Famous people's final words, Famous people's final words should be, well, famous. But since most people don't know which words will be their last, those final utterances can be revealing, touching or just plain odd. We've rounded up the reported last words of some memorable people, including Steve Jobs, Bob Marley, Princess Diana and George Washington.
Cory Monteith
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Vancouver, B.C.
Claim to fame: Monteith had small roles throughout the 2000s on such TV shows as "Kyle XY" and "Smallville." His star vehicle was the musical hit show "Glee," which cast him as the sentimental male lead. He found off-screen romance with his on-screen love interest. The show's creator shared his final conversation with the star.
Roger Ebert
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Chicago
Claim to fame: The Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic went from judging the latest film releases in print to giving movies the thumbs-up/thumbs-down on the TV screen. When illness deprived him of his speaking voice, he turned to Twitter and an Internet journal.
George Jones
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Nashville
Claim to fame: Jones was the country music legend behind such hits as "She thinks I still care," "He stopped loving her today" and an upcoming posthumous release. He made headlines for his struggles with alcohol and for his fiery relationship with singer Tammy Wynette. Right before he passed, his wife, Nancy, says she heard him introducing himself to God.
Hugo Chavez
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Caracas
Claim to fame: Chavez was the president of Venezuela from 1999 until his recent death. He put the nation's constitution into place, bonded with Castro, clashed with Bush and had both ardent supporters and staunch opposition among his compatriots. One of Chavez's generals was on hand when he mouthed his last statement.
Jenni Rivera
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Long Beach, Calif.
Claim to fame: "The Diva of Banda" (watch clips) put raw emotions about her loves, losses and setbacks into her powerful ballads, earning her a devoted fan base in both her native Los Angeles area and Mexico. She topped the Latin charts and produced and starred in her own reality show. Hours before her death, she spoke at what would be her last press conference.
Gore Vidal
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: The outspoken writer penned dozens of works, including award-winning essays, plays, screenplays and the historical novel "Lincoln."Vidal's final words were barked at a nurse who was prompting him to do leg exercises.
Ray Bradbury
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: Bradbury wrote such acclaimed works as "Fahrenheit 451" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes," hosted his own sci-fi TV series, and wrote an Emmy-winning screenplay. He received a National Medal of Arts in 2004 and has an asteroid named in his honor. Weeks before his death, he dictated his final literary thoughts as an intro to a collection of essays.
Junior Seau
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Oceanside, Calif.
Claim to fame: Seau (his full name?) was a celebrated NFL linebacker for the Chargers, the Dolphins and the Patriots. After his death, brain specialists concluded he suffered from chronic brain damage. Seau's ex-wife reported that he sent parting texts to their children.
Dick Clark
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Santa Monica, Calif.
Claim to fame: Clark was the long-running host of TV’s music showcase "American Bandstand" (watch clips), a popular bloopers show and the annual holiday hit "New Year's Rockin' Eve." With his finger on the pulse of what was popular with young listeners, he was known as "America's oldest teenager." In his later years, he wrote a personal blog on which he posted his final thoughts to fans.
Heavy D
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Claim to fame: The Jamaican-born American rapper and record producer (what was his real name?) was front man for Heavy D and the Boyz (see videos). He became president of Uptown Records.
Steve Jobs
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Palo Alto, Calif.
Claim to fame: The Apple co-founder and CEO revolutionized the world of personal computers with the evolution of the Macintosh and later developed the iPod, iPhone and iPad. He also was the co-founder of Pixar. His sister, novelist Mona Simpson, revealed his final moments in her eulogy to her brother.
Osama bin Laden
Age at death
Where he died: Abbottabad, Pakistan
Claim to fame: The founder of Al-Qaida — the organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States — he was on the FBI's most-wanted list (how much was the bounty for his capture?) before he was shot and killed in a US covert operation.
Tim Russert
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Washington, DC
Claim to fame: Russert was a highly regarded TV journalist and longtime moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press." (View clip of a shaken Tom Brokaw announcing Russert's death.) One of his first jobs was working for a fiery Democratic senator. He spoke his last words while greeting a colleague.
Tammy Faye Messner
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Loch Lloyd, Mo.
Claim to fame: You may remember her as Tammy Faye Bakker, the teary co-host of "The PTL Club." Her ex-husband was a preacher who ended up in prison (what were his crimes?) Watch her final, heartbreaking interview.
Saddam Hussein
Age at death
Where he died: Baghdad
Claim to fame: Hussein was the iron-fisted dictator of Iraq for more than two decades. His regime was overthrown by US military forces and he was captured in 2003. He was later put on trial for crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging in 2006.
Pope John Paul II
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Vatican City
Claim to fame: This Polish native (his given name?) rose to the position of supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in 1978 (see photos). The influential world leader (read some of his writings) will be made a saint later this year.
Barry White
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: White was a Grammy-winning R&B artist whose soulful baritone crooned such '70s hits as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything." (Watch him perform.) His final years were plagued by health concerns.
Joe DiMaggio
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Hollywood, Fla.
Claim to fame: "Joltin' Joe" was considered one of the greatest baseball players ever, thanks in part to his famous streak. The center fielder played for the Yankees and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955. (Watch vintage videos.) His last thoughts were of his famous ex-wife.
Frank Sinatra
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: Sinatra was idolized for his music (see videos), his film roles and his cool "Rat Pack" persona. "Old Blue Eyes" was awarded the nation's highest honors and will forever be remembered for his ode to
New York City.
Mother Teresa
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Claim to fame: This humble, humanitarian Roman Catholic nun (see photos) gave aid and hope to the sick, orphaned and dying poor of India for more than 45 years. She became a Nobel Prize winner in 1979 and was officially beatified in 2003.
Alex the African grey parrot
Date of death | Cause of death
Where he died: Waltham, Mass.
Claim to fame: This specimen of Psittacus erithacus was the subject of a 30-year scientific experiment conducted (by whom?) to study the intelligence of parrots (see videos).
Princess Diana
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Paris
Claim to fame: Lady Di was the stylish first wife of Britain's Prince Charles. As the Princess of Wales, she became the unceasing focus of the global media. (See photos.) She was also a humanitarian.
Indira Gandhi
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: New Delhi
Claim to fame: The only female prime minister of India, she served for 15 years. Gandhi earned approval for a movement to target her nation's food shortages. But many also viewed her as an authoritarian. (See videos about her life.)
Marvin Gaye
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: Gaye was one of Motown's top hit makers. The Hall of Famer had a major impact on the diverse styles of popular music that developed in the 1960s and '70s with such hits as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "What's Going On." (Watch videos.) He spoke his tragic final words to his mother.
Bob Marley
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Miami
Claim to fame: With "No Woman, No Cry" and "Get Up Stand Up," Marley brought reggae music to the masses (watch videos). He was an ambassador of this spiritual movement and became an icon for his native Jamaica. Marley shared a moment with one of his sons before dying.
John Lennon
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: New York City
Claim to fame: Lennon helped shape the course of rock 'n' roll as a founder of The Beatles. He went from a heartthrob to a legendary songwriter to an outspoken anti-war solo artist. The last people to speak to him were police officers wondering if he was, indeed, John Lennon.
Elvis Presley
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Memphis
Claim to fame: "The King" was arguably the most popular singer of his time. Presley dominated the Memphis music scene with "Hound Dog" and "Heartbreak Hotel." (See videos of his performances.) He then made his mark on Hollywood and, later, Vegas. His last conversation was with his fiancée, who was urging him not to fall asleep in the bathroom.
Joan Crawford
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: New York City
Claim to fame: This Academy Award-winning actress was known for her glamorous image (watch clips) and over-the-top self-promotion. Crawford became notorious as a mean mom -- at least according to this author. The book became a bigger-than-life movie (here are some clips) and sparked a campy quote that lives on.
Pablo Picasso
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Mougins, France
Claim to fame: Many consider Picasso to be the 20th century's most famous artist. The innovator pushed boundaries with his paintings, sculptures and his groundbreaking Cubist style, all of which still draws crowds in the 21st century.
Robert F. Kennedy
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: Bobby served as an adviser and then attorney general to brother John F. Kennedy. He ran for the presidency in 1968, promoting social justice and civil rights (watch videos of his speeches).
Martin Luther King Jr.
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Memphis, Tenn.
Claim to fame: By leading boycotts, marches and other forms of nonviolent civil disobedience, King became the face of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1963, he gave his now-legendary "I Have a Dream" speech and received a Nobel Peace Prize the following year (read the speech he gave the day before he died). His last words were to a musician friend who was planning a performance later that evening.
Malcolm X
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: New York City
Claim to fame: X (his real name?) was an activist, speaker (watch videos) and one of the nation's most influential -- and controversial -- black leaders. As a leader of this religious group, he pushed for self-reliance among African-Americans, in contrast to the integration sought by other civil rights leaders.
Winston Churchill
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: London
Claim to fame: Churchill served as Britain's prime minister during World War II. He is considered one of history's greatest wartime leaders, having riled up his war-torn nation with such quotes as, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." (Read more of his quotes.) He was also a lauded writer who was awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature.
President John F. Kennedy
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Dallas
Claim to fame: The 35th and youngest American president to be elected (how old was he?) was in office during the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis and major milestones of the Civil Rights Movement. Just before he died, he was responding to Texas' first lady, who reportedly remarked, "You certainly can’t say that the people of Dallas haven't given you a nice welcome, Mr. President."
Marilyn Monroe
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Los Angeles
Claim to fame: Monroe became a major sex symbol (see photos) and Hollywood movie icon with such films as "The Seven Year Itch" and "Some Like It Hot" (watch some clips). Before she died, she reportedly spoke to a fellow actor on the phone, sending regards to his wife and his famous brother-in-law.
James Dean
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Cholame, Calif.
Claim to fame: This iconic, gifted actor will forever be known as the face of rebellious youth in the 1950s. (See photos.) His film career was brief but acclaimed, with "East of Eden," "Rebel Without a Cause" and his last film sealing his legacy. The last person to see Dean alive was the passenger in his Porsche.
Frida Kahlo
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Coyoacan, Mexico City
Claim to fame: Kahlo was an acclaimed Mexican artist, self-proclaimed communist, and creator of a unique brand of folk art that included vividly colored self-portraits. She scribbled these final words into her journal.
Babe Ruth
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: New York City
Claim to fame: "The Bambino" (his other nickname?) was a sports hero of the 1920s. Ruth staked his reputation on being the historic home-run king of American baseball. He played for the Red Sox, Yankees and, finally, the Braves. (Watch game clips.)
Al Capone
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Palm Island, Fla.
Claim to fame: This notorious Chicago crime boss committed numerous crimes, including smuggling liquor during Prohibition. This infamous spree of violence made him Public Enemy No. 1. (See videos about his life.)
Virginia Woolf
Age at death | Cause of death
Where she died: Rodmell, Sussex, England
Claim to fame: Woolf was one of the last century's most important authors, feminists and essayists. She wrote the classic "A Room of One's Own," among other celebrated works.
Abraham Lincoln
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Washington, DC
Claim to fame: Lincoln was America's Civil War president and the stirring orator behind the Gettysburg Address. Read some of his speeches. Lincoln also wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, which officially freed slaves in the South. Shortly before his death, his wife fretted about people’s reactions to their public display of affection.
Edgar Allan Poe
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Baltimore
Claim to fame: One of America's most famous writers of the 19th century, Poe was known for poems and tales steeped in darkness, mystery and death, such as "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."
George Washington
Age at death | Cause of death
Where he died: Mount Vernon, Va.
Claim to fame: Washington led troops in the American Revolution and later became the first president of the United States. Here are his first words in office in 1789.
