tWitch and Other Black Celeb Deaths That Shook Us

The death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss shocked everyone. Days before he reportedly killed himself, he could be seen on social media dancing with friends and family. The sudden death shocked everyone who enjoyed him as an entertainer.

With that news in mind, The Root took a look back at some of the most shocking Black celebrity deaths.

Takeoff

The Atlanta rapper who was known as a famed member of the rap group Migos died on Nov. 1 at the age of 28 when he was fatally shot outside of a bowling alley in Houston.

Coolio

Beloved Los Angeles rapper Coolio, known for his timeless hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” died on September 28 at the age of 59. While his cause of death was thought to be cardiac arrest, the rapper’s son revealed that his father was going through some other health complications.

André Leon Talley

Legendary fashion icon and former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley died on Jan. 18 at the age of 73 from COVID-19, which was shocking to any and everyone who respected Talley’s work in the fashion world.

Chadwick Boseman

Nobody saw this death coming. The iconic Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman died on August 28, 202 from colon cancer at the age of 43. To the surprise of many fans and colleagues, the actor had been battling with the illness since 2016.

Kobe Bryant

When the news came out that NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Byrant died on January 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash along with his daughter, Gigi, we didn’t believe it. It was just hard to fathom that such an incredible figure could die so suddenly. He was only 41.

Cameron Boyce

The young actor died at the age of 20 on July 6, 2019. Few people knew he was diagnosed with epilepsy which also happened to be the cause of death.

Bobbi Kristina Brown

It’s chilling to think that Bobbi Kristina died similarly to her famous mother. The daughter of Whitney Houston on July 26, 2015, at the young age of 22. She died due to a combination of drowning and drug intoxication.

Prince

One of the most beloved entertainers ever died on April 21, 2015, at the young age of 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Nobody had any idea his death was coming, it just happened and the entire world mourned.

Lee Thompson Young

Talented actor Lee Thompson Young died at the young of 29 on August 18, 2013, from suicide. His body was found when he failed to show up to film an episode of Rizzoli & Isles and police came to his Los Angeles apartment for a well-being check.

Michael Clark Duncan

Oscar-nominated actor Michael Clark Duncan died on September 3, 2012, at the age of 54. The 6’5″ actor died of respiratory failure. In July 2012, he was taken to the hospital after suffering a myocardial infarction. Two months later he died.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston’s struggle with drugs is well-documented, but nobody believed drugs would be the cause of her death when she still had so much more life to live. She died on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48. Houston accidentally drowned in a bathtub at a hotel in Beverly Hills. Both cocaine and heart disease contributed to her death.

Gary Coleman

Iconic actor Gary Coleman died at the age of 42 on May 28, 2010. After suffering a head injury from a fall, he was taken to a hospital in Utah. While at the hospital he suffered a brain hemorrhage and died after being taken off life support.

Michael Jackson

When the King of Pop died, the literally world stopped. Everyone was dumbfounded when the world’s most popular artist and star passed away. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 due to a combination of sedatives that were given to him by his doctor.

Isaac Hayes

The veteran crooner died on August 10, 2008, at the age of 65. The soul singer and songwriter died of a stroke. His wife found him laying on the floor of their Memphis home.

SLIDE #14Bernie Mac

Beloved actor and comedian Bernie Mac died on August 9, 2008, at the age of 50, in his hometown of Chicago due to Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that attacks organs such as the lungs and lymph nodes. Comedians and fans across the world mourned his death.

Left Eye

Nobody expected the death of Left Eye, one of TLC’s most beloved members, especially when she was in the middle of a successful music career. Born Lisa Lopes, Left Eye died in a car crash on April 25, 2002, at the age of 30 while she was on vacation in Honduras filming a documentary about charity work she was doing.

Aaliyah

The death of Aaliyah was sad because fans never got to see the talented singer reach her full potential. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah died in an airplane accident that killed everyone on board. She was only 22.

Notorious B.I.G.

One of the greatest rappers of all times died on March 9, 1997, at the young age of 24. Despite many recognizing him as the greatest ever, he had so much more to achieve in music, which made his death that much harder to digest.

2pac

Similarly to Biggie, 2pac is also recognized as being one of the greatest rappers of all time, despite dying at a young age. While in Las Vegas, Pac was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on September 13, 1996, at the age of 26.

Marvin Gaye

The greatest singer of all time (in my opinion) died at the age of 44 on April 1, 1984, just one day before his birthday. His death was even more shocking because of the person who killed him. He was fatally shot by his father Marvin Gay Sr.

Jimi Hendrix

One of the most legendary and influential guitarists in American history died in London at 27 on September 18, 1970. Hendrix died of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates.

Stephen “tWitch” Boss

Known for being the longtime DJ on Ellen Degeneres’ famed talk show, Stephen “tWitch” Boss died on Dec. 13, 2022, at the age of 40 by suicide. While some may have speculated why, none of us really know what he was going through personally.