Doom and Gloom: Pop Culture's 13 Unluckiest Characters

Today is 2010’s one-and-only Friday the 13th. To celebrate this unlucky occurrence, we’ve put together a list of ill-fated characters, from Job to George Costanza. Despite sometimes-Herculean efforts, these guys can’t seem to catch a break from whatever fates, gods, aliens or writers gaze callously down from above. It just goes to show that you can never be too careful: After all, things can be fine one minute and the next BAM! You’ve been crushed by the Mir Russian Space Station. Click through the gallery below to read our justification for each of these unfortunate folks.

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