The Heartbreaking Final Texts Celebs Sent Before They Died

The following article includes references to suicide.

Celebrities often live a life distant from the realities we are used to. From expensive clothes to extravagant parties and evergreen fame, the life of a celebrity shares very few common denominators with that of regular folk. But there is a common equalizer for everyone — death. Death is a difficult reality to process, but it's probably the only reality we can be sure of. It is not easy to deal with, especially when it is someone we love or a public figure who inspired us. Similar to the life and work of famous people, their death is also public. Public figures are grieved collectively in common spaces and often bring people closer. 

While death is a constant reality, the truth is that many of us live day to day unaware of its eventuality. Here we take a look at the heartbreaking texts famous people sent before they died or during their final days — some were aware of what was to come, some unaware.

Comedian and actor Bob Saget claimed our hearts as Danny Tanner in the 1980s ABC sitcom "Full House" and the 2016 reboot 'Fuller House." He died on January 9, 2022, while on tour. Later, it was reported that the cause of death was head trauma. "[Authorities] have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it, and went to sleep," his family confirmed (via People).

In an appearance on "Today," Saget's co-star Candace Cameron Bure shared the last text he sent her, along with her fear of ever losing it. She shared that a few weeks before the actor sadly died, they had an argument. "In Bob fashion, the next day he wrote me, like, what would be pages long of a text. And he was apologizing, saying he was cranky and he was just so sorry," she said. She went on to discuss the love between them and that he ended the exchange by reiterating that.

"I love you more for the trouble you're giving me, if that's even possible," Saget wrote.

Taylor Hawkins was the drummer in the rock band Foo Fighters, and his tragic death was a shock to fans. On March 25, 2022, Hawkins was found in his hotel room just before the band's show in Colombia. According to his autopsy, Hawkins died from a "cardiovascular collapse" that was brought about by a combination of drugs found in his system (via The Daily Mail). Later, it was confirmed that this included heroin, antidepressants, and some benzodiazepines. Unfortunately, he had struggled with drug addiction for a major part of his life.

The band released a statement on Twitter, saying, "The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever."

Actor John Stamos posted the last message the singer sent him on Twitter. "We've yet to fully have a hang — gotta put that sh** together before we die," Hawkins reportedly texted Stamos. "Another one gone too soon," Stamos wrote in his tweet.

Celebrity chef and host of the award-winning series "Parts Unknown," Anthony Bourdain died on June 8, 2018, leaving fans all over the world with many questions. His death was confirmed to be a suicide, and no traces of any kind of drugs were found in his system, according to The New York Times. In an unauthorized Bourdain biography, "Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain," journalist Charles Leerhsen reveals details about the star's last days. 

"I hate my fans, too. I hate being famous. I hate my job. I am lonely and living in constant uncertainty," the book reveals. Bourdain reportedly sent his ex-wife and friend Ottavia Busia this text days before he was found dead.

The text he sent his girlfriend, Italian actor Asia Argento, sheds more light on his mental state during his final days. He wrote: "I am okay, I am not spiteful. I am not jealous that you have been with another man. I do not own you. You are free. As I said. As I promised. As I truly meant. But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life" (via The New York Times).

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Rapper Nipsey Hussle rose to fame when Jay-Z bought a hundred physical copies of his mixtape, "Crenshaw" (per Vox). An inspiration for many, Hussle was a man who believed in giving back to his community.

"A huge part of the reason people felt attached to Nipsey was [his message of], 'Hey, as Black people we need to be building our stuff. We shouldn't be so dependent on white entities to survive," fan Chavonne Taylor told BBC in 2020. He was quite the artist, raking in 1.8 billion streams of his music in a year.

On March 31, 2019, what could have been one of the most inspiring music careers in history was cut short when Hussle was shot and killed by a man following a confrontation (per Billboard). During the funeral, which was attended by celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Stevie Wonder, Hussle's mother revealed the last text exchange she shared with her son. "I'm A-1. I'm grateful I have a studio again. I'm just happy and ready to work," he wrote (via Page Six).

Kim Jong-hyun, popularly known by his mononym Jonghyun, was a beloved K-pop idol and a member of the band SHINee. The life of a K-pop star is not all sunshine and rainbows. It can be incredibly stressful with long working hours. Fans look up to them and they are expected to meet impossible standards. John Lie, a sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told The Guardian, "K-pop tries to present a cleansed image of male stars as being kind, generous, that they are unlike patriarchal, sexist, and unstylish Korean men."

The heartthrob of countless followers, some of Jonghyun's final texts outline his agony and reveal the 27-year-old might not have enjoyed his fame. "Becoming famous was probably not my life. They tell me that's why I'm having a hard time ... Why did I choose that? It's funny that I'm able to endure this much," the idol wrote to a friend (per The New York Times).

Jonghyun died by suicide on December 18, 2017. Fans mourned the artist on the band's Twitter.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

The early days of COVID-19 were stressful for all of us, with news of illness and death affecting the people we know and love becoming an everyday affair. Most known for his roles on the stage, Nick Cordero was nominated for a Tony as the "tap-dancing tough guy" in "Bullets Over Broadway" (per The New York Times). Cordero was one of the earliest celebrities to get extremely sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. After falling ill in April 2020, he died on July 5, 2020, after being in the hospital for months. 

The last texts Cordero sent his co-star Zach Braff are as heartbreaking as his premature death. "The last thing he ever texted me was to look out for his wife and 1-year-old son, Elvis. I promise the world they will never want for anything," Braff posted on Instagram. He continued, writing, "I feel so incredibly grateful I got to have Nick Cordero enter my life."

In 2021, New York City declared September 17 "Nick Cordero Day" to honor the life and works of the Broadway star (per CBS News).

Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019, shocked pageantry fans all over the world on January 30, 2022, when she died by suicide. In a statement released by her mother April Simpkins, it was revealed that Kryst had been suffering from depression. "While it may be hard to believe, it's true. Cheslie led both a public and a private life. In her private life, she was dealing with high-functioning depression which she hid from everyone — including me, her closest confidant — until very shortly before her death," she said (via The Los Angeles Times).

In an appearance on "Red Table Talk," Simpkins shared more about Kryst's heartbreaking last days while also revealing the final text she received from her beauty queen daughter. "You have kept me alive and ready to face another day, because you answer every phone call and you are there for me at the drop of a hat," Kryst wrote. "You listen to me and care when I tell you what goes on in my life and you have always made me feel like you love me. I love you more than any person I've ever known."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

While poets aren't your common, everyday celebrity, Seamus Haeney was quite different. In his obituary, The Irish Times wrote that, early in his career, "he soon came to be regarded as the leading Irish poet of his generation." The obituary also credits him as possibly the only poet with a guaranteed place in the bestseller lists. We lost the literary pioneer on August 30, 2013. Described by American poet Robert Lowell as "the most important Irish poet since Yeats," Heaney's final text was a fitting ode to the life of the poet.

"Noli timere," read the text Heaney sent his wife from his hospital bed. The Latin phrase translates to "do not be afraid" in English (per The Irish Times).

Similarly to most words written by Heaney in his lifetime, his last words were also widely discussed. Two years after his death, Heaney's son, Mick Heaney, wrote in detail about his father's last words and what they meant to his family. "As I know from his case, when writers are confronted with the probability of death they can come up with a memorable valediction," he wrote in The Irish times.

Chadwick Boseman, also known as Black Panther of the Marvel movies, died on August 28, 2020, due to colon cancer. The world greeted the news of his death with shock, with millions of fans and famous names taking to the internet to share disbelief and grief. Boseman was a prominent figure in bringing historically accurate portrayals of pioneering Black leaders to the Hollywood silver screen. Boseman, a private man according to Hollywood standards, had hidden his illness from the world.

The executive producer of "Black Panther," Nate Moore, shared their final text exchange with People. He was unaware of the actor's illness. The exchange regarded fulfilling the requests of a Make-A-Wish child during the COVID-19 lockdown. Boseman wrote, "It broke me, man. But we need to do that for them. People deserve abundant life, special moments. They've been through hell battling disease. If we were able to ease their suffering and bring joy for a moment ... then we made a difference in his life."

Moore also revealed that he worked with the actor to send the "young boy a voice note from T'Challa, as well as a package of toys." This was not an easy task given the strict lockdown restrictions of the time. "But Chad figured out how to make it work because he cared so intently, and in hindsight, so personally," Moore said.

"Will & Grace" star Leslie Jordan has always managed to get us to smile. Even one of his final texts embodies Jordan's positive personality that kept us all laughing during the pandemic. The actor sadly died on October 24, 2022, after a "sudden cardiac dysfunction" while driving (via People). The "American Horror Story" star's car crashed into the side of a building in Hollywood.

A few days before, Jordan had a not-so-welcoming experience when he went to catch up with his former co-star Max Greenfield at the latter's book signing event. Sadly, Jordan didn't get to see Greenfield. 

In an interview with E! News, Greenfield revealed the text that Jordan sent him after the incident. Jordan reportedly wrote, "I tried to get in. I saw that you was so famous they wouldn't let me in. And they turned my little ass away. But congratulations. I couldn't stay, I had to go anyway because I have important things to do." It is quite heartwarming to know that he could still make the best of any situation. 

On January 26, 2020, the sports world was shocked when the news of Kobe Bryant's sudden death in a helicopter crash was revealed. The crash took the lives of eight other people, including Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Bryant's close friend and mentor Michael Jordan told ESPN that he still has their final text exchange saved in his phone. The text exchange is dated December 8, 2019. 

"This tequila is awesome," wrote Bryant, referring to Jordan's Cincoro Tequila. Bryant went on to inquire about his friend's family, asking if they were doing all right. Jordan told ESPN that Bryant was "really into" coaching his daughter, who was nicknamed "Gigi." Jordan texted him, "Happy holidays and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!" 

"Ah, back at you, man," Bryant wrote. "Hey, coach, I'm sitting on the bench right now, and we're blowing this team out. 45-8." Forty-nine days after the exchange, the world bid farewell to the icon.

David Bowie churned out hit after hit starting in the '60s. An icon known for his unique sound, style, and skill, Bowie released his final album "Blackstar" on January 8, 2016, just two days before the shocking news of his death reached his fans. The 69-year-old musical powerhouse never stopped doing what he loved the most — making dope music. His final album was put together while undergoing treatment for cancer, according to Tidal.

According to Claudia Lennear, the singer's ex-girlfriend from the '70s who left the music industry following their breakup, the duo had been working on what was supposed to be her comeback album just before he died. "We had this very strange writing relationship," she told The Daily Mail. "He was writing music and I was writing lyrics." Just a few days before his death, Bowie sent his final text to her. "Send me some lyrics. Don't forget," he reportedly wrote.

"Jackass" star Ryan Dunn's text before he died in a car accident is probably the most heartbreaking one on this list. The toxicology report revealed that on June 19, 2011, when the accident happened, the actor was going over 132 mph, and his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit (per ABC News). Dunn's passenger, Zachary Hartwell, also died during the crash. 

In an interview with E! News, Dunn's "Jackass" co-star Bam Margera shared some shocking details about the star and his last moments. "He flipped me in a car eight times at the same exact spot in 1996. Thank God I had my seat belt on, because Chris Raab put one on me, but my brother didn't have one on. He flew 40 feet. Thank God he's alive. But, like, Dunn was always a maniac at driving," he said. 

"Stopping for a beer, be there when I can," was the last message Dunn sent Margera on what was to be his last night.