I often find these kinds of lists floating around the net but they are often not very concise and don't include people from all professions and countries. I have done my best to include everyone I can think of who has had a major impact on our lives and has consequently garnered fame. If you think I have missed out anyone fundamental to a complete list, comment and I will add them. Hopefully I can make this list into a definitive one. I hope you like it. Also please note there is no ranking system. I have merely added them as I think of them, as opposed to ranking them by fame. Also my criteria has only one limitation. That they must have passed on before 50 years old. Their nationality and reason for being "nationally" famous is irrelevant. As long as they are well known they are suitable for adding.
http://www.ranker.com/list/99-famous-people-who-died-young/james707,
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly died on February 3, 1959 at age 22. He died in a plane crash that also killed Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley died on May 29, 1997 at age 30. He drowned in the Mississippi River where he enjoyed swimming.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970 at the age of 27. His cause of death is disputed, but the coroner believed that he choked to death on his own vomit.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison died on July 3, 1971 at age 27. He was found dead in his bathtub, but no official autopsy was completed. He is suspected to have died from a drug overdose.
John Lennon
John Lennon died on December 8, 1980 at age 40. He was shot in the back by Mark David Chapman, whom Lennon gave an autograph earlier that day.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain died on April 5, 1994 at the age of 27. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye died on April 1, 1984 at age 44. He was shot by his father, who used a gun that Gaye had given him as a gift.
Otis Redding
Otis Redding died on December 10, 1967 at age 26. He died tragically in a plane crash traveling between gigs.
Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke died on December 11, 1964 at age 33. He was shot by a hotel manager who claimed that she was acting in self-defense.
James Dean
James Dean died on September 30, 1955 at the age of 24. He death was the result of a car accident.