Shocking suicides: Celebs who stunned us with their sudden death

Sankalp Anand: The death of the son of lyricist Santosh Anand has shocked the film fraternity to the core. Sankalp Anand jumped to his death along with his wife and daughter in front of a speeding train, while on their way home from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh on October 16. While the couple died on the spot, their seven-year-old daughter is struggling in a hospital with serious injuries. Sankalp had stopped his car near the Kosikalan railway track where a 10-page suicide note was later found. The letter hinted at their financial problems.

Sadly, there have been many more celebrities who shocked the world by committing suicide.

Simone Battle: 25-year-old GRL singer Simone Battle shocked the world when she hung herself to her death on September 5, 2014 in her Los Angeles home in the USA. In a tragic incident, the singer was found hanging from the rod of her wardrobe at her apartment. Simone was a finalist on The X Factor USA in 2011. While the cause of her death is still unknown, her father confirmed her death. The He Likes Boys hitmaker was also seen in the 2012 film We The Party.

Robin Williams: Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014 and media reports hint at an apparent case of suicide. The comedian won everyone's hearts with his films like Good Will Hunting, Dead Poet's Society, The Fisher King and Mrs. Doubtfire to name a few. While the stand-up comedian turned actor tickled his audience's funny bone, he himself was suffering from depression. According to a press release issued by the Marin County Coronor's office, the Sheriff's office suspects the death to be 'suicide due to asphyxia'. While his publicist didn't confirm Robin Williams' death as suicide, he said in a statement that, "he has been battling severe depression of late." Williams last checked into a rehab facility in July. Oscar-winner Robin Williams' death comes as a shock to not just his close family members and friends but his fans around the world too.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Actor par excellence, Philip Seymour Hoffman's death on February 2, 2014 came as a shock. The Academy Award-winning actor had been going through a problematic phase for drug abuse for sometime, however, the actor was known to be under control at that time. Philip Hoffman was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment in Manhattan with a syringe in his arm. While searching his apartment, police found heroin and prescription medications. Actress Cate Blanchett who won a BAFTA for her performance in Blue Jasmine dedicated her trophy to Philip Hoffman. Fans and people from the entertainment industry mourned Philip's sudden and tragic death.

Tony Scott: Top Gun director Tony Scott made headlines when he ended his life. The famous director committed suicide by jumping off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, California on August 19, 2012. Tony along with his older brother Ridley had received the coveted BAFTA Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment. Investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department revealed that they had received a note from Tony's car that was parked on the bridge as well as another note that was kept in his office for his family and friends. According to news reports, the witnesses have revealed that Tony did not hesitate before jumping to his death. A rumour post Tony's death surfaced that said he was detected with terminal brain cancer and thus decided to end his life, but the same was rubbished by his wife and brother.

L'Wren Scott: Fashion designer and former model L'Wren Scott was found dead by her assistant at her apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan on March 17, 2014. The assistant discovered L'Wren hanging by the door handle with a scarf tied around her neck. The police reported that no note was found and there was no sign of foul play. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner determined Scott's manner and cause of death to be suicide by hanging. Scott was just 49 years old when she passed away. Scott was romantically linked with The Rolling Stones' singer Mick Jagger since 2001 but he was ridiculed for moving on to other women soon after Scott's demise. The reason behind L'Wren Scott's suicide could not be determined.

Whitney Houston: American singer, songwriter, actress and model, Whitney Houston was all this and much more. One of the best selling music artists of all time, Whitney's death on February 11, 2012 at the age of 48 years came as a shock to everyone. Whitney was found dead in her guest room at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, in California. The official coroner's report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine abuse listed as contributing factors for her death. The manner in which Whitney died was termed as an 'accident'. The news reports revealed that some amount of cocaine was found in her body which indicated that she had used it shortly before her death. Medical reports revealed consumption of additional drugs in her system like Benadryl, Xanax, Marijuana and Flexeril. There has been a lot of speculation over Whitney's death which many term as apparent suicide. Whitney's sad demise also led to another series of controversy when a police officer who was present shortly after she was pulled from the hotel bathtub, sneaked a peek at her and also made inappropriate comments on her naked body.

Amy Winehouse: Five-time Grammy Award winner, Amy Winehouse had been dealing with alcohol and drug abuse for years before she finally died of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011. The popstar joined the '27 club' which is a group of popular musicians who died at the age of 27 often as a result of drug abuse, homicide and suicide. According to news articles Winehouse died watching YouTube videos of herself after drinking vodka alone in her room. Apparently, Winehouse drank so much that she stopped breathing and fell into a coma. Winehouse was also fighting bulimia and her close associate said she had started drinking three days prior to her death as she was 'bored'.

Kurt Cobain: American singer and songwriter, Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana were nothing less than a rage. However, like most other musicians and celebrities, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression. Kurt Cobain was loved by his fans all around the globe but the singer himself had difficulty coping with his fame and public image, professional and personal pressures with his wife, musician Courtney Love. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle. However, forensic analysis determined that Cobain had committed suicide three days prior on April 5. The report mentioned that Cobain was found with a shotgun and had a visible head wound. There was a suicide note discovered nearby his body. The King County Medical Examiner noted puncture wounds on the inside of both the right and left elbow. Prior to his death, Cobain had checked out of a drug rehabilitation facility and been reported as suicidal by his wife Courtney Love. Courtney according to news reports had hired a private investigator, Tom Grant to find Cobain after his departure from the rehab, who put forth his theory that Cobain was murdered.

Marilyn Monroe: The beautiful Marilyn Monroe was an American actress and singer but her sex symbol image was what made her super successful and highly admired. However, only 36 years old, Marilyn Monroe's sudden death is a mystery and is the most debated conspiracy theories of all time. Monroe was found dead at her bedroom on August 5, 1962. Apparently Monroe died of a drug overdose and she is believed to have consumed a lot of sleeping pills. However, pathologist, Dr. Thomas Noguchi, could find no trace of capsules, powder or the typical discoloration caused by Nembutal in Monroe's stomach or intestines, indicating that the drugs that killed her had not been swallowed. That Monroe was murdered is another theory and till date, the reason behind the beautiful Marilyn Monroe's death remains uncertain.