2. Mike Von Erich – Age 23
Like all his brothers, Mike Von Erich faced enormous pressure to succeed as a wrestler, but by some accounts, had little desire to do so. Nonetheless, Mike worked in his father’s World Class Championship Wrestling promotion until a medical complication changed his life. In 1985, Mike injured his shoulder while performing in Israel (World Class was enormously popular there thanks to the program being syndicated) and suffered toxic shock syndrome. It’s believed Mike suffered brain damage and was never the same man, unable to perform in the ring and a different person outside it. Consequently, Mike ended his life by taking an overdose of Placidyls. His body was found on April 16, 1987 in Lake Dallas, Texas.
