Last Days

On July 24, 2025, Hulk Hogan — the larger-than-life wrestling icon who turned leg drops into legend and red-and-yellow into a movement — died of cardiac arrest at the age of 71. With his handlebar mustache, 24-inch pythons, and booming charisma, Hogan transcended the squared circle to become a pop culture phenomenon, anchoring wrestling’s 1980s explosion and redefining what it meant to be a sports entertainer. From the roar of WrestleMania crowds to Saturday morning cartoons and action figures, he embodied an era where heroes were unapologetic, loud, and larger-than-life. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On July 22, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne — the heavy metal pioneer whose growling vocals, unrelenting stage presence, and unfiltered personality made him a legend across generations — died peacefully at his home surrounded by family at the age of 76. As the frontman of Black Sabbath, he helped forge a new genre of music rooted in darkness, power, and rebellion. As a solo artist, he channeled chaos into anthems that defined a decade. And in his final act, he became an unlikely reality TV icon — inviting the world into his home and changing the face of pop culture forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Jul 20, 2025, Malcolm-Jamal Warner — the actor, poet, director, and musician who came of age on one of America’s most iconic sitcoms — died at the age of 54 after accidentally drowning in the ocean while on vacation with his daughter.  Best known as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Warner spent the better part of his life evolving beyond the role that made him famous, building a career grounded in depth, dignity, and creative reinvention. From his Emmy-nominated teenage years to his acclaimed performances on The Resident and American Crime Story, Warner brought quiet strength and emotional complexity to every character he played. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 17, 2018, Penny Marshall — the trailblazing actress-turned-director who shattered Hollywood’s glass ceiling with heart, humor, and an unmistakable Bronx accent — died from complications related to diabetes at the age of 75. A sitcom star who became one of the most successful female filmmakers in history, Marshall brought warmth and wit to both sides of the camera, helming hits like Big, A League of Their Own, and Awakenings. Her legacy endures in every woman who calls the shots, in every underdog story told with empathy, and in every film that dares to believe that laughs and tears can share the same frame. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shocking new details have surfaced surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein, including fresh evidence that’s reigniting questions about his alleged suicide and casting new light on his ties to President Donald Trump. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 28, 2010, Gary Coleman — the child star who became a household name as Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes — died at the age of 42 following a fall at his home in Utah. Behind the catchphrases and sitcom fame was a life marked by legal battles, health struggles, and a constant fight to reclaim control over his image and earnings. Though his voice was silenced far too soon, his legacy lives on in the conversation around child stardom, entertainment industry exploitation, and the resilience of those who refuse to be defined by a single role. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 31, 2019, Nipsey Hussle — the visionary rapper, activist, and entrepreneur who turned street wisdom into community power — was gunned down outside his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles. More than an artist, he was a bridge between worlds: gang member turned peace broker, local hero turned national symbol of resilience and reinvention. Though his life was cut short at 33, his legacy lives on in economic empowerment projects, the blueprint he left for independent artists, and every voice that dares to turn pain into purpose. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On February 20, 2005, Hunter S. Thompson -- the gonzo journalist whose hallucinatory prose and fearlessly immersive style redefined American reporting -- died by suicide at the age of 67. A countercultural icon and sharp critic of power, his work blurred the line between fact and fiction, journalism and literature. Though his voice was silenced in a single gunshot at his Colorado compound, his legacy lives on in the wild cadence of modern storytelling, in political commentary that dares to speak truth, and in every writer who chooses to dive headfirst into a story. Hosts: Derek Kaufman & Jason Beckerman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence — the electrifying frontman of INXS whose raw vocals and magnetic stage presence redefined rock stardom — was found dead in a Sydney hotel room, sending shockwaves through the music world. Just 37 years old, Hutchence had spent the previous decade dominating global charts, while privately battling demons intensified by fame, fatherhood struggles, and a brutal custody war with the British press watching his every move. His untimely death not only silenced one of the most distinctive voices in rock but also crystallized the tragic cost of celebrity at its most chaotic and cruel. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente -- the Hall of Fame right fielder whose grace on the diamond was matched only by his humanitarian spirit -- boarded a cargo plane bound for Nicaragua, carrying relief supplies for victims of a devastating earthquake. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Rico, and Clemente, just 38 years old, was never found. A 15-time All-Star and the first Latin American player to reach 3,000 hits, Clemente broke barriers both on and off the field. His tragic death turned him into more than just a baseball legend -- it made him a symbol of selflessness, courage, and the unshakable will to serve others, even at the ultimate cost. Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices