🎇 In this episode covering Public Spectacles of Death, we dive into a sky-high trifecta of tragedy: a fireworks celebration for Marie Antoinette’s wedding that turned Paris into a flaming stampede, a Disney character performer in Maine who took flight... without wings, and WWII hero Richard Bong—who survived combat only to be done in by a peacetime jet test. From royal carnage to cartoonish freefall, we explore when the show really shouldn’t go on.

Join Kyle Ploof, Jerii Aquino and Ben Kissel every week on Death in Entertainment.

This week's story written by Brandon Preo.

He was the beat behind some of rock’s greatest anthems—Layla, You’re So Vain, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. A Grammy-winning drummer and a member of music royalty, Jim Gordon played with everyone from George Harrison to Frank Zappa. But behind the steady rhythm was a mind unraveling. Voices haunted him. Paranoia consumed him. And in 1983, it all came crashing down with the brutal murder of his own mother.

This episode dives deep into the rise, fall, and haunting legacy of Jim Gordon—a man whose genius couldn’t outrun his madness. That's today on Death in Entertainment.

Story by Brandon Preo

Join Kyle Ploof, Ben Kissel and Jerri Aquino as they discuss the life and crimes of Randall Woodfield, known as the I-5 Killer.

Story by Brandon Preo.

In the seedy underbelly of 1980s Los Angeles, a faded porn legend, a brutal drug gang, and a Hollywood mansion became the center of one of the city's most grisly and mysterious mass murders.

John Holmes—once the king of adult film—was broke, addicted, and desperate. When he crossed paths with the Wonderland Gang, it set off a chain of violence that would leave four people bludgeoned to death in what LAPD called "the most savage crime scene they'd ever seen."

But was Holmes a pawn… or a player? Find out this week on Death in Entertainment.

Behind the mask of Batman was a man who fought his greatest battle not against the Joker or Riddler, but against the crushing weight of an iconic role that threatened to define—and destroy—his entire career.

Adam West's journey from farm-raised boy in Walla Walla, Washington to cultural phenomenon is a masterclass in resilience. While most remember him delivering deadpan lines in a blue and gray costume, few realize the profound struggles he faced after Batman was canceled in 1968. For nearly a decade, West wandered through Hollywood's wilderness—typecast, overlooked, and often broke—taking whatever work would pay the bills while directors couldn't see beyond the cape.

What makes West's story truly remarkable wasn't just his meteoric rise or painful fall, but his eventual renaissance. Rather than resenting the caped crusader who both made and broke him, West gradually embraced his Batman legacy with self-deprecating humor and grace. By the time a new generation discovered him as the hilariously unhinged Mayor West on Family Guy, he had completed one of the greatest character rehabilitations in Hollywood history.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the man behind the mask—from his early radio days to his wild Batman-era escapades (including getting kicked out of Hollywood orgies with the Riddler!) to finding peace as a devoted family man and voice acting legend. West's story reminds us that sometimes our greatest obstacles become our greatest gifts when viewed through the lens of time and perspective.

If you've ever felt pigeonholed, overlooked, or defined by one chapter of your life, Adam West's remarkable journey will show you it's never too late to reclaim your narrative with humor, resilience, and joy.

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The legacy of Star Wars extends far beyond lightsabers and space battles—it lives in the remarkable humans who brought these iconic characters to life. From the reluctant Jedi to the princess who gave zero f*cks, this episode pulls back the curtain on the fascinating, sometimes tragic lives of the Star Wars actors who've joined the cosmic force.

Sir Alec Guinness might have hated the "mumbo jumbo" dialogue of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but his shrewd 2% royalty deal made him wealthy beyond imagination. Yet behind his disdain lurked a complicated man—a convert to Catholicism with arrest records suggesting a hidden sexuality in an era when such truths meant professional death. Meanwhile, Peter Mayhew transformed Chewbacca from a walking carpet into one of cinema's most beloved characters, his 7'3" frame and gentle nature making him the polar opposite of Guinness at conventions—embracing fans rather than telling them to never watch Star Wars again.

Carrie Fisher's journey from Hollywood royalty to space princess to mental health advocate stands as perhaps the most compelling story. Her battles with bipolar disorder and addiction never dimmed her razor-sharp wit, turning personal demons into literary gold through memoirs that peeled back celebrity's gilded veneer. When she passed away in December 2016, followed just one day later by her mother Debbie Reynolds, it felt like losing both royalty and family.

The men behind Darth Vader—David Prowse's intimidating physicality and James Earl Jones' resonant voice—remind us that even the greatest villains are team efforts. Prowse, who chose to play Vader over Chewbacca because "everyone remembers the villain," never saw his face on screen, while Jones transformed from a stuttering child into the voice that launched a thousand shivers down spines worldwide.

These actors created more than characters—they built a modern mythology that continues to resonate across generations. Want to hear more Hollywood tales from beyond the grave? Subscribe now and join us next week when we uncover another chapter in Death in Entertainment.

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The murder of six-year-old Adam Walsh in 1981 didn't just devastate a family—it fundamentally transformed how America protects its children and hunts its criminals. What began as a routine shopping trip to a Florida Sears department store ended in unimaginable tragedy when Adam disappeared while playing at a video game display, only to be found murdered weeks later.

This horrific event catalyzed a revolution in American justice. Before Adam's case, there was no national database for missing children, no standardized protocols for immediate action, and no systematic way to mobilize the public in searches. His father John Walsh, previously a successful hotel developer, channeled his grief into creating these essential systems—founding the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, pioneering missing children images on milk cartons, and establishing "Code Adam" protocols now used in thousands of retail stores nationwide.

But Walsh's most visible legacy came through television. By creating and hosting "America's Most Wanted," he transformed crime-fighting from a passive spectator sport into an interactive nationwide manhunt where everyday citizens became crucial partners in bringing fugitives to justice. The show's success was staggering: over 1,600 fugitives captured, including serial killers, child predators, and terrorists. More importantly, it helped recover over 60 abducted children alive—saving countless families from experiencing the same devastation the Walshes endured.

The impact extends far beyond television. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 created comprehensive national standards for sex offender registration, while the Walsh family's advocacy directly influenced how law enforcement, businesses, and communities respond when children go missing. Through unimaginable pain, they forged systems that now protect millions.

Listen as we explore this pivotal moment in American justice and how one family's tragedy became the catalyst for a safer nation. Their story reminds us that sometimes the most powerful social change emerges from our darkest moments.

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The smiling faces of the Little Rascals hide a sinister secret - one by one, these beloved child stars met tragic, often violent ends that defy coincidence. From Alfalfa's shocking shooting over a $50 debt to plane crashes, hit-and-runs, and house fires, these former icons died in ways so bizarre you'd think they were cursed.

Behind the comedy shorts that entertained generations lies a darker story of exploitation. While Hal Roach Studios made millions, none of the 176 children who appeared in the series ever received a penny in residuals. Many former stars watched themselves on television while struggling to make ends meet - a psychological torture that drove many toward destructive paths.

We unpack how the series began with Hal Roach, a former paper boy to Mark Twain who created groundbreaking entertainment showing black and white children playing together during the Jim Crow era. Yet this progressive façade masked troubling realities – stage parents fostering racial tensions, exploitative financial arrangements, and a work environment that took a toll on everyone involved.

From the suspicious poisoning of Pete the Pup to "Chubby" Chaney's heart failure at 18, "Froggy" Laughlin's deadly newspaper route, and "Weezer" surviving WWII only to die in a training exercise, the pattern of tragedy seems endless. While Roach lived to 100, dismissing any notion of a curse, the statistical improbability of so many early and violent deaths raises questions about the true price of childhood stardom in Hollywood's golden age.

What happens when the spotlight fades but the camera keeps rolling? Listen now to discover the haunting legacy of Hollywood's most beloved child ensemble and decide for yourself - coincidence or curse?

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Celebrity gossip has always had a dark side. Those whispered tales of stars behaving badly, dying mysteriously, or hiding shocking secrets spread through Hollywood parties like wildfire, creating urban legends that live far longer than they deserve. Even in our hyper-connected age, these stories remain strangely persistent – because deep down, we want to believe.

Kyle, Ben, and Alejandro gleefully dissect the wildest Hollywood myths you've definitely heard before. Remember when everyone swore Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike named Billy Shears? The hosts untangle the bizarre web of "clues" fans claimed to find in Beatles album covers and songs played backward. Then there's the notorious Richard Gere gerbil rumor – a story so persistent it made its way into the movie "Scream" and prompted Barbara Walters herself to awkwardly address it during an interview.

From Mr. Rogers' supposed secret life as a deadly military sniper to the enduring debate about Bert and Ernie's relationship status, we explore why these myths take hold and what they reveal about our culture. The team brings their trademark humor to these dark corners of entertainment history, finding the humanity and absurdity beneath stories that wouldn't die. Whether you're hearing these tales for the first time or fondly remember sharing them on your middle school playground, this episode will make you question what other "facts" you've accepted without evidence.

Subscribe now and join our community of curious minds exploring entertainment's strangest corners. Leave a review to tell us your favorite Hollywood urban legend – we might feature it in a future episode!

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Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof and Ben Kissel.

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Val Kilmer wasn't just an actor – he was a chameleon who disappeared so completely into his roles that the line between performance and reality often blurred. His journey from Hollywood golden boy to cancer survivor reveals the extraordinary price of his artistic devotion.

Born on New Year's Eve 1959 in Los Angeles, Kilmer's childhood was both privileged and tragic. Growing up on Roy Rogers' ranch gave him a playground for creativity, but the sudden drowning death of his 15-year-old filmmaker brother Wesley shattered his family and became the ghost that would drive him relentlessly forward. At just 17, he became Juilliard's youngest-ever drama student, displaying the singular focus that would define his career.

Kilmer's method approach yielded unforgettable performances – from the cold, calculated Iceman in "Top Gun" to his transformative embodiment of Jim Morrison that fooled even The Doors themselves. As Doc Holliday in "Tombstone," he delivered perhaps his most beloved performance, crafting a character of lethal charm and vulnerability. Yet his perfectionism and intensity earned him a reputation as "difficult" that eventually overshadowed his undeniable talent, leading to professional exile just when he seemed unstoppable.

When Hollywood turned away, Kilmer reinvented himself through a deeply personal one-man show about his hero Mark Twain. Then came the cruelest twist – throat cancer that robbed him of his powerful voice through treatment that saved his life but permanently altered it. Even in this devastating setback, Kilmer showed remarkable resilience, embracing technology to preserve his voice through AI and making a poignant return in "Top Gun: Maverick" that acknowledged his real-life struggle.

In his own words: "I have behaved poorly, I have behaved bravely, I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets." Val Kilmer's legacy transcends his filmography – it's a testament to artistic commitment, personal reinvention, and the courage to face life's harshest challenges without surrendering your essential self.

Join Kyle Ploof, Ben Kissel and Alejandro Dowling as they raise a toast to the man, the legend: Mr. Val Kilmer.

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Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof and Ben Kissel.

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