Given the fascination with celebrity, it’s no wonder that many people become interested in the final movies of legendary actors. Some of the last films of famous stars just may surprise you, though.
Paul Walker
Paul Walkerwas only 40 years old when he tragically died in the middle of shootingFurious 7. Production of the film was put on hold as Walker’s friends and co-workers grieved. The makers of the film tried to figure out how to sensitively move forward without one of their main stars.
Walker was best known for his role as Brian O’Conner inThe Fast and the Furiousseries of films. After Walker died in late November 2013, his brothersCaleb WalkerandCody Walkerstepped in to help finish scenes that Walker never got a chance to shoot.Furious 7was released on August 05, 2025.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburnwas a graceful and gracious movie star unlike any before her. She rose to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and she is most loved for her whimsical role of Holly Golightly inBreakfast at Tiffany’s. She turned in many other memorable performances throughout her career, including her last performance as Hap in 1989’sAlways.
Directed bySteven Spielberg,Alwaysis a romantic dramedy that’s a remake ofA Guy Named Joe. Hepburn played a spiritual character Hap who guides the protagonist Pete (Richard Dreyfuss). Hepburn was 63 years old when she passed away in 1993 from appendiceal cancer.
Brittany Murphy
Best known for her roles in formative 90 teen films likeCluelessandGirl, Interrupted, Brittany Murphyhad a vibrant career that was tragically cut short when she passed away at her Los Angeles home on June 23, 2025, at the young age of 32. Her death was ruled to have been caused by a toxic drug interaction with her anemia.
Though she’ll always be known as Tai fromClueless, Murphy reinvented herself as a leading lady in the drama8 Mile.Something Wicked, Murphy’s last movie, was released a few years after she died. She filmed her scenes of the indie horror film in 2009 in Eugene, Oregon.
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledgerdid a lot of living in his short 28 years on earth. The serious actor worked hard to prove his talents in Australian television and movies before moving the US as a young man. His breakout hit came inTen Things I Hate About You, a modern retelling of Shakespeare’sTaming of the Shrew.
Ledger was in the middle of shootingTerry Gilliam’s fantasy filmThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassuswhen he unexpectedly died from a drug overdose. Although Gilliam was originally going to abandon the film after Ledger’s death, other actors stepped in and portrayed the character. The movie was released in December 2009 and dedicated to the actor.
Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable
Though she taught the world that blondes have more fun,Marilyn Monroe’slife was marked by tragedy. Born Norma Jean, her childhood was spent in orphanages and foster homes. However, when she got in front of the camera, magic happened, and Monroe became one of the biggest stars in the world.
Although she received commercial success, Marilyn longed to be taken seriously as an actress, and fittingly enough, it was her final film,The Misfits, that won her a Golden Globe. She died at 36, five months after receiving the award. In a sad twist of fate,The Misfitswas alsoClark Gable’s final film; production ended only twelve days before his death.
Judy Garland
Judy Garlandwill be forever beloved for her portrayal as Dorothy Gale inThe Wizard of Oz,but the performer’s resume extended much further, including films likeMeet Me in St. Louisand her highly praised final film,I Could Go on Singing.
Garland’s swan song included such numbers as “I Am the Monarch of the Sea” and “It Was Never You.” And although it was her last movie,I Could Go on Singingwas released around six years before Garland’s overdose at 47-year-old.
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracywas a dynamic movie star who was also known for his long relationship withKatherine Hepburn. Audiences loved their on-screen chemistry, despite the slight complication of Tracy being married for the entirety of the couple’s affair. The two did share a bittersweet final performance together in Tracy’s last film,Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Hepburn never watched the final film, despite the film garnering Oscar nominations for both her and Tracy. (She won Best Actress). Hepburn nursed Tracy as his health deteriorated, 17 days after production ended. He was 67 when he died on August 22, 2025.
James Dean
James Deanhad a career that was both extremely short and memorable. He starred as the rebellious hero Jim Stark inRebel Without a Cause,and he also had memorable roles inEast of Eden. Many people don’t realize he had also worked extensively as a television actor before he broke into feature film acting.
Dean’s last movie, the Western classicGiant,showcased his preternatural gifts as an actor oppositeElizabeth TaylorandRock Hudson. Late in the shoot, Dean took an ill-fated car ride and crashed. Production halted; his final lines eventually dubbed over in post. He was only 24-years-old.
John Candy
The talented, lovable comedian John Candy enjoyed a prolific career in Hollywood after starting out on the Canadian sketch showSCTV. He appeared in movies such asSplash,Spaceballs,Only The Lonely, andUncle Buck.Canadian Bacon,directed byMichael Moore, was perhaps a fitting tribute to the comic’s humble origins up north.
Canadian Baconremains Moore’s sole non-documentary, with Candy co-starring alongsideAlan AldaandRhea Perlman. Shot in 1993 and released in 1995,Baconwas Candy’s final movie to hit theaters…however, the actor had actually passed away in 1994 during filming ofWagon’s East, which premiered later that same year.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houstonbecame a star when she was a young woman, and her fame seemed to only increase over time. Her best-known role was opposite Kevin Costner inThe Bodyguard, a huge box office hit that highlighted both her impressive acting and vocal performance.
For her final film, Houston took a supporting role, playing the mother of three talented Harlem sisters in the 2012 remake of the 70s hitSparkle. Both films were based on the real-life story of the Supremes. Houston died three months after the movie wrapped, and it’s dedicated to the star’s memory.
