We've seen plenty of dead bodies in films throughout the years but most of them are really just for ornament value. These stiffs really earn their keep in their respective movies, serving a genuine purpose in all manner of ways.


7. Septimus
From Stardust (2007)
Played by Mark Strong

How did he die?
It's complicated. This prince drowns - in thin air - after a voodoo doll made for him is thrown into a pond by the 5000-year-old witch, Lamia (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), he had tried to assassinate moments earlier.

Usefulness in death? For evil-doing. His lifeless body is quickly re-animated by Lamia in order to prevent the movie's hero, Tristan (Charlie Cox), from making his own attempt to kill her. Using the voodoo doll like a remote-control, she makes Septimus have an extraordinary sword-fight with Tristan - while his ghost sits on the sidelines and watches.






6. Sgt. Pembry
From The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Played by Alex Coleman

How did he die?
In the wrong place at the wrong time. The cop his face cut off with a pocket-knife by Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins) in order for the doctor to escape from his courthouse prison.

Usefulness in death? For Lecter. He dumps the body down an elevator shaft for the purpose of creating a diversion. Lecter then uses the skin of the man's face so he can in fact play the part of the injured policeman and makes his getaway via an ambulance. Brilliantly done in an utterly sadistic kind of way.





5. Norma Bates
From Psycho (1960)
Voiced by Virginia Gregg, Paul Jasmin and Jeanette Nolan.

How did she die?
This sweet old dear was killed in a jealous rage by her psychopathic albeit loving son, Norman (played by Anthony Perkins), after he found her sleeping with another man. Yeah, the boy is nuts.

Usefulness in death? Again, only for the killer of the piece. Her mummified corpse is a replacement for the actual living mummy he snuffed out. She spends her days sitting in a rocking chair or being carted around the family home by her son. Of course, it was her involvement with stiffies that led to the whole messy situation depicted in the film.





4. Bernie Lomax
From Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
Played by Terry Kiser

How did he die?
Whacked (or shot) by a hitman in his own vacation home after he was found to be 'diddling' the wife of a mob boss. Though the hitman later thinks he didn't actually kill him.

Usefulness in death? Allows the two schmuck employees Bernie invites over for the weekend to stay alive - or so they think. Bernie had actually wanted them killed by the said hitman, but not while he was in their general vicinity. When they discover this, they create the illusion that he is in fact still alive. The two main characters were known to walk around with a stiffy strapped to their legs. Stop it!






3. Jackie Boy
From Sin City (2005)
Played by Benicio Del Toro

How did he die?
A sword-wielding prostitute called Miho (played by Devon Aoki) turns this slimeball cop into a 'Pez dispenser' by slicing his throat after he and his mates threaten one of her working girl colleagues.

Usefulness in death? Very, in particular his head, which is later used to carry a grenade that detonates while in possession of a group of mob enforcers sent to take down the prostitutes of Old Town. Jackie Boy was also good as a driving companion, capable of being involved in hallucinary conversations with the driver, Dwight (Clive Owen).





2. Jacques Sauniere
From The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Played by Jean-Pierre Marielle.

How did he die?
Murdered by the deranged albino monk, Silas (played Paul Bettany), for being the Grand Master of a secret organisation called the Priory of Sion - and a sexual deviant to boot.

Usefulness in death? He actually leads the symbolist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and his cutesy cryptologist off-sider Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) to undercovering the truth about the Holy Grail. He leaves clues on the floor of the Lourve (of which he is the curator) written in his own blood just before dying.



1. The Human Shield
From Total Recall (1990)
Played by Some really poor bastard.

How did he die?
Sadly for this poor schmo he was simply caught in the line of fire between Doug Quaid (played by big Arnold Schwarzenegger) and the goons hired by his adversary Cohaagen (Ronny Cox) while riding an escalator.

Usefulness in death? If it wasn't for him sacrificing his own worthless body to protect that of our hero Quaid, Mars would not have been saved from the dictatorship of Cohaagan. To Quaid's credit he does wait until this inncoent bystander has been killed by the goons before throwing him around like a rag doll.