16 Celebs Who Cheated Death

Cause of (Almost) Death: Airplane

While he was filming his recent film, "The Rum Diaries," Johnny Depp went on a private plane ride with director Bruce Robinson. Somewhere in mid-flight, the engines simply stopped, prompting Depp and the director, in a fit of hysterics, to joke about it being how they were going to die. The engines started back up and they were able to truly laugh it off. The experience created a unique bond between the actor and the director and also gives Depp the opportunity to make fourteen more "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Car

When she was just 16, Rachel Bilson was in a serious car crash that she says changed her life. The actress and three of her friends were speeding down Pacific Coast Highway when they slammed head on into a truck. The Jaws of Life had to be used to cut Bilson and Co. out of the vehicle, and she was in a coma for a while. When she came to, she had a new outlook on life that she claims is the reason she’s been so successful.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Bicycle 

Believe it or not, Ozzy’s near-death experience didn’t stem from a drug overdose. Ozzy was riding his quad bike when he hit a pothole that wasn’t visible. He flipped over the handlebars and landed on his back, with the bike crushing his chest. Lucky for the rocker, his bodyguard was there to give him CPR when he stopped breathing twice. Osbourne was in a coma for some time, but when he came out of it, he found a new appreciation for life.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Private Jet

Best known as the drummer for Blink-182, Travis Barker also produces music, plays in a number of other bands, and also owns his own clothing line. In September of 2008, Barker and frequent collaborator DJ AM were on a private jet in South Carolina that crashed and caught fire before it had even left the airport. While four others were killed in the accident, Barker and DJ AM managed to escape in critical condition and eventually made full recoveries. In an eerie tragedy, DJ AM died almost a year later of an accidental drug overdose. Barker, however, is still alive and well and has stated that the experience led him to make some serious changes in his life.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Car

In 2006, Joaquin Phoenix—whose own brother, River, died over a drug overdose—almost lost his life when he overturned his car due to faulty brakes. His car collided with another vehicle, but luckily he was wearing his seatbelt. Phoenix was then rescued from the collision by director Werner Herzog, who had coincidentally witnessed the accident. 

Cause of (Almost) Death: Car

Before Kanye West became the superstar that he is today, he was involved in a serious car crash that almost took his life in October of 2002. The impact broke his jaw in three places and he had to have a metal plate implanted in his chin. The accident occurred while West was on his way home from the recording studio where he was recording his debut album, and it led him to record the hit single, "Through the Wire" while his jaw was still wired shut. The album went on to help Kanye West become one of the biggest names (and egos) in music today. 

Cause of (Almost) Death: Jet Ski

Cause of (Almost) Death: Brain Hemorrhage 

In 2001, Sharon Stone experienced what she has described as her brain blowing up. She felt two painful shots in the side of her head that knocked her over. Her brain was bleeding internally for 11 days before doctors found out what had happened. Stone has revealed that while the experience gave her a new outlook on life, it has made her paranoid whenever she feels anything wrong.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Three-Story Fall

When he was 21, Orlando Bloom broke his back when he fell three stories after attempting to scale a drainpipe to get to a friend’s rooftop terrace. The fall left him paralyzed for a few days, but after some major surgeries and some serious recovery time, Bloom was able to tough it out, hop on a horse, wield a bow and arrow and launch himself into super stardom with his role as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings."

bow and arrow: Meningitis 

You’ve seen him recently in 'The Hunger Games" and also know him as Kiefer’s dad, but way back in 1979, Donald had a serious bout with meningitis. It was so severe that it put him in the hospital and doctors even told him that he died for a short while. Sutherland’s description of the event is somewhat cliche: floating above his own body, surrounded by light, and making his way down a long tunnel.

Before 50 Cent, aka Curtis Jackson, was rubbing elbows with the likes of Dr. Dre and Eminem, he was attacked by a gunman in Queens, N.Y. The gunman fired a 9 mm at close range while Jackson was in front of his grandma’s house. He was hit nine times (in the thumb, arm, legs, hip, and face), but somehow managed to survive. After the attack, Jackson felt like he lived for a reason and pursued a career in music even more than he had before. The shot to the face resulted in a small slur in his voice that has become somewhat of a trademark for the rapper.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Tiger

In a freak accident that almost seems like a comedy writer’s dream, Roy Horn—of the famous Las Vegas magic duo, Siegfried and Roy—was attacked by one of the white tigers that he had spent so many years defending as being nonviolent creatures. During a show in 2003, Montecore the tiger bit Horn on the neck during a live performance. Horn was critically injured and had to have some of his skull removed, but eventually was walking, talking, and even performing again before the show came to an official end in 2010.

Cause of (Almost) Death: Electrocution 

The current star of "Community" once dodged death while on the set of one his movies in the 1980s. In a stunt gone wrong, the ex-SNL star was almost killed by electrocution while wearing a suit for a sequence in which his character dreams he’s an airplane. The suit began to short circuit, sent a shock through Chase’s body, and caused him to lose consciousness. 

Cause of (Almost) Death: Overdose

Just listen to Eminem’s most recent albums, "Relapse" and "Recovery" and you’ll know all about his close call with death. Eminem, who has rapped in the past about his struggle with drugs, almost died when he overdosed on methadone. The doctor told him the amount he consumed was equal to someone who had shot themselves up with four bags of heroin. Lucky for Em, the rapper recovered, sobered up, and released one of the best albums of his career a couple years later.