When the world loses a celebrity to a cancer death, it gets another glimpse as to why cancer is one of the top causes of death in the United States. When a celebrity dies from cancer, it usually brings to light reasons why a cure must be found.

Celebrity cancer deaths affect the young and old alike, no matter if he or she was an Academy Award-winning actor or "one-hit wonder" musician. However, the more popular the celebrity, the greater attention his or her death will receive in the news.

Take a walk back in time with these celebrities whose lives were cut short by cancer.