List of prematurely reported obituaries

Multiple premature obituaries came to light on April 16, 2003, when it was discovered that pre-written draft memorials to several world figures were available on the development area of the CNN website without requiring a password (and may have been accessible for some time before).

The pages included tributes to Fidel Castro (d. 2016), Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela (d. 2013), Bob Hope (d. July 2003), Gerald Ford (d. 2006), Pope John Paul II (d. 2005), and Ronald Reagan (d. 2004),[535] all of which claim they died in 2001.

Dick Cheney for example was described as the "UK's favorite grandmother", and Pope John Paul II was noted for his "love of racing".

On November 16, 2020, about 100 draft obituaries were published on the Radio France Internationale website, as well as those of its partner sites including Google, Yahoo!

These included Queen Elizabeth II (supposedly having died of coronavirus, later died in 2022), footballer Pelé (d. 2022), actors Clint Eastwood, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren, politicians Jimmy Carter (d. 2024), Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Raúl Castro and Lionel Jospin, and French businessman Bernard Tapie (d. 2021), of which this was his third premature obituary.

Pope John Paul II was the subject of three premature obituaries.
Ali Hassan al-Majid (2004)
Graffiti on Fats Domino 's home from his rumored death during Hurricane Katrina.
Drusus Julius Caesar : A premature poem in his memory led to the poet's execution.
Marcus Garvey died after reading his own obituary.
Ernest Hemingway and Mary Welsh Hemingway in Africa in 1954. Both were hurt in plane crashes during their trip and were reported dead.
Bloomberg published an obituary for Steve Jobs over three years before his death
A death hoax website reported false news of Lee Kuan Yew 's death.
Paul McCartney was reported dead on American radio in 1969.
Alfred Nobel bequeathed his fortune to institute the Nobel Prizes after reading a damning premature obituary
Rock musician Bob Seger , was the subject of a false obituary, after he was confused with folk music veteran Pete Seeger .
Mark Twain : "The report of my death was an exaggeration"
Erroneous reports of the death of Abe Vigoda became a running joke
American actress Betty White was the subject of a premature obituary on two occasions
CNN's obituary of Dick Cheney , identifying him as the "UK's favorite grandmother"