The BEST episodes of Autopsy: The Last Hours Of...

#1 - Lou Reed

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 7/8/2018

Provocative and iconic rock star Lou Reed star transformed the face of modern music. From his teens, the founder member of the seminal Velvet Underground lived a life of outrageous excess, pushing everything beyond the limit. His fascination with subculture and the underdogs of society inspired his work, most famously with songs such as Heroin, Walk on The Wild Side and Waiting For The Man. Though he practiced what he preached, Lou lived to the age of 71. Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Hunter has found evidence of events in Lou’s early life that fueled the rebellious tendencies which defined his life and ultimately caused his death.

#2 - Andy Kaufman

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/18/2018

On May 16th 1984, unique comedy talent, Andy Kaufman, died from a rare form of lung cancer at just 35 years of age. Renowned for his eccentric stage routines and comedy sketches on the TV show ‘Saturday Night Live’ he went on to gain international fame playing ‘Latka’ the goofy mechanic in the 70’s sitcom ‘Taxi’. A master of invention, he told friends he was going to fake his own death, leading some to believe he did not die. In this episode, expert Coroner and Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter, examines Andy Kaufman’s medical history to try and discover what caused the death of this comic phenomenon at such a young age.

#3 - Debbie Reynolds

Season 9 - Episode 22 - Aired 8/23/2020

#4 - Florence Henderson

Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/16/2020

Henderson died on November 24, 2016 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California at the age of 82. She had been hospitalized the previous day. According to her manager, Kayla Pressman, Henderson died of heart failure. Three days before her death, Henderson had attended the recording of Dancing with the Stars to support her friend and former on-screen daughter Maureen McCormick, who was a contestant. Pressman stated that Henderson was not ill prior to her sudden hospitalization and that her death was a "shock".

#5 - Rick James

Season 8 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/4/2019

The music world was stunned when outrageous entertainer and colorful funk star Rick James was found dead by his housekeeper; his excesses took a dark turn when in 1991, he was accused of kidnap and torture, resulting in a prison sentence.

#6 - Gram Parsons

Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 7/15/2018

On September 19th 1973, singer and musician, Gram Parsons, died of drug toxicity at the Joshua Tree Inn, California, aged only 26. Gram Parsons was one of the great, lost talents of rock music - combining country, folk and rock to create his own original sound. Often critically acclaimed, he pioneered his own blend of cosmic American music. But during his short life, he became almost as famous for his drug and drink consumption as he did for his music. Now, Forensic Pathologist Dr Michael Hunter is taking a fresh look at Gram Parsons autopsy and will reveal why such a seasoned drug user could have suddenly met his end on that night at the Joshua Tree Inn.

#7 - Chyna

Season 8 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/25/2019

Chyna's life unraveled after she left WWE and she became infamous as a casualty of drug and alcohol abuse; After a mysterious 4 year long exile eon Japan, Chyna returned to the US intent on reinventing herself

#8 - Garry Shandling

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 9/2/2019

Garry Shandling's death at 66 shocked his fans and the show business community and during his career, he garnered over 60 awards or nominations, including Emmys with his self-analytic and self deprecating humor.

#9 - Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell

Season 7 - Episode 22 - Aired 8/12/2018

Christopher John Cornell was an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was best known as the lead vocalist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell was considered one of the chief architects of the 1990s grunge movement, and is well known for his extensive catalog as a songwriter, his nearly four-octave vocal range, and his powerful vocal belting technique. Cornell struggled with depression for much of his life. He was found dead in his Detroit hotel room early on the morning of May 18, 2017, after performing at a Soundgarden concert an hour earlier.

#10 - Johnny Cash

Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/24/2018

On September 12, 2003, the world was mourning the loss of legendary singer Johnny Cash, who died in Nashville, Tennessee from respiratory arrest. Known for his heavy drug use and reckless attitude to his health, Johnny Cash reached the age of 71 and died shortly after his wife of 35 years June Carter. Many speculated that he died of a broken heart and others believed it was his wayward lifestyle that was to blame. Now, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is taking a fresh look at Johnny Cash’s death and will reveal whether years of drug abuse and hard-living led to the star’s demise or whether his death was due to something else entirely.

#11 - John Belushi

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/5/2016

John Belushi was a comedy genius. The gross-out characters he created in Animal House and Blues Brothers were iconic. After a meteoric rise to stardom, 33 year-old he was on the cusp of super stardom. But on March 5th, 1982 he was found dead died in Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont Hotel. Using information revealed in John Belushi’s autopsy report, Dr. Michael Hunter investigates his final days and hours to reveal the cause of his death.

#12 - Mindy McCready

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/18/2018

In February 2013 Country Music singer Mindy McCready shot herself on the porch of her house in Heber Springs Arkansas. Now, world-renowned Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter puts Mindy's complex personal life under the spotlight, and reveals how her unhealthy relationship with prescription medication may have exacerbated an un-diagnosed mental condition and led Mindy to plan her own death.

#13 - Robin Williams

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/22/2015

Robin Williams was one of the funniest and most gifted comedians of his generation. He burst to prominence in 1978 in the hit TV sitcom Mork & Mindy and won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting in 1997. But just before midday on 11th August 2014, he’s found hanging from a belt secured to a closet door in his home in Tiburon, California. Now, Dr Richard Shepherd is piecing together the events of Robin Williams’ last hours and evidence from the autopsy report to uncover what triggered this suicide.

#14 - Muhammad Ali

Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/31/2018

Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers the world has ever known. Over a career spanning 21 years he became the heavyweight champion of the world an incredible three times .But on June 3, 2016 Muhammed Ali died after a long battle with Parkinson’s. But Parkinson’s is not fatal. So what killed him? Some believe Muhammad Ali fought for too long. Now, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is reexamining the case to see what brought about the end of this one world-class athlete.

#15 - Mama Cass Elliott

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/22/2018

On July 29th 1974, Cass Elliot was found dead in a flat in London. She was 32 years old and her death shocked the world. One of the most influential figures of the hippy scene, she rose to fame as a member of folk-rock band The Mamas and The Papas, who took the world by storm with their hit single ‘California Dreamin’ along with a string of classic songs. Cass was loved and respected by everyone who knew her and her voice made her famous world-wide. Frank Sinatra once sent her a personal note saying “you have the best phrasing of any singer I’ve ever heard”. Redefining perceptions of how female artists should look and behave, she became a role model and icon for every girl that didn’t fit in at the high school prom. But her appetites for excess were as legendary as her voice. At her worst, she would get into her big convertible Cadillac and drive into the worst parts of town to score drugs. And her rollercoaster career was matched by an equally turbulent personal life. Her death was followed by speculation and rumour, had she choked on a ham sandwich? Had she overdosed on drugs? Was the cause of her death covered up in some way? The official verdict at the time was that she had died from fatty myocardial degeneration due to obesity. However it’s rare for someone of 32 to die from that alone. World renowned Medical Examiner Dr Michael Hunter believes there were other factors at play and is taking a fresh look at the evidence to uncover the truth behind what killed Cass Elliot.

#16 - George Harrison

Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/10/2018

On 29th November 2001 amid much secrecy former Beatle George Harrison died after a short battle with lung cancer. His death at the relatively young age of 58 shocked fans across the world, especially since he had been allegedly been given the all clear just months earlier.… so did something go wrong? In this episode, expert coroner and Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter examines George’s medical history and hears from some of his close friends to try and work out what caused his cancer and if his lifestyle and career contributed in any way to his death.

#17 - Farrah Fawcett

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/11/2018

On June 25, 2009, actress and 1970’s icon, Farrah Fawcett died of a rare form of cancer in Los Angeles. Her death at 62 shocked her fans, friends and family as Farrah didn’t smoke, ate healthy food and worked hard to keep fit. In this episode, expert coroner and Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter examines Farrah’s medical history and hears from some of her closest friends to try and work out what caused Farrah’s cancer and if the alternative cancer treatments she received played any part in her death.

#18 - Bruce Lee

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/15/2017

Martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee died in Hong Kong in mysterious circumstances aged just 32. An inquest concluded that his death was caused by a hypersensitive reaction to a prescription painkiller given to him for a headache. For more than forty years controversy has surrounded this conclusion with numerous theories emerging as to what might have caused his death. Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter has gained access to Bruce Lee’s autopsy and inquest report to dispel the rumors and reveal the real cause of Bruce Lee’s death.

#19 - John Denver

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/1/2017

John Denver was a legendary singer songwriter whose talent for writing and performing hit singles made him a global superstar. From ‘Country Roads’ to ‘Rocky Mountain High’ to ‘Annie’s Song’ by the mid 70s he was one of America's biggest selling artists. He wrote around 200 songs and sold over 35 million albums. But on the afternoon of the 12th October 1997, experienced pilot John Denver crashed his plane into the Pacific Ocean. This unexplained disaster fuelled rumour and speculation and the investigation was fraught with difficulties as only fragments of John Denver’s plane and parts of his body were recovered from the sea. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter is reopening the case into John Denver’s mysterious death.

#20 - Bill Bixby

Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/14/2020

#21 - Tammy Wynette

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 9/9/2018

On April 6, 1998 country icon Tammy Wynette was found dead her Nashville home. The 55 year-old’s life had been blighted by ill health, failed marriages and an addiction to pain killers. Following her death her daughters sued both her husband and doctor, leading to the exhumation of her body and an autopsy. In this episode renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter analyses her autopsy report, together with the testimony of her daughters, her close friends to determine exactly how she died.

#22 - Corey Haim

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/26/2016

Corey Haim was the poster boy of 1980’s Hollywood, starring in “The Lost Boys”, “Lucas”, and “License to Drive.” Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter examines Corey’s autopsy report to dispel the rumors, and reveal the real cause of the actor’s tragic and untimely death at the age of 38.

#23 - James Brown

Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/15/2018

James Brown was one of the most iconic and revolutionary performers of all time. He was known as the ‘Godfather of Soul’, ‘the Inventor of Funk’, ‘the Grandfather of Hip-Hop’ and ‘the Hardest Working Man in Show Business’ and he sold tens of millions of records. After decades at the top, the most sampled man in history was still touring in his 70s but on Christmas Day 2006 he died unexpectedly in a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is reopening the case into James Brown’s seemingly death.

#24 - Lucille Ball

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/10/2019

On the morning of April 26th, 1989, Lucille Ball died in a Los Angeles hospital leaving the world heartbroken. America’s first lady of comedy had delighted audiences with a glittering career that spanned over half a century: but it was her television show, ‘I Love Lucy, ’ that had transformed television and turned the actress into the most famous face on the planet. The 77 year old would die of a rupture of the aorta - a life-ending tear of the largest artery in the human body. This is rare, and even more mysterious given the fact that she was in great shape just weeks before her death. So what exactly was going on inside Lucille Ball’s body that led to this catastrophic failure? And could a mystery teenage illness have played a part? World renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter investigates every aspect of Lucille’s life in forensic detail, using her death certificate, medical documents and first-hand accounts to piece together what was going on in the body of America’s most loved Lucy to find the answers.

#25 - Notorious B.I.G.

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/26/2016

The Notorious B.I.G., rapped about girls, guns and money. His rhyming skills and flow propelled him to worldwide fame. A larger than life figure from Brooklyn, New York, his raw talent lifted him from the streets. But in the early hours of March 9th 1997 The Notorious BIG was gunned down in a drive by shooting in downtown Los Angeles. For decades, police have hunted for his killer, but still no-one has been brought to trial. Using information revealed in his autopsy report and police files, Dr. Michael Hunter investigates a motive for BIG’s murder and the identity of his killer.