Last Days

On November 24, 1991, Freddie Mercury — the electrifying frontman of Queen whose operatic voice and theatrical brilliance redefined rock stardom — died at the age of 45 from complications related to AIDS, just one day after publicly confirming his diagnosis. With towering anthems like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, and We Will Rock You, Mercury helped transform Queen into one of the most innovative and globally beloved bands in music history, blending hard rock, glam, opera, and pop into something entirely their own. His four-octave vocal range, magnetic stage presence, and fearless individuality shattered conventions and expanded what a rock performer could be. His death, coming at a time when the AIDS crisis was still shrouded in stigma and silence, marked the end of one of music’s most extraordinary voices — but cemented a legacy that continues to echo across generations. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final moments of Aaliyah, the groundbreaking R&B singer whose tragic plane crash shocked the world and left a lasting impact on music that still resonates today. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On February 11, 2026, James Van Der Beek — the actor whose emotional vulnerability helped define a generation of teen television — died at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. Rising to fame as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek became the earnest, introspective face of late-1990s youth culture, anchoring a series that reshaped the teen drama with its sincerity, ambition, and unapologetic heart. He carried that momentum into films like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, later reinventing himself with self-aware comedic turns in Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and dramatic roles like CSI: Cyber, proving a rare ability to evolve beyond early stardom. His death closes the chapter on a career that spanned three decades — one marked by reinvention, resilience, and an indelible imprint on pop culture that continues to resonate with the generation that grew up watching him dream from a dock in Capeside. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On August 9, 1969, Sharon Tate — the luminous young actress and rising star of Hollywood’s new generation — was brutally murdered at the age of 26 in one of the most shocking crimes in American history. A symbol of 1960s glamour and promise, Tate embodied a fresh, modern screen presence: playful, stylish, and effortlessly charismatic. From her breakout performance in Valley of the Dolls to memorable roles in Eye of the Devil and The Fearless Vampire Killers, Tate’s career was cut tragically short just as she was emerging as a major talent, leaving behind a legacy defined as much by her unrealized potential as by the cultural rupture her death came to represent. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final years of David Carradine, a legendary actor whose unexpected death fueled rumors and unanswered questions that still linger today. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On November 7, 1980, Steve McQueen — the massive movie star whose minimalist swagger earned him the nickname “The King of Cool” — died at the age of 50 following complications from cancer surgery. A countercultural icon who bridged old Hollywood and the rebellious New Hollywood era, McQueen embodied a new kind of leading man: taciturn, restless, and unmistakably modern. From his breakout role in The Magnificent Seven to era-defining performances in Bullitt, The Great Escape, and Papillon, McQueen reshaped action cinema with a raw physicality and anti-authoritarian edge that made him one of the biggest stars in the world. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On January 30, 2026, Catherine O’Hara — the singular comedic force whose fearless character work helped redefine modern comedy — died at the age of 71. A performer of extraordinary precision and range, O’Hara built a career not on punchlines but on total commitment, transforming eccentricity into emotional truth. From her groundbreaking work on SCTV to her unforgettable turns as the frantic matriarch in Home Alone, the pretentious Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice, and the impeccably unhinged Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara shaped generations of comedy with intelligence, restraint, and daring specificity. Across film, television, and improvisational mockumentaries with Christopher Guest, she proved that the funniest performances often come from taking characters completely seriously — leaving behind a legacy as influential as it is beloved. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final years of Paul Walker. A global superstar whose sudden death sparked widespread assumptions that still obscure what really happened. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 31, 1926, Harry Houdini — the world-famous escape artist and illusionist whose death-defying feats made him one of the first global superstars of modern entertainment — passed away at the age of 52. Born Erik Weisz to a poor immigrant family, Houdini rose from carnivals and dime museums to international fame through relentless discipline, physical endurance, and an obsession with mastering the impossible. He stunned audiences with escapes from straitjackets, locked safes, water-filled tanks, and prison cells, redefining magic as a test of human will as much as illusion. Beyond the stage, Houdini became a fierce skeptic, dedicating his later years to exposing fraudulent spiritualists and defending truth over spectacle. With unmatched showmanship, precision, and daring, Houdini transformed magic into a mass-culture phenomenon and set the standard for every escape artist who followed, leaving behind a legacy built on fearlessness, control, and the relentless pursuit of wonder. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Look Back episode of Last Days, we revisit the life and final years of Amy Winehouse. A once-in-a-generation talent whose voice and songwriting reshaped modern soul. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 5, 2004, Rodney Dangerfield — the legendary comedian whose trademark line “I don’t get no respect” became one of the most iconic catchphrases in entertainment history — passed away at the age of 82. Rising from years of struggle in comedy clubs and working odd jobs, Dangerfield broke through with a relentless, self-deprecating style that reshaped stand-up comedy and influenced generations of comics. He became a household name through classic films like Caddyshack, Back to School, and Easy Money, while also earning acclaim for dramatic performances that revealed unexpected depth beyond his comedic persona. With razor-sharp timing, fearless honesty, and an everyman relatability, Dangerfield turned insecurity into art and failure into punchlines. By the time of his passing, he was revered not just as a comedian, but as a pioneer who transformed personal frustration into universal laughter and forever changed the language of comedy. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 18, 2017, Chris Cornell — the iconic singer, songwriter, and one of the most powerful voices in rock history — passed away at the age of 52. Rising to prominence as the frontman of Soundgarden, Cornell helped define the Seattle grunge movement of the late 1980s and 1990s with his soaring vocal range and emotionally raw songwriting. He later expanded his legacy with Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, while also building a deeply personal solo career that showcased his versatility across rock, acoustic, and orchestral styles. Songs like “Black Hole Sun,” “Fell on Black Days,” and “Like a Stone” cemented his reputation as both a fearless artist and a poetic storyteller. By the time of his passing, Cornell was revered not just as a rock star, but as a generational voice whose music gave shape to pain, beauty, and vulnerability for millions around the world. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Eric Colley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we celebrate the New Year, Derek and Jason take the opportunity to reflect on some of the most memorable celebrities we didn't have a chance to cover on the podcast, focusing on their extraordinary lives and legacies. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As 2025 comes to a close, Derek and Jason take a look back at the most famous and influential celebrities we lost this year, and explore what made their lives and careers so memorable, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On April 5, 2002, Layne Staley — the hauntingly gifted frontman of Alice in Chains whose voice carried the ache, rage, and beauty of an entire generation — died alone in his Seattle apartment at the age of 34, closing the final chapter on one of rock music’s most tortured and transcendent lives. From the moment Alice in Chains emerged out of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s, Staley’s raw, wounded harmonies and unflinching vulnerability helped define the darker emotional core of the grunge movement. His death, arriving years after he stepped back from the public eye yet still painfully soon for the millions who felt connected to his music, transformed an already enigmatic figure into something larger — a symbol of artistic brilliance shadowed by addiction, isolation, and a pain too great to outrun. Hosts: Eric Colley, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 14, 2025, Rob Reiner — the groundbreaking actor-turned-director whose blend of humor, heart, and moral clarity helped shape the landscape of modern American film — was murdered along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home, bringing a tragic end to one of Hollywood’s most enduring creative and personal partnerships. From his Emmy-winning turn as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family to his extraordinary run of genre-defining films — including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men — Reiner carved out a career marked equally by artistic daring and emotional resonance. Michele, his steadfast collaborator in life, influenced his most iconic work and shared his commitment to family, advocacy, and the belief that stories could make the world better. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On August 13, 1995, Mickey Mantle — the legendary New York Yankees center fielder who defined power, speed, and switch-hitting excellence in baseball — died at the age of 63 after a battle with liver cancer. Celebrated for his rare combination of strength and athleticism, Mantle revolutionized the game with towering home runs, blazing speed, and a fearless style of play that thrived on the sport’s biggest stages. A three-time MVP and seven-time World Series champion, his impact on baseball during the 1950s and 1960s made him an enduring icon of America’s pastime, inspiring generations of players and fans alike. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen — the revolutionary guitarist who reshaped the sound and possibilities of rock music — died at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. Celebrated for his explosive tapping technique, innovative tone engineering, and fearless musical curiosity, Van Halen transformed guitar playing into a new art form with a style that blended virtuosity, rhythm, and pure adrenaline. His work on albums like Van Halen and 1984 not only catapulted his band to global fame but set an enduring benchmark for rock musicianship, inspiring countless players across genres from hard rock to pop. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads — the prodigiously gifted guitarist who helped redefine heavy metal’s sound in the early ’80s — died at the age of 25 in a plane crash while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Known for his blistering technique and classical-inspired precision, Rhoads brought sophistication and melody to a genre previously defined by raw power. His work on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman not only revived Osbourne’s solo career but set a new standard for guitar virtuosity, influencing generations of players from metal to modern rock. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley — the Jamaican singer, songwriter, and cultural revolutionary who brought reggae and Rastafarianism to the global stage — died of cancer at the age of 36 in Miami. Born in rural Nine Mile and rising from the streets of Kingston’s Trenchtown, Marley fused spiritual conviction with political defiance in songs like “One Love,” “Redemption Song,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Though his life was cut short, his music and message of unity, resistance, and peace made him a worldwide symbol of freedom and the enduring soul of Jamaica. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices