List of suicides

A list of famous people who have committed suicide.

Alphabetical

Template:Table Lists of people

A

Johnny Ace, (1954), singer, allegedly playing Russian Roulette.
George Washington Adams, (1829), son of John Quincy Adams, jumped off a boat
Robert Adams Jr., (1906), congressman from Pennsylvania, shot self after heavy losses in stock speculation
Stuart Adamson, (2001), lead singer of the Scottish bands Big Country and the Skids
Chris Adkisson a.k.a. Chris von Erich, (1991), professional wrestler
Kerry Adkisson a.k.a Kerry von Erich, (1993), professional wrestler - died from self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mike Adkisson a.k.a. Mike von Erich, (1987), professional wrestler, overdosed on the tranquilizer placidyl.
Neil Aggett, (1982), South African worker's union leader; hanged in prison, murder is suspected by some
General Sergei Akhromeev, (1991), Soviet military commander who led an unsuccessful coup against Mikhail Gorbachev
Leandro Alem (1896), Argentine politician, founder of the Radical Civic Union
Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, (1899), member of the British Royal Family
Salvador Allende, (1973), president of Chile (elected 1970), and uncle of renowned author Isabel Allende - allegedly shot himself during a coup d'etat against his regime orchestrated by General Augusto Pinochet - other sources assert he was killed.
Jason Altom, (1998), Ph.D. student
Jean Améry, (1978), Austrian writer
Jack Z. Anderson, (1981), U.S. Representative from California
Fridolin Anderwert, (1880), Swiss Federal Councilor
Aman Andom, (1974), military ruler of Ethiopia; committed suicide to avoid his execution in an internal purge
Gwili Andre, (1959), Danish actress
Pier Angeli, (1971) (on the same day that Bella Darvi also took her own life)
Roger Angleton, (1998), brother of imprisoned Texas extortionist who admitted in his suicide note to killing his sister-in-law, socialite Doris Angleton.
Mark Antony, (30 BC), Roman politician and general
Marshall Applewhite, (1997), leader of the Heaven's Gate cult
Hubert Aquin, (1977), author
Diane Arbus, (1971), art photographer
Reinaldo Arenas, (1990), Cuban-American artist and writer
Aristotle, greek philosopher. Although his death is sometimes reported as suicide, this is not historically proven, and many scholars believe Aristotle died a natural death.
Nikolas Asimos, (1988), Greek rock musician
Edwin Armstrong, (1954), US inventor of FM radio; jumped from a 13th floor window believing FM was a failure.
Mohamed Atta, (2001), leader of 19 Arabian suicide hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks, he himself being suicide pilot of one of four teams; he crashed a plane into the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing its collapse, with a death toll of ca. 1800.
Marwan al-Shehhi (2001), Arabian suicide hijacker responsible for damages on 11 September 2001.
George Ault (1948), American painter.
Albert Ayler (1970), American jazz saxophonist; jumped into New York City's East River.

B

Andreas Baader, (1977), leader of the German revolutionary organization RAF, founder of Baader-Meinhof gang
Milan Babić, (2006), former leader of Republic of Serbian Krajina who pleaded guilty to war crimes
Mary Bacon, (1991), thoroughbred race horse jockey
Albert Ballin, (1918)
José Manuel Balmaceda (1891), President of Chile
Barney Barnato, (1897), South African diamond entrepreneur, jumped overboard while his ship was south of Madeira
Isobel Barnett, (1980), British TV personality
Diana Barrymore, (1960), US actress, writer ('Too Much, Too Soon')
Uwe Barschel, (1987), German politician
Carl Barth, (1853)
Gert Bastian, (1992)
Gameel Al-Batouti, (1999), pilot who deliberately crashed Egyptair Flight 990 into the Atlantic Ocean
J. Clifford Baxter, (2002), Enron vice-chairman
Thomas M. Bayne, (1894), congressman from Pennsylvania
Scotty Beckett, (1968), child actor, Our Gang films
Gertrude Bell, (1926), archaeologist, writer, spy and administrator known as the "Uncrowned Queen of Iraq"
Peter Bellamy, (1991), English folk singer
Ota Benga (1916), African Pygmy put on "display" in United States
Walter Benjamin, (1940), German cultural theorist
Jill Bennett, (1990), British film actress
Pierre Bérégovoy, (1993), French Prime Minister, killed himself a month after losing a general election
Hans Berger, (1941), German physician and inventor of electroencephalography, by hanging
Mary Kay Bergman (1999), American voice actress
Paul Bern, (1932), American film producer, director and writer, husband of Jean Harlow, bullet wound to the head, generally believed to be murdered by Dorothy Millette
Alain Bernardin, (1994), founder/owner of "Le Crazy Horse Saloon" - Paris
Ricky Berry, (1989), American NBA Basketball player (Sacramento Kings)
John Berryman, (1972), American poet, jumped from the Washington Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis) after waving to passers-by
Bruno Bettelheim, (1990), child psychologist
Ward Beysen, (2005), Belgian politician
Blossius of Cumae, Roman philosopher who led a failed revolt
Robert Bishop, (1991), fetish artist
Jens Bjørneboe, (1976), Norwegian author
Clara Blandick, (1962), played Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz
Barcroft Boake, (1892), Australian poet, hung himself from a tree
Ludwig Boltzmann, (1906), Austrian physicist
Jeremy Michael Boorda, (1996), 4-star Admiral, 25th Chief of Naval Operations in the U.S. Navy
Ricardo Bordallo, (1990), two-time Governor of Guam
Adrian Borland, (1999), British musician
Ernest Borneman, (1995), German sexologist
Francesco Borromini, (1667), architect
Georges Boulanger, (1891), French politician and general
Tommy Boyce, (1994), with Bobby Hart, songwriter for The Monkees
Karin Boye, (1941), Swedish author
Charles Boyer, (1978), French actor
Jonathan Brandis, (2003), American actor
Frank B. Brandegee, (1924), U.S. Senator from Connecticut, died in office
Eva Braun, (1945), mistress and then wife of Adolf Hitler, cyanide.
Richard Brautigan, (1984), American writer
Gaetano Bresci, (1901), Italian anarchist, assassin of King Umberto I (officially suicide, but he was found strangled)
Herman Brood, (2001), Dutch musician and painter
Barry Brown, (1978), actor and writer
Oskar Brüsewitz, (1976)
Brutus, (42 BC), Roman politician, assassin of Julius Caesar
Eustace Budgell, (1737), remembered because his death was discussed in a conversation between Samuel Johnson and his friend and biographer Boswell
Bernard Buffet, (1999), French painter ('The Crucifixion')
Rembrandt Bugatti (1916), Italian sculptor
Dan Burros, (1965), Jewish Neo-Nazi

C

Andres Caicedo, (1977), Colombian novelist
Wallace Hume Carothers, (1937), World renowned chemist, suffered chronic depression; killed himself in a hotel in 1937.
Don Carpenter (1995), American novelist, friend of Richard Brautigan
Dora Carrington, (1932), artist
Kevin Carter, (1994), award-winning South African photographer and member of the Bang-Bang Club
Capucine, (1990), French actress
Joseph Daniel 'Danny' Casolaro, (1991), journalist
Adolphe Mouron Cassandre (1968), painter
Paul Cassirer, (1926)
Gaius Cassius Longinus, (42 BC), Roman politician, co-assassin of Julius Caesar
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, (1822), British politician
Cato the younger, (46 BC), Roman republican statesman
Ugo Cavallero, (1943), Italian Field Marshal
Paul Celan, (1970), Romanian poet
Valerie Chacon, (1982), wife of Bobby Chacon
Iris Chang, (2004), Chinese-American author
Claude Chappe, (1805), French inventor
Thomas Chatterton, (1770), English poet
Leslie Cheung, (2003), Hong Kong movie star and singer
Vere Gordon Childe, (1957), Australian archaeologist and historian, jumped off Govett's Leap in the Blue Mountains
Vern Christie, (1991), Australian businessman, General Manager of the Commonwealth Bank
Edwin P Christy, (1862), American entertainer, founder of the Christy Minstrels
Christine Chubbuck, (1974), US newsreader, shot herself in the head on live TV after reading the news
Chung Mong-hun, (2003), Korean businessman, chairman of Hyundai Asan
Diana Churchill, (1963), UK social worker, eldest daughter of Sir Winston Churchill
Jeremiah Clarke, (1707), composer of Trumpet Voluntary, shot himself
Cleopatra, (30 BC), Queen of Egypt
Charmian Clift, (1969), Australian writer, wife of George Johnston; her namesake, Cleopatra's maid Charmian also committed suicide
Charles Clegg, (1979), American author, photographer and railraod enthusiast
Robert Clive, (1774), British conqueror of India and founder of the Empire, cut throat with pen-knife
Billy Collins Jr., (1984), young boxer
Sid Collins, (1977), radio voice of the Indianapolis 500, hanged himself after being diagnosed with ALS
Ray Combs, (1996), former host of popular American game show Family Feud, used bedsheets to hang himself
Pamela Courson, (1974), long time girlfriend of Jim Morrison, unknown whether she accidentally or purposely overdosed
Adam Couture, (1973), Former french politician and popular horse collector, used bed sheets to tie himself to horse and dragged across his 30 acre property
F. W. S. Craig, (1989), UK election expert
Hart Crane, (1932), American poet; jumped from a boat.
Darby Crash, (1980), American songwriter, singer of the Germs
René Crevel, (1935), French writer, gassed himself
Dennis Crosby, (1991), actor, son of Bing Crosby
Harry Crosby, (1929), writer, publisher
Lindsay Crosby, (1989), actor, son of Bing Crosby
Andrew Cunanan, (1997), killer of Gianni Versace and four others
Will Cuppy, (1949), American writer, humorist
Ian Curtis, (1980), English singer and songwriter (Joy Division)
Adam Czerniakow, (1942), Warsaw Ghetto leader killed himself rather than obey Nazi orders

D

Dalida, (1987), French singer
Stig Dagerman, (1954), Swedish author
Dorothy Dandridge, (1965), American singer and actress, first black woman nominated for Academy Award as Lead Actress for "Carmen Jones" , death ruled suicide by overdose
Monika Dannemann, (1996), Girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix
Bella Darvi, (1971), Polish-US actress (on the same day that Pier Angeli also took her own life)
Dazai Osamu, (1948), Japanese novelist
Guy Debord, (1994), French philosopher, member of Situationist International
Jeanine Deckers, (1985), Belgian religious, known as The Singing Nun
C J De Garis, (1926), Australian financier
Delphine Delamare, (1848), French woman, the basis for Flaubert's Madame Bovary
Gilles Deleuze, (1995), French philosopher, jumped from apartment window.
Penelope Delta, (1941), Greek author, ingested poison the same day the Germans invaded Athens
Denice Denton, (2006), University of California Chancellor, jumped from 42-story San Francisco apartment building
Patrick Dewaere, (1982), French actor
Rudolf Diesel, (1913), Inventor of the Diesel engine.
Dioxippus, (336 BC ?), Greek pankration fighter who nakedly defeated an armored and armed soldier of Alexander the Great's... he was framed for theft and forced into suicide for his victory
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, (2001), young King of Nepal, committed suicide after assassinating his father, King Birendra, and other members of the royal family
Hugo Distler, (1942), German composer, is believed to have committed suicide to avoid conscription into the German army
Jenny Dolly, (1941), Hungarian/US entertainer, one of the Dolly Sisters
Desmond Donnelly, (1974), British politician who fitted into none of the parties he tried
Terence Donovan, (1996), English celebrity photographer
Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado (1983), former president of Cuba
Chris Doty (2006), Canadian filmmaker and playwright
Nick Drake (1974), British singer-songwriter, overdose (possibly accidental though officially ruled a suicide) of the anti-depressant, tryptizol.
Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (1945), French novelist
Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb (2004), American heart surgeon
Pete Duel, (1971), American actor
K. Sello Duiker, (2005), South African author
Davor Dujmović, (1999), Yugoslavian-Roma actor
James Dungy, (2005), son of Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy
Micke Dubois, (2005), Swedish comedian, hung himself
Budd Dwyer, (1987), American politician, shot himself on live television

E

Jeanne Eagels, (1929), American silent film actress
John P. East, (1986), U.S. Senator from North Carolina
George Eastman, (1932), inventor
Ronnie Edwards, (1994), British Great Train robber and flower seller
Richey Edwards, (1995), member of the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, missing since 1995, assumed to be suicide
Tristan Egolf, (2005), writer, musician and campaigner
Paul Ehrenfest, (1933), Austrian physicist
John Ellis (1932), remorseful hangman
Empedocles, (432 BC), Greek philosopher, threw himself into Mt Etna
Gudrun Ensslin, (1977), German criminal, member of Baader-Meinhof gang
Peg Entwistle, (1932), US actress, the first person to jump from the letter 'H' of the Hollywood sign; step-mother of Brian Keith who also committed suicide
Tom Evans, (1983), Bass guitarist for Badfinger

F

Richard Farnsworth, (2000), US actor, Oscar nominee
Justin Fashanu, (1998), British footballer
Rainer Werner Fassbinder, (1982), German film director (often listed as a drug overdose)
René Favaloro, (2000), Argentinian doctor, creator of the coronary artery bypass surgery
Andrea Feldman, (1972) Actor, Warhol superstar
George Fiske, (1918), photographer
Ed Flanders, (1995), US actor
John Gould Fletcher, (1950), Pulitzer Prize winning poet
Luca Flores, (1995), Italian pianist
Bernard Floud, (1967), British politician
James V Forrestal, (1949), Former U.S. Secretary of Defense who quoted Sophocles in his suicide note
Dédé Fortin, (2000), leader and singer of Québec band Les Colocs
Vincent Foster, (1993), Deputy White House Counsel, still controversial,
Wade Frankum, (1991), Spree shooter of Strathfield Massacre
Sigmund Freud, (1939), founder of psychoanalysis (lethal dose of morphine)
John Friedrich, (1991), Australian businessman and fraudster
Mike Furber, (1973), Australian singer

G

Zviad Gamsakhurdia, (1993), former president of Georgia
Ted Gärdestad, (1997), Swedish pop musician
Dave Garroway, (1982), television host
Romain Gary, (1980), Russian-French novelist, film director and diplomat
Danny Gatton, (1994), American guitarist
Michel Gauquelin, (1991), French psychologist and astrology researcher
Mark Gertler, (1939), British artist
Kostas Georgakis (1970) Geology student. Committed suicide as a protest to the Greek military junta of 1967-1974
Henri Giffard, (1882), French aeronautical engineer
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, (1935), American feminist and author (Herland)
Joseph Goebbels, (1945), German Nazi leader
Fritha Goodey (2004), British actress
Adam Lindsay Gordon, (1870), Australian poet ('Life is mostly froth and bubble')
Kurt Gödel, (1978), German logician and mathematician (refused to eat any food)
Hermann Göring, (1946), German Nazi leader
Arshile Gorky, (1948), Armenian painter
Eddie Graham, (1985), American professional wrestler
Shauna Grant, (1984), American adult film actress
Spalding Gray, (2004), American playwright. Drowned in Atlantic after jumping off Staten Island Ferry
Richard Greene, (1983), boxing referee
Peter Gregg, (1980), Race car driver. Gunshot to head.
Robert von Greim, (1945), German Air Marshal
Anton Gustafsson, (2003), Swedish singer (Anton Maiden)
Antonio Guzmán Fernández, (1982), serving president of the Dominican Republic

H

Kenneth Halliwell, (1967), English writer, lover of Joe Orton whom he killed before killing himself
Mitch Halpern, (2000), boxing referee
Peter Ham, (1975), rock musician (Badfinger)
Rusty Hamer, (1990), former child actor (The Danny Thomas Show)
Lois Hamilton, (1999), actress, model, author, aviatrix
Tony Hancock, (1968), British comedian
Hani Hanjour, (2001), Arabian suicide pilot responsible in part for the 11 September, 2001 attacks.
Hannibal, (182 BC), military commander
Lewis Vernon Harcourt, (1922), British politician who killed himself after knowledge of his attempted seduction of a 12 year old boy became public
James Harden-Hickey, (1898), US eccentric who wrote a book about the appeal of suicide that also featured quotes on the subject from famous people; he chose an overdose of morphine
Mary Hardy, (1985), Australian TV personality (found dead in the bath and was presumed to have committed suicide)
Larry James Harper, (2001), member of the Texas 7
Michael D. Harter , (1896), congressman from Ohio
Brynn Hartman, (1998), wife of actor Phil Hartman whom she killed before turning the gun on herself
Elizabeth Hartman, (1987), US actress who emulated a character in her film 'The Group' who jumped from a window
Donny Hathaway, (1979), singer, best known for his duets with Roberta Flack
Felix Hausdorff, (1942), mathematician. He committed suicide with his wife and sister-in-law in the concentration camp.
Phyllis Haver, (1960), American actress of the silent film era
Benjamin Haydon, (1846), British painter
Jeanne Hébuterne (1898-1920), painter, partner of Modigliani
Sadegh Hedayat, (1951), Iranian writer. He gassed himself.
Ernest Hemingway, (1961), American novelist, shotgun
Margaux Hemingway, (1996), American actress and model; Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter
James Leo Herlihy, (1993), US novelist ('Midnight Cowboy')
Eric Harris, (1999) US mass murderer, famous for the Columbine High School Massacre shootings with Dylan Klebold
John Heddle, (1989), British politician
Benjamin Hendrickson of As The World Turns on July 3, 2006.
Willard Hershberger, (1940), Baseball player, only major league player to commit suicide during the season.
Rudolf Hess, (1987) Nazi leader
Paul Hester, (2005) Australian musician
Heinrich Himmler, (1945), German SS leader
Adolf Hitler, (1945), Nazi Germany's leader. Shot/poisoned himself in bunker.
Abbie Hoffman, (1989), US political activist and political demonstrator
Frederick Holliday, (1985), Cleveland, OH school board president
Doug Hopkins, (1993), musician, founding member of rock group The Gin Blossoms. Killed himself with a .38 pistol December 5
Elmyr de Hory, (1976), Hungarian art forger
Robert E. Howard, (1936), "Pulp" writer of Conan the Barbarian. Shot himself in head on June 11, 1936 after learning his mother was in a permanent coma.
Danton Hughes (2001) Australian sculptor, son of Time magazine art critic Robert Hughes. Hung himself at home.
Francis Hughes (1981), IRA member who died during the 1981 Hunger Strike.
Hong Xiuquan, (1864), Chinese leader of the Taiping Rebellion
Chuck Humphrey, (1998), Heaven's Gate cult member
Martin Hurson, (1981), IRA member who died during the 1981 Hunger Strike.
Michael Hutchence, (1997), Australian lead singer of rock group INXS, hanged himself in hotel room. Speculated to be autoerotic asphyxiation gone bad.
Phyllis Hyman, (1995), singer

I

William Inge, (1973), US playwright (Picnic, Come Back, Little Sheba, Bus Stop, Splendor in the Grass)
Isocrates, (338 BC), Greek rhetorician
Wafa Idis, (2002), first Palestinian female suicide bomber
Judas Iscariot, (1st century), according to the Bible, betrayed Jesus; hanging.

J

Alice de Janzé, (1941), American heiress
Vittorio Jano, (1965), automobile design engineer

K

Frida Kahlo, (1954), Mexican painter, unknown whether she accidentally or purposely overdosed
Aleksei Maksimovich Kaledin, (1918), Cossack leader during the Russian Civil War
Sarah Kane, (1999), British playwright
Kostas Karyotakis, (1928), Greek poet, shot himself
Yasunari Kawabata (1972), Japanese writer and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, gassed himself.
Ivar Kreuger, (1932) Swedish match industrialist, was found dead in a hotel room in Paris.
Terry Kath, (1978), guitarist, Chicago (Died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. He pointed a gun to his head thinking it wasn't loaded and pulled the trigger.)
Kawakami Bizan, (1908), Japanese novelist
Brian Keith, (1997), American actor (Family Affair)
Dr. David Kelly, (2003), British scientist, source of BBC story about the September Dossier
Samuel A. Kendall, (1933), congressman from Pennsylvania, self inflicted gunshot wound in the House Office Building
Douglas Kenney, (1980), Writer, producer, actor of National Lampoon Magazine and Animal House. Fell or was pushed off cliff in Hawaii. Composed note "These are the best days I've chosen to ignore" in hotel room.
Preston King, (1865), senator from New York, leapt from ferryboat in New York Harbor
Heinrich von Kleist, (1811), German dramatist and poet
Jochen Klepper, (1942)
Günther von Kluge, (1944), German Field Marshal
Fletcher Knebel, (1993), US novelist ('Seven Days in May')
William F. Knowland, (1974), former Senate Majority Leader, self inflicted gunshot
Sándor Kocsis, (1979), Hungarian football (soccer) player, killed himself in Barcelona after diagnosis of stomach cancer and leukemia.
Arthur Koestler, (1983), journalist, novelist, political activist, and social philosopher
Hannelore Kohl, (2001), wife of ex-chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl
Nestor Kombot-Naguemon (2004) diplomat and politician from the Central African Republic, jumped out of a window in Paris while serving as ambassador to France
Prince Fumimaro Konoe, (1945), Japanese war criminal
Alexandros Korizis, (1941), Greek prime minister
Jerzy Kosinski, (1991), Polish-American author
Philip Taylor Kramer, (1995), Rock musician and physicist
Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger , (1945) Nazi official during WWII
Friedrich Alfred Krupp, (1902), German industrialist; committed suicide when his homosexuality was revealed

L

Alan Ladd, (1964), U.S. film star, overdose of alcohol and pills, highly disputed for many years
Paul Lafargue, (1911), son-in-law of Karl Marx, communist theorist and author of The Right to Be Lazy
Robert M. La Follette, Jr., (1953), senator from Wisconsin.
Karen Lancaume, (2005), French adult film star.
Carole Landis, (1948), actress
James H. Lane, (1866), senator from Kansas, general in Civil War, shot himself after being charged with financial irregularities
Hans Langsdorff, (1939), captain of the Admiral Graf Spee
Napoleon Lapathiotis, (1944), Greek writer
Florence Lawrence, (1938), Hollywood's first movie Star
George P. Lawrence, (1917), representative from Massachusetts, jumped out of building to death due to stress caused by World War I
Katherine Lawrence, (2004), writer
Lee Kyung Hae, (2003), South Korean activist
Marshall Ledbetter Jr., (2003), lone man of non-violent protest within an office in Tallahassee,FL capitol building in 1991
Jon Lee, (2002), drummer of the band Feeder
Richie Lee, vocalist with US 90s Alt rock band Acetone (band)
Victoria Lee, (1888), daughter of Emma Lee French
Primo Levi, (1987), Italian author and Auschwitz survivor
Meriwether Lewis, (1809), US explorer with Clark; died in mysterious circumstances, either murder or suicide
Robert Ley, (1945), Nazi war criminal
Vachel Lindsay, (1931), US poet
Peter Llewelyn-Davies, (1960), UK publisher who as a boy was the inspiration for J M Barrie's Peter Pan
Ross Lockridge, Jr., (1948}, US novelist, author of Raintree County
Philip Loeb (1955), blacklisted American actor
Mark Lombardi, (2000), US artist whose art described international white-collar crime networks; hanged himself in his Williamsburg, New York studio
Jack London, (1916), US novelist (his doctor believed he had committed suicide by overdose of morphine and atropine, but his widow prevailed on a more senior doctor to ascribe the death to uremia, and had the body quickly cremated before an autopsy could be done)
Terry Long, (2005), Former NFL player
Hans Loritz (1946), concentration camp commandant at various times - Esterwegen, Dachau, Sachsenhausen
Noah Lottick, (1991), Scientology follower.
Malcolm Lowry, (1957), British writer
Gherasim Luca, (1994), Romanian surrealist
Lucan, (65), Roman poet
Ron Luciano, (1995), baseball umpire
J. Anthony Lukas, (1997), US author and journalist
Aleksandr Mikhailovich Lyapunov, (1918), Russian mathematician, mechanician and physicist
Roman Lyashenko, (2003), professional hockey player
Frankie Lymon, (1968), singer ("Why do Fools Fall in Love?"), drug overdose

M

Richard Manuel, (1986), singer, multi-instrumentalist, member of The Band hung himself while on tour in Florida.
Andrew Martinez, (2006), nude activist
Susannah McCorkle, (2001), jazz singer
Kid McCoy, (1940), world champion boxer (real name: Norman Shelby)
Billy Mackenzie, (1996), lead singer of 1980s pop group The Associates
Gordon McMaster, (1997), British politician
Magnentius, (353), Roman usurper
Sándor Márai, (1989), Hungarian writer and journalist
Harry Martinson, (1978), Swedish author
Jan Masaryk, (1948), defenestrated Czech statesman
Denis Matthews, (1988), UK pianist
Robert Maxwell, (1991), Czech-born UK newspaper magnate who, some believe, jumped overboard in the Atlantic leaving a financial disaster in his wake - the official inquest ruled it was 'accidental drowning'.
Vladimir Mayakovsky, (1930), Russian poet; his suicide note said 'I don't recommend it for others'
Jacques Mayol (2001), French free-diver
Joe Meek (1967), Record producer
Niklaus Meienberg, (1993), Swiss author
Kitty Melrose, (1912), English actress
Joseph Merrick, (1890), UK celebrity known as the Elephant Man; alleged to have committed suicide by allowing his massive head to obstruct his windpipe
Charlotte Mew, (1928), English poet
Noel Mewton-Wood, (1953), Australian pianist; drank prussic acid
James Miller, fan man, (2003), parachutist
Walter M. Miller, Jr., (1996), science-fiction writer
Freddie Mills, (1965), world champion boxer
Yukio Mishima, (1970), Japanese novelist; committed public ritual seppuku
Walther Model, (1945), German Field Marshal
Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, (2001), South African jazz pianist
Jürgen W. Möllemann, (2003), German politician
Marilyn Monroe, (1962), American actress (some suspect foul play)
Henry de Montherlant, (1972), French writer
Donnie Moore, (1989), relief pitcher for the California Angels
Ted Moult, (1986), British television personality
Renate Müller, (1937), German actress
David Munrow, (1976), UK early music specialist, founder of the Early Music Consort
Al Murdock, (1968), Canadian actor, committed suicide on the set of of his last fim, Once Upon a Time in the West
James Murray, (1936), U.S. silent film actor, The Crowd, drowned in the Hudson River

N

Scott Nearing, (1983), American peace activist and practical conservationist; by self-starvation at nearly 100 years of age.
Joachim Nielsen, (2000), Norwegian singer in the band Jokke Og Valentinerne, overdosed on heroin.
Oskar Nedbal, (1930), Czech composer ('The Tale of the Simply Johnny'); jumped out a window on Christmas Eve
Gérard de Nerval, (1855), French writer
Robert Leon Nichols, (1997), Roadie with the Grateful Dead in an apparent copy of the Heaven's Gate cult suicides.
Frank Nitti, (1943), US gangster, who shot himself rather than go to jail. Some believe Nitti was murdered

O

Luis Ocaña, (1994), Spanish cyclist, Tour de France winner
Phil Ochs, (1976), American singer, hanged himself in sister's apartment, Far Rockaway, New York.
John O'Brien, (1994), author of Leaving Las Vegas (on which the film was based)
Per Yngve Ohlin (a.k.a Dead), (1991), vocalist for Mayhem, shot himself with a shotgun after having slashed his wrist and cut his throat
Yukiko Okada, (1986), Japanese idol of the '80s jumped from a 7 story building after failed wrist slashing and gas inhalation attempts.
Christina Onassis, (1988), Greek tycoon,
Hugh O'Connor, (1995), actor
Lani O'Grady, actor
Johnny O'Keefe, (1978), Australian rock legend known as The Wild One; drug overdose

P

Jan Palach, (1969), protesting Soviet crushing of the Prague Spring
Billy Papke, (1936), world champion boxer
Violeta Parra (1967), famous Chilean folk singer
Jules Pascin, (1930), French-American painter
John Patrick, (1995), US playwright and screenwriter; placed a plastic bag over his head
Cesare Pavese, (1950), Italian poet, novelist
Petronius Arbiter, (66), Roman satirist; opened his own veins
Richard Piggott, (1890), author of the Piggott Forgeries.
Pontius Pilate, (36), Roman governor and alleged judge of Jesus of Nazareth; suicide considered merely a legend
Justin Pierce, (2000), British Actor
H. Beam Piper, (1964), American science fiction writer
Sylvia Plath, (1963), American poet, author and essayist; gassed self in kitchen oven.
Dana Plato, (1999), American actress, drug overdose.
Derrick Plourde, (2005) Musician, drummer of the Ataris, Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, RKL and Mad Caddies shot himself on March 30th
Stevie Plunder, (1995), Australian guitarist, The Whitlams
Ben Pollack, (1971), Drummer and big-band leader from the mid '20s to the Swing era
Jan Potocki, (1815), Polish aristocrat, traveler, writer; shot himself with a silver bullet
Marc Potvin, (2006), Hockey coach, hanged himself
Nicos Poulantzas,(1979),Greco-French Marxist political sociologist
Felix Powell, (1942), UK song writer best known for 'Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile', once described as 'the most optimistic song ever written'
Lucien Anatole Prevost-Paradol (1870), French journalist and diplomat
George R. Price, (1975), American population geneticist.
Freddie Prinze, (1977), Puerto Rican American comedian and actor, best known for television show Chico and the Man, died of self inflicted gunshot wound.
Carlos Prío Socarrás, (1977), former president of Cuba.
Boris Pugo, (1991), serving minister of the Interior of the USSR
Jack Purvis, (1962), American jazz trumpeter

Q

Richard Quine, (1989), US film director
Robert Quine, (2004), guitar player of Richard Hell & the Voidoids

R

Florencio Morales Ramos, (1989), Ramito, trova singer
Kuljeet Randhawa, (2006), Indian television actress, hanging 1
Danny Rapp, (1983), frontman for Danny & the Juniors
David Rappaport, (1990), actor
Jan-Carl Raspe, (1977), German criminal in Baader-Meinhof gang
Geli Raubal, (1931), niece and possibly lover of Adolf Hitler; officially committed suicide but may have been murdered
Alfred Redl, (1913), Austrian army officer, spied for Russia
George Reeves, (1959), US actor, played Superman on television
David Reimer, (2004), Canadian advocate/the "John/Joan" case
René Rivkin, (2005), Australian stockbroker and entrepreneur
Carlos Roberto Reina, (2003), former president of Honduras
Angel Rivero Mendez, (1930) Puerto Rican soldier for the Spanish Army, inventor
John Robarts, (1982) former Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, 1961 - 1971; committed suicide with shotgun
Rachel Roberts, (1980), Welsh-born British actress
Bill Robinzine, (1982), American basketball player
Charles Rocket, (2005), American comedian
Sue Rodriguez, (1994), Canadian ALS victim and advocate for Euthanasia
Samuel Romilly, (1818), British prison reformer
Erwin Rommel, (1944), German Field Marshal
Iris von Roten-Meyer, (1990), artist and jurist
Mark Rothko, (1970), Russian-American painter
Ruan Lingyu, (1935), Chinese actress
Irv Rubin, (2002), leader of the Jewish Defense League
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, (1889), heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
Thomas Jefferson Rusk, (1857) U.S. senator from Texas
Michael Ryan, (1987), mass murderer at Hungerford; shot himself as police closed in on him
Jakub Jan Ryba, (1815), Czech composer and teacher
Akutagawa Ryunosuke, (1927), Japanese novelist
Johnathan Rubis, (1892), American Columnist

S

Emilio Salgari, (1911), Italian writer
Albert Salmi, (1990), American actor
Alexander Samsonov, (1914), Russian military commander
George Sanders, (1972), English actor
Bobby Sands (1981), IRA member who died in the 1981 Hunger Strike
Alberto Santos-Dumont, (1932), aviation pioneer
Bruce Sarver , (2005), NHRA driver
Savannah, (1994), pornographic actress
Gia Scala, (1972), actress
Romy Schneider, (1982), Austrian actress (officially cardiac arrest, but may have been self-induced)
Eugen Schauman ,(1904), Finnish nationalist, assassin of the Governor-General Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov.
Margie Schoedinger, (2003), Filed lawsuit against George W. Bush claiming she had been raped
Conrad Schumann, (1998), GDR refugee
Ingo Schwichtenberg, (1995), former drummer of German power metal band Helloween
'Screaming Lord Sutch', (1999), UK eccentric singer and politician
William Seabrook (1945), adventurer, travel writer
Jean Seberg, (1979), American actress
Edie Sedgwick, (1972), American socialite, Warhol superstar
Seneca the Younger, (65), was ordered to commit suicide by the emperor Nero
Anne Sexton, (1974), American poet, inhaled carbon monoxide.
Frances Ford Seymour, (1950), NYC socialite, mother of Peter and Jane Fonda
Del Shannon, (1990), American singer
H.A. Shanu, (1905), Congo reformer
Harold Shipman, (2004), imprisoned British doctor found to have killed 250+ of his patients
Arthur Shrewsbury, (1903), former captain of the England cricket team
Elizabeth Siddal, (1862), Pre-Raphaelite icon
Eli Siegel, (1978), founded Aesthetic Realism
Varnado Simpson, (1997), Pfc jointly responsible for the My Lai Massacre
The Singing Nun - see Jeanine Deckers
Walter Slezak, (1983), U.S. actor
Everett Sloane, (1965), U.S. actor, part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theater
Elliott Smith, (2003), American musician (reported as suicide but still under investigation)
James Leonard Brierley Smith, 1968, South African paleoanatomist
Paul Snider, (1980), promoter, murdered Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten then killed himself
Soga no Emishi, (645), stateman
John Hanning Speke, (1864), UK explorer of Africa
Sir Bernard Spilsbury, (1947), UK forensic pathologist who helped convict Dr. Crippen; gassed himself in an oven at his laboratory
Serge Stavisky, (1934), Russian-French swindler
Inger Stevens, 1970, Swedish born American film actress
Gary Stewart, (2003), country singer
Adalbert Stifter (1868), Austrian writer
Rory Storm, (1972), singer of the Hurricanes (the band Ringo Starr was in before he joined the Beatles), in a pact with his mother
David Strickland, (1999), actor

T

Yutaka Taniyama, (1958), Japanese mathematician
Tawfik Abu al-Huda Baja, (1956), former prime minister of Jordan
Sara Teasdale, (1933), American poet
Arthur Teele Jr., (2005), former Miami city commissioner; in the lobby of the Miami Herald.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, (1893), Russian composer (possible suicide)
Count Paul Teleki, (1941), Hungarian statesman
Lou Tellegen, (1934), Dutch-born American film actor
Luigi Tenco, (1967), Italian singer-songwriter
Jason Thirsk, (1996), bassist for Pennywise
Jesse B. Thomas, (1853), U.S. Senator from Illinois
Hunter S. Thompson, (2005), American author, gunshot
Ric Throssell, (1999), Australian diplomat, writer
Georg Tintner, (1999), Austrian-born conductor active in Canada and Australia; jumped 11 stories when he was no longer able to conduct due to illness
James Tiptree Jr, (1987), American science fiction author, mercy-killed her terminally ill husband and then shot herself
Li Tobler, (1975), Swiss actress
Ernst Toller, (1939), German writer
Mikhail Tomsky, (1936), Russian revolutionary
Wolfe Tone, (1798), Irish independence leader
John Kennedy Toole, (1969), American novelist
Silvanus Trevail (1903) Cornish architect shot himself in the lavatory of a train.
Metod Trobec (2006) Slovenian killer.
Marina Tsvetaeva, (1941), Russian poetess and writer
Kurt Tucholsky, (1935), German journalist and satirist
Alan Turing, (1954), British mathematician and computer scientist
John Walker Turnbull, (1999), British Soldier
Randy Turpin, (1966), British world champion boxer
Heitor Sampaio (2006), a nobody...retard fell in a hole

U

Ernst Udet, (1941), German air ace and Luftwaffe inspector general
Urmuz (1923), Romanian writer
Gen Ushijima, (1945), Japanese military commander who lost the Battle of Okinawa

V

Vaishnavi, (2006), Indian actress
Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke, (1941), American film director
George Washington Vanderbilt III, (1961), American yachtsman and a scientific explorer
Peter Van Eyck, (1969), Dutch-UK film actor
Vincent van Gogh, (1890), Dutch painter, self-inflicted gunshot wound
Johannes Vares, (1946), Estonian poet, doctor and politician
Getúlio Dornelles Vargas, (1954), President of Brazil. Killed himself during impeachment trial.
Publius Quinctilius Varus, (9), at the end of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Minnie Vautrin, (1941), American missionary who helped the Chinese during the Nanking Massacre in 1937
Lupe Vélez, (1944), actress
Baroness Mary Vetsera, (1889), mistress of Crown Prince Rudolph - disputed: see Mayerling
Tudor Vianu, (1964), Romanian writer
Sid Vicious, (1979), bass player of the Sex Pistols. Drug overdose.
Hervé Villechaize, (1993), French actor
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve (1806), French admiral who lost the Battle of Trafalgar

W

Petri Walli, (1995), Finnish rock musician
Jeremy Michael Ward, (2003), musician in The Mars Volta
Stephen Ward, (1963), UK osteopath who was caught up in the Profumo affair
Peter Warlock, (1930), UK composer (also known as Philip Heseltine)
Doodles Weaver, (1983), US comedian, member of Spike Jones' City Slickers
Gary Webb, (2004), US investigative reporter; death ruled as suicide from two gunshots
Otto Weininger, (1903), Austrian philosopher
Ernst Weiß, (1940), German author
George Weldon, (1963), UK conductor, died in South Africa
Horace Wells, (1848), dentist who pioneered the use of anesthesia.
Vince Welnick, (2006), Grateful Dead keyboardist; founding member and keyboardist of the Tubes.
Fred West, (1995), husband of convicted British killer Rosemary West. Hanged himself in prison whilst awaiting trial on the same crimes.
James Whale, (1957), UK film director
Samuel Whitbread, (1815), Whig politician
Charles White Whittlesey, (1921) Medal of Honor Recipient. Famed commander of WWI's Lost Battalion
Kenneth Williams (1988), camp comedian, UK TV personality and diarist
Paul Williams, (1973), singer (Temptations)
Percy Williams (1982), athlete
Rozz Williams, (1998), Musician, "Christian Death"
Wendy O. Williams, (1998), musician, The Plasmatics
Greg Wilton, (2000), the only Australian Federal politician who has ever successfully attempted suicide
Eduard Wirths (1945), military surgeon conducted research work at Auschwitz concentration camp
Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, (1939), Polish author, novelist, painter, philosopher
David Witt, (2006), father-in-law of 2006 Tour De France winner Floyd Landis
Frank Wolff, (1971), American actor
Wally Wood, (1981), cartoonist
Virginia Woolf, (1941), British novelist, drowned herself in a river.
Andrew Wood,(1990),american singer(Mother Love Bone),died of a heroin overdose

Y

Alfredo Yabrán, (1998), Argentine businessman
Kelly Yeomans, (1997), school girl whose death sparked media controversy
Sergei Yesenin, (1925), poet, husband of Isadora Duncan
Haile Yimenu, (1991), former prime minister of Ethiopia
Gig Young, (1978), US actor

Z

Bernd Alois Zimmermann, (1970)
Marion Anthony Zioncheck, (1936), congressman from Washington, jumped out of office building
Mahmoud Zuabi, (2000), Syrian prime minister shot himself on May 21, two months after resigning over corruption charges
Stefan and Lotte Zweig, (1942), Austrian novelist and his wife
Szmul Zygielbojm (1943), committed suicide to protest the indifference of Allied governments in the face of the Holocaust.

Monarchs

Saul King of Israel (1 Sam. 31:4)
Shang Zhou, (1046 BC), the last king of the Shang Dynasty of China
Fusu, (210 BC), son of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, and brother of the Second Emperor, Qin Er Shi, forced to commit suicide by a fake decree
Qin Er Shi, (207 BC), the Second Emperor of Qin dynasty China
Cleopatra VII of Egypt, (30 BC), last Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt
Ludwig II of Bavaria, (1886), drowning
Nero, (68), emperor of Rome (under duress)
Otho, (69), Roman emperor
Boudica, (1st century), Celtic chieftainess
Decebal, (106), Dacian king
Clodius Albinus, (197), Roman emperor
Gordian I, (238), Roman emperor
Quintillus, (270), Roman emperor
Maximian, (310), Roman emperor
Chongzhen, (1644), the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva, (2001), young King of Nepal, committed suicide after assassinating his father, King Birendra, and other members of the royal family

By Seppuku

Minamoto no Yorimasa, (1180)
Oda Nobunaga, (1582)
Hojo Ujimasa, (1590)
Akou-Roushi (47 ronins), (1703)
Yoshida Shoin, (1859)
Takechi Hanpeita, (1865)
Saigo Takamori, (1876), Japanese politician
General Nogi, (1912)
Korechika Anami, War Minister, (1945)
Hatazo Adachi (1947), Japanese general
Kimitake Hiraoka, better known as Yukio Mishima, (1970)

Known afterwards

Marshall Applewhite, (1997), Heaven's Gate cult leader who convinced his followers to kill themselves so they could board a UFO and follow Comet Hale-Bopp. They were all found dead in a San Diego area mansion.
Eric Harris, (1999), Columbine High shooter
Dylan Klebold, (1999), Columbine High shooter
Elizabeth Shin, (2000), MIT student
Brandon Vedas, (2003), overdosed while conversing with people on IRC and on webcam.
Jeff Weise, (2005), Red Lake High shooter
Joel Henry Hinrichs III, (2005), detonated suicide bomb at the University of Oklahoma.

Suicides in Fiction

Anna Karenina (Anna Karenina) by throwing herself in the path of a train
Emma Bovary (Madame Bovary) arsenic poisoning
Juliet Capulet (Romeo and Juliet) knife wounds
Vera Claythorne (Ten Little Indians) hanging
Phil Connors (Groundhog Day) various including wounds from gunshots and knives, poisoning, freezing, hanging, electrocution and immolation.
Edmond Dantès (The Count of Monte Christo) attempted starvation
Fuyubachi (Happy Family Planning episode of Paranoia Agent) overdosing or carbon monoxide poisoning
Seymour Glass (Nine Stories (Salinger)) gunshot wound
Hercules (myths) self-immolation
Javert (Les Miserables) jumping off bridge
Kamome (Happy Family Planning episode of Paranoia Agent) jumping or carbon monoxide posioning
Fernand Mondego (The Count of Monte Christo) gunshot wounds
Romeo Montague (Romeo and Juliet) poisoning
Ophelia (Hamlet) drowning
Edna Pontellier (The Awakening) drowning
Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca (Angels and Demons) self-immolation
Heloise de Villefort (The Count of Monte Christo) poisoning
George Wilson (The Great Gatsby) gunshot wounds
Dallas Winston (The Outsiders) suicide by police
Zebra (Happy Family Planning episode of Paranoia Agent) overdosing or carbon monoxide poisoning
Quentin (The Sound and the Fury) drowning
Sir Hercules and Filomena (Collected Short Stories (Huxley) ("Sir Hercules")) slashing of wrists and opium overdose