Are These Stars Of The 2000s Dead Or Alive?
- by Joey Haverford
- – on
- in Movies and TV
The 2000s provided a memorable decade of entertainment in many forms. Music, television, and cinema all thrived with financial records reaching new highs. Fans of all art forms found something they enjoyed. It culminated with celebrities from all fields reaching the top of their game. Many actors, actresses, singers and musicians became household names or improved their already impressive frame during this time frame. Unfortunately, a lot of time has passed and so have many of our favorite stars from the era. While many inspiring and captivating names have left us, there are quite a few that transitioned out of the spotlight for various reasons.
We will take a look at a plethora of relevant names from the 2000s that provided interest to the mainstream audience in different ways. You will test your memory to find out just how much you have kept up with the news regarding your old favorites. This quiz will consist of twenty-five names for you to try to recall if they are still alive or if they have left us. Anyone to have strong memories from the decade will have fond memories. Find out how many of them are still alive and which are unfortunately dead after taking the quiz.
Rivers Cuomo
The rock band Weezer had their best albums in the 90s and saw their name value rise to new highs in the 2000s. It appears fans never appreciated the songs of lead singer Rivers Cuomo until Weezer’s new albums in the decade gave them the opportunity to respect all of their music. Cuomo developed the reputation for being an intriguing figure in how he looked at music and how he showcased his personality though the songs. Did the lead singer of Weezer pass away or is he still alive?
Amy Winehouse
The talented singer Amy Winehouse became one of the biggest stars of the 2000s. Winehouse’s smash hit song “Rehab” helped break her out into the mainstream. Between her superb songs and a fascinating personality, Amy connected with millions of fans all over the world. The fact that Winehouse won Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance all in the same year showed how credible of a singer she was. Has Amy left us or is she still alive today?
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell is without a doubt a rock music legend based on his work in multiple bands. The lead vocalist led two successful rock bands of Soundgarden and Audioslave each adding to his legacy. It is extremely difficult to find success in one relevant band, let alone two. Cornell did it by giving his all as a musical genius in different forms. The singing and songwriting skills of Cornell caused both bands to reach high places in the music industry. Is he still with us today?
Ja Rule
Hip hop star Ja Rule dominated the crossover genre between rap and R&B. Any fan of hip hop remembers Ja Rule’s hit songs with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ashanti and Bobby Brown. Many fans considered him the top rapper in the world for a short time period before his feud with 50 Cent. The white hot popularity of 50 Cent led to him destroying Ja Rule in their very public rivalry. Did Ja Rule pass away or is he still alive today?
Topher Grace
That 70’s Show is absolutely one of the most successful sitcoms of the 2000s but in its current airing and in syndication. A comedy show about life in the 70s created a huge hit for Fox. Topher Grace was the star of the series playing the lead character Eric Forman. The acting career of Grace gave him a couple of other opportunities such as portraying Venom in Spider-Man 3. Do you know if Topher is still alive these days or has he departed us?
James Gandolfini
The Sopranos may very well be the most popular choice when you poll many people about the top television show of 2000s. James Gandolfini portrayed the lead character James Soprano that set the tone for the popularity and success of the show. You need a strong star in the show to truly reach success and Gandolfini clearly did a superb job. The acting career of Gandolfini is highly acclaimed, but the HBO show is his top gig. Has he passed away or is he still with us?
Brittany Murphy
The beautiful Brittany Murphy started her acting career as a teenager during the 90s. Following her time on shows like Sister, Sister and Boy Meets World, she completely changed her look in her adult years to reinvent her career. Murphy would get elevated from her time as a background sitcom extra into the lead actress in various comedy films. Just Married, Little Black Book and 8 Mile are some of her most memorable roles. Is Murphy still alive today or has he passed away?
Tara Reid
Tara Reid was once one of the most popular actresses in the world in the early 2000s. The stunning bombshell broke out in the American Pie franchise to become a household name. Reid moved on into various starring roles in comedy films such as Josie and the Pussycats, My Boss’ Daughter and Van Wilder. Many of her lifestyle choices destroyed her popularity and caused her to lose her place in Hollywood. Is Tara still with us today or has he passed away?
Heath Ledger
The acting career of Heath Ledger is highly respected for his talent translating through every genre of film. Ledger’s name went to the next level when starring in A Knight’s Tale. The role in Brokeback Mountain was another form of progression in his career when getting nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor. Ledger’s biggest role in his career was as the Joker in The Dark Knight. This was considered the greatest superhero film due to Ledger portraying the Joker to absolute perfection. Is Heath still with us today?
Chester Bennington
Linkin Park was arguably the biggest band in the United States for a few years during the 2000s. Lead singer Chester Bennington had an incredible voice that led to the group making massive hit after hit for a couple of years in the rock scene. A crossover with Jay-Z saw them work together to change the industry. Hip hop fans looked at rock differently and vice versa. Bennington’s superb talent helped contribute to many positive things in the decade. Is Chester still with us or has he passed away?
Clive Owen
Clive Owen was another actor that saw his career rise in the 2000s. The talented English star made his name in films such as Closer, Sin City, Derailed and Training Day. All four movies added to his career in different ways ranging from critically acclaimed love to financial box office success. Owen improved from a nice actor into a credible leading man. The career of Owen dwindled as time passed due to less noteworthy roles. Has Clive passed away or is he still with us today?
Shaggy
Jamaican singer Shaggy became a huge star in the United States back in the 2000s. The songs “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel” helped him win Grammys. More importantly to him, he made major money with two hits coming right after each other. The incredible voice of Shaggy made him a mainstream success for about a full year for the peak of his career. Do you know if Shaggy is still with us today or if he has unfortunately passed away?
Aaliyah
R&B singer Aaliyah started the millennium with massive success as a crossover star. The song “Try Again” made her a top radio request as her music career was booming. Between her charisma and beauty, Aaliyah was then offered opportunities to become an actress. The starring roles in Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned each showcased her acting skills. Anyone to witness any of her art forms could see her obvious talent. Did Aaliyah pass away or is she still alive with us today?
Steve Jobs
The popularity and growth of technology made the geniuses behind them celebrities during the 2000s. Apple started its path to taking over the United States as a powerhouse brand for all things technology. Chances are most of you are taking this quiz on an Apple product. Steve Jobs is the man behind Apple with his vision reaching incredible peaks. Movies and books were made about his journey showing how popular he became. Is Jobs still alive or has he passed away?
Bill Gates
Another celebrity that came into the mainstream thanks to his role in bringing along technology was Bill Gates. The co-founder of Microsoft saw his product become the largest PC software in the world. Without Gates, it is hard to envision the internet being as popular as it is today. Gates became a household name as technology took over the world thanks in part to him. Do you know if Gates has passed away already or if he is still with us today?
Bernie Mac
The Bernie Mac Show was one of the surprising standout hit sitcoms to hit television during the 2000s. Mac was an established but underrated comedian trying to break out in the mainstream through the 90s. Fox finally took the chance on giving him a sitcom titled after him with a lead role. Bernie showcased all of his skills into making the show a huge success. The Bernie Mac Show lasted five seasons and he starred in various comedic movies. Is Bernie still with us today?
Freddie Prinze Jr.
The career of actor Freddie Prinze Jr. took off in the late 90s but he reached a peak in the 2000s. Prinze Jr. received a lot of money to star in various comedy films such as Boys and Girls, Summer Catch and the Scooby Doo film franchise. The former teenage heartthrob became a consistently successful lead actor for many years. ABC even gave him his own sitcom at one point. Did Freddie pass away or is he still alive today?
Paul Walker
Paul Walker is another 90s heartthrob that witnessed his career ascend in the 2000s. The highly successful Fast and the Furious film franchise took off with Walker as the star of the first two movies. Things went downhill for the franchise when Walker wasn’t in the third film. They eventually brought him and Vin Diesel back to revamp the franchise leading to even more success. Walker starred in numerous other films like Joy Ride and Deep Blue Sea in that time. Has he passed away?
Prince
The legacy of Prince reached new highs in the 2000s thanks to the power of the internet and his iconic reputation. Music being more accessible than ever led to fans listening to Prince’s old music for the first time as well as his new music bringing in more success. Chappelle’s Show highlighted him as a comedic figure in a parody showing just how much of a household name he was. Everything Prince related was a hit. Is Prince still with us today or has he passed away?
Bono
Another iconic star to find even more success in the 2000s was Bono of U2. The legendary rock band released multiple hit albums in the time frame. “A Beautiful Day” was one of the most successful songs of the decade winning many awards along the way. Bono’s charity work as a humanitarian giving his all to help those in need across the world also became part of his legacy. The legendary singer made a massive impact in making the world a better place in many ways. Do you know if Bono is still here with us?
Asher Roth
A less talented musician that still broke out in the 2000s was rapper Asher Roth. The rapper became a huge star towards the end of the decade when his hit song “I Love College” dominated the charts. Roth had a few other hits to extend his career and become a credible star in the music industry. Unfortunately for him, a lack of skills compared to his peers exposed him and ended his relevance within a year. Is Asher still around today or has he departed?
Randy Jackson
American Idol became a huge hit in the 2000s and helped usher in the era of reality television shows. Aspiring singers competed for a contract on the show while being judged by various personalities before fans voted on a winner. Randy Jackson was one of the original three judges along with Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. The personality of Jackson made him stand out and help add to the show becoming a success. Did Randy pass away or is he still alive right now?
Paul Giamatti
Paul Giamatti took his game from just being a respected actor into one of the best in the world during the 2000s. The career of Giamatti reached new peaks with relevant roles in superb movies such as American Splendor, Sideways and Cinderella Man. Giamatti had a tremendous all-around acting gift that extended into every genre. He even did a few comedy and children’s films in the time frame. Any diehard movie buff knows how great Giamatti has been. Is he still with us or has he passed away?
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman was another top tier actor that succeeded in just about every role given to him. The top 2000s films for Hoffman were Capote, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Savages and Doubt. Hoffman was nominated for major awards in each of those films and won Best Actor at the Academy Awards for Capote. We even witnessed him do well in blockbuster films such as Mission Impossible III. Did Hoffman pass away or is he still alive with us these days?
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson was one of the top actresses of the 2000s. The huge hit film Almost Famous was released in 2000 and helped Hudson establish her name as a top tier actress. Hudson actually was nominated for an Academy Award as the Best Supporting Actress. Other hit films like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Raising Helen and Bride Wars continued her success for the rest of the decade. Is Hudson still alive today or has she passed away?