Celebrities who died in their sleep; some had sleep apnea

Several celebrities over the years have passed away in their sleep or sleep, a fact that always arouses curiosity and emotion in the public.

This can occur from natural causes, such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or sleep apnea. See some names of famous people who died in these conditions:

Jack Betts – American actor, born April 26, 1929, died June 19, 2025 in Los Osos, California, in his sleep at his home at the age of 96.

Jack Betts distinguished himself in Italian westerns in the 1960s under the stage name Hunt Powers and had notable appearances in Spider-Man (2002) and One Life to Live. His versatility in theater, TV and film has made him a respected name in Hollywood for over six decades.

Robert Redford – actor and director, born August 18, 1936, died September 16, 2025 in Sundance, Utah, in his sleep, age 89, at his residence.

Robert Redford shone in the classics Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, which made him a heartthrob and American movie star. He won the Oscar for directing with Gente como a Gente and founded the Sundance Festival, a pillar of global independent cinema.

Bela Lugosi – Hungarian actor, born October 20, 1882, died August 16, 1956 in Los Angeles, victim of a heart attack while sleeping.

Bela Lugosi became a horror icon when he played Count Dracula in 1931, a role that defined his career. His theatrical style and his hypnotic gaze have marked the genre and influenced generations of actors and directors.

John Candy – Canadian actor and comedian, born October 31, 1950, died March 4, 1994 in Mexico, sleeping after a day of filming; he suffered from sleep apnea and heart problems.

John Candy won over audiences with his charismatic humor in comedies like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. He was one of the big names in comedy of the 80s and 90s, remembered for his tender and endearing roles.

Carrie Fisher – actress and writer, born October 21, 1956, died December 27, 2016 in Los Angeles; sleep apnea was one of the factors that caused his death in his sleep.

Carrie Fisher immortalized herself as Princess Leia in the Star Wars saga, becoming a symbol of female strength and irreverence. She was also a talented author and screenwriter, most notably her autobiographical book Postcards from the Edge.

Jerry Garcia – American musician, born August 1, 1942, died August 9, 1995 in Forest Knolls, California, after a heart attack while sleeping in a rehabilitation clinic.

Jerry Garcia was the leader of the Grateful Dead, a band symbolic of the counterculture and psychedelic rock of the 1960s. In the photo, a very strange statue of him, located in Laurelwood Park, in Portland, Oregon, United States. A life-size bronze sculpture, with the musician seated and with a caricatured expression.

Antonin Scalia – United States Supreme Court Justice, born March 11, 1936, died February 13, 2016 in Texas, in his sleep; he suffered from apnea and heart problems.

Antonin Scalia had a crowning moment when he joined the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades, appointed in 1986 by Ronald Reagan. Recognized for his conservative style and rigorous argumentation, he became one of the most influential figures in the American judiciary.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing stops and starts several times during sleep, reducing oxygen in the blood. This puts stress on the heart and increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

The most common symptoms are loud snoring, breathing pauses, daytime drowsiness and headaches upon waking. It is dangerous because it is silent: many people do not realize that they suffer from this problem.

Treatment includes weight loss, the use of oral appliances, surgery, or CPAP, which keeps the airway open. Medical diagnosis is essential to avoid complications and improve sleep.