By: Greg Sabin
Whether it was a lackluster crowd or weak material, performers love
trading stories about the night they absolutely died while doing their shtick. Here are 10 examples of performers that actually did die onstage. On the bright side, they did shuffle off the mortal coil while doing the thing they loved.
1. LEE MORGAN
On February 19, 1972, Lee Morgan, one of the greatest trumpet players of the 20th century, was playing a run-of-the-mill Tuesday night gig at Slugs in New York City. Between sets he got into an argument with his wife Helen. She left the club, came back with a gun, and shot Morgan in the chest while he was onstage. He died almost immediately. He was 33 years old.
2. MOLIERE
On February 21, 1673, the French playwright and actor was performing the lead role in his newly penned play The Imaginary Invalid when a coughing fit overwhelmed him. He was dragged offstage and died not long after. Ironically, the play was about a chronic hypochondriac.
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