10 Celebrities Who Died While Performing.
By
Michael Avery in
Entertainment
On 26th September 2017
Celebrities have fun while performing. They give out everything that they can every time they are on-stage since they are following their dreams and doing what they love.
However, by giving out everything, they literally do so. For some, this includes their soul or life. Sadly, there were performers who died as they were singing, dancing, playing an instrument, acting, etc. in front of their fans.
These tragic incidents might be due to unforeseen events, accidents, misfortunes, or natural causes. They might have suffered from an incurable disease and aging. This might also be a result of stress and pressure from work.
The first recorded tragedy can go as far as the 17th century wherein a French actor and playwright died after a violent cough in front of an audience. Molière started the superstition that green is an unlucky color. Whoever wears any green clothing during a performance will die eventually because that was what he was wearing when he passed away.
Celebrities are human beings too. Dying in front of an audience is just the worst-case scenario for these celebrities. Just because they are famous or rich enough to be the center of attention doesn’t mean they will have an eternal life. This an accepted reality. No matter how famous, rich, or intelligent you are, you will lie on your deathbeds, sooner or later. We will all go back to where we came from. We just don’t know the exact date and time. Hence, let us enjoy every moment for it is always uncertain. Everything can be gone in a blink of an eye.
LAUDIR DE OLIVEIRA
Laudir de Oliveira was a Brazilian musician who was best known for being the percussionist of the band Chicago from 1973 to 1981. Despite leaving the band, thirty years after, they reunited in 2010 to perform in Rio de Janeiro. Though, before Chicago, he joined the music industry in the 1960s.
He was credited on Joe Cocker’s 1969 debut album with the hit single, “Feelin’ Alright”. He also collaborated with Sergio Mendes and Marcos Valle in various projects. However, in September 2017, at age 77, he died while performing in Rio de Janiero, the same place where he sang with other Chicago members seven years before. He passed away due to a heart attack.
MOLIÈRE
In 1673, French artist and playwright Jean-Baptiste “Molière” Poquelin died in France at age 51. He was playing the hypochondriac Argan for his play, “The Imaginary Valid,” when he suffered a severe cough and hemorrhage. He was also diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. He completed the act but collapsed and passed away moments after.
It was him who started the superstition that whoever wears green clothing during a performance will witness their last one yet. Molière was recognized as the 17th century’s leading actor, comedian, stage director, and dramatic theoretician. He authored The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, The Imaginary Valid, The Bourgeois Gentleman, Tartuffe, and The Miser.
NICK MENZA
American performer Nick Menza was the previous drummer of the metal band Megadeth with records in four albums. In 1998, he had knee problems and benign tumor, which forced him to leave the band. When he passed away in May 2016, he was playing the third song on stage for his new band OHM.
At age 51, he collapsed during the concert in Studio City, California. From there, he had a massive heart attack and abnormal blood pressure. By the time they tried to revive him at the hospital, he was already declared gone. The cause of his death was congestive heart failure.
BISHNU BHAKTA PHUYAL
Bishnu Bhakta Phuyal was both a prominent theater artist and television actor in Kathmandu, Nepal. He performed in a few plays like Chidhiyeka Sanjhharu by Ghimire, Oedipus Rex and Nyayapremi by Sunil Pokharel and Baghbhairav by Satya Mohan Joshi. He composed and published a collection of plays named Sahidko Sapana in 2016. In early 2017, he passed away due to wounds and damages caused by falling off the stage while playing the role of King Janak in Maharshi Yagyawalkya. When they rushed him to the hospital, he died at the same time as he was being treated. He was around 80 years old.
MC DALESTE
King of Funk Daniel Pedreira Senna Pellegrine or better known as MC Daleste is a Brazilian funk paulista, composer, and rapper. His career started in 2009, followed by his first hit entitled, “Pedra da Exaltação”. In front of more than 3,000 people in 2013, he was shot in the abdomen and fell on stage while performing in Campina, São Paulo. He was brought to the hospital, yet he did not survive and died at age 20. Though, he was not the only one who was shot while performing. Other MCs like Felipe Boladão, MC Careca, MC Primo, MC Duda Marapé were killed in the past, too, with a speculation that a group aims to target all MCs in Brazil.
SARAH GUYARD-GUILLOT
For 22 years, the life of Sarah Guyard-Guillot centered around gymnastics. The French acrobat and aerialist even founded Cirquefit, a circus school class for interested and gifted kids in Las Vegas. However, in 2013, when her harness slipped during her performance at the Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, Nevada, her passion turned into a horrible ascension.
At the height of 90 feet, she fell, which was the first on-stage misfortune that resulted to bereavement at the Cirque du Soleil. The cause of her death was blunt force trauma or the physical trauma to a body part. She was 31 years old.
MIKE DIBIASE
Not to be confused with his son, Ted "The Million Dollar Man" DiBiase, Mike DiBiase or “Iron” Mike DiBiase was an Italian American professional wrestler. As an amateur wrestler, he represented the US Navy. He did have his professional debut in 1950. Wrestling also runs in his family’s blood since his wife and son are both wrestlers. Though, at age 45, in 1969, his career and family’s dreams ended during his death in a match with Man Mountain Mike in Lubbock, Texas. He suffered a heart attack. Despite performing CPR on him and DiBiase was rushed to the hospital, he still died. Ted confirmed that his father did have a huge cholesterol buildup, which resulted in a heart attack.
MANGO
Giuseppe Mango or simply “Mango” was a well-known and exceptional singer-songwriter, musician, and performer in Italy. He was dubbed as an “authentic innovator of Italian pop music” and “Italian rock fusion innovator”. He released hit songs such as “Oro”, “Mediterraneo”, “Amore per te”, “Nella mia città”, and “La rondine”. He also wrote songs for Patty Pravo, Andrea Bocelli, and Mietta. However, in December 2014, Mango had a heart attack while performing at a concert in Matera, Italy. Before falling on the floor, he even said, “Excuse me.” By the time he was transported to a hospital, he passed away at the age of 60.
LASSE ERIKSSON
In 2011, Lasse Eriksson passed away while performing in his show named, “Fyra lyckliga män 2 (Four happy men 2)” in Uppsala, Sweden. More than six years have passed, yet there is still no definite cause for his sudden death since there was no record of past medical conditions. He did clutch his chest and he tried to walk away from the stage, yet he collapsed. Before his death, Lasse Eriksson was known as one of the first stand-up comedians in Sweden. Apart from that, he was also a songwriter. Stället was one of his renowned works that talk about the daily lives of people living in rural areas.
MIKE SCACCIA
Mike Scaccia was the lead guitarist of the metal bands Ministry and Rigor Mortis. Rigor Mortis was materialized the following year when he left his first band, Spectrum. In 1989, he joined Ministry. Following his career in the music industry, he passed away in 2012 while he was performing onstage in Fort Worth, Texas.
It was supposed to be a Happy Birthday celebration for former bandmate Bruce Corbitt, but then he collapsed at once. It was too late when he was brought to the hospital because he was already pronounced dead. Initially, it was thought that the seizure was the cause of his death, yet a medical examiner confirmed that it was due to a sudden heart attack caused by a former heart disease.
