Accidental

Sarah Burke (September 3, 1982 – January 19, 2012) was a Canadian freestyle skier who was a pioneer of the superpipe event. She was a four-time Winter X Games gold medalist, and won the world championship in the halfpipe in 2005. She successfully lobbied the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to have the event added to the Olympic program for the 2014 Winter Olympics. She was considered a medal favourite in the event. 

Sarah Burke cause of death
Sarah Burkedied following a training accident in Utah.
Sarah Burke was 29 years old at the time of her death.

Accident
On January 10, 2012 Burke was seriously injured while training on the Park City Mountain Resort Eagle superpipe in Park City, Utah. This is the same superpipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce was seriously injured in 2009. Onlookers reported that Burke had completed a trick fairly well yet fell onto her head, and the accident did not appear to be very severe. Moments later, however, she went into cardiac arrest while still on the ski slope, making her chance of survival extremely low. She was resuscitated and airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she was reported to be in a coma. The following day, she underwent neurosurgery to repair a tear in a vertebral artery. She succumbed to her injuries on January 19, 2012. Per her publicist's words, Burke's injuries had resulted in "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest." Her organs and tissues were donated as she requested before her death.

etalk Sarah Burke at Whistler World Ski Fest

Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon (June 22, 1978 – October 16, 2011) was an English auto racing driver. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011. Wheldon died during a racing accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, at the age of 33.

Dan Wheldon cause of death
DeathAt the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, Wheldon was involved in a 15-car accident during lap 11 of the race. The massive pile-up resulted in a red flag. Wheldon had to be extricated from his car and was airlifted to a local hospital with what were described as "serious injuries." He subsequently succumbed to his injuries. He was 33 years old.

Dan Wheldon's Last Tweet Before Race

Salvatore Licitra (August 10, 1968  – September 5, 2011) was an Italian operatic tenor.

Salvatore Licitra Cause of Death
On 27 August 2011, Licitra sustained severe head and chest injuries when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while riding his motor scooter and crashed into a wall in Modica, Ragusa, Sicily. He remained in a coma for nine days in the Garibaldi Hospital in Catania and was pronounced clinically dead on September 5, 2011. According to the Italian paper Il Messaggero, his body will lie in state in the Catania's opera house, the Teatro Massimo Bellini.

Salvatore Licitra sings "E Lucevan le Stelle" from Tosca

Amy Jade Winehouse (September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011 London) was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz.

Amy Winehouse cause of death
Over 3 months later, on October 26, coroner ruled her death accidental, by cosuming too much alcohol. Her blood alcohol level was 5 times over legal limit.

Substance abuse and mental health issues
Winehouse's battles with substance abuse were the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she admitted to having problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders. In 2005, she went through a period of drinking, heavy drug use, violent mood swings and weight loss. People who saw her during the end of that year and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with the writing of Back to Black. Her family believes that the mid-2006 death of her grandmother, who was a stabilising influence, set her off into addiction. In August 2007, Winehouse cancelled a number of shows in the UK and Europe, citing exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalised during this period for what was reported as an overdose of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.

 Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Robert Frank "Rob" Grill (November 30, 1943 – July 11, 2011) was an American lead singer, songwriter and bass guitarist of the rock and roll band, The Grass Roots.

Grill launched a solo career in 1979, assisted on his solo album by several members of Fleetwood Mac. Responding to 60s nostalgia, Grill then reformed The Grass Roots (billed "The Grass Roots Starring Rob Grill") and had with the toured the United States with the reunited outfit since the 1980s.

Grill composed sixteen songs for The Grass Roots and his solo album. One of these appeared as a single "A" side. It is "Come On And Say It". His other fifteen compositions appeared on single "B" sides and albums. He wrote frequently with Warren Entner and they were considered a songwriting team. Grill played with The Grass Roots on sixteen albums, seven of which charted. He took part in thirty two Grass Roots singles released, twenty one of which charted.

Rob Grill Cause of Death
Grill died July 11, 2011 in an Orlando, Florida hospital. He had been in a coma since sustaining a head injury several weeks earlier when he fell after suffering a stroke in northern California. Rob Grill was 67 years old at the time of his death.

Jeffrey Charles William Michael Conaway (October 5, 1950 - May 27, 2011, known by his stage name, Jeff Conaway, was an American actor, best known for his roles in the movie Grease, and the US TV series Taxi and Babylon 5. He also directed the 1992 film Bikini Summer 2.

Jeff Conaway Cause of Death
On May 11, 2011, Conaway was found unconscious from what was initially described as an overdose of what was believed to be pain medication, and was taken to a hospital in Encino, California, where he was listed as being in critical condition and in a coma.  After the initial reports, Dr. Drew Pinsky, who had treated Conaway for substance abuse, said the actor was suffering not from a drug overdose but rather from "pneumonia with sepsis", for which he was placed into an induced coma.

Official cause of death (announced October 1, 2011)
5 months later, Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death accidental.  Jeff Conaway died mn May 27, 2011, after 2 weeks in a comma.
Jeff Conaway was 60 years old at the time of his death.

Conaway appeared on VH1's 'Celebrity Fit Club' in 2008 and later on 'Celebrity Rehab,' where he admitted to being addicted to cocaine, painkillers and alcohol.

Related Story:
In the movie Grease, Kenickie's dance partner was Cha Cha, played by Annette Charles.  Annette Charles died in August 3, 2011 from Cancer. 

•  Annette Charles, Cha Cha from "Grease", died 63

Taxi: Reverend Jim's driving test
(Jeff Conway is a good looking guy with long hair)

Randall Mario Poffo (November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011), better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler and actor best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He also had a short run with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and is a seven-time world champion: a two-time WWF Champion, four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion. Also a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, WWE has named Savage the greatest Intercontinental champion of all time and credited him for bringing "a higher level of credibility to the title through his amazing in-ring performances." Aside from championships, Savage is the 1987 WWF King of the Ring and the 1995 WCW World War 3 winner. For much of his tenures in the WWF and WCW, he was managed by his real life wife, "Miss Elizabeth" Hulette.

Miss Elizabeth died May 1, 2003, at the age of 42

Randy Savage Cause of Death
Randy Savage suffered a heart attack around 10AM while driving on a highway in Tampa, Florida before losing control of the vehicle and crashing.  Randy Savage was driving a 2009 Jeep Wrangler when he "veered across a concrete median ... through oncoming traffic ... and "collided head-on with a tree." His wife Lynn was a passenger but survived with "minor injuries". According to officials, both were wearing their seat belts at the time.
Randy Savage was 58 years old at the time of his death

 Macho Man promo

* Glenn Shadix was NOT the ghost from Beetlejuice.  Glenn Shadix was the interior designer in that movie.  He was also Jerry's landlord from Seinfeld.

Glenn Shadix (April 15, 1952 – September 7, 2010) was an American actor, known for his role as “Otho” in Tim Burton's horror/comedy film Beetlejuice.

Death of Glenn Shadix
On September 7, 2010, Shadix accidentally fell at his condo in Birmingham, Alabama and died of blunt force trauma to his head. Shadix had mobility problems and was in a wheelchair.

Glenn Shadix's website posted below message

###

It is with great sadness and pain that the family of William  G. “Glenn Shadix” Scott announces his passing this morning.

A memorial service will be held at Lakeside Baptist Church,

2865 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, on Saturday, September 11th at 2 p.m.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Glenn’s name to the

Theatre Department of the Alabama School of Fine Arts,

1800 8th Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35203.

###

 Actor Glenn Shadix On His 'Ex-Gay' Shock Therapy

Robert George Schimmel (January 16, 1950 – September 3, 2010) was an American stand-up comedian whose material was often X-rated and controversial. He was perhaps best known for his comedy albums and his appearances on HBO and The Howard Stern Show. Schimmel is number 76 on the 2004 program Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups Of All Time.

Health
Schimmel battled lymphoma into remission and the disease did not return. He also survived a heart attack

Car accident and death
On August 26, 2010, while travelling on Arizona State Route 101 in Scottsdale, Arizona, Schimmel was involved in a major car accident that left him in a very serious condition. Schimmel's 19 year old daughter Aliyah was driving with her father and brother. Police reported that she was run off the road by an out-of-control SUV and lost control of the vehicle which rolled over a concrete embankment. It came to a stop on its side on the shoulder of the freeway. Aliyah Schimmel was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Schimmel's son was not injured.

On September 3, 2010, Schimmel died of his injuries. He was survived by five children.

*Thank you Darrah & Russ for contacting me.

Mike Edwards (May, 31 1948 – September, 3 2010), known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.

He played as a member of the Electric Light Orchestra  from their first live gig in 1972 until he departed in January 1975, of his own choosing. Previously he had had little interest in non-classical music, though he had played on recording sessions for Barclay James Harvest.

His eccentric cello playing (fingering the cello strings with an orange or grapefruit) and bizarre costumes were a major ingredient of the early ELO touring band. Edwards' live "party piece" was The Dying Swan, where he would perform a cello solo and ultimately his cello would explode through the use of pyrotechnics. His cello playing contributed to the albums ELO II, On the Third Day, The Night The Light Went On (In Long Beach) and Eldorado. He was later replaced as cellist by Melvyn Gale.

Death of Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards was killed in Devon, England, between Harbertonford and Halwell.  A 1300 lbs hay bale (roll of hay) rolled down a hillside and collided with the van he was driving.  Mike Edwards was sixty two years old at the time of his death.

Related Story
ELO Bass Player Kelly Groucutt dies 63 (February 20, 2009) 

 Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado Overture/Can't Get It Out of My Head
Mike Edwards & Hugh McDowell on Cello, Mik Kaminski on Violin

Gary Wayne Coleman (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010) was an American  actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986).

Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois. He was adopted by Edmonia Sue, a nurse practitioner, and W.G. Coleman, a fork-lift operator.  He suffered from a congenital kidney disease caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (an autoimmune destruction and alteration of the kidney), which halted his growth at an early age, leading to a small stature (4 ft 8 in; 1.42 m). He underwent two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and required daily dialysis.

Coleman was cast in the role of Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes, portraying a child adopted by a wealthy widower. The show was broadcast from 1978 to 1986, and was a huge success.

Coleman became the most popular fixture of the show, enhanced by his character's catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" At the height of his fame on Diff'rent Strokes, he earned as much as $100,000 per episode.

Death of Gary Coleman
On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, after falling and hitting his head and suffering an intracranial hemorrhage at his home outside of Salt Lake City, UT. He was announced to be in critical condition. By mid-morning on May 27, 2010, Coleman was conscious and lucid. By mid-afternoon on May 27, 2010, Coleman was unconscious and on life support. On May 28, 2010, it was announced that he was still unconscious and on life support. Coleman died in the afternoon of the same day.

Gary Coleman on Diff'rent Strokes

Paul Dedrick Gray (April 8, 1972 – May 24, 2010), also known by his number #2, or "The Pig", was an American musician  best known as the bassist of the Grammy Award winning rock band Slipknot.

Death of Paul Gray
On May 24, 2010, The Des Moines Register reported that Gray had been found dead at a room in the Town Plaza hotel in Urbandale, Iowa. He is survived by his wife Brenna. He and his wife were expecting their first child at the time of his death.

On June 21, 2010, autopsy results were released that stated Gray had died of an accidental overdose of morphine  and fentanyl, and had also shown signs of "significant heart disease".

 Slipknot - Wait and Bleed - Live at London Arena
Paul Gray on Bass (left handed)

Lech Aleksander Kaczy?ski (June 18, 1949 – April 10, 2010) was the President of the Republic of Poland from 2005 to 2010, a politician of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwo?? (Law and Justice, PiS). Kaczy?ski served as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005, the day before his presidential inauguration. He was the identical twin brother of the former Prime Minister of Poland and current Chairman of the Law and Justice party, Jaros?aw Kaczy?ski.

Death of Lech Kaczy?ski
On 10 April 2010, he and his wife Maria Kaczy?ska died when a Polish Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 crashed while attempting to land at Smolensk-North airport in Russia. There were no survivors on the plane, which was carrying senior Polish government officials on a trip to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.

Lech Kaczynski was 60 yearsold at the time of his death

All 96 passengers died in a 26 years old plane. most passengers were Polish state delegates. 

News Clip on the Airplane

*comment closed for politician

Robert Martin Culp
Born: August 16, 1930 Oakland, California, United States
Died: March 24, 2010 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California

Robert Culp was an American actor and scriptwriter, perhaps best known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy (1965-1968), the espionage  series, where he and co-star Bill Cosby played a pair of secret agents.

Culp came to national attention very early in his career as the star of the 1957-59 Western television series Trackdown  in which he played Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman.

He played a murderer in three separate Columbo episodes.
In 1981 he got his big break back into the television realm when he starred in The Greatest American Hero.

One of his most recent recurring roles was a part on Everybody Loves Raymond as Warren Whelan, Ray's father-in-law.

He appeared on episodes of many other television programs including a 1961 season three episode of "Bonanza" titled Broken Ballad, as well as The Golden Girls, The Nanny, The Girls Next Door and Wings.

Death of Robert Culp
Culp died on March 24, 2010 after a fall that took place outside his Los Angeles home.  Robert Culp was 79 years old at the time of his dealth.

Robert Culp (as a waiter) on "Get Smart"