Live fast and die young seems to be the motto that is upheld by many young actors in the movie industry over the years. So is Hollywood cursed?While the actors live on, on film at least, the death of those so young still shocks the movies industry and movie go-ers as we grieve for those that we didn't know.2008 has been such a year as two young gifted actor, Heath Ledger and Brad Renfro, lost their lives before their time.And now two months after Heath Ledger's death debate still rages as to whether the release of his last completed project The Dark Knight, in which he plays the joker, should be released as planned this summer.As last week the stars of the film gathered for the showcase of the film in Las Vegas.History is full of twenty and thirty somethings who have become casualties of the movie industry. Ledger and Renfro join a long list of stars including James Byron, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean who all died as a young age, never fulfilling their potential.
River Phoenix was hailed as one of America's most promising actors, who shot to prominence in Stand By Me at the age of twelve and was Oscar nominated by eighteen.
But his career was cut short in 1993 when he overdosed on cocaine and heroin which caused heart failure - he was just twenty three years old.
Blues Brothers star John Belushi also lost his life to drugs in 1982 when he overdosed on a cocktail of heroin and speed.
He was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel aged thirty three.
But there is no actor who best suits the phrase live fast and die young than pin up James Dean.
After just four years in the industry and making only three movies: Rebel Without A Cause, Giant and East of Eden Dean died in a car crash aged twenty four.
His fame and popularity rests on these three movies, a popularity that has lasted the fifty three years since his death as he became a cinematic icon.
And while it seems like it's the actors who are succumbing to the pressures and vices that fame brings a series of actresses have also lost their lives.
And there is none more famous than fifties icon Marilyn Monroe.
Monroe was found dead at her home in LA in 1962 and her death was classified as 'probable suicide' with 4.5 milligrams of Nembutal found in her system.
However over the years there have been many theories and suspicions surrounding her death as there was never enough evidence to label her death suicide or homicide.
She was just thirty three years old.
Jean Harlow was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1930s nicknamed the Platinum Blonde and The Blond Bombshell.
She starred in a string of films including Saratoga and The Girl From Missouri. She died from renal failure when she was twenty six after suffering from poor health.
Sharon Tate was another promising American actress who had her career cut short. Married to director Roman Polanski, and just two weeks from giving birth, she was brutally murdered by followers of Charles Manson, she was twenty six.
These actor are celebrated for the too few roles that they performed and are mourned for the parts that they never got to play.
Like Monroe and Dean the movie of Heath Ledger will live on and the best way remember this young actor is to celebrate his talent.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw