took several years and a radio station campaign for R&B star Jackie Wilson to get a marked grave, but when he did, he was hailed not only as MR. EXCITEMENT but also as THE COMPLETE ENTERTAINER. Photo by John Shetler, courtesy of the photographer

Illustration. Soul artist and social activist Curtis Mayfield died nine years after he was paralyzed in an onstage accident. Courtesy of Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtis_Mayfield.png

Soul artist and social activist Curtis Mayfield died nine years after he was paralyzed in an onstage accident. Courtesy of Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtis_Mayfield.png

Illustration. Seven weeks after the death of Louis Armstrong, his ex-wife and mentor Lil Hardin died while performing at a tribute concert in honor of the jazz great. Courtesy of the Louis Armstrong House Museum

Seven weeks after the death of Louis Armstrong, his ex-wife and mentor Lil Hardin died while performing at a tribute concert in honor of the jazz great. Courtesy of the Louis Armstrong House Museum

Illustration. Left: Frank Sinatra said Sylvia Syms was the world’s greatest saloon singer. She fell over and died during her tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Publicity still Right: Jazz saxophone legend Warne Marsh was performing at a club in North Hollywood when, from out of nowhere, he died, after soloing on the song, “Out of Nowhere.” Photo by Rob Bogaerts/Anefo, courtesy of the Dutch National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons

LEFT: Frank Sinatra said Sylvia Syms was the world’s greatest saloon singer. She fell over and died during her tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Publicity still

RIGHT: Jazz saxophone legend Warne Marsh was performing at a club in North Hollywood when, from out of nowhere, he died, after soloing on the song, “Out of Nowhere.” Photo by Rob Bogaerts/Anefo, courtesy of the Dutch National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons

Illustration. Like other dangdut pop singers in Indonesia, Irma Bule worked with a snake, usually a boa constrictor or python. When she performed with a deadly king cobra named Rianti, she was bitten but kept singing and dancing for another forty-five minutes—until the venom reached her heart. Video still

Like other dangdut pop singers in Indonesia, Irma Bule worked with a snake, usually a boa constrictor or python. When she performed with a deadly king cobra named Rianti, she was bitten but kept singing and dancing for another forty-five minutes—until the venom reached her heart. Video still

Illustration. In concert, the final moment of life for Mango, Italy’s favorite singing star. Midsong, he uttered the word “Scusa” (“Sorry”), then collapsed across the keyboard of his electric piano. His death led to two funerals. Video still

In concert, the final moment of life for Mango, Italy’s favorite singing star. Midsong, he uttered the word “Scusa” (“Sorry”), then collapsed across the keyboard of his electric piano. His death led to two funerals. Video still

Illustration. Congolese singer and fashion plate Papa Wemba was best known for his work with Peter Gabriel—and his conviction for smuggling people into France by claiming they were in his band. Courtesy of Radio Okapi, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papa_Wemba.jpg

Congolese singer and fashion plate Papa Wemba was best known for his work with Peter Gabriel—and his conviction for smuggling people into France by claiming they were in his band. Courtesy of Radio Okapi, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papa_Wemba.jpg

Illustration. Nutritionist J. I. Rodale (left) died of a heart attack during a taping of The Dick Cavett Show. The show never aired. Video still, courtesy of Daphne Productions

Nutritionist J. I. Rodale (left) died of a heart attack during a taping of The Dick Cavett Show. The show never aired. Video still, courtesy of Daphne Productions

An image of J. I. Rodale in his final moments has never before been released. Video still, courtesy of Daphne Productions

Illustration. WWF wrestler Owen Hart signed autographs at Andrews Air Force Base eight days before he was killed in a spectacular entrance to the ring—dropping from the rafters. Photo by Telfair H. Brown PA1, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

WWF wrestler Owen Hart signed autographs at Andrews Air Force Base eight days before he was killed in a spectacular entrance to the ring—dropping from the rafters. Photo by Telfair H. Brown PA1, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Illustration. Left: Kid Canfield, the notorious reformed gambler, was the first documented case of death by “mic fright.” Newspaper ad, via Newspapers.com Right: Radio announcer and Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy actor Carlton KaDell’s publicized arrest in a gay vice sting in 1949 may have inspired him to create the series Case Dismissed. Publicity still

LEFT: Kid Canfield, the notorious reformed gambler, was the first documented case of death by “mic fright.” Newspaper ad, via Newspapers.com

RIGHT: Radio announcer and Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy actor Carlton KaDell’s publicized arrest in a gay vice sting in 1949 may have inspired him to create the series Case Dismissed. Publicity still

Illustration. Hostess Deborah Gail Stone, crushed between the moving walls of the America Sings attraction, was the first, and thus far only, performer to die on the job at Disneyland. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Hostess Deborah Gail Stone, crushed between the moving walls of the America Sings attraction, was the first, and thus far only, performer to die on the job at Disneyland. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Illustration. Tiny Tim suffered a heart attack and collapsed after performing his signature song, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Photos by Mike Carano, courtesy of the photographer

Tiny Tim suffered a heart attack and collapsed after performing his signature song, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Photos by Mike Carano, courtesy of the photographer

Illustration. The wind and faulty wire rigging were blamed for Karl Wallenda’s fatal plunge, but photographer Gary Williams, who shot this sequence, says, “A doctor friend called me two weeks after the fall to tell me that my photos show the face of a man having a heart attack.”

The wind and faulty wire rigging were blamed for Karl Wallenda’s fatal plunge, but photographer Gary Williams, who shot this sequence, says, “A doctor friend called me two weeks after the fall to tell me that my photos show the face of a man having a heart attack.”