Reminding us of our own mortality, these last-known photographs of the world's most iconic figures are not to be missed.
Before her final flight, Amelia Earhart posed for photos in 1937.
Earhart disappeared on July 2 of the same year, when she attempted to fly around the world.Imgur
Earhart disappeared on July 2 of the same year, when she attempted to fly around the world.Imgur
Alan Rickman appeared healthy on December 7th, 2015 as he attended the Hangmen play press night at Wyndham's Theatre in London. Rickman was secretly fighting cancer and had mere weeks to live.Pinterest
January 28, 1986: the crew of the Challenger on their way to board the shuttle.
Tragedy would strike 73 seconds into launch as the O-ring on the shuttle’s right booster failed, leading to the deaths of everyone on board the spacecraft. Imgur
Tragedy would strike 73 seconds into launch as the O-ring on the shuttle’s right booster failed, leading to the deaths of everyone on board the spacecraft. Imgur
In one of his last public photos, Robin Williams is pictured days before his death with monkey Crystal.
Williams committed suicide on August 11, 2014. It's suggested that he knew he was losing his mind, as a result of his rare brain disease, Lewy body dementia. Instagram
Williams committed suicide on August 11, 2014. It's suggested that he knew he was losing his mind, as a result of his rare brain disease, Lewy body dementia. Instagram
Patrick Swayze resting with his cat in the final stages of his battle with cancer. This photo was released by his wife after his death in 2009. Pinterest
David Bowie's last photo was from his Instagram account, just two days before succumbing to cancer.
Part of the caption reads: “..Why is this man so happy? Is it because it's his 69th birthday or that he has released his 28th studio album today…”Instagram
Part of the caption reads: “..Why is this man so happy? Is it because it's his 69th birthday or that he has released his 28th studio album today…”Instagram
This photo is from Kurt Cobain’s last photoshoot, photographed by Jesse Frohman for the London Observer in 1993.
The shoot was to promote Nirvana’s newest album, In Utero. Kurt committed suicide in 1994. Imgur
The shoot was to promote Nirvana’s newest album, In Utero. Kurt committed suicide in 1994. Imgur
Former president General Ulysses S. Grant writing his memoirs on June 27th, 1885. He died July 23rd, days after he finished writing. America's Library
Heath Ledger on the set of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. "
He would never finish filming the movie, as he overdosed on painkillers on January 22, 2008. Imgur
He would never finish filming the movie, as he overdosed on painkillers on January 22, 2008. Imgur
Biggie Smalls in a photo with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, before he was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting death after the Soul Train Music Awards in 1997.Imgur
Mark Twain, whose last words (written on a note by his death bed) read "Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all -- the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved."
Twain died on April 21, 1910.Imgur
Twain died on April 21, 1910.Imgur
Steve Irwin poses with marine biologist Chris Jones on his boat. This photo was taken two days before his death in September 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb. Imgur
Though there are numerous blurry photos claiming to be the official final picture taken of President Abraham Lincoln, this is without question the final official portrait taken of the nation’s 16th President.
It was taken on February 5th, 1865, a little more than two months before the infamous assassination at the hands of John Wilkes Booth.Wordpress
It was taken on February 5th, 1865, a little more than two months before the infamous assassination at the hands of John Wilkes Booth.Wordpress
Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler pictured two days before he committed suicide on April 30th, 1945.
With Germany in ruins and defeat to the Allied forces looming, Hitler married his girlfriend Eva Braun and the couple then committed suicide.Stunning Bird
With Germany in ruins and defeat to the Allied forces looming, Hitler married his girlfriend Eva Braun and the couple then committed suicide.Stunning Bird
Amy Winehouse shown walking near her home in London just over a week before her death on July 23rd, 2011.
Forensic pathologists determined that Winehouse died from accidental alcohol poisoning after the singer resumed drinking following a period of sobriety.Huffington Post
Forensic pathologists determined that Winehouse died from accidental alcohol poisoning after the singer resumed drinking following a period of sobriety.Huffington Post
Anne Frank and sister Margot in their final known photo, taken early to mid-1942.
After hiding with their family from Nazi police, they were eventually captured and sent to punishment barracks for hard labor.Photo Vide
After hiding with their family from Nazi police, they were eventually captured and sent to punishment barracks for hard labor.Photo Vide
An emaciated Bob Marley spends time with family in Munich, Germany, at the end of his long battle with cancer.
Weighing a mere 77 pounds, Marley would succumb to cancer on May 11th, 1981.Mogul
Weighing a mere 77 pounds, Marley would succumb to cancer on May 11th, 1981.Mogul
In what is surely the most disturbing entry in this list, troubled WWE Superstar Chris Benoit is seen posing in a picture for a fan in the office of Dr. Phil Astin on June 22nd, 2007.
It was later determined that Benoit had already murdered his wife as well as his seven-year-old son Daniel at the time this photo was taken. Chris would later hang himself, concluding the grisly murder suicide scenario. Sports News
It was later determined that Benoit had already murdered his wife as well as his seven-year-old son Daniel at the time this photo was taken. Chris would later hang himself, concluding the grisly murder suicide scenario. Sports News
Elvis Presley shown pulling into Graceland with girlfriend Ginger Alden on August 16, 1977, upon returning from a dental appointment.
Later that evening Presley would die from a massive heart attack while sitting on the toilet in his home.Getty Images
Later that evening Presley would die from a massive heart attack while sitting on the toilet in his home.Getty Images
The final photograph of John Lennon captures the former Beatles front-man signing an autograph for his soon to be killer, Mark David Chapman.
Chapman, also pictured, would return to the musician’s apartment a few hours later and shoot him several times as Lennon returned home with wife Yoko Ono.Getty Images
Chapman, also pictured, would return to the musician’s apartment a few hours later and shoot him several times as Lennon returned home with wife Yoko Ono.Getty Images
The charismatic Jim Morrison posing with longtime girlfriend Pamela Courson five days before Jim’s death in Paris.
This photo was taken by a friend in the small village of Saint-Leud’Esserent.Getty Images
This photo was taken by a friend in the small village of Saint-Leud’Esserent.Getty Images
Freddie Mercury, front-man for the band Queen, standing outside his home in 1991, before dying of bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.YouTube
James Dean always had a love of speed and living life on the edge. Dean had only owned the Porsche he is pictured with for nine days when he crashed it, losing his life in the process.Getty Images
Jimi Hendrix poses with his guitar.Tumblr
This is the final known photograph of Marilyn Monroe, taken during a visit with Frank Sinatra and jazz pianist Buddy Greco the weekend before her death, August 5, 1962. Getty Images
Just after attending the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Sheldon fight -- and moments before being gunned down in this BMW belonging to manager Suge Knight -- Tupac Shakur turns to have his final photograph taken.
Knight would survive the shooting, but Tupac would not. Getty Images
Knight would survive the shooting, but Tupac would not. Getty Images
The adage goes that pictures are worth a thousand words — but could it be that last-known photographs are worth even more?
Even if you consider seeking out these kinds of photos to be a morbid pastime, these last-known photos serve as an apt reminder that even the best and brightest of us are not immune to the inevitable — and that even perpetrators of unspeakable crimes will see their end.
History Uncovered Podcast
Episode 26: The Death Of Amy Winehouse
Following a long downward spiral that often played out in the public eye, singer Amy Winehouse died tragically in 2011 at the age of just 27.
Enjoy these photos? Then be sure to check out our story on how photojournalism destroyed Kevin Carter and haunting photographs of people the moment before they died. Finally, read the famous last words of important historical figures.
