Pretty Suicide Trivia Quiz

Answer: Christine Chubbuck

Christine Chubbuck worked for the WXLT-TV and WTOG channels in Florida. She had suffered from depression and had told her family about it, and had previously taken an overdose. On the morning of her suicide, she read several news items, including one about a shooting, which could not be shown.

Her last words were, "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts', and in living colour, you are going to see another first-attempted suicide." She then shot herself in the head, and was taken to hospital and pronounced dead 14 hours later. Chubbuck had prepared a script in which whoever took over from her that day was to announce her condition as 'critical'.

Answer: Dalida

Dalida was born Yolanda Cristina Gigliotti in Cairo to Italian parents, and was crowned Miss Egypt in 1920. She moved to France, where she acquired French citizenship in 1961. She released several singles and albums in multiple languages, including German, Spanish and Arabic.

In April 1987, Dalida played what was to be her last gig in Antalya in Turkey. A few days later, she took an overdose. Her suicide note read, "La vie m'est insupportable...Pardonnez-moi." ("Life is unbearable for me...Forgive me.")

Answer: Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was a leading figure in the Seattle grunge scene, and formed Nirvana with bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Aaron Buckhard. Their albums include 'Bleach', 'Nevermind', and 'In Utero'. The band's signature song, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', was named after a brand of deodorant, and inspired by Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail, Cobain's then girlfriend, writing 'Kurt smells like Teen Spirit' on a wall.

A month before his death, Cobain was taken to hospital after overdosing on a combination of Rohypnol and champagne. Courtney Love and others arranged an intervention for Cobain, and although he was reluctant to participate, he eventually agreed to go to a detox facility on 30th March 1994. However, on 5th April, Cobain shot himself in the head. Gary Smith, an electrician, found Cobain's body on the garage floor three days later, when he arrived to install security lighting. Cobain had a shotgun on his chest, and a suicide note was found in a nearby plant pot.

Answer: Chester Bennington

Linkin Park shot to fame with their debut album 'Hybrid Theory' in 2000. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda shared lead vocals; Bennington sang / screamed his lines, while Shinoda was the rapper. He started the band, originally known as Xero, along with drummer Rob Bourdon and guitarist Brad Delson. Bennington was brought in to replace original vocalist Mark Wakefield, and the band changed their name to Linkin Park.

Two months earlier, Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell - a close friend of Bennington - had committed suicide by hanging. Bennington sang Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' at his funeral. On what would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday, Bennington too committed suicide.

Answer: Ian Curtis

Ian Curtis' most distinguishing characteristics were his deep voice and jerky dancing style, which some put down to his epilepsy. He formed Joy Division in 1976, along with childhood friends Peter Hook, Bernard Summer and Terry Mason, who was later replaced by Stephen Morris. They released two studio albums, 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Closer'.

Curtis had suffered from depression throughout his life, and was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1978, for which he required a large amount of medication, and which affected his mental health. He hung himself in 1980 in his kitchen, after writing a suicide note to his wife Deborah, who found his body. The three surviving band members went on to form New Order. The films 'Control' and '24 Hour Party People' both tell the story of Joy Division's career and Curtis' death. 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', the name of one of Joy Division's signature songs, is inscribed on his gravestone.

Answer: Carole Landis

Carole Landis was born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste. She started out as a hula dancer, and changed her name to Carole after actress Carole Lombard. She was known as 'The Chest' due to her figure. Her big break came with her role as the cave girl Loana in 'One Million BC' in 1940, which also starred Victor Mature and Lon Chaney Jr.

After splitting up with her husband, producer W. Horace Schmidlapp, Landis entered into a relationship with actor Rex Harrison, who also happened to be married to actress Lilli Palmer. Landis was said to be upset that Harrison would not leave Palmer for her, and took an overdose of Seconal, a barbiturate on 5th July. Harrison and a maid found her body the next day.

Answer: Peg Entwistle

Peg Entwistle was born Millicent Entwistle in Wales, and grew up in London. She and her father emigrated to the USA in 1913. She started out as a theatre actress, with her first part being an uncredited role as a servant in a production of 'Hamlet' which also featured Ethel Barrymore. She acted in several other plays and one film, 'Thirteen Women'.

Peg Entwistle was found dead in a ravine beneath the Hollywoodland sign after a woman walking nearby found her shoe, jacket and purse, which contained a suicide note, and then looked into the ravine and contacted the police on seeing Entwistle's corpse. Her uncle identified her body. Police figured out that she had climbed a ladder to the top of the H and jumped to her death.

Answer: Robin Williams

Robin Williams started out as a stand-up comedian, and moved into acting with his first TV role being the alien Mork in 'Mork & Mindy'. His many films include 'Good Will Hunting', 'Jumanji', 'Insomnia', 'Dead Poets Society', and 'The Birdcage'. His awards included the Best Actor Golden Globe for his role as Parry in 'The Fisher King' in 1991, and a Special Achievement Golden Globe for his role as the Genie in 'Aladdin' in 1992.

Williams hung himself with a belt, and was found by his PA. An autopsy revealed that he had been suffering from diffuse Lewy body dementia, mistakenly diagnosed as Parkinson's disease, which had caused him to experience increased paranoia. His widow described it as a 'terrorist inside his brain'.

Answer: Gary Speed

Gary Speed, a midfielder, played for Everton, Leeds United, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle, and Sheffield United. After suffering a back injury, he went into coaching, and took over as manager at Sheffield United after the sacking of Kevin Blackwell. He also managed the Welsh national team from 2010 to 2011.

On the day before his death, Speed had appeared on 'Football Focus' as a guest. He and former team mate Alan Shearer had then gone to Old Trafford to watch Newcastle play Manchester United. His wife found his body in the garage of their family home the next day.

Answer: Margaux Hemingway

Margaux Hemingway was the granddaughter of the writer Ernest Hemingway. She changed her name from Margot to Margaux, after the Chateau Margaux wine. Her younger sister Mariel was an actress, and her nieces Dree and Langley were also models. She appeared on the covers of various fashion magazines such as 'Elle' and 'Cosmopolitan' in the '70s, and advertised the Fabergé Babe perfume.

Hemingway had problems with depression and eating disorders in her teenage years. She died a month before the 35th anniversary of her grandfather's death; he had himself committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. After her death, Hemingway was found to have ten times the prescribed dose of phenobarbital in her stomach, twice the lethal level.