Fame, Celebrities and Suicide!

"All of us have this preconceived notion that celebrities, because they have fame, money and the adoration of the public are the happiest people in the world. The truth is, sometimes it’s just the opposite." -Psychiatrist John Lapia-

In lieu of the death of Anna Nicole Smith, there is speculation that the former Playboy playmate may have committed suicide. If this is true, Smith joins a long line of celebrities who decided to off themselves when fame became revoltingly horrifying.

What about you? Think you could handle the pitfalls of being famous? Seriously, have you ever wished even once for a taste of stardom? Or fantasized what it’s like to be rich and famous? Or at the very least hobnob with celebrities like Oprah and Madonna? The people you’re about to meet did. They exceeded their dreams beyond their wildest imagination. But read on to see what happens when fame and tragedy collide at full speed.

In an attempt to show the effects of suicide on the entertainment industry, I chose three stars from two decades, the 70s and 90s. For those under 30, the names may not ring a bell. However for folks 40 and over, they are easily recognizable. So, without further interruption, I present Fame, Celebrities and Suicide.

Bang, Bang I Shot Myself

On the cold, foreboding night of January 29, 1977, a young comedian, rich, handsome and star of one of the most popular sitcoms on TV, put a 38- caliber revolver to his head and fired, abruptly ending the life of a Chicano youth who rose from rags to riches to become the toast of Hollywood. His name was Freddie Prinze, star of NBC’s Chico and the Man and father of future star Freddie Prinze Jr.

Within a short period, Prinze went from a relatively unknown comic to superstar. Unfortunately, his journey from anonymity to celebrity is just one of the many cataclysms in Tinseltown’s tragic drama.

Why Did He Do It?

At 22, Prinze, his mind warped by cocaine and Qualudes was dead. And fans were left to come up with an answer that would explain why a man who supposedly had everything killed himself.

According to friends, Prinze became despondent when his estrange wife Kathy issued a restraining order against him. Hours before he killed himself, Prinze made a series of calls to his wife, mother and manager, telling them goodbye. In his suicide note the New York native wrote, "I must end it. There's no hope left. I'll be at peace. No one had anything to do with this. My decision totally - Freddie Prinze P.S. I'm sorry. Forgive me. Dusty's here (Marvin "Dusty" Snyder, his manager who was present when Prinze shot himself, but couldn’t get across the room in time to take away the gun) He's innocent. He cared."

Not surprisingly, Hollywood is filled with celebrities who’ve had enough and decided that suicide was the only answer. Marilyn Monroe supposedly did it. However, since her death in 1962, evidence has surfaced which suggests that the world’s most famous blond may have been murdered. Okay, that’s a topic for another day, now back to the article. Another celebrity who seemed to have it all, but decided to off herself, was singer Phyllis Hyman.

Nowhere to Turn

Famous for her smooth vocals, the statuesque singer was a sight few people could forget. Standing nearly 6 feet tall, Hyman was an imposing performer, who had been a popular attraction on the musical circuit for years.

Although not as well known as Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight or Whitney Houston, Hyman wowed fans with her sultry rendition of "Betcha By Golly Wow," first made famous by the R & B group the Stylistics in the early 70s. And despite her moderate success, Hyman has earned a place in celebrity history.

However, it is not her music she will be remembered for, but her decision to take her life. In 1995, overweight and bombarded by personal and financial problems, Hyman ended her life by overdosing on sleeping pills. She was only 40.

When word of Hyman’s suicide became public, the question on everyone’s mind was why? Perhaps, the answer can be summed up by famed psychiatrist John Lapia. "All of us have this preconceived notion that celebrities, because they have fame, money and the adoration of the public are the happiest people in the world. The truth is, sometimes it’s just the opposite." He further noted, "Personally, I think there are plenty of celebrities who would gladly trade in their fame just to be an unrecognizable face in the crowd, for one day, one hour or even one minute. "

Could You Handle Fame?

Fame is a goal many of us strive for at some point in our lives. And while the average person only achieves a fragment of fame, for those whose talent catapults them to superstardom, they are both blessed and cursed.

Under the watchful eye of the public, they are placed on a pedestal where they stand smiling and waving, as fans idolize them from afar. But is being a celebrity all it’s cracked up to be? I mean seriously, who wouldn’t be happy to have their every wish fulfilled? Moreover, who among us wouldn’t be content with millions of dollars in our bank account?

Yet, experts maintain that despite their fame, some celebrities don’t have a grip on their mental health. Can anyone say Kurt Cobain? On April 5, 1994, Cobain, lead singer of the grunge rock band Nirvana, killed himself, courtesy of a shotgun blast to the head. He was 27. Not surprisingly, the boy from Hoquiam, Washington made an impact on music that cannot be denied or dismissed. Case in point: According to Forbes magazine, in 2006 Cobain ranked number one among dead celebrities with an estimated worth of $50 million. The ranking which toppled Elvis Presley from the top spot, was the result of Cobain’s widow Courtney Love selling a 25% share of Nirvana’s song catalog to Primary Wave, a music publishing company based in New York. Imagine how much Cobain would be worth alive, unfortunately we will never know.

So what happens when celebrities lose their way and think death is the only answer to their problems? What happens when celebrities are no longer in the limelight, and the roar of the crowd has been reduced to a handful of curiosity seekers? Do they try to revive their fading careers? Do they grow old and fade away? Or do they follow in the footsteps of Prinze, Hyman and Cobain and kill themselves?

Someone once said "Fame Costs." But how many budding stars honestly heed that message? Incredible as it sounds, fame does not guarantee happiness. Even if you’re filthy rich, problems manage to creep in, because that’s only human. According to the Book of Life there are three things money can’t buy; love, health, and happiness.Still, for what it’s worth, if given the opportunity to switch places with Oprah or Brad Pitt, 90% of us would do so without hesitation. But would they switch places with us? For celebrities like Hyman, Prinze and all the others who’ve succumbed to suicide, the answer is a resounding yes. Yep, fame costs. The question is, are you willing to pay the price?