Top Ten Saddest Deaths of 2016
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016) was an English singer born in London, the son of a fundraiser and a waitress. He is credited for his experimental and creative musical discography which has won praise and accolades for many critics and fans... read more Two days prior to his death, he released one of his best albums, Blackstar, which ironically seemed to address his impending death. It is experimental and unique compared to most albums of that period.
It is sad to see that David Bowie died of liver cancer, diagnosed 18 months earlier. Luckily, his legacy will live on as he is one of the most innovative artists and musicians in history. RIP.
It has been two years since his death. I've always loved his music. My heart was ripped to shreds when I heard the news of his passing. He was the innovator of many of the rock and roll genres we have today. He was also ahead of fashion trends.
It was devastating to hear of his death. David, if you are reading this, know that we all miss you and everything you created and innovated. We all love and miss you. Thanks for everything.
Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21st, 2016) was an American musician, best known for being one of the most popular and influential artists from the 80s, with songs such as "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "1999", and "When Doves Cry" . I remember that day like it was yesterday. When my mom picked me up, she told me he died. Even if she hadn't told me, I'm pretty sure I'd have known because every radio station was playing a Prince song. I'm pretty sure the only other time they did that was with Michael Jackson. It's all anyone talked about the next day, and it was on the news for a week.
He died only four days before my birthday, so I got "Sign o' the Times" as a gift from my godfather, a huge Prince fan! It was the best (and saddest) birthday ever.
He had a concert the same day he died. He died in an elevator at his home in the Minneapolis metro. RIP, The Purple One.
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures of the 20th century, and... read more David Bowie wasn't much compared to this legendary boxer.
He is without a doubt the best boxer of all time.
The greatest boxer of all time, without a doubt.
Carrie Frances Fisher (1956-2016) was an American actress, screenwriter, author, producer, and humorist. She was the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. Fisher was known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars film series. When Carrie Fisher passed, America lost its princess, the Star Wars universe lost its Resistance leader, and the bipolar disorder community lost a vocal and much-loved advocate.
She was more than just the iconic Princess Leia. She was a strong figure in mental health awareness and an inspiration to many. May the Force be with her.
Her death shouldn't have received this much attention. People only remember her as Princess Leia from Star Wars.
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (February 21st 1946 - Janurary 14th 2016) was an English actor and director known for playing a variety of roles on stage and screen, most notably Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2016 Rickman may be remembered for his villainous roles, but he will also be remembered as a man full of endless kindness.
Even to the end, the thespian. Well, this time John Wayne does not ride off into the sunset with Grace Kelly. It's Alan Rickman instead.
Please, excuse us muggles.
Alan isn't Snape. Snape is him. He was the perfect Severus Snape and he will always be remembered.
After all this time?
Always.
Jerome Silberman, known professionally as Gene Wilder, is an American stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter, and author. Wilder began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in the TV-series Armstrong Circle Theatre in 1962. On August 28th 2016, Wilder died due to complications with Alzheimer's... read more Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to live.
The guy who played Willy Wonka died at age 83. RIP.
Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known professionally as George Michael, was an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham!. If I see one more vote for 'Harambe,' I'll tell you all to stop bringing up dead memes in a desperate attempt to be funny, especially when dealing with serious subjects like the deaths of beloved and influential people.
Now that I've got that off my chest, George Michael's passing was considerably sad. Dying on Christmas is a terrible ordeal. After his death, we found out about all the wonderful and selfless things he did without any publicity. Plenty of celebrities do acts of charity, but it's those who do it for the right reasons that truly earn the respect of others.
As the saying goes, you don't know what you've lost until it's gone. George Michael was indeed one of those people. He will be missed.
"Harambe" (27th May 1999 - 28th May 2016) was the name of a male western lowland gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo who was shot and killed by a staff member in 2016 due to child negligence, sparking public outrage and later a revered internet meme. Some people actually mourn Harambe. After all, he is one of the few deaths from murder. If you don't like the meme, that's fine, but don't be rude about his death. These comments are very messed up.
This needs to be number 1. Harambe was the best gorilla of all time!
Harambe's death is still sad regardless of his species.
Christina Victoria Grimmie (March 12th 1994 - June 10th 2016), known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, was an American singer-songwriter known for participating in The Voice and for her covers of hit songs by contemporary pop musicians. She was shot dead during a meet-and-greet in Orlando, Florida, by fan... read more Ah, yes. I feel this death was the only truly bad one as (A) she was brutally murdered, and (B) she didn't want to die because she had a whole life ahead of her. Gene Wilder, Angus "The Tall Man" Scrimm, etc. were simply old and died gentle, natural deaths. As for Carrie Fisher, Rob Ford, etc., they were drug addicts who were ultimately their own undoing.
Young, talented, and only 22. I loved Alan and Bowie and the others, but she was murdered when she tried to hug the guy, and he shot her. She had her whole life ahead of her. Her mother beat cancer thrice, only to lose her daughter. Her brother and father must be devastated too.
Nelle Harper Lee, better known by her pen name Harper Lee, was an American novelist widely known for To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960. Immediately successful, it won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books of all time, and it has a great movie adaptation, which is also one of my favorite movies. RIP Harper. You were the epitome of a great author.
To Kill a Mockingbird was truly a novel that defines American literature. This person wrote that novel.
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird an hour before her death. Then I cried with the book curled up.
Anton Viktorovich Yelchin (March 11th 1989 - June 19th 2016) was a Russian born American actor, known for playing Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek reboot series. He died in June 19th 2016 aged 27 from blunt trauma asphyxiation after being crushed by his own car outside his home. I was genuinely shocked and saddened by Yelchin's death when my dad told me from the news. What's worse is that he had only recently finished "Star Trek Beyond" with the film crew.
In addition, he used to be in a band, so he's part of the 27 Club now. I'll always remember you as Chekov. Live long and prosper.
Most of these people died after their prime and were already above 50 years old. This guy's death was super tragic.
Sir George Henry Martin was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer, and musician
Nancy Davis Reagan was an American actress and the wife of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Our dear Nancy Reagan. She has been dead for one month.
I am happy that she is now with her husband.
Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, humanitarian, and mother of the actress and writer Carrie Fisher. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portrayal of Helen Kane in the 1950 film Three Little Words,... read more Way sadder than the death of Carrie Fisher.
Bhumibol Adulyadej was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri Dynasty as Rama IX . He Was Born on 5 December 1927 . Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he was, at the time of his death, the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, serving for 70 years,... read more His death really made the saddest time for millions of Thai people.
C. Martin Croker was one of the greats who made Adult Swim the empire it is now. From Space Ghost to Aqua Teen, and even being Toonami's Moltar, may his oven be forever lit.
Leonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality and personal relationships. Cohen died on November 7, 2016 at the age of 82. This one hurt my heart. No one knew who he was if I mentioned him in conversation. It was embarrassing to try to name his widely known epic songs. Still left with confused faces, I was forced to link the Shrek theme song to him. This has always been a sore issue for me.
I love Shrek, but it feels wrong to link someone who changed millions of lives with his poems to a movie. There are 94+ pages of his work to choose from. Not one is the same. Lord, help those who are ignorant of a true artist. So sad.
Francis O'Kelly, better known by his stage name of Frank Kelly, was an Irish actor, singer and writer, whose career covered television, radio, theatre, music, screenwriting and film. Anyone who's watched Father Ted will have loved the character of Father Jack for his angry, deranged, outrageous personality. That role is unlike any other. I was really upset on this day.
Being a Father Ted fan, this was very sad. Not as sad as the actor who played Ted's death, but very sad anyway.
I'm quite sad about it. He was responsible for many a laugh.
Abdul Satter Edhi (1st January 1928 - 8th July 2016) was a Pakistani humanitarian and social activist, known for being the founder of the Edhi Foundation. He was revered by the population of Pakistan, often known as the "Angel of Mercy" and is often called one of the world's greatest humanitarian. Abdul Sattar Edhi was a one-of-a-kind person. He started from rock bottom and created one of the largest social welfare programs in the world, dedicated to aiding many people in Pakistan who were orphaned, abused, beaten, or in serious need of help.
Despite the success of his organization, he chose to live modestly, residing in a small room with only two sets of clothes and wearing the same sandals for 25 years. It's a shame the international community didn't recognize him as much as he deserved.
His death sent shockwaves throughout Pakistan. He was beloved, and even the few foreigners who knew him expressed their respects. He was an amazing, caring, and selfless man who dedicated his entire life to humanitarianism. He single-handedly saved millions from poverty, illness, and orphaning.
Though he wasn't interested, he is still a worthy candidate for a Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you, Edhi, for your services to a country in need. You will be remembered for your efforts and achievements, and your legacy will continue with the Edhi Foundation.
Rest in peace, Abdul Sattar Edhi (1928 - 2016).
Best known for voicing Lou Pickles on Rugrats and various Looney Tunes characters, including Daffy Duck and Marvin the Martian. He passed away due to cancer.
Sir Erik Christopher Zeeman, was a British mathematician, known for his work in geometric topology and singularity theory.
Nick Menza (1964-2016) was a professional drummer best known for his work in Megadeth from 1989-1998 and in 2004. He recorded drums on four of Megadeth's albums "Rust In Peace", "Countdown To Extinction", "Youthanasia", and "Cryptic Writings". Hearing some of Megadeth's works now makes me sentimental, considering Nick Menza played on some of their greatest albums (*ahem* Rust in Peace). Worst of all, there were negotiations regarding Menza rejoining Megadeth.
He's now in Heaven, headbanging with Jeff Hanneman, Cliff Burton, Chuck Schuldiner, Lemmy, and various others.