Last Days
Last Days explores the final days of some of the biggest icons in sports and entertainment, breaking down precisely what led to the passing of figures who were larger than life but somehow even bigger in death. Derek Kaufman and Jason Beckerman debunk the myths, unpack the tragedies, and tell the real stories behind the most fascinating celebrity deaths.
Episodes
June 3, 2024 • 28 mins
On January 5, 1998, Sonny Bono -- one half of the legendary Sonny & Cher duo whose hit songs and variety show became cultural touchstones of the 60s and 70s -- died after a ski accident in Lake Tahoe. Although his musical legacy remains an important piece of music history, Bono's pivot to politics later in life is perhaps the best testament to a career defined by his scrappy perseverance and ineffable charm.
Hosted by Jason Becker...
Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 • 15 mins
On May 27, 2024, Bill Walton -- the NBA legend whose brilliant but injury-shortened career set the standard for basketball excellence in the 70s and 80s -- passed away from colon cancer at the age of 71. Although his accomplishments on the court are rivaled by few, he will perhaps best be remembered for his colorful personality and quick wit in the broadcast booth.
Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman
Learn more about your ad ch...
Mark as Played
May 27, 2024 • 24 mins
On February 5, 2024, Toby Keith – the country star whose songs about patriotism and blue-collar values made him one of the most successful musicians of all time - died of stomach cancer. Keith was an exceptionally talented singer and songwriter, but perhaps his greatest gifts were his intelligence and his authenticity, which gave him unique perspectives on war, politics, and friendships, and the ability to change minds and challeng...
Mark as Played
May 24, 2024 • 10 mins
On May 23, 2024, Morgan Spurlock -- the filmmaker behind the 2004 documentary "Super Size Me" documentary -- passed away from cancer at the age of 53. His infectious enthusiasm, sense of humor, and creativity in a genre usually populated by films with more serious and sober tones set Spurlock's projects apart, shedding light on some of the most important social issues of the day and carving out a lasting legacy.
Hosts: Derek Kaufm...
Mark as Played
May 20, 2024 • 23 mins
On May 20, 1989, Gilda Radner -- known best for her brilliant comedic performances on Saturday Night Live -- passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 42 ... something she worried about long before the disease was ever diagnosed. Despite her early death, Radner's vibrant legacy has remained very much alive as new fans continue to discover her timeless characters.
Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman
Learn more about your ad ...
Mark as Played
May 13, 2024 • 21 mins
On December 13, 2016, Alan Thicke - the actor nicknamed "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Dr. Jason Seaver for seven seasons on “Growing Pains” - died after his aorta ruptured while playing hockey. Though Thicke's ultimately passing devastated those close to him, his legacy endures as a beloved television actor, songwriter, friend, and father.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
Mark as Played
May 6, 2024 • 25 mins
On December 12, 2023, Ray Liotta -- best known for his iconic performances in Field of Dreams and Goodfellas -- passed away in his sleep while filming a movie in the Dominican Republic. His fiery intensity and hint of menace created a lasting imprint on film history, but it was Liotta's sweet and gentle nature offscreen that stood out most to his family, friends, and those closest to him.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
Le...
Mark as Played
April 29, 2024 • 24 mins
On August 11, 2022, Anne Heche, the actress whose stunning announcement of a romance with Ellen DeGeneres became one of the defining pop-culture moments of the 1990s, died following a fiery car wreck. Speculation raged in the wake of Heche’s death that drugs and alcohol must have been to blame, but the true culprit was something far more sinister and vastly more heartbreaking.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
Learn more abou...
Mark as Played
April 22, 2024 • 26 mins
On January 27, 1993, André René Roussimoff -- the 7'4", 520-pound Frenchman who dominated professional wrestling during the 70s and 80s -- passed away in his sleep after an evening with friends. Although best known for his immense size and epic battles in the ring with Hulk Hogan and other bright stars of his era, it was Andre's brilliant performance as the warm-hearted giant in The Princess Bride that etched his name in Hollywood ...
Mark as Played
April 15, 2024 • 23 mins
On January 14, 2016, Alan Rickman died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite a reputation as one of the kindest men in Hollywood, Rickman made his name portraying some of the great bad guys in cinema history - from Hans Gruber, to the Sheriff of Nottingham, to Severus Snape - and in the process forever changed what it means to be a movie villain.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
Learn more about your ad choice...
Mark as Played
April 11, 2024 • 24 mins
On April 10, 2024, OJ Simpson — one of the most decorated football players and controversial figures of the last half of the 20th century — passed away after a brief battle with prostate cancer. His football and acting legacies were forever eclipsed by his criminal trial and eventual acquittal for the vicious double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson remained a polarizing figure until h...
Mark as Played
April 8, 2024 • 21 mins
On May 2, 2012, Junior Seau -- an NFL legend who redefined the linebacker position during his career -- took his own life, shocking his friends, family, and many fans. Known for his fierce playing style and leadership on the field, Seau's impact on football forever changed and modernized the sport, but it was his untimely death that sparked a crucial conversation about the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the...
Mark as Played
April 1, 2024 • 25 mins
Thirty years ago this week, on April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain - the Nirvana frontman whose raw, angst-ridden lyrics made him the voice for Gen X - killed himself in his Seattle home. Cobain’s death, brought on by years of drug use, physical pain, and depression, though tragic, cannot overshadow a singularly remarkable career that transformed American music.
Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Mark as Played
March 29, 2024 • 14 mins
On March 29, 2024, Lou Gossett Jr. – who rose to fame with his Emmy-award-winning portrayal of Fiddler in the miniseries Roots and an Academy Award-winning turn as drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentlemen – died after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of African-American actors, and as one of the kindest and most beloved men in Hollywood history.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman and Charles Latibeaudiere
Le...
Mark as Played
March 25, 2024 • 25 mins
On December 5, 2022, Kirstie Alley -- best known for her iconic role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers and her memorable performances in movies like Look Who's Talking -- passed away from colorectal cancer at the age of 71. Alley's legacy was complicated by her public struggles with weight loss and personal views on various social and political issues, but such controversies never overshadowed her feisty wit and immense talents.
Hosts: J...
Mark as Played
March 18, 2024 • 22 mins
On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke – the singer and songwriter of some of the most recognizable soul and pop songs every written – including “Twisting the Night Away,” “You Send Me,” “Wonderful World,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” and so many more – was shot and killed in a Los Angeles motel. Cooke’s killing was perhaps the first modern true-crime story, involving the slaying of one of the most famous people of the era, under circumstanc...
Mark as Played
March 11, 2024 • 29 mins
On July 2, 2004, Marlon Brando -- perhaps the most iconic film actor of the 20th century for his roles in classics like On the Waterfront and The Godfather -- passed away from a mysterious lung condition at the age of 80. Despite his personal troubles, Brando's groundbreaking and unconventional approach to acting ushered in a new era in Hollywood that continues to shape the art form to this day.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kauf...
Mark as Played
March 4, 2024 • 22 mins
Len Bias was among the greatest basketball players ever who lived until his life was cut short by a lethal batch of cocaine. The true crime story of Bias’s death gripped the nation, but it left behind one of the most culturally destructive legacies in the history of sport.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played
February 26, 2024 • 28 mins
John Denver -- one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 70s -- tragically died in a plane crash in 1997 off the coast of California. Despite his untimely death, Denver's musical legacy continues to resonate with timeless hits like Take Me Home, Country Roads and Annie's Song, which remain cherished anthems to this day. But perhaps his most lasting impact on the music industry came in the form of his powerful testimony o...
Mark as Played
February 19, 2024 • 28 mins
On January 10, 2016, David Bowie - the visionary iconoclast who blended rock, glam, and avant-garde styles to revolutionize music - died of liver cancer in his NYC apartment. Bowie's evolving musical styles and various persona over a five decade career have been emulated by generations of musicians - from Madonna to Prince, Lady Gaga to Kanye West, and countless others. And even as his health deteriorated and he knew the end was ne...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Shootings are not unusual in Belize. Shootings of cops are. When a wealthy woman – part of one of the most powerful families in Belize – is found on a pier late at night, next to a body, it becomes the country’s biggest news story in a generation. New episodes every Monday!
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.