In Remembrance: 50 Celebrities and Public Figures Who Died in 2016 {UPDATED}
It has been a year many of us would like to forget. This year has seen the loss of too many much loved entertainers, artists, sports stars and world leaders. Here are fifty people who will be missed, including many Australians.
UPDATED – 2016 isn’t done with us yet! 🙁
January
David Bowie (January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016) English singer, songwriter and actorAlan Rickman (February 21, 1946 – January 14, 2016) English actor and directorRené Angélil (January 16, 1942 – January 14, 2016) Canadian music producer and Celine Dion’s husbandGlenn Frey (November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016) Singer Songwriter from the Eagles
February
George Gaynes (May 3, 1917 – February 15, 2016) US actor, best know from the Police Academy movies and Punky BrewsterAngela “Big Ang” Raiola (June 30, 1960 – February 18, 2016) US Reality TV star from Mob WivesHarper Lee (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) American novelist, best known for To Kill A Mockingbird
March
Martin Crowe (September 22, 1962 – March 3, 2016) New Zealand cricketer and commentatorJoey Feek (September 9, 1975 – March 4, 2016) US Country music singer songwriter – Joey+RoryPaul Couch (July 19, 1964 – March 5, 2016) AFL player who played for GeelongNancy Reagan (July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016) US actress and First LadySir George Martin (January 3, 1926 – March 8, 2016) English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician, known as “the fifth Beatle”Jon English (March 26, 1949 – March 9, 2016) British-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actorGarry Shandling (November 29, 1949 – March 24, 2016) American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producerPatty Duke (December 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016) American actress of stage, film, and televisionRonnie Corbett (December 4, 1930 – March 31, 2016) Scottish stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and broadcaster
April
David Gest (May 11, 1953 – April 12, 2016) American entertainer, comedian, producer, and television personality, once married to Liza MinelliDoris Roberts (November 4, 1925 – April 17, 2016) American actress, author, and philanthropist whose career spanned six decades of television.Chyna (December 27, 1970 – c. April 20, 2016) American professional wrestler, glamour model, pornographic film actress, and bodybuilder.Prince (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer
May
Reg Grundy (August 4, 1923 – May 6, 2016) Australian entrepreneur and media mogul
June
Muhammad Ali (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) American professional boxer and activistChristina Grimmie (March 12, 1994 – June 10, 2016) American singer, songwriter, and YouTuber, shot by a fan while performing in concertAnton Yelchin (March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016) American film and television actor, known for portraying Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek reboot series
July
Elie Wiesel (September 30, 1928 – July 2, 2016) Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor.Garry Marshall (November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016) American actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, and comedian. Responsible for Happy Days, Pretty Woman, Princess Diaries and many more
August
Gene Wilder (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) American film and theater comic actor, screenwriter, film director, and author
September
Norman May (February 14, 1928 – September 11, 2016) Australian radio and television sports broadcasterAlexis Arquette (July 28, 1969 – September 11, 2016) American actor, cabaret performer, underground cartoonist, and activist.Ken Sparkes (July 20, 1940 – September 11, 2016) Australian radio presenter, television personality, DJ and voice-over artistCharmian Carr (December 27, 1942 – September 17, 2016) US actress and singer best known for her role as Liesl, the eldest Von Trapp daughter in the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music.Arnold Palmer (September 10, 1929 – September 25, 2016) American professional golferMax Walker (September 12, 1948 – September 28, 2016) Australian cricketer, AFL player and commentator
October
Ross Higgins (June 14, 1930 – October 7, 2016) Australian actor, television host, comedian, singer and voice actor. AKA Ted Bullpit from Kingswood Country.Rebecca Wilson (December 22, 1961 – October 7, 2016) Australian sports journalist, radio and television broadcasterPete Burns (August 5, 1959 – October 23, 2016) English singer-songwriter and television personality., founder of Dead or Alive
November
Leonard Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, poet, novelist, and painter.Janet Reno (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016) Attorney General of the United States from 1993 until 2001Florence Henderson (February 14, 1934 – November 24, 2016) American actress and singer, star of The Brady BunchFidel Castro (August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016) Cuban revolutionary and politicianAndrew Sachs (April 7, 1930 – November 23, 2016) was a British actor best known for playing Manuel in Fawlty Towers
December
Joseph Mascolo (March 13, 1929 – December 8, 2016) American musician and dramatic actor. Best known for playing supervillain Stefano DiMera on Days of Our Lives.John Glenn (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016) American aviator, engineer, astronaut, and United States SenatorAlan Thicke (March 1, 1947 – December 13, 2016) Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. Best known for playing Jason Seaver on Growing PainsBernard Fox (11 May 1927 – 14 December 2016) Welsh actor best remembered for his role as Dr. Bombay in BewitchedZsa Zsa Gabor (February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016) Hungarian-American actress and socialiteValerie Fairman ( c.1993 -December 21, 2016) MTV Star of 16 and PregnantRick Parfitt (October 12, 1948 – December 24, 2016) English singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo.George Michael (June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016) English singer, songwriter, and record producer, member of Wham!Carrie Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) American actress, writer, producer, and humorist, best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies
Updated to add…
Debbie Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) American actress and entertainer. She passed away the day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher.
Rest in Peace ladies and gentlemen, and thanks for the memories. Here’s hoping that 2017 will go easy on us! And for heaven’s sake, someone check on Betty White and find out what vitamins Keith Richards is taking!
Jill is a busy wife and mother of four young children. She loves nothing more than making people giggle, and loves to settle in with a glass of wine (or four) and wander about the internet. Feel free to follow her to see all the cool stuff she finds!
