14 Death-Defying Celebrities Who Must Have Had an Extra Life in Their Inventory
Drew Barrymore had to survive a house fire and a nine-month marriage to Tom Green — at the same time.
Travis Barker Walked Away From a Plane Crash
When returning home after a show in 2008, the small plane he was on crashed during takeoff, killing four of the six people aboard. Only Travis and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) made it out, though both were severely burned. Barker wouldn’t fly on a plane again until 2021.
Johnny Rotten Was Saved by Poor Planning
The Sex Pistols’ John Lydon missed his flight (and got into a huge argument) because his wife didn’t finish packing in time. The flight they were supposed to be on blew up in the sky over Scotland.
Michael J. Fox Almost Sacrificed It All for His Art
While filming Back to the Future Part III, Fox accidentally strangled himself while simulating a hanging. A rope had cut off an artery and caused him to out, leading him to nearly suffocate, all while bystanders just thought he was doing a really good job acting.
Nate Berkus Narrowly Escaped a Tsunami
Oprah’s favorite interior designer was caught up in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and only survived by clinging to a telephone pole. His partner, Fernando Bengoechea, wasn’t so lucky, and was swept off of the pole.
Jet Li Was There Too
Li was on vacation in the Maldives when the tsunami struck, and he had to drag his kids and their nanny through water that started waist-high and rose up to his face. He made it to a hotel just in time to grab life vests and wait out the rising water.
J. Paul Getty Was Saved by Superstition
The magnate and philanthropist was told by a fortune teller that he’d die if he ever tried to cross the ocean. He repeatedly tempted fate, but always canceled his trip — including one on the ill-fated Andrea Dorea, which went down off Nantucket, killing 46 engers and crew .
Drew Barrymore and Tom Green Almost Slept Through a House Fire
Or rather, a mansion fire. The couple were awoken by their dog going absolutely nuts, alerting them to an active fire in their mansion. Most of it burned to the ground, but everyone got out safely.
Waylon Jennings Escaped ‘The Day the Music Died’
While he was a backup musician for Buddy Holly, the singer/songwriter was supposed to be on the plane that tragically crashed in Iowa in 1959. He gave up his seat to someone else at the last minute and opted to take the bus instead, and jokingly told Holly, “I hope your ol’ plane crashes.”
Fats Domino Barely Made It Out of Hurricane Katrina
He was 77 in 2005, tending to his sick wife, and decided he couldn’t manage an evacuation before Katrina hit. The world thought he was dead for a couple of days, before it was discovered he’d been rescued as the house was flooding.
Kirk Douglas Listened to His Wife
Douglas was supposed to go on a plane ride with his friend, producer Mike Todd, but his wife talked him out of it. The two were listening to the radio when the broadcast was interrupted to report that Todd’s plane had gone down, killing everyone on board.
Elizabeth Taylor (and Everyone Else)
Taylor claims she was also supposed to be on the joy ride that almost took Douglas’ life. In fact, lots of celebrities claimed it could’ve been them, prompting a gossip columnist to write, “Those are the same people who barely missed the Lusitania.”
Baby Elvis Survived a Tornado
When he was an infant, an F5 twister ripped through Mississippi and the surrounding states, killing over 200 people in Elvis’ small town of Tupelo alone.
Ryan Reynolds Almost Nipped His Career in the Bud
When he was 17, Reynolds narrowly escaped a skydiving accident. His primary chute wouldn’t deploy, and he froze up and was unable to chuck up the reserve chute for several seconds. His instructor actually died shortly after this incident.
Steve McQueen Circumvented the Manson Family
McQueen was supposed to be at Sharon Tate’s home on the night of the infamous Mason Family murders, and later learned that he was very much on Manson’s hit list. He took a different girl home that night — for a one-night-stand that saved his life.
