Death In Entertainment

On May 15, 1993, while Ringo Starr celebrated the CBS premiere of his show Best Wishes inside Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, a young man fell from the roof to his death. No one came forward. No family claimed him. And the media didn’t cover it.Over 30 years later, he remains unidentified — known only as Missing Persons Case UP3736.In this premiere episode of Die After Dark, we revisit that day to shed new light on a forgotten case. Through eyewitness accounts, archival reporting, and never-before-shared details, we can help identify the man who vanished from memory that spring evening.If you recognize him or have any information, please contact:👉 Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner👉 NamUs Case #UP3736 https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/3736Someone, somewhere, knows who he was.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Mr. Peanut waved to tourists, Whoopi Goldberg sold donuts, and Mariah Carey dropped Glitter. Then, the world changed forever. This episode revisits 9/11 through the surreal lens of entertainment — the commercials, concerts, albums, and cultural weirdness that collided with tragedy in real time.

He was the voice of a generation — and then another after that. From Detroit to Hollywood, from Shaggy in Scooby-Doo to the warm sign-off of American Top 40, Casey Kasem shaped how America listened to music. But behind the smooth delivery were battles with perfectionism, family turmoil, and a tragic decline that ended in lawsuits and headlines as surreal as any radio outtake. In this episode, we trace the full life, career, death, and fallout of Casey Kasem — the man who told us to keep our feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three brilliant frontmen lit up the 1990s with voices that could break your heart with songs that still echo today. Jeff Buckley soared with Grace before vanishing into a Memphis river. Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon danced barefoot through MTV fame, only to spiral into addiction on a tour bus in New Orleans. Alice in Chains’ Layne Staley turned despair into anthems, then faded into reclusion until his lonely death in Seattle. This episode unpacks their meteoric rises, their drug-fueled downfalls, and the enduring legacies they left behind. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He was the king of clueless confidence, the man who could steal a scene with just a raised eyebrow. Fred Willard built a decades-long career out of playing the guy who had no idea what was going on — and making sure everyone was crying laughing while he did it. From his improv roots and his unforgettable mockumentary turns in Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, and A Mighty Wind to late-career gems on Modern Family and Anchorman, Willard never stopped delivering. But behind the laughs was a performer who hustled for decades, weathered personal scandals, and kept working until the very end. This episode dives into the triumphs, stumbles, and lasting brilliance of Fred Willard — a man who proved that being totally clueless could be an art form. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kobe Bryant wasn’t just a basketball player — he was a prodigy who skipped college, a three-time champ with Shaq, a scandal magnet, a scoring machine, and eventually the face of the Lakers dynasty. Off the court, he became an Oscar winner, investor, and girl-dad icon. But on January 26, 2020, Kobe, his daughter Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. In this episode of Death in Entertainment, we trace the high-flying, controversial, and tragic life of the Black Mamba. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They begged for help. They cried on camera. They told stories of kidnappers and faceless strangers. And the world believed them. But behind the tears was a darker truth—parents who murdered their own children, then turned their grief into theater for the cameras. In this episode, we uncover four of the most shocking cases where killers attempted to weaponize the media to hide their crimes: Jake and Rebecca Haro in California, Diane Downs in Oregon, Charles Stuart in Boston, and Chris Watts in Colorado. Each story reveals how easily the performance of grief can sway public opinion—and how devastating the fallout can be when lies unravel in plain sight. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

July 2025 was no ordinary month—it was a mass curtain call. Icons of music, film, and wrestling all took their final bows within weeks of each other, leaving fans stunned and pop culture forever changed. From the stage to the screen to the squared circle, we dig into the lives, scandals, triumphs, and tragic ends of the legends who left us too soon. Dark humor, true-crime grit, and a spotlight on the moments that made them unforgettable—this is Death in Entertainment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He thought they were his friends. They thought he was lunch. In this episode, we dive into the wild and tragic story of Timothy Treadwell — the self-styled “Grizzly Man” who spent 13 summers living among Alaska’s most dangerous predators… until one fatal October day in 2003. Equal parts jaw-dropping, heartbreaking, and darkly absurd, we unpack the man, the myth, the bears, and the audio tape no one will ever hear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He thought they were his friends. They thought he was lunch. In this episode, we dive into the wild and tragic story of Timothy Treadwell — the self-styled “Grizzly Man” who spent 13 summers living among Alaska’s most dangerous predators… until one fatal October day in 2003. Equal parts jaw-dropping, heartbreaking, and darkly absurd, we unpack the man, the myth, the bears, and the audio tape no one will ever hear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome... to Jurassic Dark. In this prehistoric death march, we dig up the bones of the Jurassic Park franchise—not the dinosaurs, but the stars who didn’t make it past the sequel. From the clever girl who met a clever end to the gatekeepers, storm chasers, and eccentric billionaires who now reside in that big theme park in the sky, we’re breaking down the real-life tragedies behind the blockbuster beast. Spoiler alert: Life finds a way... but not for everyone. Buckle up for a wild ride through mosquito amber, Hollywood mayhem, and some deathly detours. Because here at Death in Entertainment, no one is safe—not even Samuel L. Jackson’s arm. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome... to Jurassic Dark. In this prehistoric death march, we dig up the bones of the Jurassic Park franchise—not the dinosaurs, but the stars who didn’t make it past the sequel. From the clever girl who met a clever end to the gatekeepers, storm chasers, and eccentric billionaires who now reside in that big theme park in the sky, we’re breaking down the real-life tragedies behind the blockbuster beast. Life finds a way... but not for everyone. Buckle up for a wild ride through mosquito amber, Hollywood mayhem, and some deathly detours. Because in the Death in Entertainment paddock, no one is safe—not even Samuel L. Jackson’s arm.

In this killer episode, the Death in Entertainment crew dives mask-first into the chilling true story of Juana Barraza — a Mexican lucha libre wrestler who moonlighted as a serial killer. Known as The Lady of Silence, Barraza body-slammed her way into infamy by targeting elderly women across Mexico City. Was it a tragic backstory, a botched investigation, or just a lethal heel turn? Step into the ring as Kyle, Ben, and Jerii unravel one of the strangest double lives in true crime history. ¡Ay caramba!

The curtain rises again on humanity’s most jaw-dropping exits. In Part 2, we dive headfirst into a fresh wave of high-stakes disasters — from fiery race car crashes witnessed by millions, to deadly attempts at breaking world records that went down in history for all the wrong reasons. These are the moments where ambition, danger, and audience collide… with tragic results. Because when the spotlight hits, sometimes death takes center stage. 🔊 Listener discretion is advised. Things get wild. Death in Entertainment is hosted every week by Kyle Ploof, Jerii Aquino and Ben Kissel. #truecrime #racecardisasters #worldrecordfails #darkhistory #publicdeath #podcast

🎇 In this episode covering Public Spectacles of Death, we dive into a sky-high trifecta of tragedy: a fireworks celebration for Marie Antoinette’s wedding that turned Paris into a flaming stampede, a Disney character performer in Maine who took flight... without wings, and WWII hero Richard Bong—who survived combat only to be done in by a peacetime jet test. From royal carnage to cartoonish freefall, we explore when the show really shouldn’t go on. Join Kyle Ploof, Jerii Aquino and Ben Kissel every week on Death in Entertainment. This week's story written by Brandon Preo.

He was the beat behind some of rock’s greatest anthems—Layla, You’re So Vain, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. A Grammy-winning drummer and a member of music royalty, Jim Gordon played with everyone from George Harrison to Frank Zappa. But behind the steady rhythm was a mind unraveling. Voices haunted him. Paranoia consumed him. And in 1983, it all came crashing down with the brutal murder of his own mother. This episode dives deep into the rise, fall, and haunting legacy of Jim Gordon—a man whose genius couldn’t outrun his madness. That's today on Death in Entertainment. Story by Brandon Preo

Join Kyle Ploof, Ben Kissel and Jerri Aquino as they discuss the life and crimes of Randall Woodfield, known as the I-5 Killer. Story by Brandon Preo.

In the seedy underbelly of 1980s Los Angeles, a faded porn legend, a brutal drug gang, and a Hollywood mansion became the center of one of the city's most grisly and mysterious mass murders. John Holmes—once the king of adult film—was broke, addicted, and desperate. When he crossed paths with the Wonderland Gang, it set off a chain of violence that would leave four people bludgeoned to death in what LAPD called "the most savage crime scene they'd ever seen." But was Holmes a pawn… or a player? Find out this week on Death in Entertainment.

Behind the mask of Batman was a man who fought his greatest battle not against the Joker or Riddler, but against the crushing weight of an iconic role that threatened to define—and destroy—his entire career. Adam West's journey from farm-raised boy in Walla Walla, Washington to cultural phenomenon is a masterclass in resilience. While most remember him delivering deadpan lines in a blue and gray costume, few realize the profound struggles he faced after Batman was canceled in 1968. For nearly a decade, West wandered through Hollywood's wilderness—typecast, overlooked, and often broke—taking whatever work would pay the bills while directors couldn't see beyond the cape. What makes West's story truly remarkable wasn't just his meteoric rise or painful fall, but his eventual renaissance. Rather than resenting the caped crusader who both made and broke him, West gradually embraced his Batman legacy with self-deprecating humor and grace. By the time a new generation discovered him as the hilariously unhinged Mayor West on Family Guy, he had completed one of the greatest character rehabilitations in Hollywood history. This episode pulls back the curtain on the man behind the mask—from his early radio days to his wild Batman-era escapades (including getting kicked out of Hollywood orgies with the Riddler!) to finding peace as a devoted family man and voice acting legend. West's story reminds us that sometimes our greatest obstacles become our greatest gifts when viewed through the lens of time and perspective. If you've ever felt pigeonholed, overlooked, or defined by one chapter of your life, Adam West's remarkable journey will show you it's never too late to reclaim your narrative with humor, resilience, and joy. Send us a message! Support the show Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof and Ben Kissel. New episodes every week! https://linktr.ee/deathinentertainment

The legacy of Star Wars extends far beyond lightsabers and space battles—it lives in the remarkable humans who brought these iconic characters to life. From the reluctant Jedi to the princess who gave zero f*cks, this episode pulls back the curtain on the fascinating, sometimes tragic lives of the Star Wars actors who've joined the cosmic force. Sir Alec Guinness might have hated the "mumbo jumbo" dialogue of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but his shrewd 2% royalty deal made him wealthy beyond imagination. Yet behind his disdain lurked a complicated man—a convert to Catholicism with arrest records suggesting a hidden sexuality in an era when such truths meant professional death. Meanwhile, Peter Mayhew transformed Chewbacca from a walking carpet into one of cinema's most beloved characters, his 7'3" frame and gentle nature making him the polar opposite of Guinness at conventions—embracing fans rather than telling them to never watch Star Wars again. Carrie Fisher's journey from Hollywood royalty to space princess to mental health advocate stands as perhaps the most compelling story. Her battles with bipolar disorder and addiction never dimmed her razor-sharp wit, turning personal demons into literary gold through memoirs that peeled back celebrity's gilded veneer. When she passed away in December 2016, followed just one day later by her mother Debbie Reynolds, it felt like losing both royalty and family. The men behind Darth Vader—David Prowse's intimidating physicality and James Earl Jones' resonant voice—remind us that even the greatest villains are team efforts. Prowse, who chose to play Vader over Chewbacca because "everyone remembers the villain," never saw his face on screen, while Jones transformed from a stuttering child into the voice that launched a thousand shivers down spines worldwide. These actors created more than characters—they built a modern mythology that continues to resonate across generations. Want to hear more Hollywood tales from beyond the grave? Subscribe now and join us next week when we uncover another chapter in Death in Entertainment. Send us a message! Support the show Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof, Alejandro Dowling and Ben Kissel. New episodes every week! https://linktr.ee/deathinentertainment