Who gained the most from an early death?

Whose reputation was made by dying early? If they all had lived, who would be the least influential?

who voted for Marilyn Monroe?!

I sat and discussed Cobain Vs Morrison

Seems pretty obvious to me that the reason Monroe is still a sex symbol today is that she never stopped being one i.e. she never grew old. I don't have time to explain it further but those of us to the right of the bell curve know what I mean.

I may be on the left side of the bell curve, but I realize that Monroe had a large body of work that would ensure her fame. By contrast, James Dean had what, 3 movies?

I agree that Monroe's allure will remain timeless because of her early death, but she'd still be a famous movie star had she lived.

of real actors, she might have gone one to do more substantive character work, not performances based on her ability to fill out a girdle.

she was actually a fine actress, but that gets overlooked because of her sex appeal.

Just trying to be controversial.

how things would be different if.......

if they hadn't died young.

I voted Janis Joplin, perhaps out of ignorance, as I honestly don't know much about her. My feeling is that, perhaps, she'd already said all she was going to say when she left us.

I've much the same feeling regarding the other musicians, with perhaps the exception of Lennon. He'd already switched topics of interest many times, and I have a hard time imagining that he ever would have stopped.

Regarding actors (Dean, Monroe) it depends on if they could have transcended the roles that made them famous, particularly as they matured. Many are the actors/actresses who couldn't shake their youthfull roles, and it's just sad seeing them as old people, still trying to seem young. OTOH, it's wonderful to see an actor embrace their aging, like Henry Fonda or Katherine Hepburn. Even Tom Hanks has managed to break out of the child actor stigma. Could Dean and Monroe have done this? I don't know.

Politicians? I think Kennedy was a mover and shaker. Not necessarily all for the good. But I feel that his effectiveness in making things happen was the primary reason he was "removed." If there's one thing people with agendas hate with a passion, it's people with a different agenda.

All imho.

He was just another longhaired guitarist when he died, and now people call him an all-time great.

just watch as my reputation skyrockets after my untimely death . . . whenever that's gonna happen.

v.o.r.

I come from her home town. They threw her out and were largely the reason for her many problems. That being said, I don't think she really had any talent (her band certainly didn't). To each his own, though.

gained the most from an untimely death.

Although, I don't think that was his intent. isn't it ironic?

(just mannered and burned out)

got no votes. Good work, folk. His legacy was secure whether he died or not.