Reality Television's 19 Biggest Tragedies
April 3 2015, Updated 11:52 a.m. ET
Take a look back at famous faces of Reality TV who suffered tragedies.
Reality Tragedies PP
1. Survivor producer Bruce Beresford Redman has been ordered back to Mexico to stand trial for the vicious murder of his wife Monica, whose body was found in a sewage drain in their luxury hotel in April 2010.
Survivor producer Bruce Beresford Redman has been ordered back to Mexico to stand trial for the vicious murder of his wife Monica, whose body was found in a sewage drain in their luxury hotel in April 2010.
2. Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of Taylor Armstrong from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills committed suicide on August 15, 2011.
Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of Taylor Armstrong from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills committed suicide on August 15, 2011.
3. Danny Bonaduce’s suicide attempt in 2005 was captured by cameras for his reality show Breaking Bonaduce in an emotional episode with his wife Gretchen. Police arrested after the attempt and held for 24-hours in a psychiatric hold.
Danny Bonaduce’s suicide attempt in 2005 was captured by cameras for his reality show Breaking Bonaduce in an emotional episode with his wife Gretchen. Police arrested after the attempt and held for 24-hours in a psychiatric hold.
4. In 2010 Fantasia Barrino, an American Idol winner, tried to commit suicide after the news surfaced that she had had an affair with a married man. The aftermath of her attempt was filmed for her reality show.
In 2010 Fantasia Barrino, an American Idol winner, tried to commit suicide after the news surfaced that she had had an affair with a married man. The aftermath of her attempt was filmed for her reality show.
5. The day he auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2010, Joe Finley’s wife Laura was found brutally murdered in the hotel where the show was being filmed. No one has ever been arrested for her murder.
The day he auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2010, Joe Finley’s wife Laura was found brutally murdered in the hotel where the show was being filmed. No one has ever been arrested for her murder.
6. MTV Punk’d producer Gabriel Ben Meir was brutally shot in the back of the head in May, 2011 by two robbers a block away from his home in Los Angeles.
MTV Punk’d producer Gabriel Ben Meir was brutally shot in the back of the head in May, 2011 by two robbers a block away from his home in Los Angeles.
7. Former Megan Wants a Millionaire contestant Ryan Jenkins committed suicide in August 2009 in a Canadian hotel room after brutally murdering his wife Jasmine Fiore and dumping her mutilated body in a suitcase in California.
Former Megan Wants a Millionaire contestant Ryan Jenkins committed suicide in August 2009 in a Canadian hotel room after brutally murdering his wife Jasmine Fiore and dumping her mutilated body in a suitcase in California.
8. American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson’s mother and two other family members were brutally murdered in Chicago in October 2008.
American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson’s mother and two other family members were brutally murdered in Chicago in October 2008.
9. Joseph Cerniglia jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in New York City in 2009, two years after being on Gordon Ramsay’s volatile reality show Kitchen Nightmares.
Joseph Cerniglia jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in New York City in 2009, two years after being on Gordon Ramsay’s volatile reality show Kitchen Nightmares.
10. Bachelorette contestant Julien Hug shot himself in the head in 2010 after leaving a suicide note for his girlfriend and driving to the desert in California.
Bachelorette contestant Julien Hug shot himself in the head in 2010 after leaving a suicide note for his girlfriend and driving to the desert in California.
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
11. A failed American Idol contestant, Paula Goodspeed, who didn’t make it through the audition process, committed suicide in front of AI judge Paula Abdul’s house in November 2008.
A failed American Idol contestant, Paula Goodspeed, who didn’t make it through the audition process, committed suicide in front of AI judge Paula Abdul’s house in November 2008.
12. The captain on The Deadliest Catch, Phil Harris, suffered from a stroke and the reality star tragically died in 2010.
The captain on The Deadliest Catch, Phil Harris, suffered from a stroke and the reality star tragically died in 2010.
13. Rachel Brown, a contestant on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, shot herself in 2007 after appearing on the show.
Rachel Brown, a contestant on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, shot herself in 2007 after appearing on the show.
