List of Celebrities Whose Family Members Were Murdered, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Thousands of people are murdered every year in the United States. Several celebrities have had family members that have been victims of murder. Some famous people had family members who were killed while they were children and others had family members killed when they were successful adults.
Who is the most famous person who had a family member murdered? Charlize Theron tops our list. The “Young Adult” star's mother shot her father in self-defense in 1991. Theron's father was an abusive alcoholic and he threatened to kill her mother and Charlize in a drunken rage. This incident propelled Theron's mother to legally shoot him in order to save both of their lives. Some actors who have had family members that were murdered include Kelsey Grammer, Bill Cosby and Dylan McDermont.
The celebrity who most recently had family members murdered is Jennifer Hudson. In 2008, Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were all murdered in Chicago by her estranged brother-in-law William Balfour. Balfour was separated from Hudson's sister Julia at the time of his killing spree.
How do you think these famous people were able to recover from the murders of their family members? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
15 Celebrities Whose Family Members Were Murdered,
Bill Cosby
In 1997, Bill Cosby's son Ennis was killed when he was changing a tire on the side of the road. His female friend was following behind him in her car, and she drove 50 yards away when she saw the armed gunman. When she returned, she found Ennis Cosby dead.
Charlize Theron
Oscar winner Charlize Theron's father was killed by her mother in self-defense in 1991. Her father was an abusive alcoholic, and her mother legally shot him after he threatened her life - and Charlize's - in a drunken rage.
Dylan McDermott
Dylan McDermott's mother died when he was just five years old. Her boyfriend John Sponza was charged with murder, but he claimed that she accidentally shot herself while cleaning out a gun.
Ice Cube
In 1981, when he was 12 years old, Ice Cube's half-sister, Beverly Jean Brown, was murdered by her husband in a murder-suicide.
Jennifer Hudson
In 2008, Jennifer Hudson suffered a horrible family tragedy when her mother, brother, and nephew were all murdered by her brother-in-law William Balfour. Balfour was amidst a separation from Hudson's sister Julia when he went on the killing spree.
Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer has had several tragic events effect his life. In 1968, Kelsey Grammer's estranged father was murdered. Then, in 1975, Grammer's sister was raped and murdered by the notorious killer Freddie Glenn.
Michael Jordan
In 1993, Michael Jordan's father pulled over in a rest stop to take a nap. Two men spotted the car and recognized the license plate as the one the Jordan bought for his father. They shot James Jordan and stole his car as well as two NBA Championship rings that Michael had given his father.
Patrick Duffy
In 1986, Patrick Duffy's parents were murdered by two men during a robbery. The robbery took place in a bar that his parents owned.
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate. was murdered by Charles Manson's "family" in 1969. At the time of her death, she was pregnant and just two weeks away from giving birth to her and Polanski's child.
Serena Williams
In 2003, Serena Williams's half-sister, Yetunde Price, was shot while driving in Compton. Police believe that her boyfriend, who was in the passenger seat, was the intended victim.