30+ Famous Stars Who Sadly Lost a Child

This article appeared in Peoplish and has been published here with permission.

We all have to depart this blue planet at some point, but as the saying goes, no parent should ever have to bury a child. Yet no matter how rich and famous someone might be, fame and fortune don't stop celebrities from experiencing just as much heartbreak as regular people. So, let's pay our respects to some famous actors, musicians, and athletes who endured the tragedy of losing a child.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan married Australian actress Cassandra Harris in 1980 and adopted her daughter Charlotte. Cassandra passed away from ovarian cancer in 1991. Pierce went on to play James Bond, received the Order of the British Empire from The Queen, and found love again, marrying American journalist Keely Shaye Smith in 2001.

But then, lightning struck twice when his adopted daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After bravely battling the disease for three years, Charlotte passed away in 2013. She was just 41 years old.

Regina King

You might know genius actor Regina King as Sister Night from HBO's Watchmen or the director of One Night in Miami. Sadly, King's son, Ian Alexander Jr., passed away in January 2022. Before he took his own life, her 26-year-old son was a musician and DJ.

Regina released a statement saying, "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time."

Cristiano Ronaldo

In October 2021, father of four and the world's greatest soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he was expecting twins with his partner, Argentine-born Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez. The couple already shared a daughter, plus three children from previous relationships.

Unfortunately, when Georgina gave birth to the twins in April 2022, their baby boy tragically passed away during childbirth while the baby girl survived. In a social media post, Cristiano said the passing of their baby boy "is the greatest pain that any parents can feel."

Dr. Dre

Andre Young, aka Dr. Dre, was one of the founding members of the seminal rap group NWA with Ice Cube. But despite his many successes as a rapper, DJ, and Beatz headphones creator, Dre has known his fair share of adversity. When he was one, his brother Jerome passed away from pneumonia.

When he was touring with NWA, his half-brother Tyree lost his life to gang violence in 1989. As if that wasn't enough heartache, Dre's son, Andre Young Jr., departed this life in August 2008, aged just 20 years old.