Famous people who simply vanished

Fame is a notoriously fleeting thing, but one way of outwitting it seems to be capping one's celebrity career with a mysterious disappearing act. This slideshow, courtesy of Life magazine, profiles seven renowned figures who seemingly vanished into thin air. They all have yet to be found--and of course, they have all spawned a virtual cottage industry of conspiracy theories about their fate and/or true whereabouts. From Amelia Earhart (below; last seen in 1937) to Jimmy Hoffa (last seen in 1975), some of the best-remembered stars are the missing ones.

Click here to see (Famous Disappearances)

Keystone/Getty Images/LIFE.com

For the full collection, go to LIFE.com (http://www.life.com/gallery/44811/famous-people-who-simply-vanished#index/0)