Autopsyfiles.org - Death Certificates

Below are several popular celebrity death certificates. These death certificates depict the cause of death for many past and present stars. If there is a death certificate that you are looking for, please scroll below or look in the autopsy report section. Often there is a death certificate included in the autopsy report file. Also, if there is a specific death certificate you are looking for that is not listed below, please email me and I will find it! Enjoy!

Allen, Fulton: (July 10, 1907 - February 13, 1941) Fulton Allen, also know as Blind Boy Fuller, was an American blues guitarist and vocalist who was blind due to vision loss to the long-term effects of untreated conjunctivitis though to be from gonorrhea. Allen ost his vision in 1927. Allen was one of the most popular of the recorded Piedmont blues artists with rural Black Americans, a group that also included Blind Blake, Josh White, and Buddy Moss. On February 13, 194, Allen died in as the result of septicemia due to a infection of in his bladder, abdomen, and pelvis result in subsequent kidney failure. The previous summer, Allen underwent a procedure known as suprapublic cystostomy (placement of a catheter in the bladder through the lower pelvis)
Arquette, Alexis: (July 28, 1969 - September 11, 2016) Arquette, born Robert Arquette, was an American actress who at an early age primary played female impersonators. In 2004, she declared that she was going to undergo gender transitioning and reassignment which she realized in 2006. Arquette was known for her role in Last Exit to Brooklyn, Jumpin' at the Boneyard, Killer Drag Queens on Dope, Pulp Fiction, Threesome, Bride of Chucky, The Wedding Singer, and Blended. She had roles in the sitcom, Friends; and was a celebrity house guest on VH1's 6th season of The Surreal Life. In 1987, Arquette contracted HIV; and as a result of this suffered many health related complications of the disease. In September 2016, Arquette became seriously ill and passed away in the hospital from cardiac arrest from HIV-related myocarditis.
Bavier, Frances: (December 14, 1902 - December 6, 1989) France Bavier, an outstanding actress, was also known as "Aunt Bee" winning the Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Performance in 1967 for her performances on The Andy Griffith Show. She also starred in several movies, including The Day the Earth Stood Still, Girls About Town, and Benji. She also starred as Ms. Amy Morgan on NBC's It's a Great Life. Bavier died at her home of a heart attack shortly before her 87th birthday.
Bronson, Charles: (November 3, 1921 - August 30, 2003) Charles Bronson, born Charles Dennis Buchinsky, was a talented actor who starred in blockbuster movies such as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series. He was an actor for over 60 years before retiring. On August 30, 2003, after battling Alzheimer's disease and metastatic lung cancer, Bronson died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of pneumonia. He is buried in Brownsville Cemetery in West Windsor, Vermont.
Capone, Alphonse "Al": (January 17, 1899 - January 25, 1947) Al Capone was an American gangster who was believed to have ordered the most notorious gangland killing of the century, the 1929 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Chicago's North Side. Capone died at 48 years of age of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke.
Cobain, Kurt: (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) Kurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band, Nirvana. Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle with what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted "contact penetrating shotgun wound to the head." The has been a lot of fascination and controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death in his fan base. Cobain was cremated and his ashes into McLane Creek in Olympia, Washington.
Courson, Pamela: (December 22, 1946 - April 25, 1974) Pamela Courson was the long time companion of famed singer, Jim Morrison. On April 25, 1974, Courson was found dead on the living room couch in her Los Angeles apartment. The cause of death was listed as acute heroin-morphine intoxication secondary to injection of overdose.
Denver, John: (December 31, 1943 - October 12, 1997) John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf, was a talented singer and songwriter popular for his country and western music in addition to his roles on television and movies. He stared in the Oh, God! movies alongside George Burns and was an occasion guest star on The Muppet Show. Denver earned 12 gold and 4 platinum albums for his music including great hits such as Take Me Home, Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High, Annie's Song, Calypso, and Sunshine on My Shoulder. On October 12, 1997, Denver was killed when his experimental airplane crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast Pacific Grove near Monterey County, California. The aircraft registration number was N555JD and the NTSB accident ID is LAX98FA008. He autopsy reports, state that he died from blunt force trauma. It also states there was no trace of alcohol or any other drug in his system. Ironically, another of Denver's number one songs was Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Farley, Chris: (February 15, 1964 - December 18, 1997) Chris Farley was a well-known actor and comedian, who starred in the NBC television series, Saturday Night Live, and movies such as Billy Madison, Coneheads, Airheads, Tommy Boy, Wayne's World, and Black Sheep. On December 18, 1997, Farley was found deceased by his brother in his residence in the John Hancock Center in Chicago. His official cause of death was listed as an accident resulting from "opiate and cocaine intoxication" with coronary atherosclerosis as a contributing factor to his death
Harrison, George: (February 25, 1943 - November 29, 2001) George Harrison was a English singer and songwriter, who was the lead guitarist for The Beatles. In 1997, Harrison was diagnosed with throat cancer that he attributed to years of heavy smoking. The cancer was successfully treated with radiation therapy; however; in 2001, Harrison, underwent an operation to remove a cancerous growth on his lung. Over the course of that year, it was found that the cancer had spread to his brain. He continued to undergo treatment at Staten Island University Hospital until the time of his death. The official cause of death is listed as "metastatic non-small cell carcinoma."
Garland, Judy: (June 10 , 1922 - June 22, 1969) Born France Ethel Gumm, Judy Garland was a actress and singer who attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles. She is well-noted for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She was nominated for several awards for her roles in A Star Is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg, while also starring in hit movies such as Presenting Lily Mars, Strike Up the Band, Andy Hardy Meets Debutantes, and Little Nellie Kelly. On June 22, 1969, Garland was found dead by her husband in the bathroom of their rent house in Chelsea, London. The official cause of death was listed as an accident due to "an incautious self-overdosage" of barbiturates. Her toxicology results showed that her blood contained the equivalent of ten 97 mg Seconal capsules. In addition, Garland had cirrhosis of the liver. In 1997, Garland was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Garner, James: (April 7, 1928 - July 19, 2014) James Garner was an outstanding actor whose career spanned nearly 60 years. He was notable for his roles in television series such as Maverick, Promise, and The Rockford Files; while also starring in lead film roles in movies such as The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily, Grand Prix, Murphy's Romance, Space Cowboys,and The Notebook. On July 19, 2014, Garner suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Los Angeles. His death certificate lists the cause of death as myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery disease.
Gay, Marvin Pentz (April 2, 1934 - April 1, 1984) Marvin Gay, otherwise known by his stage name, Marvin Gaye, was an American singer and songwriter who made a huge contribution to soul music in general and the Motown sound in particular. Early in his career he was part of the group The Moonglows, and later in his solo career composed and performed great songs such as Ain't That Peculiar, Heard It Through the Grapevine, Let's Get It On, How Sweet It Is, Sexual Healing, and What's Going On. With his inspiration and talent, he was dubbed "The Prince of Motown" and "The Prince of Soul." On April 1, 1984, Gaye was shot and killed by his father as he tried to intervene in an argument between his parents. His father was charged with voluntary manslaughter after it was known that Marvin beat his father the previous day. Ironically, Marvin was killed with the gun he gave his father four months previously. In 1987, Marvin Gaye Jr. was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gaye was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Holden, William: (April 17, 1918 - November 12, 1981) William Holden was an outstanding American actor who starred in great movies such as The Towering Inferno, The Earthling, Sunset Boulevard and Stalag 17. On November 12, 1981, Holden was intoxicated in his apartment and fell and hit his head on a nightstand. He sustained a deep laceration of his scalp and bled to death. The official of death is listed as "exsanguination due to a laceration of the scalp. "
Johnson, Casey: (September 24, 1979 - January 4, 2010) Casey Johnson was the great-great granddaughter of Robert Johnson, co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson drug empire. Casey was also model and starred in a few minor movie and documentary roles. On January 4, 2010, Casey was found dead in her friend's guesthouse. The official cause of death was "diabetic ketoacidosis," which is a complication of diabetes that occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because the body has no insulin or not enough insulin, and fat is used instead. Byproducts of fat breakdown, called ketones, build up in the body. As the fats are broken down, acids called ketones build up in the blood and urine. In high levels, ketones are poisonous. This results in a condition known as ketoacidosis.
Jones, Brian: (February 28, 1942 - July 3, 1969) Brian Jones was an English musician and founding member of the rock group, The Rolling Stones. Jones left The Rolling Stones in 1969, and on July 3, 1969, Jones was found lifeless at the bottom of a swimming pool at Cotchfarm Farm in Hartfield, East Sussex. according to the official version of events, there were three guests at his home. They were Janet Lawson, a 26-year-old nurse who knew the musician through her boyfriend, Rolling Stones tour manager Tom Keylock; Frank Thorogood, 43, Jones's builder-cum-minder; and Anna Wohlin, Jones's girlfriend. The East Sussex Coroner listed the official cause of Jone's death as :drowning due to immersion in fresh water; and secondary causes attributed to severe liver dysfunction due to the ingestion of alcohol and drugs; and swimming whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Cause of death listed as "Misadventure" due to the above stated reasons." There are some conspiracy theories that Jones was actually murderer, by Frank Thorogood, the builder; however, this has never been proved.
Kennedy Jr, John Fitzgerald: (November 25, 1960 - July 16, 1999) John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. was the eldest son of former 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. John was killed when his aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean as it was headed towards Martha's Vineyard Airport on July 16, 1999. In addition to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr, other passengers in the plane included his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and his sister-in-law Lauren Bessette.
Ledger, Heath: (April 4, 1979 - January 22, 2008) Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who starred in films such as "The Patriot," "Monster's Ball," "A Knight's Tale," "Brokeback Mountain," and "The Dark Knight." On February 6, 2008, Ledger was found unconscious in his bed by his housekeeper and his masseuse in his fourth-floor loft apartment at 421 Broome Street in Manhattan in New York City. After calling 9-1-1, the masseuse performed CPR until paramedics arrived. CPR was continued; however, it was unsuccessful. Ledge was pronounced dead at 3:36PM. The autopsy report listed his death as an accident resulting from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine."
Lennon, John: (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980) John Lennon was an iconic singer and songwriter and member of the The Beatles. On December 8, 1980, as he and his wife, Yoko Ono, were walking back to their apartment, The Dakota, located in Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, John was shot in the back four times by Mark David Chapman. John was taken to Roosevelt Hospital and was pronounced dead at 11:07PM. The causes of his death was listed as "multiple gunshot wounds of the left shoulder and chest; left lung and left subclavian artery resulting in external and internal hemorrhage and shock."

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