10 Celebrities Who Died On Christmas Day: George Michael, Billy Martin And More!
While Christmas is a happy holiday for most people, it's a sad day for those who lost their loved ones on this supposedly festive day.
For some, Christmas Day has become a sad and painful reminder of those who passed away.
Here's a list of 10 notable personalities and celebrities who unfortunately passed away on Dec. 25 over the years.
1. George Michael
Singer-songwriter-producer George Michael, who was known for the songs "Last Christmas," "Careless Whisper," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John and "Faith," among many others, shocked fans with the news of his passing on the Christmas Day of 2016.
Michael died in his home in Goring, United Kingdom, at age 53 from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver.
2. Billy Martin
New York Yankee star Billy Martin died in an alcohol-related automobile accident on Christmas Eve of 1989.
Then 61 years old, Martin was a passenger in a pickup truck when the accident happened. The vehicle he was riding skidded off an icy road near his farm in upstate New York and tumbled 300 feet until it reached the pillars of Martin's driveway.
The driver of the pickup truck underwent a blood-alcohol test and was discovered to be intoxicated.
3. Charlie Chaplin
Comic actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, who rose to fame in the era of silent films, died in his sleep on Christmas Day of 1977 in Switzerland. He was 88 years old.
Chaplin was survived by his wife, Oona, and their eight children: Geraldine, Josephine, Victoria, Eugene, Jane, Annette, Michael and Christopher.
The English artist is known to be one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century.
4. Dean Martin
On Christmas Day of 1995, Dean Paul Martin, who was nicknamed "The King of Cool," passed away at age 78 in Beverly Hills, California, of acute respiratory failure. He was also suffering from a kidney ailment at the time.
The crooner was popular for his songs "Memories Are Made of This," "Everybody Loves Somebody" and "That's Amore," among many others.
He also starred in movies such as "Rio Bravo," "Kiss Me, Stupid," "Ocean's 11," "The Sons of Katie Elder" and "Airport," among others.
5. Eartha Kitt
It's quite unfortunate how American singer-actress Eartha Kitt, who was known for the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby," passed away on Christmas Day.
Kitt died at 81 years old on Christmas Day of 2008 in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer.
Aside from the song "Santa Baby," Kitt was also well known for portraying Catwoman in the TV series "Batman" in 1967.
6. James Brown
On Christmas Day of 2006, James Joseph Brown, known simply as James Brown, died at age 73. The cause of his death was listed as pneumonia-related congestive heart failure by Atlanta's Emory Hospital Midtown.
However, more than a decade after his death, some people believed that he may have been murdered as a "male stranger" allegedly visited him at the hospital before his death.
Brown was well known for nicknames such as the "Godfather of Soul," "Mr. Dynamite" and the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business."
7. Vic Chesnutt
American singer-songwriter James Victor Chesnutt from Athens, Georgia, died on Christmas Day of 2009 at age 45 after an apparent overdose of muscle relaxants.
The Guardian described Chesnutt as a "tragedy foretold in a song." In one of his songs, "Flirted With You All My Life," he addressed the Grim Reaper as a childhood sweetheart.
Chesnutt's other songs included "Supernatural," "Sad Peter Pan," "Coward," "When I Ran Off and Left Her," "Chain," "When The Bottom Fell Out," "We Hovered With Short Wings" and "Sleeping Man," among many others.
8. Frankie Darro
Frankie Darro was known for his role as Lampwick in Walt Disney's animated feature "Pinocchio" in 1940. He portrayed the character of an unlucky boy who turns into a donkey.
Later in his career, Darro became a stuntman. In the 1960s, he lent his acrobatic talents to a slapstick show as an accident-prone little old lady.
Darro died of a heart attack at age 59 on Christmas Day of 1976 in Huntington Beach, California.
9. Joan Blondell
American actress Joan Blondell was known for playing sexy character roles in movies, TV shows and on stage before she passed away.
Blondell died on Christmas Day of 1979 at age 70. She reportedly succumbed to leukemia.
During her career, she was able to star in over 80 films, including "Blonde Crazy," "Night Nurse," "Blondie Johnson," "Nightmare Alley" and "The Public Enemy," among many others.
10. W.C. Fields
American actor-comedian W.C. Fields -- real name William Claude Dukenfield -- passed away on Christmas Day of 1946 at age 66.
The famed film comedian reportedly died after falling seriously ill for several months. He was in a coma during his final day.
W.C. Fields was recognized as one of America's greatest comedians, per Britannica.
