David's Bowie:
This was one of the first celebrity deaths of 2016 and it hurt so many people. He had such a strong fan base, and still does. He created revolutionary music for over fifty years and he influenced people with his visual presentation, his innovations, and his individuality. His legacy will live on forever in the hearts of his fans who will listen to his songs for the rest of their lives and remember what a legend David Bowie was.
Alan Rickman:
If you have ever even heard of Harry Potter, you know how big a role Alan Rickman played in the lives of all of the fans, young and old, of Harry Potter. He will forever be Severus Snape, no matter how many other amazing roles he got to play, he will live in our hearts as the man who loved Lily Potter so much that he simultaneously protected her son and loathed him for being the son of his rival, James Potter. He is one of the most complex characters in Harry Potter and this loss was monumental to anyone who read the books, watched the movies, or grew up with Harry Potter and knew that Snape was the one character you loved to hate or hated to love. Will his legacy live on? "After all this time?" "Always."
Doris Roberts:
This actress had been involved with televisions and movies for six decades. She made her impact on movies like The Honeymoon Killers, Number One with a Bullet, Little Murders, Madea's Witness Protection, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. She was a part of television shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Full House, The Naked City, Ben Casey, and The Defenders. She had also been a stage actress in New York City in plays like The Desk Set (by William Marchant) and Bad Habits (by Terrence McNally). Her legacy will live on in the hearts of all of the fans of the wonderful works she was a part of.
Prince:
The iconic musician will leave a legacy of innovation, intelligence, and creativity. He changed the way people thought of a 'star'. He was flamboyant, extravagant, eclectic, and psychedelic. His music ranged and had elements from almost every genre. He was something altogether different than anyone had ever seen, and that's why people continue to love him. His music was influential to many people who grew up listening to him, but anyone who listens to him will be influenced in some way because he is truly timeless. The day he sadly died, the song Purple Rain was all you could listen to on the radio because everyone collectively agreed: "It's such a shame our friendship had to end."
Mohamed Ali:
As a professional boxer, his influence was felt all over the world. He was an activist for African American's and showed that you can be proud of your heritage, even in a time like the 1960's when Civil Rights were being fought for all the time. He was strong willed and strong as a fighter. He fought people in the ring all the time but he used the same force in his fight for his and his people's rights. He even felt like his given name, Cassius Clay, was his 'slave name' so he changed it and converted to Islam. He was very confident in his beliefs and many people continue to look up to his braveness and his strength.
Gary Marshall:
This man was a huge presence in television and cinema. He created the television shows Happy Days and The Odd Couple. He directed many incredible movies such as Pretty Women, Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, Mother's Day, The Princess Diaries, and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. These iconic movies all have something in common; they have incredible storylines and they are full of multiple characters with commonalities. Movies like Valentines Day show various different storylines all surrounding the same holiday and how different people treat that day. His work will live on and show people how to truly portray the story of an ensemble group of people.
Gene Wilder:
The career of this man is honestly outstanding and anyone who wants to be an actor, writer, or director should look up to his work ethic, his acting skills, and the variety of characters he can play. He played Leopold Bloom in The Producers, he was in Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and, of course, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. His humor and thrilling personality is inspiring and the entertainment he provided for his fans throughout the years will forever be remembered as some of the best acting that we have ever seen.
Arnold Palmer:
Regarded as one of the best golfers to ever play, he is remembered through his many times in the PGA Tour's. He has been nicknamed, 'The King', and was one of the most important trailblazer's and he was one of the first to get famous from his golfing being televised in the 1950's. He was part of 'The Big Three' which consisted of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and himself. Those three men are said to have popularized and commercialized the sport all around the world. Arnold Palmer will live on in his legacy of golfing and, of course, in the drink named after him. His golfing skills will help any aspiring golfer to be as successful as him.
Florence Henderson:
Best known for her role as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch, she will live on the lives of so many people who grew up looking up to her as a mother figure. She was there for all of her children and no one will ever forget the amazing role that she and the show played in their lives. She participated on Dancing with the Stars in 2010 and has had her own talk show, The Florence Henderson Show. She has had a wonderful professional life full of a family of people always there for her. We mourn the loss of a fictional mother that was always there for us (at least once a week for 5 years).
Alan Thicke:
As an actor and singer, he became famous through his role as Jason Seaver on Growing Pains. He has made numerous appearances on television shows like How I Met Your Mother, Fuller House, and This Is Us. His two sons have followed in their fathers footsteps; Brennan Thicke is an actor and Robin Thicke is a singer. His legacy will live on in the iconic characters he played and the music he left behind. His children will continue to pursue their dreams which will make them, and everyone else, feel more connected to him.
George Michael:
As a member of the band, Wham!, he was best known for the songs, 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Last Christmas". He was a breakthrough in his time because he came out as gay in 1998 and was an activist for LGBT rights and for HIV/AIDS charities. He was not scared to show his beliefs and he changed the way people viewed a 'star'. His life got very complicated when he was dealing with his sexuality privately, but he eventually worked things out and been in a committed relationship with Fadi Fawaz since 2012. This amazing singer and exuberant performer will be remembered for his braveness, his individuality and his passion for LGBT rights.
Carrie Fisher:
Obviously best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies, she is remembered by all of the avid fans of the series. She was also a part of movies like Shampoo, The Blues Brothers, and When Harry Met Sally. She also wrote an autobiographical, one-woman play called Wishful Drinking. She spoke publically about her bipolar disorder and drug addiction. Her parents were Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. Their separation when she was younger affected her greatly not just because of the divorce but because of how public it was. Her father left her mother for Elizabeth Taylor who had been Debbie Reynolds friend. That marriage eventually did not work out and Debbie and Elizabeth became friends again, but that does not mean that it greatly affected Carrie. She and her mother were very close when they got older and even appeared in Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, which was a documentary of their relationship. She will be remembered as a strong, independent women who spoke out about things that most people would be too scared to admit to anyone. She was a great actress and a great daughter.
Debbie Reynolds:
As the mother of Carrie Fisher, she was obviously heart broken that her daughter had died. No one wants to live to see their own children die so that must have been so hard on her. She died the day after her daughter of, what can only be surmised, a broken heart. She was an outstanding actor and singer herself. Her breakout role was in the movie, Signin' in the Rain. Other films she was a part of include The Unsinkable Molly Brown, How the West Was Won, and The Catered Affair. She was a wonderful performer with a beautiful voice. The struggles she had with her marriages took a toll on her throughout her life and led her to believe, later in her life, that marriage may not be for her. Her legacy will be left in all of the wonderful works she was a part of. And, children who know her from the Disney Channel Original Movie, 'Halloweentown', will remember her as the grandma we all wish we could have. Her spirit will be remembered through her beautiful voice and her portrayal of so many different characters throughout her long career.
The deaths we encountered in 2016 were so hard on anyone who is a fan of television, theatre, movies, and music. There were so many loses throughout the year, but we will remember all of the wonderful performers who worked so tirelessly in their lives to entertain us.
