10 Actors Who Never Knew It Would Be Their Last Film

1. Michael Jackson

What would this list be without Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)! This concert film was about his rehearsals and preparation for the concert series of the same name. The concert was scheduled to start on July 13, 2009, at the O2 Arena, but was canceled due to his death 18 days prior on June 25.

2. Heath Ledger

We all know about The Dark Knight (2008) which was Heath Ledger’s last film. But wait there is one more! The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) was also released after his death.

Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and stand-in Zander Gladish completed filming for Ledger’s role in this particular film. He died from acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine, as part of an attempted self-treatment of insomnia and a respiratory illness.

3. Steve Irwin

Happy Feet (2006) was released following Steve Irwin’s death from a stingray injury. Little did we know that this famed wildlife expert also voiced the character Trev in this animation film.

4. Gloria Foster

A Hollywood veteran, Gloria Foster played the well-known role of the Oracle in The Matrix(1999). Sadly, The Matrix Reloaded (2003) was her last film in the trilogy. It got released two years after Gloria Foster’s death from diabetes.

5. Richard Harris

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) was released just 10 days after Richard Harris’ death from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He couldn’t reprise his role as the beloved character Albus Dumbledore.

6. Philip Seymour Hoffman

Both The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014 and 2015) parts released following Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death from a drug overdose.

7. Carrie Fisher

We thought Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) was her last film. But our beloved Princess Leia has done Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020) and Wonderwell (2022) too! All these films were released after Carrie Fisher’s death from a cardiac arrest in 2016. 

8. Stan Lee

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Madness in the Method (2019) were all released after Stan Lee’s death from cardiac arrest in 2018.

9. Chadwick Boseman

Hollywood was shocked to hear his passing away! Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) was released four months after Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer.

10. Betty White

Betty White: A Celebration (2022) was released 17 days after Betty White’s death from a stroke during sleep. A Hollywood sweetheart, she was 99 when she passed away in 2021. It is notable that she outlived all the Golden Girls.