Leslie Howard died June 1, 1943. Casualty of War at sea. best known for his role as "Ashley" in Gone With The Wind (1939). Age: 50.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt died April 12, 1945. had been in ill health. Was posing for a portrait when he slumped forward in his chair. Carried to bed. Massive cerebral hemorrhage (stroke) Age: 63.

Mae Busch died April 19, 1946. Pneumonia Age: 44. Made 13 Laurel & Hardy films. Last films: The Stork Club (1945), The Blue Dahila (1946),The Bride Wore Boots (1946),Cross My Heart (1946),Ladies Man (1947).

William B. Davidson died After surgery September 28, 1947. Age: 59.

Herman Bing died January 10, 1948. Suicide. Age: 57. Was the voice of the ringmaster in the Walt Disney animated film, Dumbo (1941). Depressed that he could not find work in Hollywood.

William Robert Laughin ("Froggy") died Aug. 31, 1948. Traffic accident.

Robert Walker died August 28, 1951. In an alcoholic rage,psychiatrist called in who gave him injection. System shut down. Adverse reaction to prescription drug. His son is actor, Robert Walker Jr. Last film: My Son John. They asked to use shot of death scene in "Strangers on a Train" to finish car crash in their film with Walker.

HM George VI died February 6, 1952. Coronary thrombosis in his sleep. Age: 56. King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions. Princess Elizabeth then began her reign as Queen Elizabeth II.

Hank Williams died December 31, 1952 in back of his cadillac driven by a teenage chauffer because he was on moraphine, b-12 shot and drinking whiskey. When police pulled over driver for speeding, police noticed Hank looked like a dead man. Country singer. Age: 29. Son Hank jr. is a popular singer.

John Bagni died Feb. 13, 1954 at the age of 43 from a heart attack.

Robert Francis died July 31, 1955. Plane crash.

Bernard Gorcey died Sept. 11, 1955. Car accident. Father of Leo and David Gorcey.

Shemp Howard died November 22, 1955. Heart attack.

Bela Lugosi died August 16, 1956 before filming was completed. Was buried in his entire Dracula costume including the cape.

Paul Kelly died November 6, 1956. Heart attack. Just returned from voting.

Edie Acuff died December 7, 1956 of a heart attack at the age of 53. Played the mailman in the "Blondie" film series.

Fred F. Sears died November 30, 1957 of a heart attack at the age of 44.

Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli) died October 9, 1958. Heart failure, exhaustion. Reign March 2, 1939 to his death 1958. Age: 82.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer died January 21, 1959. Murdered. Was part of the "Little Rascals"/"Our Gang" comedy short films.

Richie Valens died February 3, 1959 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and Jiles R. Richardson. Age: 17. Valens never flew in a small plane before. Tommy Allsup lost his seat in a coin toss to Valens. Gilbert Melgar portrayed Valens in The Buddy Holly Story (1978) and Lou Diamond Phillips as "Valens" in the movie, La Bamba (1987).