MCHS Reflects on Tragic 2016 for Celebrities

2016 was a year full of casualties, controversial elections, and new advancements in science. Even though these were the major topics throughout the year, the world also lost many iconic stars. From January to December, over 50 recognizable celebrities passed away. Causes of death ranged from accidents and overdoses, to heart failure and self inflicted injuries. Over the course of the year, many popular authors, animals, singers, athletes, actors, and political figures were taken from the world far too soon. The deaths of Prince, Muhammad Ali, Harper Lee, Harambe, Gene Wilder, and Nancy Reagan shocked the world.  As their lives were taken, these celebrities left behind many legacies that their fans will forever commemorate.

On February 19th of 2016, the author of the famous To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, died at the age of 89. Harper Lee’s first novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Before the death of Harper Lee, a sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird, called Go Set A Watchman was released. On May 28th, 2016, 17-year old gorilla Harambe was shot and killed in his enclosure after a 3-year old boy fell into his habitat. The death of this animal shocked the nation as much controversy arose over the dramatic shooting of the Western Lowland gorilla. Former first lady Nancy Reagan, wife of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, died March 6th of congestive heart failure at the age of 94. Nancy Reagan was known for not only founding the Just Say No  drug awareness campaign, but  she also was an American actress.

2016 took the lives of many singers and actors, as well. Iconic singers such as Prince, George Michael, and David Bowie all lost their lives to overdose, or heart and liver complications. Tragic accidents took the life of Christina Grimmie, Juan Gabriel, Joey Feek, and Zsa Zsa Gabor as they died from cardiac arrest, gunshot wounds, and cervical cancer. Christina Grimmie’s fame arose as she became a contestant on NBC’s season 6 of The Voice. Grimmie made it through the season and finished the contest in third place. After a performance in Florida, Christina was fatally shot while signing autographs for fans that attended the concert.

Juan Gabriel was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter who sold over 100,000,000 copies of his work. A heart attack took his life at the age of 66. The world knew Joey Feek from the dynamic duo Joey and Rory. As these country artists rose to fame, Joey Feek was diagnosed with cervical cancer after the birth of her autistic daughter. Joey spent that last months of her life at home with husband Rory raising their only child. Zsa Zsa Gabor was a Hungarian-American actress. Her fame boomed in the mid 1900’s when she acted in various dramatic films. Her death was triggered due to cardiac arrest at the age of 99.

Towards the end of the year a heart attack and stroke took the lives of mother and daughter, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher whom we know from Disney Channel’s Halloweentown and Star Wars. These deaths spurred a huge outpour of condolences through social media due to the significant roles these women played.

On August 29th, Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, also known as Gene Wilder, lost his battle to Alzheimer’s at the age of 89. American Actress, Doris Roberts who played Marie in Everybody Loves Raymond lost her life to a stroke on April 17th, at the age of 90.   

“The deaths of Prince and George Michael were a huge surprise because they were younger stars whose lives ended abruptly,” stated MCHS teacher Charlotte Gibson.  “Although it hasn’t happened yet, I’ll be really sad when Clint Eastwood dies…. The most tragic deaths since I have been alive, would have to be Andy Gibb or Dale Earnhardt. I think a lot of famous people die because of excessive living whether that be through alcohol, medications, and not taking care of themselves.”

“The death of Harambe and Prince were sad to me, but most of the other people I never really made connections with,” said MCHS student Mathew Chatham.

Senior Shane Baker said, “I think it was a pretty sad year for iconic deaths. The deaths of David Bowie or Prince shocked me the most. “It (the most tragic future death) will be Betty White.” Baker also stated, “ I think most iconic deaths occur mostly of stroke, and sadly, because of overdose.”

“The death of Harambe was sad because he was a legend. Every time I went to the Cincinnati Zoo I went to specifically see him. We lost a true warrior in 2016,” said senior Jaleesa Elliott. “I recently found out that Harper Lee died, and that is sad because her most famous book To Kill a Mockingbird changed literature education as we know it.”

As 2016 came to an end, fans of these iconic figures reminisced not only on their deaths, but most importantly on their life and the impact that they had on their fans. As 2017 begins, entertainment fans wonder if this year will take a similar toll.