Great Expirations: Top Five Deaths Under Suspicious (Or Nefarious) Circumstances

3. David Carradine: actor

Manner of death: Autoerotic asphyxiation (allegedly)

Next only to Chuck Norris, David Carradine was one of the biggest action heroes of the 1970s. He starred in the 1970s TV show Kung Fu, which was meant to showcase the talents of the then-recently deceased Bruce Lee. He was also a member of the legendary Carradine acting family (his father and several brothers are also well-reputed actors). He also starred in a film directed by Martin Scorsese called Boxcar Bertha (1972), co-starring his then-girlfriend, Barbara Hershey (who then called herself Barbara Seagull. . . gotta love the 1970s).

Some insane trivia: in the August 1972 issue of Playboy, the couple reenacted their love scene from the movie in the magazine’s pages. It’s pretty apparent that David was a bit of a freak back in the day. Most recently, Carradine’s menacing talent was showcased in director Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies (he, after all, played the title character of Bill).

In June 2009, Carradine was found dead in Thailand. The moment he died, rumors abounded as to what caused his death. He was allegedly bound by his neck, hands, and genitals (OUCH!), and was allegedly wearing women’s clothing. This led to the belief he had died, like Michael Hutchence, of some strangulation-based sex play gone horribly wrong. Several of his ex-wives (apparently David was no stranger to the ladies) attested that David was into freaky ass sex shit including, but not limited to, self-bondage.

However, an independent autopsy showed that David’s death was not a suicide, and he had not died by his own hand. As of writing this no one is sure what killed David Carradine; theories abound from him being killed by some “hired help,” or him being killed by some kind of kung fu mafia who had it in for him (I am not making this up, I swear). Despite the somewhat shady manner of his death, David Carradine should be remembered as a fantastically talented actor who popularized martial arts. Here’s the trailer to Boxcar Bertha, which looks like great trashy fun to watch.

2. Christine Chubbuck: TV host

Manner of death: Suicide by gunshot (on her own TV show!)

Christine Chubbuck was a TV host on a Sarasota, FL-based TV show called Suncoast Digest. Christine had struggled with depression for years, and in 1974 she was struggling with the fact that she was turning 30, and had no romantic life to speak of. She attempted to forge a relationship with a guy she liked at her job, only to have him hook up with one of her friends (that is cold!). She also was depressed about possibly not being able to bear children, since she had an ovary removed in an operation in 1973.

Apparently, she had previously attempted suicide in 1970 by a drug overdose, and frequently referenced this event to her friends. There were plenty of indicators to suggest that Christine might do something irrational, but remember, in the early 1970s psychiatry wasn’t as advanced as it is now, and her issues were most likely not considered entirely too serious.

On July 15, 1974, Christine began Suncoast Digest by reading a news story, which wasn’t something she usually did. This alarmed no one at the time. Eight minutes into a show, a short film on a local restaurant jammed, so Christine segued forth and said, “In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see another first: attempted suicide.” She then grabbed a .38 revolver and shot herself behind the ear. People on the set believed she was kidding and had pulled an elaborate prank, until they realized there was blood—REAL blood—all over her. She died 14 hours later. The tape of the suicide was understandably seized and has never been released.

Christine Chubbuck has become a kind of sick role model to hipsters like “90 Day Jane,” who threatened online to commit suicide after 90 days as an “art” piece. In my research, I even found a T-shirt with a picture of Christine emblazoned on it along with the words “Suncoast Digest.” Christine Chubbuck has become the Ian Curtis of mass communications. Christine Chubbuck did what Jessica Savitch only dreamed about, but never quite achieved. . . total devastation on television. Her violent act preceded the film Network, which won Peter Finch an Oscar; he played a pissed off, suicidal network anchor.

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