The first autopsy was famously performed on Julius Caesar after his assassination, and the findings pushed Rome to the brink of chaos. Since then, autopsies have been giving us a glimpse into the inner workings of the human body — and why it fails. It's also been giving us the answer we ask when family, friends, and idols die: Why? Sometimes, we don't like the answer.
The actors and actresses of Old Hollywood ledincredibly difficult lives. Child actors were put through grueling schedules and held to adult standards, stunts weren't nearly as safe and carefully done as they are today, and directors weren't above a little emotional and physical abuse, if it meant getting the job done. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most heartbreaking details the world learned after these Old Hollywood stars passed away.
We usually think of professional athletes as being at the very peak of physical condition. While they are, they also push themselves way beyond the limits most people are capable of hitting. The wear and tear they subject themselves to for the entertainment of the masses, the enjoyment of the game, and in the pursuit of (sometimes) some serious cash can cause a lifetime of problems.
Autopsies were never really a given, even after the death of someone as important as an American president. Warren G. Harding's death, for example, was quite sudden and (according to some) kinda suspicious, but his wife refused to allow an autopsy, prompting later speculation that she might have actually poisoned him (via PBS). It's almost certainly not true, but still, autopsy reports can reveal pretty awful and tragic medical truths. Here are some of the details found in the autopsies of other American presidents.
In March 1997, the world stood agape at a macabre scene that had played out in a southern California cult compound. Authorities had found the lifeless bodies of 39 victims of a mass suicide orchestrated by a cult called Heaven's Gate, all with matching track suits, tennis shoes, and plastic bags over their heads. People were horrified and, needless to say, full of questions.
Three-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony was reported missing by her grandmother, Cindy Anthony, on July 15, 2008. As reported by ABC News, Cindy told authorities her granddaughter had been missing for 31 days, and her whereabouts were unknown. Everyone's worst fears were confirmed when skeletal remains, which appeared to belong to a small child, were found in a wooded area less than a mile away from Cindy and George Anthony's home.
Learn more about autopsies that help to explain the causes of death.
