Impersonating the Dead at Halloween

Tasteless and Deadly Halloween Costumes for 2009

Halloween is all about the Dead,
Forgive me, it has to be said,
So, although it's considered tasteless and rude,
An offensively politically incorrect mood,
What could be more appropriately vile,
Than mimicking a dead person for a while?
Marilyn and Elvis have been done for an age,
Time for Michael and Farrah to have the stage.

Here are the top dead contenders of 2009. Who will you be?

(Image: Michael Jackson Billie Jean Costume from Costume Craze)

The Macabre 09 List

- Michael Jackson

- Farrah Fawcett

- Patrick Swayze

- Les Paul, guitarist and creator of the Les Paul Gibson guitar

- Natasha Richardson, actress, wife of Liam Neeson

And from last year, after Halloween:

- Eartha Kitt, actress/singer

- Majel Barrett, voice of the computer in Star Trek and wife of Gene Roddenberry

- Michael Crichton, author (Jurassic Park, ER)

Michael Jackson

29 August 1958 - 25 June 2009

Michael Jackson Billie Jean Costume from Costume Craze

This one is too easy! So many people will choose Michael Jackson as their costume for Halloween this year that you might want to consider something less obvious. But if you're determined, there are plenty of Michael Jackson costumes available.

The licenced Michael Jackson Billie Jean costume pictured left includes the jacket, shirt, socks and glove. You will need a wig to complete your look.

Or view more options for various Michael Jackson costumes here.

Public domain image of Michael Jackson in 1984 from the White House Photo Office, source: National Archives and Records Administration (ARC Identifier: 198548)

Farrah Fawcett

2 February 1947 - 25 June 2009

Farrah Fawcett's distinctive hairstyle makes her an easy choice this Halloween.

A blonde wig with the Fawcett flick styling like the one pictured left is available from many costume retailers. Team this wig with a vintage 1970s printed dress or flowing skirt, or go for a more daring red swimsuit or a sporty white tennis dress.

Image right: Farrah Fawcett poster, Art.com

Eartha Kitt

17 January 1927 %u2013 25 December 2008

Eartha Kitt was the original Catwoman, so you can have two levels of Halloween costume with this one.

This is also an easy costume to make yourself at home. All you need is a long sleeve black top, black tights or jeans, and black heels. Make or buy a basic black mask and attach small black triangles to a head band for your cat ears.

Image: Eartha Kitt as Catwoman in the Batman TV Series, © ABC

The Deathly 08 List

Who left us last year?

- Heath Ledger

- Benazir Bhutto

- Edmund Hillary

- Oscar Peterson, jazz pianist

- Robert "Evel" Knievel, Jr., American stunt performer

- Ike Turner, American musician and record producer, ex-husband of Tina Turner

- Arthur C Clarke, Sri Lankan/British science fiction author (2001: A Space Odyssey)

- Cyd Charisse, American actress and dancer (Singin' in the Rain)

- Don S. Davis, American character actor (Twin Peaks, Stargate SG-1)

- Estelle Getty, American actress (The Golden Girls)

- Bernie Mac, Actor (Charlie's Angels Full Throttle)

- Issac Hayes, Singer and voice of Chef in South Park

- Paul Newman, actor

Heath Ledger

4 April 1979 - 22 January 2008

Heath Ledger's version of The Joker (left) from The Dark Knight movie is an obvious choice for Halloween this year.

If you want to channel Heath in a slightly different way, you may want to go for one of his older movies: as a cowboy from Brokeback Mountain, or as Ned Kelly (above right). Both are really easy to pull together almost as last minute costumes on a low budget.

For the Brokeback Mountain cowboy, you will need a pair of denim jeans, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat.

For Ned Kelly (above), staple or glue a large piece of card into a cylinder. Cut a slit out for the eyepiece. Cover the cylinder with aluminium foil, dull side out, and scuff it up with dark boot polish.

Benazir Bhutto

21 June 1953 - 27 December 2007

Benazir Bhutto's trademark was a white veil/headscarf and oversize glasses or sunglasses.

The national dress of Pakistan is the shalwar kameez - go for loose-fitting trousers and a long tunic top, or a light coat that reaches to your knees or below.

Public domain image of Benazir Bhutto, source: public domain DOD photo via PingNews on Flickr

Going back to 07...

Anna Nicole Smith

28 November 1967 - 8 February 2007

Some of Anna Nicole Smith's most memorable looks are her hyper-high American Music Award ("Like my body?") and MTV Music Award (star studded strip-tease) performances.

Anna Nicole Costume (American Music Awards):

To dress as Anna Nicole, as she appeared at the American Music Awards, you will need:

- a Marilyn Monroe wig,

- a black halter dress,

- fake boobs or bra inserts (depending on your own size),

- and stiletto platforms.

Anna Nicole costume (MTV Music Awards):

To capture Anna Nicole's MTV Music Awards look this Halloween, go for:

- long blonde curls (right),

- shocking pink halter dress,

- matching pink heels

- fake boobs and/or stick on stars, if you dare!

See more ideas for capturing Anna Nicole's look on my SquidWho lens.

(Photo credits: Mark J. Terrill/ap (black) and Getty Images (pink))

More options for Anna Nicole - American Music Awards

50's Rockabilly Black & White Polkadot Halter Dress Sundress

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

FLAIR-436 4 1/2" Stiletto Heel Strappy Ankle Wrap PF Sandal

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

More ideas for Anna Nicole's MTV Music Awards look

Backless Sexy Long Evening Club Cocktail Halter Dress from Hot Fash Dresses - TONIGHT Fuchsia

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

Sophisticated Long Evening Club Cocktail Halter Dress with Draped Hem from Hot Fash Dresses - EMPRESS Fuchsia

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

BUTTERFLY 6 Inch Sexy High Heeled Shoes Women's Platform With Butterfly UV Reactive Black Light Neon Lucious Pleaser

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

Luciano Pavarotti

12 October 1935 - 6 September 2007

To dress as Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti this Halloween, you will need:

- extra padding, a "fat suit", or a sumo wrestler suit

- a large tuxedo costume, or tuxedo t-shirt

- Loose tuxedo pants or lounge pants

- men's wig and beard - You
will need to thin out this hairline and crown and trim the beard and hair length to match Pavarotti's.

(image credit: Pirlouiiiit)

Kurt Vonnegut

11 November 1922 - 11 April 2007

Author Kurt Vonnegut's main features are his curly hair and pronounced eyes. Use make-up a few shades darker than your skin tone to achieve the under eye pouch and to emphasise the crease in the eye socket and the heavy lids.

The moustache and eyebrows can be drawn on with eyebrow pencil.

Black curly costume wig

Try this curly wig, with a trim to get the correct length and loosen the tightness of the curls. Dust with a little powder for some grey tones.

Read more about Kurt Vonnegut.

(Photo credit: AP/Wide World Photos)

Kitty Carlisle

3 September 1910 - 17 April 2007

To impersonate 1930s actress Kitty Carlisle, you will need a black "flapper" wig and a flapper dress.

View the official website of Kitty Carlisle.

James Brown

3 May 1933 - 25 December 2006

Godfather of Soul James Brown counts for 2007's Halloween as his death was after last year's Halloween.

Go for a blue suit to capture the essence of James Brown's style.

And trim a curly wig to shape.

(image credit: D.B. King)

More James Brown suit ideas

Italian Style Royal Blue Mens Suit + Free Shipping + 2 Free Mens Ties (50L)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)

Men's ROYAL BLUE Dress Vest NeckTie Set for Suit or Tuxedo Large

Amazon Price: $25.95 (as of 12/27/2009)

Anniversaries of famous deaths

More Halloween impersonation ideas

Ten Year Anniversary (1999):

John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

Joe DiMaggio

Desmond Llewellyn (Q from the James Bond movies)

Twenty Year Anniversary (1989):

Bette Davis

Laurence Olivier

Forty Year Anniversary (1969):

Boris Karloff

Eighty Year Anniversary (1929):

Wyatt Earp

Ninety Year Anniversary (1919):

Theodore Roosevelt