Special Sub-Topic: More Short Lives Click Here To Play: More Short Lives

Jean Harlow died tragically - and perhaps, avoidably - at a very young age. What was the cause?

Kidney and renal problems. Harlow died in her twenties as a result of uremic poisoning. Her mother - a prominent force in her life - resisted the idea of getting her to a doctor until it was too late.

Which of these Pulitzer Prize winners lived a relatively short life?

James Agee. Agee, author of "A Death in the Family", died relatively young of a heart attack. Lewis ("Arrowsmith") and O'Neill and Williams - both multiple winners - lived long lives.

One might think that all of the colorful characters of the Old West lived only a short span of time, but that is not the case. All of the following lived long lives EXCEPT for ...?

Jim Bowie. Cody created the "Wild West Show" that featured Sitting Bull and Annie Oakley. Earp and Masterson led quiet lives. Bowie, however, was in the Alamo when it was overrun.

A 1585 portrait (in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge) of this Elizabethan period writer who died young (and mysteriously) is said to be the only portrait of this man in existence.

Christopher Marlowe. The mysterious Christopher Marlowe was a curious figure. Presumably, he was murdered, was involved in espionage, etc. Many have doubted the "official version"; some have said Marlowe wrote Shakespeare's plays.

Which of these comedians lived a (relatively) short life?

Lou Costello. Unlike the others, Costello did not enjoy a long life.

Many old pop songs deal with teen death. Which one of the following songs includes the lyrics: "well, where oh where can my baby be/ the lord took her away from me ..."?

Last Kiss. All of these choices are oldies that deal with young death, but the lyrics in question belong to this song by J. Frank Wilson.

Which of the following tv people was fortunate enough to live the longest life?

Fred MacMurray. Serling probably hastened his demise with his heavy smoking and lived to the age of 50. Janssen also probably hastened his death by his alcohol consumption and dropped of the mortal coil when he was 49 years old. Gracie Allen was never in robust health and she died at the age of 69. MacMurray, however, lived to an old age of 83 after a fine career in movies and television.

Upon learning that this former president had died, Dorothy Parker asked: "How could they tell?". Which president was this?

Calvin Coolidge. Parker, always ready with a quip, was describing Coolidge. (His life wasn't all that short - he was about 60 when he died.)

Which of these great men of science did NOT enjoy a long life?

Pierre Curie. Curie's life was derailed by a car accident. The others lived long lives.

In the classic movie "From Here to Eternity", the only character of the following to avoid an early death is the one that is played by ...

Burt Lancaster. Sinatra (Maggio) is killed by Borgnine (Judson). Clift (Prewitt) avenges the death by killing Judson, then is killed himself.