Actors who died in their 20s

Ten actors, like Heath Ledger, who died in their 20s:


• James Dean, 24, died Sept., 30, 1955, after an automobile crash on the highway near Paso Robles, Calif.

• Sharon Tate, 26, was murdered Aug. 9, 1969, by followers of Charles Manson in Los Angeles.

• Freddie Prinze, 22, died Jan. 29, 1977, after shooting himself in Los Angeles.

• Jon-Erik Hexum, 26, died Oct. 18, 1984, after accidentally shooting himself with a prop gun in Los Angeles.

• Rebecca Schaeffer, 21, was murdered July 18, 1989, by stalker Robert John Bardo in Los Angeles.

• Brandon Lee, 28, died March 31, 1993, after accidentally being shot on the set of "The Crow" in Wilmington, N.C.

• River Phoenix, 23, died Oct. 31, 1993, from a drug overdose outside of a night club in Los Angeles.

• David Strickland, 29, died March 22, 1999, after hanging himself in a hotel room in Las Vegas.

• Jonathan Brandis, 27, died Nov. 12, 2003, from injuries he suffered after hanging himself in Los Angeles.

• Brad Renfro, 25, died Jan. 15, 2008, the day after reportedly spending the previous evening drinking with friends.