Celebrities often intersect with true crime in unexpected ways, from witnessing violence to narrowly escaping danger. Here are 31 stars with disturbing connections to real-life cases.

1. Phil Hartman’s Murder-Suicide Tragedy

Comedian Phil Hartman, known for Saturday Night Live and films, died in 1998 when his wife, Brynn Omdahl, shot him while he slept before turning the gun on herself. Toxicology revealed cocaine, alcohol, and Zoloft in her system. Friend Jon Lovitz accused NewsRadio costar Andy Dick of reintroducing cocaine to Omdahl after her 10-year sobriety. “Phil told me that they had a Christmas party and Andy was doing cocaine and he gave it to Phil’s wife Brynn, who had been sober for 10 years,” Lovitz shared on The Dennis Miller Show in 2007.

Lovitz joined NewsRadio post-Hartman and clashed with Dick, who later admitted giving Omdahl cocaine but insisted she was already relapsing. “She was already in relapse mode, which I didn’t even know she had a problem with at all in the first place,” Dick stated on 20/20. Lovitz later confronted Dick over a provocative remark, leading to a physical altercation halted by security. Dick faces no charges in Hartman’s death but has a history of legal troubles involving assault, battery, and drugs.

2. Bob Crane’s Unsolved Bludgeoning

Hogan’s Heroes star Bob Crane suffered a fatal beating in 1978, a case still unsolved. Friend John Henry Carpenter, who aided Crane in making sex tapes, faced trial in 1994 but was acquitted due to weak evidence. Speculation points to a fallout over the tapes. Ex-wife Patricia Olson (Sigrid Valdis), a costar and beneficiary, drew suspicion from Crane’s son Robert David, though she was never charged. DNA later complicated theories implicating Carpenter.

3. 9/11 Close Calls for Stars

The 2001 attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives, with celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, and Michael Jackson narrowly escaping hijacked flights or meetings at the World Trade Center. Jermaine Jackson wrote that his brother overslept after a concert. Rob Lowe flew on a hijackers’ test flight from Dulles 11 days prior. “I flew with the 9/11 hijackers on the dry run, without realizing,” Lowe revealed. “It was packed… nobody looked scary.” He nearly testified in an al-Qaeda trial.

4. Gemma Chan’s Street Stabbing Witness

In 2012 London, actress Gemma Chan saw 28-year-old Frederic Russell stab 65-year-old Colin Hammond during a robbery near the Tube. “I stared into the eyes of someone who had just stabbed a man in the neck,” Chan recalled. Russell approached her again as she aided Hammond, but she escaped on a train and later identified him in court.

5. Henry Rollins’ Friend’s Robbery Murder

Musician Henry Rollins watched roadie Joe Cole shot during a 1991 Venice robbery outside their shared home. Rollins assisted cleanup. “There I was, my friend’s blood and brains all over my hands,” he remembered. The killer remains at large.

6. John Boyega and Damilola Taylor’s Killing

John Boyega’s childhood friend Damilola Taylor, 10, was stabbed in 2000 Peckham. Boyega was among the last to see him alive. “It was life-changing… altered my perspective,” Boyega reflected. “To think that somebody as young as me could pass away in such a horrific way was hard.”

7. Kristin Chenoweth’s Girl Scout Camp Escape

At age 8, Kristin Chenoweth missed Camp Scott due to illness, days before three girls aged 8-10 were murdered there in 1978. The case, linked but not proven to Gene Leroy Hart, remains unsolved. “I could have been on that trip. It has stuck with me,” Chenoweth said, crediting music as coping.

8. Kelsey Grammer’s Family Murders

Kelsey Grammer’s sister Karen was kidnapped, raped, and stabbed 42 times in 1975 by Freddie Glenn outside Red Lobster. Grammer identified her body and opposes Glenn’s parole. Glenn faces three murder convictions. Grammer’s father Allen died similarly in 1968 at a taxi driver’s hands.

9. Marlon Brando’s Son’s Fatal Shooting

Christian Brando, Marlon Brando’s son, shot Cheyenne Brando’s boyfriend Dag Drollet in 1993, claiming he aimed to scare him amid abuse allegations (later recanted). Convicted of manslaughter, Christian served 10 years. Marlon testified, “I think that perhaps I failed as a father.” Cheyenne later died by suicide.

10. Christian Brando in Robert Blake Trial

Christian Brando testified in Robert Blake’s civil trial over wife Bonny Lee Bakley’s 2001 murder, having briefly dated her.

11. Robert Blake’s Wife’s Unsolved Shooting

Baretta star Robert Blake’s wife Bonny Lee Bakley was shot in his car post-dinner in 2001. Acquitted criminally but liable civilly, Blake claimed he retrieved a forgotten gun. The case remains open.

12. Natalie Wood’s Mysterious Drowning

Natalie Wood drowned in 1981 off Robert Wagner’s boat with Christopher Walken aboard. Wagner described an argument; Walken called it accidental. Bruises, screams, and captain Dennis Davern’s claims fuel suspicion, though Wagner was cleared in 2022. Ruled undetermined.

13. Sean Combs and Tupac Shakur Theories

Sean Combs faces 2024 charges of racketeering, trafficking, and prostitution; convicted on one count, he serves four years. Duane Davis implicated Combs in Tupac’s 1996 drive-by but Combs denies involvement.

14. Suge Knight and Biggie Smalls Probe

LAPD investigator suspected Suge Knight in Biggie Smalls’ 1997 murder as Tupac revenge, alleging police ties. Knight and LAPD deny; case unsolved.

15. Ashton Kutcher’s Date’s Murder

Ashton Kutcher arrived late to Ashley Ellerin’s in 2001, mistaking blood for wine. Stabbed by Michael Gargiulo, she was found dead next day. Kutcher testified.

16. Jodie Foster’s Stalker and Reagan Shooting

John Hinckley Jr., obsessed with Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, shot Reagan in 1981 to impress her. He stalked Foster; screenwriter Paul Schrader discarded letters.

17. Kirk Douglas and Jean Spangler Vanishing

Jean Spangler disappeared in 1949, leaving a note mentioning “Kirk.” Kirk Douglas, her Young Man with a Horn costar, denied involvement.

18. Katy Perry’s Song and Johnny Lewis Rampage

“The One That Got Away” links to actor Johnny Lewis, who killed his landlady and attacked others before falling to his death in 2012 post-accident.

19. Olivia Newton-John’s Boyfriend Disappearance

Patrick McDermott vanished on a 2005 fishing trip; presumed drowned, but sightings suggest faking debts.

20. Terrence Howard’s Santa Line Stabbing

Terrence Howard saw his father Tyrone stab a man in a 1960s Santa line dispute; Tyrone served time for manslaughter.

21. Charlize Theron’s Mother’s Self-Defense Shooting

Charlize Theron watched her mother Gerda shoot abusive father Charles through a door in self-defense when she was 15.

22. Sean Penn’s Night Stalker Note

In jail, Sean Penn received a note from Richard Ramirez: “Hey, Sean, stay tough… 666.” Penn rejected kinship.

23. Debbie Harry’s Ted Bundy Ride

Debbie Harry accepted a ride from Ted Bundy in the 1970s, escaping his gutted car. “I was so lucky,” she said.

24. Bryan Cranston as Murder Suspects

Bryan Cranston and brother were eyed in a chef’s disappearance while working a Florida restaurant; cleared.

25. Bryan Cranston’s Charles Manson Encounter

At 12, Bryan Cranston saw Charles Manson at Spahn Ranch in 1968. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”

26. Beach Boys and Manson Ties

Charles Manson lived with Dennis Wilson; Wilson allegedly saw Manson kill, ending ties.

27. Sharon Tate Not Manson’s Target

Manson targeted Terry Melcher at Sharon Tate’s house; Melcher rejected his music.

28. Steve McQueen’s Manson List Escape

Steve McQueen skipped Tate’s due to an affair, on Manson’s hit list.

29. Rick James Misses Tate Massacre

Rick James declined Jay Sebring’s invite to Tate’s, high and unaware.

30. Danny Trejo Meets Manson in Prison

Danny Trejo knew Charles Manson in prison as a hypnotist wannabe.

31. Colin Farrell’s Sketch Suspect Ordeal

Teen Colin Farrell was questioned in Australia for resembling an attempted murder sketch; alibi cleared him.