A Digital Artist Used AI To Show Us What Celebrities Who Died Young Would Look Like Today, And It’s Surprisingly Emotional
Fiyin Olowokandi
4 min read
I wasn't prepared to see Kurt Cobain as a middle-aged man.
A Digital Artist Used AI To Show Us What Celebrities Who Died Young Would Look Like Today, And It’s Surprisingly Emotional
What if? It’s a question we all find ourselves asking from time to time. What if one thing or the other had or hadn’t happened? How different would our life be?
Well, Alper Yesiltas — a 39-year-old lawyer and digital photographer/artist — recently pondered that question in relation to his favorite celebrities. The result? A stunning photo series made using AI technology entitled “As If It Never Happened.”
Here are some of Alper’s most striking “What if?” photos of celebrities who died young:
1. Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car accident on August 31, 1997. She was 36.
Tim Graham / Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty ImagesThis is what she might look like today if it had never happened. She would be 61.
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Tim Graham / Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
Alper told BuzzFeed that he got the idea for the photo series when he became excited by the development of AI technology, and thought that with it “anything imaginable could be shown in reality. When I started tinkering with the technology, I saw what I could do and thought about what would make me the happiest. I wanted to see some of the people I missed again in front of me, and that’s how ‘As If Nothing Happened’ emerged.”
2. Heath Ledger died of acute intoxication from a combination of prescription drugs on January 22, 2008. He was 28.
Carlo Allegri / Getty ImagesThis is what he might look like today if it had never happened. He would be 43.
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Carlo Allegri / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
3. Selena was murdered on March 31, 1995. She was 23.
Vinnie Zuffante / Getty ImagesThis is what she might look like if it had never happened. She would be 51.
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Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
4. Freddie Mercury died due to complications from AIDS on November 24, 1991.
Pete Still / RedfernsThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 77.
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Pete Still / Redferns / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
5. Amy Winehouse died of an alcohol overdose on July 23, 2011. She was 27.
Mark Holloway / RedfernsThis is what she might look like if it had never happened. She would be 38.
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Mark Holloway / Redferns / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
In order to create these incredible images, Alper uses a variety of software and says that, while the amount of time he spends on each photo varies, they all take — as you likely imagine — “a while” to make.
6. Paul Walker died in a car accident on November 30, 2013. He was 40.
Robert Mora / Getty ImagesThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 48.
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Robert Mora / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
7. The Beatles broke up in 1970. John Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980. He was 40. George Harrison died of cancer on November 29, 2001. He was 58.
Icon And Image / Getty ImagesThis is what John and George might look like if they were still with us and playing with Paul and Ringo. John would be 82; George would be 79.
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Icon And Image / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
8. Kurt Cobain died by suicide on April 5, 1994. He was 27.
Gutchie Kojima / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 55.
Gutchie Kojima / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasHere are the two photos side by side:
Gutchie Kojima / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasAccording to Alper, “The most important part is making the image I’m processing feel realistic to me. Intentionally or unintentionally, I know a lot about the person I’m working with. Naturally the moment I like the most is when I think the image in front of me feels ‘real.'”
9. Tupac Shakur died following a drive-by shooting on September 13, 1996. He was 25.
Mitchell Gerber / Corbis/VCG via Getty ImagesThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 51.
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Mitchell Gerber / Corbis/VCG via Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas
10. Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970. She was 27.
Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty ImagesThis is what she might look like if it had never happened. She would be 79.
Instagram: @alperyesiltasHere are the two photos side by side:
Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasAlper stresses that while the AI technology creates new opportunities to be creative, the human element is still needed to make something special. “Hardware and software help us to produce, but it’s the emotions that are decisive.”
11. Jimi Hendrix died of asphyxia on September 18, 1970. He was 27.
Avalon / Getty ImagesThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 79.
Instagram: @alperyesiltasHere are the two photos side by side:
Avalon / Getty Images / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasPutting your work out there for the world to see can be scary, but Alper and his project have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, including impressive social media engagement. “The response encouraged me a lot,” Alper said. “What pleases me the most is that there are more comments (perhaps tens of thousands) than I imagined ever before. I love reading them.”
12. Bruce Lee died of a cerebral edema on July 20, 1973. He was 32.
Bettmann / Bettmann ArchiveThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 81.
Instagram: @alperyesiltasHere are the two photos side by side:
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltas13. And finally, Elvis Presley died from cardiac arrest on August 16, 1977. He was 42.
Gab Archive / RedfernsThis is what he might look like if it had never happened. He would be 87.
Instagram: @alperyesiltasHere are the two photos side by side:
Gab Archive / Redferns / Via Instagram: @alperyesiltasTo keep up with Alper as he adds to his amazing series — and shares other incredible photos — follow him on Instagram.
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