Dominique Dunne

popular name: Isadora Duncan

date_of_death: September 14, 1927

age: 50

cause_of_death: Ligature strangulation

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Known as the Mother of Dance, Isadora Duncan was an American dancer and choreographer, who was a pioneer of modern contemporary dance, who performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the US. Born and raised in California, she lived and danced in Western Europe, the US and the Soviet Union from the age of 22 until her death at age 50 when her scarf became entangled in the wheel and axle of the car in which she was travelling in Nice, France.

popular name: Bob Hope

date_of_death: July 27, 2003

age: 100

cause_of_death: Pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Bob Hope was a British-born American comedian, actor, singer, and dancer whose career spanned nearly 80 years. Born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, London, he moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, at a young age. Hope began his entertainment career in vaudeville before transitioning to radio, Broadway, films, and eventually television. Known for his quick wit, comedic timing, and distinctive nose, he became one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century. He starred in more than 70 films, including the famous "Road" series with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Beyond his work in entertainment, Hope was renowned for his tireless efforts entertaining U.S. troops overseas during conflicts from World War II through the Persian Gulf War, earning him the nickname "America’s most honored veteran" despite never serving in the military. He received numerous awards, including five honorary Oscars and the Congressional Gold Medal. Upon his passing, he was laid to rest at Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana in Mission Hills California.

popular name: Carl Switzer

date_of_death: January 21, 1959

age: 31

cause_of_death: Gunshot wounds

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Carl Switzer, the actor who as a child played Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedy film series, was the freckle-faced boy with a warbling singing voice and a cowlick protruding from the top of his head. It was Switzer’s best-known role in his short-lived Hollywood career. Our Gang revolved around a group of ragtag children and their adventures. In addition to Alfalfa, the ensemble of memorable characters included Spanky, Darla, Buckwheat, Froggy, Stymie and Pete the dog. Our Gang was considered groundbreaking in that it featured white and black child actors interacting equally. Switzer played Alfalfa from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s. In 1955, the Our Gang films were turned into a hugely popular TV series called The Little Rascals; however, Switzer never received any royalties from the show. After Our Gang, Switzer found small roles in movies and on television, but his most successful days in Hollywood were behind him. He made money working odd jobs, including stints as a hunting guide and bartender, and had several run-ins with the police. On January 21, 1959, Switzer and a friend went to the Mission Hills home of Moses “Bud” Stiltz, to collect a debt Switzer believed he was owed. A fight broke out, during which Stiltz shot and killed Switzer. A jury later ruled the incident justifiable homicide. Carl was laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.