Before poppin’ countless pills, what did Marilyn Monroe have on the menu? Before Elvis fell to the bathroom floor, what was he snacking on? Before Adolf Hitler pulled the trigger, what was he dining on?
It’s fascinating and oddly weird knowing what was on the last plate of these famous and infamous historical figures. Here’s an insider’s guide to the alleged last meals of 14 famous people in history: celebrity men and women, renowned leaders and some infamous characters for good measure.
1. Julia Child
Photo by Kelly Logan
Known for: beloved chef, author and television personality
Died: August 13, 2004 of kidney failure (two days before her 92nd birthday) in her retirement community in Montecito, CA
Last meal: bowl of French onion soup
2. Marilyn Monroe
Photo by Dana Salzman
Known for: American icon and major sex symbol during the 1950s and early 1960s
Died: August 5, 1962 of a barbiturate overdose at the age of 36 in her home in Los Angeles, CA
Last meal: stuffed mushrooms and meatballs while drinking Dom Perignon
3. Brittany Murphy
Photo by Grace Stauffer
Known for: American actress and voice of various animated characters
Died: December 20, 2009 of anemia and drug intoxication at the age of 32 in her Los Angeles, CA home
Last meal: Thai leftovers, Gatorade and tea with lemon
4. Princess Diana
Photo by Keren Straus
Known for: adored member of the British royal family, Princess of Wales, mother of Prince William and Prince Harry
Died: August 30, 1997 due to severe injuries from a car crash
Last meal: mushroom and asparagus omelette, dover sole and vegetable tempura
5. Michael Jackson
Photo by Helena Lin
Known for: the King of Pop
Died: June 25, 2009 from cardiac arrest in Los Angeles, CA at the age of 50
Last meal: chicken breast with spinach salad
6. John Lennon
Photo by Amanda Shulman
Known for: founding member of the rock band The Beatles
Died: assassinated December 8, 1980, at the age of 40, outside his apartment in NYC
Last meal: corned beef sandwich
7. Elvis Presley
Photo by Grace Bodkin
Known for: the King of Rock and Roll
Died: heart attack in the bathroom of his Memphis, TN mansion on August 16, 1977
Last meal: midnight snack of four scoops of ice cream (flavors unknown) and six chocolate chip cookies
8. Kurt Cobain
Photo by Tess Wei
Known for: Generation X icon and late singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana during the late 80s and early 90s
Died: committed suicide with a gun in his Seattle, WA home on April 5, 1994 at 27 years old
Last meal: can of root beer and some smokes of Camel Lights
9. Jimi Hendrix
Photo by Kimberlee Bochek
Known for: one of the most influential guitarists of the 1960s (and arguably in the history of rock music)
Died: choked on his own vomit in the middle of the night on September 18, 1970 at the age of 27 in his girlfriend’s house in London, England
Last meal: tuna sandwich and wine to get down the massive quantity of sleeping pills
10. Abraham Lincoln
Photo by Paulina Lam
Known for: 16th President of the United States of America, a tall man with a tall hat to match
Died: assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865 at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.
Last meal: cauliflower with cheese, baked yams, some type of Virginia-raised roasted fowl (likely chicken) and mock turtle soup
11. Cleopatra
Photo by Aurelie Corinthios
Known for: a women in power, last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt
Died: suicide by venomous snake bite on August 12, 30 BC in Alexandria, Egypt
Last meal: a plentiful plate of figs
12. John F. Kennedy
Photo by Emily Ashwell
Known for: 35th President of the United States of America
Died: assassinated November 22, 1963 as his motorcade was passing through downtown Dallas, Texas
Last meal: orange juice, coffee, soft-boiled eggs, bacon and toast with marmalade
13. Adolf Hitler
Photo by Maggie Gorman
Known for: German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party, initiated World War II and caused the deaths of millions of innocent lives during the Holocaust
Died: April 30, 1945 when he and his wife committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin
Last meal: spaghetti with a light tomato sauce
14. Saddam Hussein
Photo by David Cui
Known for: Presidential dictator of Iraq for two decades
Died: hanged on December 31, 2006, in an Iraqi base in Baghdad
Last meal: boiled chicken and rice, as well as cups of hot water with honey