American singer (1983–2009)
Alexis Cohen
Born Alexis Erica Cohen
(1983-10-17 ) October 17, 1983Died July 25, 2009(2009-07-25) (aged 25) Occupation Student
Alexis Cohen (October 17, 1983 – July 25, 2009) was a two-time reality TV show contestant on American Idol who directed an expletive-filled televised rant at the show's judges[ 1] after comparing her singing style to vocalists Grace Slick , Janis Joplin , and Pat Benatar .[ 2] She was called "Glitter Girl" in the media.[ 3] [ 4]
Early life and education
Cohen was born on October 17, 1983, in Brooklyn , New York City. She attended and graduated from East Stroudsburg North High School in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania . She then attended Montgomery Community College , where she studied veterinary medicine .[ 5]
She lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania with her mother, Mindy Dallow.[ 6] [ 7]
Singing career
Cohen's first audition on American Idol was in American Idol season 7 in Philadelphia , where she sang "Somebody to Love " by Jefferson Airplane . All three judges voted no, and she was eliminated from the season 7 competition.
Cohen returned for a second audition in 2009 for American Idol season 8 in Boston , singing "Like a Prayer " by Madonna .[ 8] She again reacted negatively on camera after judge Simon Cowell called her performance "horrendous".[ 9]
Death
On July 25, 2009, Cohen was struck by a hit and run driver in Seaside Heights, New Jersey . Her body was found by two passersby along a road about 4am. Paramedics performed lifesaving efforts before they arrived with Cohen at Community Medical Center in Toms River , where, at age 25, she was pronounced dead at 6:35am.[ 7]
Daniel Bark of Toms River, New Jersey, aged 27,[ 10] was later arrested and indicted for drunk and reckless driving , manslaughter , and leaving the scene of an accident .[ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
Bark, who had a previous 2004 DUI conviction, was fleeing police who were pursuing him after his involvement in a previous vehicular accident when he struck and killed Cohen after failing to stop as a bicycle patrol officer ordered him to do so.[ 14] In November 2011, Bark accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to eluding police and drunk driving. Prosecutors dismissed manslaughter and other charges in the deadly traffic accident. A judge quashed Bark's confession because police failed to advise him of his rights .[ 15]
Cohen's death was covered by People Magazine ,[ 16] Entertainment Weekly ,[ 17] MTV ,[ 18] Rolling Stone ,[ 9] ABC News ,[ 19] and New York Daily News .[ 7]
Cohen was interred at Keneseth Israel Cemetery in Allentown, Pennsylvania .[ 20]
References
^ "Idol hopeful killed in accident" . 27 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-08-19.
^ "Idol hopeful killed in Ms nam I'd francisaccident" . BBC. 2009-07-27. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-16 .
^ "American Idol Glitter Girl Gets A Makeover" . OK! Magazine. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Diane Macedo (2009-01-30). "Idol Ends Auditions With a 2-for-1 Special" . Fox News. Archived from the original on 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2010-09-07 .
^ Sarah Cassi (26 July 2009). "Alexis Cohen, 'American Idol' contestant from Allentown, found dead in New Jersey" . Lehigh Valley Live. Archived from the original on August 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Cassi, Sarah (26 July 2009). "Alexis Cohen's mother speaks about her late daughter's third 'Idol' audition" . lehighvalleylive.com .
^ a b c Rich Schapiro (2009-07-26). "Wacky American Idol Wannabe Alexis Cohen Killed" . New York Daily News . Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Van Houten, Mariella (10 March 2019). "Which American Idol Contestants Have Died?" .
^ a b Daniel Kreps. "American Idol" . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Bill Egbert and Jane H. Furse. "Punk nabbed in hit-and-run death of 'American Idol' wannabe Alexis Cohen" . New York Daily News . Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ "N.J. Man Indicted in Death of "Idol" Contestant" . CBS News . 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ "Arrest Made in Ex-"Idol" Contestant's Death" . NBC New York. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ "Idol Contestant Killed" . CNN. 2002-09-02. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Simon Vozick-Levinson. "Prosecutor: Suspect was fleeing police when he hit 'American Idol' contestant" . Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2010-09-10 .
^ "Plea bargain ends case against man in 'American Idol' death" . Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-12-31 .
^ Samantha McIntyre and Diane Herbst. "Former American Idol Contestant Killed" . People Magazine. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Simon Vozick-Levinson. "American Idol Alexis Cohen Dies" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Gil Kaufman. "Man Indicted In American Idol Hopeful Alexis Cohen's Hit-And-Run Death" . MTV. Archived from the original on September 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Sheila Marikar. "American Idol Contestant Alexis Cohen Killed in Hit and Run" . ABC News . Retrieved 2010-09-04 .
^ Staff, Us Weekly (2009-07-31). "American Idol's Alexis Cohen Laid to Rest - Us Weekly | UsWeekly" . Us Weekly . Retrieved 2023-12-10 .
External links