I've never been one to actually morn a celebrity death. Not really, sure I'm shocked but not actually sad. It's fairly hard for me to feel sadness for a person I don't know. This year has been different though, every month of this year has been full of musicians and actors that have passed on way to young, and while I don't believe in curses.... at some point even the most adamant disbeliever must start to feel some kind of odd hoo-doo going on in 2016.
Then for us 80's kids if you think on the past few years its as if all of our favorite icons have went on to the next realm. Whitney and Michael Jackson had already died before all the 2016 deaths hit. Who is left now? We have Madonna and Janet Jackson who we will be force feeding kale to daily. We lost about 82 celebrities in 2016 and if you don't think that's a bit more than usual, then you are delusional. Of course the 80's were full of sex and drugs and all the things that can lead to an early death. It's a reminder to all the aging generation x kids that life is short and we are mortal. No one lives forever.
I've seen plenty of posts telling everyone that this is normal and we always have celebrity deaths..and that is true but this misses the bigger point of who died and what generation they belonged to. They belonged to us,... all of us 32-42 year olds. They were our childhood. The celebrities of the 80s. They told us to stay off of drugs and told us to dance. We practiced our sick wrestling moves with them as they flickered on the TV screen behind us. They were the GREATEST, and our second fathers. We were with them as they journeyed through space to fight the dark side. We were proud to learn about them going to space and dreamed of being astronauts too. They were the ones that told us we could be heroes....one day
No, it's not the death of one 80's celebrity that has brought all of us down just a little bit in 2016, it was the death of our entire childhood. So I dedicate this article with love to all the people who helped make the 80's infamous. There will never be another goblin king or man who could jitter bug like there was in the 80's. Your gen x fans ..won't forget about you..
List of Celebrity deaths in 2016
#theyearthemusicdied
JANUARY
4 – Robert Stigwood, Entertainment Manager – age 81
6 – Pat Harrington Jr., Actor – age 86
7 – Troy Shondell, Singer – age 76
7 – Kitty Kallen, Singer – age 94
9 – Angus Scrimm, Acto – age 89
10 – David Bowie, Musician – age 69
11 – David Margulies, Actor – age 78
14 – Alan Rickman, Actor – age 69
14 – René Angélil, Singer / Manager – age 73
15 – Dan Haggerty, Actor – age 74
15 – Noreen Corcoran, Actress – age 72
18 – Glen Frey, Singer / Songwriter – age 67
26 – Abe Vigoda, Actor – age 94
28 – Paul Kantner, Singer / Songwriter – age 74
28 – Mike Minor, Actor – age 75
FEBRUARY
2 – Bob Elliot, Comedian – age 92
3 – Maurice White, Musician / songwriter – age 74
3 – Joe Alaskey, Voice Actor – age 63
4 – Joe Dowell, Pop Singer – age 76
13 – Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice – age 79
15 – George Gaynes, Actor – age 98
15 – Vanity, Actress/Singer – age 57
19 – Harper Lee, Novelist – age 89
22 – Yolande Fox, Singer – age 87
22 – Sonny James, Country Music Singer/Songwriter – age 87
24 – Lennie Baker, Musician – age 69
25 – Tony Burton, Actor – age 78
28 – George Kennedy, Actor – age 91
29 – Gil Hill, Police Commander/Actor – age 84
MARCH
4 – Joey Martin Feek, Country music singer/songwriter– age 40
6 – Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the U.S.(1981-1989) Husband, 40th President Ronald Reagan – age 94
8 – Sir George Martin, Producer for the “Beatles” albums – age 90
9 – Robert Horton, Actor– age 91
10 – Keith Emerson, Musician / keyboardist – age 71
13 – Adrienne Corri, Actress – age 85
16 – Frank Sinatra Jr., Singer– age 72
17 – Larry Drake, Actor – age 66
18 – Joe Santos, Actor – age 84
21 – Peter Brown, Actor – age 80
22 – Rob Ford, Politician, mayor of Toronto – age 46
22 – Richard Bradford, Actor – age 81
22 – Phife Dawg, Singer – age 45
23 – Joe Garagiola, Baseball Player – age 90
23 – Ken Howard, Actor – age 71
24 – Earl Hamner, Jr., Writer/Producer – age 92
24 – Garry Shandling, Comedian – age 66
27 – Mother Angelica, Franciscan Nun – age 92
28 – James Noble, Actor – age 94
29 – Patty Duke, Actress – age 69
APRIL
6 – Merle Haggard, singer/songwriter – age 79
12 – Anne Jackson, Actress – age 90
17 – Doris Roberts, Actress – age 90
20 – Victoria Wood, English Comedian/Actress – age 62
20 – Chyna, WWE wrestler – age 46
21 – Prince, Musician – age 57
21 – Lonnie (Mack) McIntosh, Guitarist – age 74
23 – Madeleine Sherwood, Actress – age 94
24 – Billy Paul, Singer – age 81
MAY
8 – William Schallert, Actor – age 93
12 – Julius La Rosa, Singer – age 86
19 – Morley Safer, Journalist for CBS News for 52 years – age 84
19 – Alan Young, Actor – age 96
24 – Burt Kwouk, Actor – age 85
27 – Mike Barnett, Singer – age 89
JUNE
3 – Muhammad Ali, Professional Boxer – age 74
10 – Gordie Howe, Hockey player for Detroit Red Wings – age 88
13 – Michu Meszaros, Actor / Circus Performer – age 76
14 – Ann Guilbert, Actress – age 87
14 – Ronnie Claire Edwards, Actress – age 83
16 – Jo Cox, British Labour Party Member of Parliament – age 41
17 – Ron Lester, Actor – age 45
19 – Anton Yelchin, Actor – age 27
27 – Mack Rice, Songwriter – age 82
28 – Scotty Moore, Guitarist – age 84
28 – Buddy Ryan, NFL Football Coach – age 85
28 – Pat Summitt, NCAA Basketball Coach– age 64
JULY
2 – Michael Cimino, Writer/Director – age 77
2 – Elie Wiesel, Jewish Writer/political activist – age 87
2 – Teddy Rooney, Actor/Musician – age 66
3 – Noel Neill, Actress – age 95
6 – Danny Smythe, Musician – age 67
16 – Bonnie Brown, Musician – age 77
19 – Garry Marshall, Writer/Producer/Actor – age 81
27 – Jerry Doyle, Actor– age 60
30 – Gloria DeHaven, Actress/Singer – age 91
AUGUST
2 – David Huddleston, Actor – age 85
3 – Ricci Martin, Entertainer – age 62
6 – Pete Fountain, Jazz Musician – age 86
11 – Glenn Yarbrough, Singer – age 86
13 – Michel Richard, Chef/Restaurateur – age 68
13 – Kenny Baker, Actor – age 81
14 – Fyvush Finkel, Actor – age 93
19 –Jack Riley, Actor – age 80
23 – Steven Hill, Actor – age 94
25 – Jeanne Martin, Model – age 89
25 – Marvin Kaplan, Actor – age 89
29 – Gene Wilder, Actor – age 83
SEPTEMBER
1 – Jon Polito, Actor – age 65
6 – Hugh O’Brian, Actor – age 91
9 – James Stacy, Actor– age 79
17 – Charmian Carr, Actress – age 73
24 – Bill Nunn, Actor – age 63
25 – Jean Shepard, Singer/Songwriter – 82
25 – José Fernández, Baseball player for Miami Marlins – age 24
25 – Arnold Palmer, Golfer – age 87
28 – Shimon Peres, Statesman – age 93
OCTOBER
21 – Kevin Meaney, Comedian – age 60
23 – Pete Burns, Singer/Songwriter – age 57
24 – Bobby Vee, Singer – age 73
30 – Tammy Grimes, Stage Actress – age 82
NOVEMBER
3 – Kay Starr, Singer – age 94
7 – Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States 1993-2001 – age 78
7 – Leonard Cohen, Poet / Songwriter – age 82
11 – Robert Vaughn, Actor – age 83
13 – Leon Russell, Musician / Songwriter – age 74
14 – Gwen Ifill, Journalist for “Washington Week” and “PBS NewsHour” on PBS – age 61
15 – Holly Dunn, Singer / Songwriter – age 59
18 – Sharon Jones, American soul and funk singer – age 60
24 – Florence Henderson, Actress / Singer – Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch” (1969 to 1974) – age 82
25 – Fidel Castro, Dictator – Prime Minister then President of Cuba from 1959-2008 – age 90
25 – Ron Glass, Actor – age 71
26 – Fritz Weaver, Actor – age 90
28 – Van Williams, Actor – age 82
28 – Jim Delligatti, McDonald’s franchisee/created The Big Mac – age 98
30 – Keo Woolford, Actor – age 49
30 – Grant Tinker, Television executive/Chairman and CEO of NBC (1981-’86) – age 90
DECEMBER
3 – Don Calfa, Actor – age 76
3 – Billy Chapin, Actor – age 72
7 – Greg Lake, Musician – age 69
8 – Joseph Mascolo, Actor– age 87
8 – John Glenn, WWII & Korean War Fighter Pilot. Marine Colonel. NASA Astronaut. Senator from Ohio (1974-99) – age 95
12 – Jim Lowe, Singer – age 93
13 – Alan Thicke, Actor – age 69
14 – Bernard Fox, Actor – age 89
15 – Craig Sager, Sports Reporter – age 65
18 – Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian Actress and Socialite – age 99
18 – Gordie Tapp, Entertainer – age 94
20 – Michèle Morgan, French Actress – age 96
24 – Rick Parfitt, Musician/Songwriter – age 68
24 – Caroline Aherne, Comedienne/Actress – lead role and co-producer of “The Royle Family” – age 52
25 – George Michael, Singer/Songwriter – age 53
26 – Rickey Lopez, Actor – age 54
27 – Carrie Fisher, Actress – age 60
27 – Richard Adams, Author – age 96
28-Debbie Reynolds, Actress-age 84
