(CNN) -- This year, it's hip to be dead. The deaths of so many celebrities in recent months have highlighted the continued public fascination with stars -- even beyond the grave -- and the booming industry surrounding dead celebs. "It's been a crazy year," said Scott Michaels, who runs findadeath.com, a site devoted to tales of dead celebrities, as well as the "Dearly Departed Tour" in Los Angeles, California, where enthusiasts can visit sites of some of the city's most notorious deaths. "It's weird because even [stars], who are already dead, like Anna Nicole Smith, are back in the news. Death has become trendy."
@highlight
Fan fascination can continue well after a celeb's death
@highlight
Industry built around dead stars benefits from that popularity
@highlight
Forbes:Top earning dead celebs racked in $194 million in 2008
@highlight
"Death hags" buy memorabilia including death photos
@placeholder' findadeath.com is a favored destination of those who refer to themselves as "death hags."