15 Celebrities Who Have Experienced Near-Death Feelings

Celebrities benefit from their wealth and fame in many aspects of life more than most of us do. They get free stuff from the brand they represent, have access to glam squads, lead the fashion trend, get to travel the world, and if they're lucky, they can make a living doing interesting and creative work that not everyone has an opportunity to experience. However, there is one thing that all celebrities have in common with the rest of us: Nobody lives forever.
While some celebrities who die far too young (we're still mourning the deaths of Chadwick Boseman and Luke Perry) and celebrities who live to a ripe old age (RIP, Betty White), there are also a significant number of stars who had near-death experiences that fans may not know.
Some of our favorite stars have been critically injured or sick, but they have survived to tell the tale. From terrifying plane crashes to unexpected and severe illnesses, these celebrities came closer to death than anyone would ever want to. Continue reading for the details of 15 celebrities who survived near-death experiences.

#1 50 Cent

Source: @50cent

In 2000, rapper 50 Cent was shot nine times at close range. He spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and months in physical rehabilitation afterward, including six weeks using a walker due to bullets hitting him in both legs.

#2 Emilia Clarke

Source: @emilia_clarke

Emilia Clarke, the star of Game of Thrones, suffered two brain hemorrhages while filming season one of the popular show. According to an essay she wrote for The New Yorker, the type of stroke she had kills one-third of people within a day — those are some seriously frightening odds! Fortunately, Emilia recovered quickly and could continue her role as a dragon mother.

#3 Gloria Estefan

Source: @gloriaestefan

Gloria Estefan nearly died in a car accident in 1990 when a semi-truck collided with her tour bus. Her back was broken in the crash, and doctors told her she might never be able to walk or have more children again. Fortunately, she recovered and proved them both wrong!

#4 Harrison Ford

Source: WUF / Splash News

Harrison Ford enjoys flying, but his enthusiasm has resulted in several close calls, including a 2015 crash on a golf course in California. He was flying a vintage 1942 plane when a mechanical failure caused a crash that left him in the hospital for several weeks.

#5 Isla Fisher

Source: @islafisher

Even though movie sets have safety coordinators and stunt people, things can still go wrong. Isla Fisher was filming an underwater scene for Now You See Me when her release chain became entangled in her costume. She was trapped underwater for three minutes before she was able to free herself. It's terrifying!

#6 Lamar Odom

Source: Silver Screen and Roll

Lamar Odom, the ex-husband of Khloé Kardashian and former NBA player, came close to death in 2015 when a drug overdose left him unconscious in a Nevada brothel. He was airlifted to a hospital in Los Angeles and suffered 12 strokes and six heart attacks in the days following the overdose, according to reports. He survived, but he still has memory problems as a result.

#7 Martin Lawrence

Source: @martinlawrence

In 1999, comedian Martin Lawrence suffered severe heat stroke while jogging in multiple layers of clothing, demonstrating the dangers of trying to lose weight to extremes. He was trying to lose weight for a role when he overheated to 107 degrees, fell into a coma for three days, and severely damaged his kidneys. No acting job could be worth that much!

#8 Orlando Bloom

Source: World Today News

Orlando Bloom has played roles that have put his physical endurance to the test, but nothing has put him to the test more than a three-story fall in 1998. "I crushed my spine, narrowly escaping death and paralysis … grateful every day for my limbs that allow me to push my limits and live life on my edge (safer now), " He wrote about it on Instagram.

#9 Rachel Bilson

Source: @rachelbilson

Rachel Bilson, best known for her role on The O.C., was in a near-fatal car accident as a teenager. Rachel was injured seriously enough that she spent several days in a coma after the car she was riding in crashed head-on into another car.

#10 Salma Hayek

Source: @salmahayek

Salma Hayek has confirmed that she nearly died from the COVID-19 virus in 2020. "My doctor begged me to go to the hospital because it was so bad. 'No, thank you,' I said. I'd rather die at home.'" Fortunately, she recovered, though she stated that she was still not back to her previous energy level even a year later.

#11 Sharon Stone

Source: @sharonstone

Sharon Stone suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2001 and has since described her near-death experience. She even claims to have seen the legendary tunnel of light, which she described as "very beautiful" and "very strange."

#12 Tiger Woods

Source: @tigerwoods

Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time, but he's had a difficult few years following his scandalous divorce and revelations about his personal life. That difficult streak continued in 2021 when he was seriously injured in a car accident caused by him driving too fast and colliding with a tree.

#13 Tracy Morgan

Source: @tracymorgan

Tracy Morgan was a passenger in a limo that was involved in a multi-car accident in 2014 that killed one person and sent several others to the hospital. Tracy was in critical condition after the incident, with a traumatic brain injury and a severely broken leg. He ended up spending five months in a wheelchair as his body recovered from serious injuries.

#14 Travis Barker

Source: @travisbarker

Travis Barker survived a deadly private plane crash in 2008 that killed two pilots, his security guard, and his assistant. He had burns on 65% of his body and didn't fly again until 2021, owing to severe anxiety brought on by the understandable trauma of the crash.

#15 Zac Efron

Source: @zacefron

In 2019, Zac Efron was filming a documentary series called Killing Zac Efron when he became ill with a potentially fatal bacterial infection and had to be airlifted from Papua New Guinea to Australia for treatment. Thankfully, he has fully recovered and is back on his travels.