25 Iconic TV Shows Transformed Into Movies

For some reason, some people think that TV shows need to be made into movies. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. Jeff Mezydlow on the MSN.com page YardBarker has compiled a list of iconic TV shows that were made into movies

It's all a matter of personal opinion. Whoever wrote this seems to give their opinion strongly. I consider it a matter of personal preference. One person might like it and another may not. As long as you like it, who cares what everyone else thinks

1. The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)

-Penelope Spheeris, who directed Wayne's World, tried her hand at a movie adaptation of the much beloved TV series The Beverly Hillbillies. About a bunch of down home, good hearted folks from the Appalachia region who strike oil and get rich. The TV show was massively successful, but many think the film version was goofy, but in a bad way. Some think that comedic actor Jim Varney as Jed Clampett was not a good idea

2. Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)

-This TV series ran for a few seasons during the 1960s, at a time when police shows were starting to become popular. The movie, however, was a flop. It was thought that adding big names like Fran Drescher (The Nanny), David Johansen (post-New York Dolls) and John C. McGinley would make it work. It didn't

3. The Flintstones (1994)

-The much beloved cartoon about prehistoric life was made in to a 1994 film and was actually very successful. The sequel to it didn't fare very well, but it was during the summer and people like seeing movies during the summer. The movie seemed a lot more mature in content than the family friendly cartoon was. John Goodman and Rosie O'Donnell, cast as Fred and Betty, didn't seem right for the roles

4. Sgt. Bilko (1997)

-The film was a total bomb. It was inspired by the 1950s show of the same name starring Phil Silvers. In this film, Dan Akyroyd, Phil Hartman and Steve Martin appear. Martin plays the main character. Overall, the film did not do well

5. McHale's Navy (1997)

-The original TV show was a funny, lighthearted program of the 1960s. The film version didn't do so well. Ernest Borgnine from the original series starred in it, but other than him, Debra Messing also starred in it along with Tom Arnold, who played the lead role. To this day, this movie has become forgotten

6. Leave It to Beaver (1997)

-Many think the movie wasn't good, despite the high ratings from a lot of film critics. To any fan of the show, Jerry Mathers will always be Beaver, no matter what role he's playing. The parents in the film, Ward and June were played by Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley

7. Mr. Magoo (1997)

-Leslie Nielsen is one of those comedians who can pull off physical humor in addition to sarcastic humor. When he was cast as Mr. Magoo, the much beloved cartoon character in a film version, the movie was okay at best, but not good

8. Lost in Space (1998)

-The TV series of the same name from the 1960s was incredibly popular, especially when other generations started discovering it via streaming services. Sci-fi films usually go over well with audiences, depending on the storylines. This one, however, didn't fare well among the more popular sci-fi movies. Some think it was the casting of certain actors or actresses to blame for its low ratings

9. The Avengers (1998)

-When people hear "The Avengers" nowadays, their mind might automatically go to the Marvel movies starring the characters Hawkeye, Black Widow, The Hulk, Captain America and Iron Man, certainly not the original TV show from the 1960s. The Avengers was a 1960s British spy TV program centering around two characters-John Steed and Emma Peel. The film was a total disaster. It starred Ralph Fiennes as John Steed, Uma Thurman as Emma Peel and Sean Connery as a villain trying to control the weather

10. The Mod Squad (1999)

-During the late 1960s to early 1970s, cop shows were booming. There was a wealth of options for cop shows, such as Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, The Mod Squad, CHiPS, etc. On the original television program The Mod Squad, Michael Cole, who played Pete, Peggy Lipton, who played Julie and Clarence Williams III, who played Linc, just looked cool while fighting crime. The movie version, however, simply couldn't compare to the original. Claire Daines, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps just couldn't compare with the original

11. Wild Wild West (1999)

-The original TV show was a sci-fi / spy series. Many think that the film should have done better simply because Will Smith is in it. Not everything he is in will be box office gold. Film critics all but bashed the film. The film version of the classic TV show stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline as two Secret Service agents ordered to protect then president Ulysses S. Grant

-I thought the movie was good. It was a little goofy in some parts, but that keeps things interesting. It's all a matter of personal opinion

12. Inspector Gadget (1999)

-The film version of the highly successful cartoon series did fairly well at the theaters. Matthew Broderick was cast as the lead role and while there were some good choices for fellow cast members, apparently that was not enough to save the film from being good

13. Dudley Do-Right (1999)

-The original cartoon was a spin off of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. Dudley Do-Right is a much beloved character in Canada. It was said that Brendan Fraser didn't give the character his due diligence and even the jokes in the movie seemed forced, not natural. This film was said to be a total bomb

14. S.W.A.T. (2002)

-The original program centered around the SWAT team of a police department. The film version, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and Jeremy Renner, didn't provide much in the way of action despite the star power

15. I Spy (2002)

-The original series starred comedic actor Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. The film version starred Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson in the lead roles with Famke Janssen along for the ride. One of the thorns in people's sides about this film is that it didn't have much in common with the original TV show. While it's never a bad thing to change things up, fans expected a little more similarity to the TV show

16. Starsky and Hutch (2004)

-It seemed like a good idea at the time. Make a film version of the ultra-popular 1970s cop show. The only problem is that Ben Stiller, who played Starsky and Owen Wilson, who played Hutch, seemed to try far too hard to be like the original pair. The original pair were cool, calm and collected, what some might call "smooth operators." The film version of the detectives were a little too out there and simply not as good as the original. The only thing that made this movie somewhat bearable was the fact that Snoop Dogg took on the role of CI (confidential informant) Huggy Bear

-I can say I saw this and it was not good. The only thing I liked about it was that the original actors, Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky) and David Soul (Hutch) appeared at the end

17. Fat Albert (2004)

-Bill Cosby's life might have fallen apart because of the sexual assault allegations, but Fat Albert is one of the great animated series on TV. When it was considered as a movie, it was a good idea at the time. But many feel that the film version of the much beloved cartoon series simply didn't compare to the original

-I actually liked this. It was funny and whimsical, something that we need more of in today's world

18. The Honeymooners (2005)

-This movie simply didn't do good. Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps took on the roles of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton. Gabrielle Union took on the role of Alice and Regina Hall took on the role of Trixie. The pranks and hi-jinks pulled by Ralph and Ed might have been updated but it simply couldn't compare to the much beloved black and white series

19. Bewitched (2005)

-Will Farrell is a master of comedy. When he's given a chance to re-enact a movie version of a TV show, that is where he seems to falter. In the film Bewitched, he plays Jack Wyatt, an actor playing the role of Darrin Stephens. The whole idea of a show within a movie is simply too confusing. Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell actually received awards for Worst Screen Couple for this film

20. The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)

-Simply put, the movie didn't fare well. Many remember the show as being a down to earth, simple but good show for the time. The movie version simply couldn't compare to the original show. Johnny Knoxville, who played Luke Duke, was a lot better than Sean William Scott, who played Bo Duke. Sean William Scott had just gotten off of the fame of the American Pie series. Jessica Simpson played their sister Daisy Duke, who was, by many, considered a useless character in the movie. The TV show version of Daisy Duke was better. Not only that, but Burt Reynolds played local criminal Boss Hogg. Simply put, this movie didn't fare well

-You're better off just watching the original show and appreciating the unique charm it offers

21. Aeon Flux (2005)

-This sci-fi TV show grew to be a popular show on MTV during the 1990s. Why not cash in on its fame and make a movie? It starred Charlize Theron in the lead role, with a storyline centering around a virus that results in people reinventing themselves for further survival. Dull would be a word best used to describe this

22. Land of the Lost (2009)

-This much beloved NBC Saturday morning program about dinosaurs should not have been made into a movie. Will Farrell already had a bad credit to his name with Bewitched. Now he has Land of the Lost to his name as well. The premise was traveling through a time warp to the era of dinosaurs. Farrell's character Rick Marshall and his friends go through a story that is better left on the TV screen. Critics consider it to be one of the worst mainstream movies ever filmed

23. The Last Airbender (2010)

-This movie is based on the popular children's anime program Avatar: The Last Airbender. There was much rejoicing and celebrating when fans heard that there was to be a movie version of their favorite program. When it came to making the movie, a lot of technical difficulties started popping up. The production seemed rushed and the audience felt denied a chance to draw opinions about the characters. Not only that, but with it taking place somewhere in Asia, many felt it was offensive to feature mostly Caucasian actors and actresses rather than including cast members of Asian descent

24. CHiPs (2017)

-In the late 1970s, early 1980s, CHiPs was a popular cop show starring Erik Estrada (Ponch) and Larry Wilcox (John) as two California Highway Patrols. The film version simply could not compare. Dax Sheppard took on the role of John while Michael Pena took on the role of Ponch and the storyline seemed messy, all over the place

25. Baywatch (2017)

-This was a guilty pleasure for most. It centered around a group of lifeguards working and living in California. It shouldn't be shocking that a movie would be made of this popular 1990s program. Dwayne Johnson played the role David Hasselhoff played on the show. But even having Dwayne Johnson or Zack Efron in the movie was not enough to save it. The plot was messy and weak and the jokes or attempts at humor seemed weak at best

Ian Watkins of Lostprophets Dies in Prison

The former Lostprophets vocalist died in prison on Saturday, Oct. 11

The former vocalist for Welsh band Lostprophets, who is now a registered sex offender, was assaulted in prison and died from his injuries on Saturday, October 11, according to the BBC. He was 48 years of age. He was serving a 29 year sentence at the HM Prison Wakefield, known as the "Monster Mansion" in West Yorkshire, England. It was for multiple sexual offenses, including plans to rape a one year old child

According to the reports from newspaper The Sun, police and medical personnel rushed to the prison where they found Watkins' attacker, a fellow inmate. He had slashed Watkins' throat, hitting the jugular artery, resulting in almost immediate blood loss. An anonymous source told The Sun, "Watkins has been killed in the most brutal way possible - and the attack was shocking, even by prison standards. Guards were nearby and raced to the scene pretty quickly - but there was nothing they could do and they could not save him."

Watkins had another encounter with violence while behind bars. In 2023, fellow inmates held him hostage while they stabbed and beat him. One eyewitness described his injuries as "life threatening" at that time. He had been sentenced to prison in December 2013 after it was discovered he committed 13 offenses, including two counts of attempted rape, one count of statutory rape of a minor, three counts of rape involving children, six counts of taking, making or being in possession of child pornography, one count of possessing photographic evidence of bestiality (sexual acts involving animals)

The judge presiding over the case stated that the case "broke new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity" and sentenced Watkins to 35 years in prison in total. 29 years behind bars while the remaining 6 are on license. He noted the singer had a "corrupting influence" and "complete lack of remorse." The mothers of two of the children he abused were also sentenced to prison, one for 14 years and the other for 17 years

11 Crimes That Shocked the World of Rock and Metal

With musicians in the spotlight, it's not shocking to know that if they break the law, it's going to be plastered all over the six o'clock news and on every music site in the world. Loudwire has put together a list of crimes that involved rock and metal musicians

1. Ozzy Osbourne

-He was known for his wild and crazy antics on stage. Including biting the head off of a bat he thought was a prop, but ended up being real. He encountered legal trouble in 1982 when he drunkenly urinated on a 60' statue near The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. The police arrested him and charged him with public intoxication and released him on a $40 bond. But, he was banned from the city for a decade

2. Michael Todd (Coheed & Cambria)

-Prior to the 2011 set with his band opening for Soundgarden in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Coheed and Cambria bass player Michael Todd stopped by a drug store to show one of the pharmacists his cell phone. On that cell phone was a note stating he would detonate a bomb unless he got Oxycontin. He was able to make it out with six bottles and get to the Comcast Center when police finally arrested him. His sentence was one year of home confinement and three years probation. Recently. after he was let go from the band, he admitted to pulling a scam on fans by promising them the chance to buy rare Coheed and Cambria merchandise he didn't really possess

3. Gaahl (Gorgoroth)

-Kristian Espedal, who took on the stage name Gaahl, joined the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth in 1998. This band would be known for its over the top  stage show featuring sheep heads impaled on sticks, satanic symbols and imagery and even mock crucifixions with naked, blood-covered models. The band took it too far in 2002 when Gaahl was arrested and sentenced to prison for eleven months for assaulting a man. He was arrested again in 2005 for torturing a man for six hours and draining his blood into a cup and forcing him to drink it. He was sentenced to nine months in prison. Gaahl claimed self defense both times

4. Chuck Berry

-He is one of the pioneers of the genre we call rock. He was one of the original members of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Four years later, at least 59 women came forward to make claims that Berry had a camera installed in the women's bathroom at a restaurant he owned in Missouri. Police found the tapes, including 62 grams of marijuana. He was able to avoid charges of child abuse by pleading to the lesser crime of misdemeanor drug possession and was sentenced to a six month suspended jail sentence. He states the camera was installed to catch an employee he suspected of stealing

5. Todd Harrell (3 Doors Down)

-The bass player for band 3 Doors Down, Todd Harrell has been seeing lights, mostly of the red and blue variety. The bassist has racked up at least three DUI-related charges within the last two years. A recent visit to Nashville ended with the death of a driver. In 2014, he was sentenced to house arrest until he stood trial for the vehicular homicide charges in Nashville

6. Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying)

-In May 2014, the metalcore world woke up to a shock. Tim Lambesis, the singer for As I Lay Dying, was arrested by police and sentenced to six years in prison just eleven days after being arrested. The reason? He solicited a police detective, who was undercover, to put a hit out on his wife, who he was married to for eight years. Claiming the steroids altered his mind, he was given a felony charge for putting a hit on his wife

7. Sid Vicious (The Sex Pistols)

-Born John Ritchie, he adopted the name Sid Vicious when he was in The Sex Pistols. In 1978, he fatally stabbed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in their hotel room

8. Phil Spector

-This legendary producer is given the credit of creating the so-called "wall of sound" method employed by so many girl groups of the 1960s, including The Ronettes and also by The Beatles for their 1970 album Let It Be. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, the famed producer was arrested in 2003 and convicted of second-degree murder. He was arrested and charged with shooting actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, California home. He was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison

9. Gary Glitter

-Not everyone knows this name. But, if you're familiar with the song "Rock and Roll, Part 2", then you're familiar with him. His career would have been brilliant if it had not been repeatedly trashed by charges of child pornography and child abuse. He was sentenced to prison in Vietnam in 2008, but is now on the UK's sex offender list for the rest of his life

10. Varg Vikernes

-This Norwegian black metaller had a band called Burzum, and spent some time with the band Mayhem. In 1992, it was said he played part in burning down three Christian churches in Norway and then fatally stabbed Oystein "Euronymous" Aarseth, guitarist for Mayhem a year later. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the crime in 1994 for both the murder and the arson of the churches. He was released on parole in 2009. At 41 years of age, he lives in France and still states that he killed Aarseth in self defense and that he did not burn any churches, despite evidence proving he still played a part in the arson

11. Ian Watkins (Lostprophets)

-Vocalist and founding member of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, he inspired a loyal following. In late 2012, it became crystal clear that he was using his role as frontman to exploit the female fans in the audience, commit sexual abuse on children and even planned to rape a one year old girl. When two female accusers came forward, Watkins, who was 37 at the time, was arrested by police and charged with child pornography and extreme depictions of bestiality. In December 2013, he learned his sentence would be twenty nine years in prison and six years on extended license

Celebs Who Passed Away on Set

Sometimes accidents happen. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. When celebrities pass away, it can be shocking to all. And, though it is sad they passed away, their loss had inspired stricter changes in safety. But, the the thing here is-these protocols should have already been in place. No one should have to lose their life for changes to be put into place. Hrvoje Milakovic is a writer for MSN.com page Fiction Horizon. They put together a list of celebs who died on set or on stage

Tommy Cooper

-A massively successful British comedian, he suffered from a massive heart attack while appearing on a 1984 episode of the ITV variety show Live from Her Majesty's in London. He was known for his slapstick humor, which included physical collapsing. Many in the audience thought his fall was part of his routine, and the curtain drawn. Some realized it was not part of his routine and paramedics swarmed in

-When he passed away, it became one of the most heavily talked about events in British television history. This shock made people introduce new rules and regulations and medical preparedness. Fans and fellow comedians remember Cooper as one of those once in a generation comedians whose comedic timing and inspiration still hold strong today

Redd Foxx

-Known best for his appearance on the television program Sanford & Son, saying "You big dummy!" During a 1991 rehearsal for the CBS program The Royal Family, Foxx suffered from a heart attack and collapsed on set. Colleagues thought it was a bit weird considering on Sanford & Son he would always grab his chest as if having a heart attack and say something to the effect of "I'm coming to see ya, Elizabeth". His colleagues quickly realized this was no routine-it was real

-He unfortunately passed away and his death shocked many. His death sparked a new regulation on on-site medical staff for any medical emergencies. It also showed that sometimes the line between reality and art can become blurry, especially when some comedians use mortality as part of their routine

John Ritter

-This one still breaks a lot of people's hearts. For those who grew up watching Three's Company or 8 Simple Rules, the passing of John Ritter is still heartbreaking. He was working on the set of the 2003 ABC program 8 Simple Rules when he experienced a sudden cardiac event and was rushed to the nearby hospital. He unfortunately died at the hospital. His fellow cast mates, crew and viewers were left grieving his loss

-With his passing, this brought new awareness of aortic conditions and their warning signs. The show made an adjustment to honor his life and his colleagues remember him for his ability to make any set feel like a family home, his professional demeanor and his incredible kindness

Brandon Lee

-The son of martial artist / actor Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee's death came as a result of an accident. While filming the 1993 film The Crow, he was fatally wounded by a prop firearm that was mishandled. The prop gun had an actual bullet in it, along with a blank cartridge and when fired, the actual bullet hit him in his abdomen. His passing inspired far stricter protocols on handling functional firearms on set.

-As an eerie side note, almost the exact same type of situation happened later on, with actor Alec Baldwin. He was on the set of one of his movies and there was a scene requiring the use of a firearm. He thought there were blanks in the gun, not knowing that some of the crew were messing around with the guns, using real bullets for target practice and leaving one of the live bullets in the gun. Alec goes to shoot the gun and someone actually does die. He was brought into court for a long while until it was decided he was innocent, that he truly didn't know there was a live round in the gun he used. It was later discovered the crew had been using the prop gun for target practice, but left one of the live rounds in the chamber

Vic Morrow

-While filming a Vietnam segment for the 1982 film Twilight Zone: The Movie, he died in a helicopter incident, which involved him trying to save two Vietnamese children. The child actors were also killed and this tragedy led to stricter rules on set safety, including stunts, special effects and child actors

-With this incident, people started thinking about how to make sets and stunts safer for the people performing them

Jon-Erik Hexum

-While on the set of the 1984 TV program Cover Up, he, as a joke, put a blank-loaded prop gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He was unaware that the force of a blank at point blank range can be dangerous because of the concussive force. It killed him immediately. His death became the inspiration for stricter protocols on firearms on sets. That blanks are not toys and "cold" guns, also known as prop guns, require strict training in operation, safety and also respect

Steve Irwin

-Animal lovers still mourn the loss of "The Crocodile Hunter." He was filming one of his usual wildlife documentaries in 2006 when he startled a stingray, who threw up its deadly tail straight into his heart. Despite the best efforts by his crew, he passed away from the stingray venom. Fans and crew alike knew that, while he was fearless, he had a deep love and respect for animals. And that this was a simple accident. This led to the idea that nature documentaries need more protocols on safety, that there should be a discussion about risk and safety. His mission for conservation continues to this day through his family and the various institutions he's championed

Roy Kinnear

-He was what is called a character actor. While filming the 1988 film The Return of the Musketeers, he fell off of his horse and sustained injuries that would later prove to be fatal. The production of the film halted while fellow cast and crew processed the loss and tried to figure out how the accident occurred. He was known for his warmth and kindness, putting a dash of comedy into his roles. With his passing, scenes involving horse riding were now being evaluated a lot better to assess any risks there may be, especially when rough terrain and bad weather create additional hazards for the cast, crew, stunt doubles and rehearsals

Paul Mantz

-A legendary name in flying, he was a passionate aviator and stunt pilot. He died after performing a highly complex landing maneuver for the film The Flight of the Phoenix. His aircraft was a cobbled-together Frankenstein concoction made to resemble a desert airplane. While flying, he clipped some of the terrain crashed the plane, dying on impact

-His strong expertise in flying had raised the levels of aerial cinematography and with his passing, it showed the razor thin levels of safety in practical flying scenes. Stricter risk assessments were put into place involving airplanes on set and new specialized coordination between pilots, directors and camera teams went into place to protect everything and everyone

Leonard Warren

-The highly celebrated baritone opera singer Leonard Warren died in 1960 during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. He was singing "La forza del destino". When the audience realized what happened, the evening was cancelled immediately. With his passing, it echoed throughout the opera world, prompting the need for an overhaul in emergency response regulations. He's lovingly remembered for his stunningly beautiful voice and setting the normal standards for any singer looking to interpret Verdi

Richard Versalle

-During a 1996 performance at the Met, tenor singer Richard Versalle passed away on stage during a performance of The Makropulos Case. He was on a ladder, but fell after delivering his opening line. The show was halted while medical professionals tried to save him. His passing brought about sweeping changes regarding risk assessment, with regards to ladders, rakes and any sort of elevated platform combined with singing. Fellow cast members remember Versalle for his artistry and integrity, putting strong emphasis on safety always being matched with stage talent

Giuseppe Sinopoli

-While leading a score called "Aida" in Berlin in 2001, conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli suffered a massive heart attack that proved to be fatal. The suddenness of the occurrence left the audience stunned speechless along with the orchestra, who had to stop mid-performance. Sinopoli was also a medical doctor and composer. He leaves behind a large legacy. With his passing, it prompted the need to have in-house heart defibrillators and response drills that can help shorten time in emergencies

Mark Sandman

-Lead singer and bass player for band Morphine, Mark Sandman collapsed on stage during a show in Palestrina, Italy in 1999. He suffered from a massive heart attack and unfortunately couldn't be revived. The band was known for simple stage sets and low sound. The audience didn't understand that something real was going on. After his death, venues took a hard look at their protocols for emergencies for festivals and outdoor concerts

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott

-Any fan of Pantera knows this name. For one thing, his own brother, who goes by the name Vinnie Paul, was the drummer for this band. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was a guitarist for thrash metal band Pantera and Damageplan. While performing in Columbus, Ohio in 2004 with his band Damageplan, a gunman with mental health issues rushed the stage and killed not only Abbott, but several others. This murder shook many metal fans to their absolute core and made venues put into place new protocols for security. This includes entry screening to rapid response to emergencies. Fans honor and remember the influence Abbott had on the world of metal

Nick Menza

-A former drummer for Megadeth, he died on stage in 2016 during a set with OHM at a Los Angeles venue called The Baked Potato. He suffered from a sudden medical emergency during the concert and paramedics on scene couldn't save him. He was known for his powerful yet precise drumming, and his death was a reminder to clubs and small venues that there should be strict emergency response regulations in place, including the importance of emergency equipment and clear access to responders, especially in small, intimate venues, to prevent this sort of thing from happening again

Les Harvey

-A guitarist with Stone the Crows, he was fatally electrocuted on stage in 1972 at a concert in Swansea, Wales after he touched a microphone that was improperly grounded. Concert goers witnessed his death on stage. This incident prompted new and stricter regulations for electrical equipment for live shows, including regular PAT testing to mandatory grounding checks. His talent is still talked about to this day

Tiny Tim

-This often quirky musician, with his high pitched voice, is known for singing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." While performing at a benefit concert in 1996, he collapsed on stage and died moments later. He was known for having cardiac concerns but still insisted on performing, a decision that seems to be a debate by those close to him. After his death, venues started adopting regulations regarding health policies for those whose health might be questionable

Ian Cognito

-This British comedian, who often joked about health, collapsed on stage during his show in Bicester in 2019. Minutes prior, he had been joking about having a stroke. When he collapsed on stage, the audience thought it was part of the act. His death signaled a unique risk that comes with comedy-that the audience and even the comedians themselves can sometimes misinterpret genuine medical emergencies as part of their shows. Clubs and venues made new revisions to their regulations for stopping shows, getting medical assistance as soon as possible and checking unresponsive performers to avoid this sort of incident from repeating itself

Mitsuharu Misawa

-This legendary Japanese professional wrestler incurred a cervical injury that proved to be fatal during a 2009 match in Hiroshima. The bout was stopped as medical professionals did what they could, including rushing him to the hospital. But it was too late. He died en route to the hospital. His death highlighted the need for ring safety, move sets and the need for trained medical professionals at the shows. His wrestling abilities are still talked about to this day

Perro Aguayo Jr

-This Mexican Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling) star died after he sustained a cervical injury during a 2015 bout in Tijuana that involved Rey Mysterio. There is video of the incident that brings up hard questions about delays in recognizing a genuine medical emergency. This error highlights the need for medical personnel to be on site during wrestling bouts, along with clear communication between wrestlers, referees and the doctors. He was known for his charisma and entertaining performances all across Mexico

Owen Hart

-This one still shocks many to this day. Owen Hart is the younger brother of Bret "The Hitman" Hart. In fact, the whole Hart family is practically wrestling royalty. During a 1999 pay-per-view "Over the Edge" performance, Owen Hart fell 78 feet from the rafters during a dramatic entrance to the ring. He was initially attached to a harness and was lowered into the ring, but the quick release mechanism activated too early and he fell the 78 remaining feet to the ring, sustaining blunt force injuries that would later prove to be fatal. It would be considered controversial, but the show went on as planned

-His death signaled a need for reviewing aerial stunts and stricter harness regulations in live wrestling and more. Fans and fellow wrestlers celebrate his life, keeping his memory alive through various foundations and tributes

Godfrey Gao

-While filming the 2019 Chinese reality competition show Chase Me, actor and model Godfrey Gao collapsed. After being rushed to a nearby hospital, he died. The show suffered mass scrutiny and inspired conversations about the grueling and or often punishing schedules. This prompted the need for on-site medical personnel and the risks associated with high-stakes variety shows. Fans remember him best for his graciousness with fans

Costa Titch

-This South African rapper collapsed on the stage during a concert in 2023 in Johannesburg. He died not long afterwards. Video showed the event playing out before fans eyes as dancers and other crew realized something wasn't right. With his death, this created the need to create new regulations regarding heat, fatigue and cardiac events at high energy concerts, especially given the intense stage lighting and staging. The tributes were overwhelming and showing an artist whose career was rising fast and crossover appeal was becoming quickly visible