9 Celebrity Deaths Last Week: Actors, Athletes, Influencers Who Died Too Soon
Adrian Schiller, Joe Flaherty, and several other celebrities died in the past week, with tributes and condolence messages pouring in lamenting the losses.
Fans all over the world are mourning the deaths of these notable figures in film, television, theater, sports, and social media.
Here are nine celebrities who died between Easter 2024 and April 6.
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1. CJ Snare - April 5
Carl Jeffrey "CJ" Snare of the hair metal band FireHouse died Friday. He was 64.
FireHouse shared the heartbreaking news via Facebook, writing that the band was "in complete shock" over Snare's unexpected death.
According to FireHouse, Snare was expected to resume touring with his bandmates in the summer after recovering from his abdominal surgery.
"You will be forever missed by family, friends, fans, and your band mates. You're singing with the angels now," the glam metal band wrote.
Snare's exact cause of death was not disclosed.
FireHouse released eight studio albums with Snare, who co-wrote most of the tracks. His work included chart-topping hits such as "Don't Treat Me Bad" and "Love of a Lifetime."
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2. Cole Brings Plenty - April 5
Cole Brings Plenty was found dead in Kansas Friday, just days after he was reported missing. He was 27.
The actor, who starred in the "Yellowstone" spinoff series "1923," was discovered by Johnson County deputies in a wooded area after a person reported seeing an unoccupied vehicle nearby, according to a police statement.
Brings Plenty's cause of death has not been announced as of this writing.
His family also confirmed his passing, with his father Joe Brings Plenty Sr. writing in a statement obtained by CNN: "I am deeply saddened to confirm that my son, Cole, has been found and is no longer with us."
"We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for the prayers and positive thoughts you sent for Cole," he added. "We would also like to thank everyone who came to walk beside us as we searched for my son and provided the resources we needed to expand our search areas. I learned this week how many people knew the goodness in Cole's heart and loved him."
Brings Plenty's death came after he was named a suspect in an alleged domestic violence incident on Easter.
The Lawrence Police Department said it received reports of a woman screaming for help at an apartment in Lawrence. The actor allegedly "fled" the scene before officers arrived.
The exact details of the case were not disclosed.
3. Adrian Schiller - April 3
"The Last Kingdom" star Adrian Schiller passed away Wednesday at the age of 60, CNN reported.
Schiller's cause of death has not been revealed.
In addition to Netflix's historical drama, the English actor also appeared in "The Danish Girl," the live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast," "Doctor Who," and Ridley Scott's "Raised by Wolves."
4. Christopher Durang - April 2
The theater world is mourning the loss of beloved comedic playwright Christopher Durang, who died Tuesday at the age of 75.
Durang died at his Pennsylvania home of complications from logopenic primary progressive aphasia, his agent told Entertainment Weekly.
He was known for his hits "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All," "The Actor's Nightmare," and "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," the latter of which earned him the Tony Award for best play.
Durang was also beloved for his series of comedic one-acts, including "Wanda's Visit" and "A Stye of the Eye," which are performed under the title "Durang/Durang."
5. Joe Flaherty - April 1
"Freaks and Geeks" actor Joe Flaherty died on April 1 after battling an undisclosed illness. He was 82.
Flaherty's daughter, Gudrun, announced his passing, saying in a statement: "My dad was a kind, sweet soul who blessed all who knew him and those who loved his work."
"He will be so deeply missed, but we are eternally grateful to God for him being in our lives," Gudrun added in the statement obtained by EW.
Flaherty starred on the hit Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" as a writer-performer for eight years.
His other acting credits included "Happy Gilmore," "Back to the Future Part II," "The King of Queens," and "Freaks and Geeks," in which he starred as Weir family patriarch Harold Weir.
6. Vontae Davis - April 1
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis was discovered dead at his Southwest Ranches, Florida, residence on April 1. He was 35.
A housekeeper found the former Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills defensive back slumped over in his home gym.
Davis' cause of death has not been announced.
Police said no foul play is suspected.
His brother, Vernon Davis, told the Daily Mail that the two-time Pro Bowler appeared to have collapsed after stepping out of a sauna. He also said Vontae had no history of drug use and never mentioned any brain injury to him.
Vontae retired in 2018 after 11 seasons in the NFL.
The NFL addressed Vontae's passing on X, formerly Twitter, saying that it "is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Vontae Davis. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."
7. Vielka Pulido - April 3
Mexican influencer Vielka Pulido died on April 3 after being shot dead outside a gym in Mexico. She was 21.
Her boyfriend, Joel Abraham Chavez, was also killed in the shooting outside Beats Fitness Centre in the neighborhood of Santa Cruz Buenavista, the Daily Mail reported.
Mexican police allegedly suspect that Chavez could have been the intended target of the unidentified gunman, according to the outlet.
8. Joshua-Michael Waring - March 31
Joshua-Michael Waring, the son of "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Lauri Peterson, died on Easter. He was 35.
Peterson announced her son's death via an emotional message on Instagram.
"No one can ever prepare you for this feeling of such deep loss. Every fiber in my body hurts," the reality star wrote.
Waring served four years in prison for an attempted murder following a 2016 arrest.
He was also sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges in 2022, the Los Angeles Times reported.
9. Kate Kaufling - March 31
University of Kentucky dance team member Kate Kaufling died on March 31 after battling osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. She was 20.
The university shared the tragic news of the sophomore nursing student's passing in a statement on its website.
"Kate was a joy to coach and to be around. Her smile could light up a room and she was beloved by all of her UKDT teammates," UK dance team head coach Dawn Walters said in the statement.
Kaufling, who had been on the UK dance team with her twin sister Abbey, was diagnosed with cancer in June 2023, according to TMZ.
In January, Kaufling shared on Instagram that she had finished chemotherapy after seven months of undergoing treatment.
"Today I'm proud to share I'm officially done with chemotherapy and ready for a better chapter of my life to begin," Kaufling wrote at the time.