16 Child Celebrities Who Died Far Too Young

Anissa Jones – March 11, 1958 – August 28, 1976

Known for: Ava Elizabeth “Buffy” Patterson-Davis – Family Affair

Cause of Death: Combined Drug Intoxication

Anton Yelchin – March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016

Known for: Pavel Chekov – Star Trek Reboot

Cause of Death: Blunt traumatic asphyxia after being crushed by his own SUV.

Brad Renfro – July 25, 1982 – January 15, 2008

Known for: Mark Sway – The Client

Cause of Death: Acute heroin/morphine intoxication

Brittany Murphy – November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009

Known for: Tai Frasier – Clueless

Cause of Death: Pneumonia with secondary factors of severe iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

Cameron Boyce – May 28, 1999 – July 6, 2019

Known for: Keith Feder – Grown Ups

Cause of Death: Epileptic seizure

Corey Haim – December 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010

Known for: Lucas Blye – Lucas

Cause of Death: Diffuse Alveolar Damage

Dana Hill – May 6, 1964 – July 15, 1996

Known for: Audrey Griswold – National Lampoon’s European Vacation

Cause of Death: Diabetic Coma/Stroke

Heather O’Rourke – December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988

Known for: Carol Anne Freeling – Poltergeist

Cause of Death: Congenital stenosis of the intestine causing septic shock

Jonathan Brandis – April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003

Known for: Bill Denbrough – IT

Cause of Death: Suicide

Judith Barsi – June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988

Known for: Ducky – The Land Before Time

Cause of Death: Homicide

Kevin Clark – December 3, 1988 – May 26, 2021

Known for: Freddy Jones – School of Rock

Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma after being struck by a car while riding his bike

Lee Thompson Young – February 1, 1984 – August 19, 2013

Known for: Jett Jackson – The Famous Jett Jackson

Cause of Death: Suicide

Matthew Garber – 25 March 1956 – 13 June 1977

Known for: Michael Banks – Mary Poppins

Cause of Death: Haemorrhagic necrotising pancreatitis caused by hepatitis

Michelle Thomas – September 23, 1968 – December 23, 1998

Known for: Myra Monkhouse – Family Matters

Cause of Death: Cancer

Sawyer Sweeten – May 12, 1995 – April 23, 2015

Known for: Geoffrey Barone – Everybody Loves Raymond

Cause of Death: Suicide

River Phoenix – August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993

Known for: Chris Chambers – Stand By Me

Cause of Death: Acute combined drug intoxication