Vale 2016

[GTOA]

What a year 2016 has been for the music, movie, TV and sports industries. The amount of sadness at the passing of so many big and household names.

These are many of the celebrities who have passed away this year.

Natalie Cole-Singer (Unforgettable, Miss You Like Crazy)
David Bowie-Singer (China Girl, Ashes To Ashes)
Alan Rickman-Movie actor (Harry Potter films, Die Hard)
Ken Judge -Ex-AFL player, coach (played for Hawthorn and Brisbane; coached Hawthorn and WCE).
Glenn Frey -Singer, co-founder of "The Eagles" (Hotel California)
Martin Crowe-Ex-New Zealand cricket captain (cousin of Russell Crowe)
Paul Couch -Geelong Football Club Legend, 1989 Brownlow Medallist
Nancy Reagan-Ex-First Lady
George Martin-Music manager (most notably, managed the Beatles)
Jon English-Singer, actor ("Six Ribbons". Starred in "Pirates Of Penzance", "Jesus Christ Superstar", and mini-series "Against The Wind").
Ronnie Corbett-Comedian ("The Two Ronnies")
Patty Duke Astin-Actress ("The Patty Duke Show" (Married to John Astin, mother of Sean Astin)
Doris Roberts-Actress (TV-"Remington Steele", "Everyone Loves Raymond", Movies-"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation")
Bruce Mansfield-3AW Radio Personality ("Bruce And Phil")
Prince-Singer, songwriter ("Purple Rain", "Raspberry Beret", "1999")
Muhammad Ali-Boxing Legend (was voted "The Greatest Sportsperson Of The 20th Century" in many polls).
Kenny Baker-Actor (played R2-D2 in seven "Star Wars" films)
Gene Wilder-Movie Actor ("Stir Crazy", "Young Frankenstein", "Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory")
Laurie Dwyer (North Melbourne great)
Max Walker-Cricketer, commentator, author.
Arnold Palmer -Golfing Legend
Leonard Cohen-Singer ("Hallejuah")
Robert Vaughn-TV and movie actor (Movies included:-"The Towering Inferno", "Superman 3")
(TV credits included:- "Man From U.N.C.L.E.", "The A-Team", "Hustle")
Billy Barrott-Richmond Legend (famously traded to St. Kilda for Ian Stewart)
Fidel Castro -Cuban dictator
Florence Henderson-Actress (most notable for playing the archetypal TV mum, Carol Brady, in "The Brady Bunch")
Alan Thicke-Actor, singer (Acted in, and sung the theme song to "Growing Pains", also sung the opening credits songs for "Diff'rent Strokes" and a number of other sitcoms).
Zsa Zsa Gabor-Actress, socialite
George Michael-Singer ("Careless Whisper", "Freedom", "Faith")
Carrie Fisher -Actress, author (most famous as "Princess Leia" in four "Star Wars" films. Also appeared in "The Blues Brothers" and "When Harry Met Sally")
Debbie Reynolds- Actress ("Singin' In The Rain") (also mother to Carrie Fisher)

So, many big names died this year. These are ones I can recall. Can you think of any more?

It has also been a year of mourning closer to home. I know of, or know someone who knows, at least 8 people who died this year.

-My brother died in January from cancer.
-My other brother and his wife (my sister-in-law) put down their dog.
-My living brother's best man lost his father and maternal grandmother (within a week of each other)
-My sister-in-law lost her brother-in-law (my brother, who I mentioned first), and both her brother lost his brother-in-law, and her sister lost her father-in-law). She also lost her favorite aunt.
-My neighbour lost his mother the Monday before Christmas.

So, it has been a rotten year all round, and we lost many great people this year. Hopefully 2017 will be kinder, and we hear less about the death of someone, and let's hope for more health.

Here's to 2017!

 

[perthblue]

holy shit doris roberts died??

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Old celebrities dying really pales in comparison to Brexit and Trump.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Not specifically directed at the OP, but all the people posting "2016, worst year ever" on social media using their $700 iPad in their air conditioned houses while eating sushi really need to get some perspective. I'm pretty sure those years when World Wars were occurring and tens of thousands more people were dying each day were worse than a year where a few rich celebrities you've never met died and Trump won the presidency. Unless you've suffered some personal loss (condolences to the OP), was this year really that bad?

The multitude of terrorist attacks were bad, sure. But there were also a hell of a lot of good things to happen this year.

 

[GTOA]

Not specifically directed at the OP, but all the people posting "2016, worst year ever" on social media using their $700 iPad in their air conditioned houses while eating sushi really need to get some perspective. I'm pretty sure those years when World Wars were occurring and tens of thousands more people were dying each day were worse than a year where a few rich celebrities you've never met died and Trump won the presidency. Unless you've suffered some personal loss (condolences to the OP), was this year really that bad?

The multitude of terrorist attacks were bad, sure. But there were also a hell of a lot of good things to happen this year.

But Like I said, personally, I have had losses myself this year, not just rich celebrities that I have never met.

You know what, though, two thoughts occur to me about the celebrity death toll this year. 1) It shows that, despite their talents or reasons for their fame, these people are still mortal, and therefore just like the rest of us. The only difference is that they have an ability that others don't have, or took an opportunity others weren't prepared to take.

The second is that, they have grieving families and people who care about them, and having lost someone I was very close to myself, I understand grief better, and it makes me empathise more with others who have lost this year (such as my brother and sister-in-law, and my neighbor) and also it makes me think of the relatives of these celebrities, and how they are coping. These celebrities were someone's father, mother, son, daughter, or relative as well, and am feeling it. I am feeling it for Carrie Fisher's daughter, who has lost her mother and grandmother in the space of two days.

In the end, it doesn't matter how rich and famous or poor and non-famous we are, we are all on borrowed time. So, hopefully we can find a place where we feel for others left behind, no matter who they are.

 

[Scotland]

There seems to be a disproportionate number of celebrities who have died in their 50s and 60s this year.

I mean Ronnie Corbett, Debbie Reynolds etc. dying is sad but they were in their mid 80s so it is to be expected. Zsa Zsa Gabor was 99. My immediate reaction to hearing she had died was 'she was still alive?'.

Even though a few in the list above lived charmed lives there are still too many cancer, heart attack etc. deaths.

 

[Run n Spread]

Weird year. Some very good some very bad for me personally. All in all just roll onto the next one. I more tend to view and remember dates and milestones i.e. What a finals series Sept 2016 was or I enjoyed my Nov 2015 holiday or I will start a new job insert date 2017, rather than look over the course of a year being good or bad. e.g. Last year 2015 I remembered I few good and bad events but hardly remember if it was good or bad. 2016 will probably feel the same when 2018 roles around.

 

[crownie]

2016 was a very good year for me and that's all that matters.

 

[bradrowe#32]

We lost a few celebrities this year and there was a bit of political turmoil, but still...in 1347 millions of people died due to the Black Plague.

 

[SportsCentre]

The media / entertainment industry grew in the 70s and 80s with the increase and improvement in technology, Video, TV, etc. etc.
More actors, musicians, celebrities received more exposure to the mortals. Those same celebs are reaching old age.
It was a year where what felt like a larger amount of those people passed, but was it more proportionate to other years?

I agree though that there have been a lot in their 50s and 60s who've passed.
An earlier hard living lifestyle catching up?