Celebrity deaths in 2016 — from George Michael to David Bowie, all the stars we’ve lost this year
FROM Carrie Fisher to George Michael, we have lost some truly iconic artists in 2016. A list of the stars who are no longer here.
THIS year we’ve sadly seen a lot of famous faces pass away but fortunately for us their legacy lives on through their music, films and performances.
Ranging from comedians to musicians, 2016 has been a sad year for celebrities but The Sun is taking this opportunity to remember the iconic figures who are no longer with us.
DECEMBER
Carrie Fisher
Age: 60
About: The actress who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with show business heavyweights.
Fisher, who had been in England shooting the third season of the British sitcom Catastrophe, suffered a heart attack during a flight on Friday from London to Los Angeles. She was met by paramedics and rushed to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Her death came a month after the actress and author made headlines by disclosing that she had a three-month love affair with her Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford 40 years ago.
Simon Halls, a family spokesman confirmed the death in a statement saying: “It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8.55am local time this morning.”
George Michael
Age: 53
About: The Wham! singer had a successful solo career and sold more than 80 million records worldwide.
George was born in East Finchley, London. He wanted to be a music star from an early age and would busk on the London Underground. He became a DJ playing a London clubs.
His publicist confirmed he died peacefully at home on Christmas Day.
Status Quo’s Rick Parfitt
Age: 68
About: The rock legend was one half of rocker duo Status Quo who had hits like Rockin’ All Over the World and Down Down.
A statement released by the band’s management after his death said: “He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fellow band members, management, crew and his dedicated legion of fans from throughout the world, gained through 50 years of monumental success with Status Quo.”
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Age: 99
About: Legendary Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor starred in films including Moulin Rouge, The Girl in the Kremlin and Queen of Outer Space after being named Miss Hungary in 1936.
The actress and socialite suffered a heart attack and passed away following years of health problems.
Gabor was married nine times, most recently to Frederic Prinz von Anhalt.
She once said: “Men have always liked me and I have always liked men.”
Andrew Sachs from Fawlty Towers
Age: 86
About: Andrew Sachs, the actor famous for his ‘Manuel’ role in the series Fawlty Towers, died on December 1 aged 86.
He had been suffering dementia for several years and passed away in a care home last week.
Sachs was best-known for playing bumbling Spanish waiter in the iconic BBC comedy series Fawlty Towers, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA.
NOVEMBER
Leonard Cohen
Age: 82
About: One of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Leonard Cohen passed away on November 11 after a long period of poor health.
Best known for his song Hallelujah, he was also a novelist and poet.
Just a month before his death, he told the New Yorker he was not afraid of death.
Florence Henderson
Age: 82
About: The wholesome actress who went from Broadway star to television icon when she became Carol Brady, the ever-cheerful mum presiding over The Brady Bunch, died from heart failure.
OCTOBER
Pete Burns
Age: 57
About: The Dead Or Alive singer passed away on October 23 after suffering a “massive cardiac arrest”.
In the last few years he was more famous for his numerous plastic surgeries.
The singer told Channel 5 in the UK he had “lost count” of the number of times he had gone under the knife
“The number of surgeries I’ve has is probably 300. I hope when I’m 80 and I get to heaven God doesn’t recognise me.”
Alexis Arquette
Age: 47
About: Sadly Alexis Arquette passed away on September 11 but her family respected her wishes by cheering her “transition to another dimension”.
Her brother confirmed she died listening to David Bowie’s Starman.
SEPTEMBER
Gene Wilder
Age: 83
About: The iconic actor Gene Wilder died on 29 August after struggling with complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
While Gene had a long and successful career he is most famed for his role as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Despite being released 45 years ago, the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book has stood the test of time.
Star Wars actor Kenny Baker
Age: 81
About: Kenny Baker, the man behind R2D2 in the Star Wars series, died on 13 August.
The 3ft 8in actor played the role in all six films spanning from 1977 to 2005 and also starred in The Goonies, Time Bandits and Flash Gordon.
Arnold Palmer
Age: 87
About: Palmer captured seven major tournaments during his illustrious career, taking The Masters four times (1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964), the British Open twice (1961 and 1962) and the US Open once (1960). He never won golf’s fourth major, the PGA Championships, where he finished runner-up on three occasions.
Max Walker
Age: 68
About: Walker was a cricketer/footballer who later became a best-selling author. He died at the age of 68 after a two-year battle with cancer. In 34 Tests between 1972-77 he took 138 wickets at 27.27 and scored 586 runs at 19.53, including an undefeated 78 off 84 balls in his final Test innings at The Oval in August 1977.
JUNE
Anton Yelchin
Age: 27
About: Russian-born Anton Yelchin died in a sudden car accident aged just 27.
His tragic death came just a month before the third movie of the sci-fi series Star Trek Beyond was released.
Anton was also known for his roles in Terminator: Salvation, Alpha Dog and Fright Night.
Muhammad Ali
Age: 73
About: The legendary Muhammad Ali, former heavyweight champion of the world, died aged 73 after struggling from Parkinson’s disease for 35 years.
APRIL
Prince
Age: 57
About: The superstar died in his recording studios in Minneapolis at the age of 57. Prince was most famous for the classic songs Purple Rain and Little Red Corvette.
MARCH
Ronnie Corbett
Age: 85
About: The hugely successful comedian Ronnie Corbett died in hospital surrounded by his family.
The British funnyman was best known for his comedy sketch show The Two Ronnies.
Garry Shandling
Age: 66
About: The comedian, actor, writer and producer was best known for his leading roles in TV series It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and The Larry Sanders Show.
Jon English
Age: 66
About: English shot to fame in the early 1970s in his role as Judas in the Australian version of stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
He picked up a Logie Award for best new talent in 1979 for his starring role in Australian TV series Against the Wind, and went on to become well known for his roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
English also won four ARIA awards throughout his career and in the 1990s, he led the cast of Australian sitcom All Together Now.
FEBRUARY
Harper Lee
Age: 89
About: To Kill A Mockinbird author Harper Lee passed away in February surrounded by family in a nursing home close where she had been living in Alabama.
JANUARY
Alan Rickman
Age: 69
About: Alan Rickman, who starred in Love Actually and Die Hard, died in hospital at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer.
David Bowie
Age: 69
About: The year started off with the shocking news that music genius David Bowie had passed away from cancer aged 69.
The singing superstar had just recorded his 25th studio album but had kept his 18-month-battle cancer private from a lot of people, including close friends.
This article was originally published in The Sun
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