Celebrities Who Died From Cancer Before Turning 50

Cancer is a common disease affecting about 33% of the American population. It happens when the normal cell cycle (in which cells in your body grow, divide, and die when they get old) becomes faulty in a specific part of your body, leading to an abnormal and uncontrolled cell overgrowth, often forming tumors that invade surrounding tissues. While cancer can affect anyone, there are some factors that are known to increase its risk, including genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposure to cancer-causing elements. Yet, according to the National Cancer Institute, age is one of the strongest risk factors for cancer, with most cases developing in people over 60 years old.

Nevertheless, some people, including well-known celebrities, have tragically died from cancer well before reaching that age. While in most cases there is no obvious cause for cancer's development, more often than not, celebrities lead high-profile lives with unique pressures that might fall under the lifestyle risk factor category for cancer, including demanding schedules and expectations that can skyrocket their stress levels or lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as an increased alcohol intake or smoking, which also contribute to cancer development. This article takes a closer look at the lives of celebrities who lost their battles with cancer at a young age.

A Jamaican singer and songwriter, Bob Marley was a global icon born in February 1945 and known for popularizing reggae music after blending it with a significant Rastafarian influence (via Encyclopedia Britannica). He rose to fame in the '70s while still performing with The Wailers, with whom he released hits like "Get Up Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff," while songs like "No Woman No Cry," "Exodus," and "Could You Be Loved" became some of the greatest hits of his career as part of the band Bob Marley and the Wailers. Bob Marley's music is known for shining a light on political and social injustices. His role in the One Love peace concert in 1978 turned him into a symbol of unity and peace. Three years later, he was awarded the Order of The Merit by the Jamaican Government, emphasizing his prominent cultural influence.

Despite his rising success, Bob Marley's life was cut short by melanoma at the age of 36. In its later years, the skin cancer, which originated in his big toe, had spread to his brain, lungs, and stomach. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, the cells that give color to the skin. Unfortunately, this means that it tends to be spotted and diagnosed later in people who, like Bob Marley, have a darker skin color, meaning that treatment options become more limited (via the Skin Cancer Foundation).

Born in December 1981 in Mexico, Adan Canto started his career in the music industry as a singer-songwriter at the age of 16 but then transitioned into acting with his debut in a Mexican TV series. Nevertheless, the breakthrough role that positioned him within the American spotlight came in 2013 with the Fox drama "The Following" (via Cleveland.com). In the following years, Canto gained widespread recognition for his roles in popular TV series and movies, including "The Cleaning Lady," "Designated Survivor," and "Narcos" (via IMDb). Canto also wrote and directed two short films: "Before Tomorrow" and "The Short," which earned him multiple awards, consolidating his career as an actor and director.

Unfortunately, Adan Canto died of cancer in the appendix when he was 42 years old. Appendiceal cancer is a rare type of cancer that has virtually no symptoms in its early stages, which is why it often goes undetected. When symptoms finally arrive, they include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and early feelings of fullness during meals, which can be easily mistaken for other conditions due to their vague characteristics, increasing the risk of late-stage diagnoses. In fact, for the most part, people with appendiceal cancer only find out they have it when undergoing other appendix or stomach surgeries.

Jazz and pop icon Nat King Cole was a singer and pianist who lost the battle to lung cancer at the age of 46. Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Nathaniel Adams Coles had an early introduction to the piano courtesy of his mother, which ultimately set him on a path to becoming one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His breakthrough came in the '50s with songs like "Unforgettable" and "Mona Lisa." Plus, despite the racial challenges of the moment, he became the first African American to host his own radio show and, later on, a TV show. He also debuted in acting, with roles in three movies between 1957 and 1965.

Nevertheless, being a heavy smoker took a toll on his health, seeing that tobacco use is the leading modifiable risk factor for lung cancer, a risk that has been proven to be directly proportional to how much and how often a person smokes — meaning that the more you smoke, the higher your risk. In addition, besides being the second most common type of cancer in the U.S. and the leading cause of cancer death nationwide, lung cancer risk increases by 12% for African American men (per the American Cancer Society), a fact that potentially played a role in Cole's diagnosis.

Sarah Harding was a British singer, actress, and model best known as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud. Yet, her roles in the movies "St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold," "Wild Child," and "Bad Day" are what consolidated her acting career. Moreover, she also participated in reality TV, winning Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2017. However, her life took a drastic turn in 2020 when she revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Sarah Harding openly shared her journey, detailing her experiences in her memoir "Hear Me Out," released in March 2021. In her book, she disclaimed that by the time her cancer was detected, it had already spread to other parts of her body, which meant that despite undergoing treatment, she passed away in September 2021 at the age of 39.

During her battle with breast cancer, Sarah used her platform to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, urging women to get regular checkups. In fact, her passing inspired the launch of a research study called BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Younger Women). The study aims to screen and analyze women between 30 and 39 years old for early breast cancer detection (an age group that typically does not receive screenings unless they have a family history), focusing on those who, like Sarah, have no known family history of the disease (via The Christie Charity). 

Born Danielle Michelle Brown in June 1980 in Germany, Diem Brown was a TV personality who rose to fame in 2006 after competing in MTV's "The Challenge: Fresh Meat." Yet, it was her twice-public battle with cancer that truly defined her legacy. The first time, in 2003 and at just 23 years old, Brown was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a period of remission, the cancer returned a second time in 2012 when she was 32. However, she beat the disease twice, and in the process, she didn't just openly share her journey but funded MedGift, a support registry that offered support to patients (via People). Nevertheless, she later found out that her cancer had returned to her colon and stomach, cutting her life short at only 34 years old.

Ovarian cancer is a disease that often goes undetected until later stages, and it is known to metastasize or spread to other organs in the abdomen, such as the stomach, intestines, or liver. Additionally, Diem faced a double cancer recurrence, meaning that her cancer returned twice after she had finished her initial treatment, which is believed to happen when there are leftover cancer cells that eventually grow back into a tumor. Her first recurrence is what's known as a local recurrence, meaning it returned to the same place, while her second recurrence is known as a distant one, meaning it affected a completely different organ (via WebMD).

Paul Charles Caravello was a rock musician born in July 1950 in New York, and after joining the legendary band KISS in 1980, he adopted the stage name Eric Carr along with his iconic "Fox" persona. Carr contributed to several of KISS's albums, including "Creatures of the Night," "Lick It Up," and "Animalize." In early 1991, Carr was diagnosed with heart cancer, which then spread to his lungs. Despite his illness, he remained optimistic and even participated in promotional work for KISS's upcoming projects. Sadly, after suffering an aneurysm and brain hemorrhage, he passed away later the same year, the same day as another music icon, Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Heart cancers are extremely rare, and when tumors develop, they tend to be benign or non-cancerous. However, when a malignant or cancerous tumor is confirmed, in most cases, it is classified as a sarcoma. Yet, like most types of cancers, and especially since the heart pumps blood to the rest of your body, it can spread to other organs and tissues, including your lungs (via The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center).

Dustin Neil Diamond was a California-born actor and stand-up comedian best known for his role as Samuel "Screech" Powers on the sitcom Saved by the Bell and its multiple spin-offs. He was also a big fan of professional wrestling. He even worked as a wrestler for a small promotion in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, in early 2021, Diamond was diagnosed with stage four small-cell lung carcinoma after discovering a lump in his throat and despite not being a smoker. Sadly, this aggressive and fast-spreading form of cancer ended his life just weeks after his diagnosis, when he was 44 years old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked cigarettes, and just about 8% turn out to be small cell lung cancer. There are multiple reasons people who've never smoked develop lung cancer, including modifiable factors like being exposed to secondhand smoke (when you inhale the smoke from someone else's cigarettes, pipes, or cigars), air pollution or toxic substances, and non-modifiable factors like DNA mutations.

Ari Gold was an American singer, songwriter, and LGBTQ+ activist born in New York in 1974 in an Orthodox Jewish household. In fact, he was discovered at a young age while performing at his brother's bar mitzvah. Throughout his career, Gold released several albums with numerous hits, such as "Where The Music Takes You" and "Fan-Tastic," collaborated with notable artists like Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, and Diana Ross, and used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights (via Variety). Sadly, he passed away from leukemia, namely myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), at the age of 47.

MDS is a rare type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and disrupts blood cell production, leading to a shortage of healthy blood cells. When this happens, white blood cells might have trouble defending you from diseases, red blood cells may have difficulty carrying oxygen through your body, and platelets might struggle to form blood clots. In other words, it can lead to neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia, respectively.

Born Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody, Jade Goody was a British reality TV star who rose to fame in 2002 as a contestant on Big Brother UK. Though initially known for her controversial behavior on the show, she later became a popular media personality, which earned her the nickname "The Queen of Reality TV." However, in 2008, Goody's life took a sharp left when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She passed from the disease one year later at just 27 years old. Since Goody chose to make her diagnosis public, a study published in The Journal of Medical Screening reported a significant increase in women getting screened for cervical cancer in the UK, a phenomenon known as the "Jade Goody effect," which lasted for as long as the media covered Jade's story.

Cervical cancer is a cancer that forms in the cervix, likely due to a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a common sexually transmitted virus. Fortunately, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early through regular cervical screenings, such as Pap smears, which can identify abnormal cell changes before they develop into cancer. Additionally, by combining routine screenings with HPV vaccination, the risk of developing cervical cancer can be significantly reduced. Thus, Jade's story serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection and the life-saving potential of routine health checkups.

Born in New York in 1963, Carrie Hamilton was an actress, playwright, and singer known for her television, film, and theater work. She was also a nepo baby, the daughter of comedian Carol Burnett and producer Joe Hamilton. During her career, Carol appeared in several popular TV shows, including "Fame," "Beverly Hills 90210," and "Murder She Wrote," as well as movies like "Tokyo Pop" and "Shag," and theater productions like "Rent" and "The Threepenny Opera." Beyond acting, she was a talented writer and worked closely with her mother on a stage adaptation of Burnett's memoir Hollywood Arms (per IMDb).

Sadly, she passed away at 38 years old from lung cancer, which had also spread to her brain. Carrie Hamilton's cancer might have come as a surprise due to her age. Yet, having had a history of smoking before getting sober explains, in part, her untimely diagnosis and passing, seeing that smoking accounts for roughly 80% of lung cancer deaths.

Born Harold Lima in March 1977 in Massachusetts, Devin Lima was a singer and actor best known as a member of the late 1990s boy band LFO (Lyte Funkie Ones). Yet, his acting career involved roles in the movies "Longshot" and "American Pie Presents: Beta House." However, in October 2017, Lima was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer, a cancer that originates in the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. He underwent surgery to remove a large tumor, but despite various treatment efforts, his condition worsened, and Devin died in 2018 at the age of 41.

Adrenal cancer is a rare cancer, seeing that most tumors in the adrenal glands are non-cancerous. Still, there are four types of adrenal cancers, including adrenocortical carcinoma, malignant adrenal pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and malignant paraganglioma (via WebMD). Once confirmed, adrenal cancers behave like any other type of cancer. Similarly, their treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormonal treatment, depending on the cancer's stage and the person's health status.

Known as "The Godfather of Punk Rock," Jeffrey Ross Hyman (aka Joey Ramone) was born in 1951 in New York and co-founded the Ramones 23 years later in 1974. This band would revolutionize rock music and set the stage for the future of punk rock. Joey Ramone was the lead singer of the band, whose albums "The Ramones," "Leave Home," and "Rocket to Russia" shaped a musical era and inspired countless musicians. Unfortunately, the punk rock icon was diagnosed with lymphoma and lost his battle with it six years after his diagnosis at the age of 49 from complications related to the cancer.

Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is a part of the body's immune system. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Both types involve the uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells called lymphocytes, which can spread to different body parts.

Born in March 1961 in New Jersey, Dana Reeve was an actress, singer, and philanthropist best known for her advocacy work alongside her husband, actor Christopher Reeve, who sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury. She co-founded the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which continues to fund research and provide support for individuals with paralysis and their caregivers.

Tragically, just ten months after husband Christopher Reeve passed away in 2004, Dana was diagnosed with lung cancer, a particularly shocking diagnosis since she had never been a smoker. She passed away in 2006 at age 44. Lung cancer, which affects the lungs' cells and can spread rapidly, is often linked to smoking, but non-smokers can get it too. Dana's story serves as a reminder that lung cancer can affect anyone, regardless of smoking history, highlighting the importance of research and early detection.

Andy Whitfield was a Welsh actor best known for his breakout role as Spartacus in the TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which hinted at the beginning of a long and successful career. However, in March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. He underwent treatment and was initially declared cancer-free, but the disease returned aggressively later that year, cutting his life short in 2011 when he was 39 years old (via the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be very aggressive, spreading quickly to other parts of the lymph system and, eventually, different body parts. Therefore, in an effort to raise funds and awareness about it and promote access to treatment for patients with blood cancers, Whitfield, his wife Vashti, and filmmaker Lilibet Foster worked on the documentary "Be Here Now," which chronicled his journey through his illness.