Last Days

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 63 - Anne Heche Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

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

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Ep. 62 - Andre The Giant Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

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 history.

Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman

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Ep. 61 - Alan Rickman Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

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

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Special Episode: O.J. Simpson Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

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 his last days, and his impact on American culture over the course of his life will not soon be forgotten.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 60 - Junior Seau Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

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 league, shedding light on the long-term consequences of head injuries and prompting calls for greater player safety measures.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 59 - Kurt Cobain Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

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

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Special Episode: Louis Gossett Jr. Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

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

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Ep. 58 - Kirstie Alley Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

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: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 56 - Marlon Brando Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

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 Kaufman

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Ep. 55 - Len Bias Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

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

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