Remembering those who passed away in 2016

It’s New Years Eve in New Zealand, and before we see in 2017, I want to acknowledge some of those who left us in 2016.

There were many people who passed away in 2016 who will be sadly missed, and not just celebrities. There is a long list of them at the end of the post. But first I want to show a little appreciation for a handful of those who I will remember most fondly.

Alan Rickman

This was perhaps the saddest loss for me of them all. Yes, even sadder than Bowie. I fell in love with Alan Rickman way, way before Harry Potter, when I saw him in the 1990 film “Truly Madly Deeply” with the wonderful Juliet Stevenson. If you ever get a chance to see this movie – do! Or just watch the whole thing on Youtube. But for today, watch this clip of him singing Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More. If you get a little teary, I won’t judge.

David Bowie

I don’t need to spell out what Bowie represented to us all. In one of my music posts, I picked Suffragette City. But I enjoyed his work as an actor as well as a singer. So it’s perhaps fitting that today I’m choosing another favourite song for him that was a movie theme song. Putting Out Fire from the movie Cat People (1982).

Sophia Hawthorne

A New Zealand actress who was in movies such as “When Love Comes” and “Savage Honeymoon” and the TV series “Insiders Guide to Happiness”. She died at age 39, after a long battle with depression. This has a personal connection for me, although I never met her. Her father, actor Raymond Hawthorne, is my father’s cousin, and I see a striking resemblance between them. It was only as I started writing this that it sunk in that out of all Dad’s rellies that I’ve met, I’ve never met any on his father’s side, only his mother's. Maybe because his dad died when I was a baby, but whatever the reason, it seems like a missed opportunity now.

Here is a photo of Sophia

Image Source

And this is a song that a friend of hers wrote for her, after she was gone.

Jon English

Australian singer and actor Jon English played Judas in the first live production I ever saw of Jesus Christ Superstar, so is special just for that memory. He also starred in an Australian series called Against the Wind, and here’s his theme song from that, along with scenes from the show.

Ronnie Corbett

Time for some comedy now. As a kid, watching the Two Ronnies was a highlight of the week. Apparently John Cleese said that he had "the best timing" he had ever watched. Here’s one of his famous monologues from the show.

Prince

Ah, the artist formerly known as Prince. Like Bowie, an icon for my generation. In a previous music post, I chose When Doves Cry. Today I wanted to show another favourite – 7. But it’s not easy to find videos of him playing so we’ve got Purple Rain (live) instead.

And a couple more special mentions

Robert Vaughn

One of the stars of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and my first crush at age 10. This might even be the very photo I had pinned to my wall.

Image Source

Marcus Turner

A NZ folk musician, whose songs Spider In The Bath and The Chocolate Song are great favourites in my arthritis exercise class. I guess I’m going to have to break the bad news to them next week...

The Grim Reaper didn’t let up even at the last minute…

… taking George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds in the last few days of the year.

Let’s raise a glass in loving memory to all of those who left this mortal plane in 2016. Not just those who are listed below - all the other musicians, artists, actors, writers, mothers and fathers, children, grandparents, friends, lovers, role models, shop assistants, waiters, people who were somebody, people who were nobody, people who lived to serve, people who just lived their lives. Long may they be remembered. Rest In Peace.

But first a note – this is a 50/50 post. Half of the proceeds will be split between @giantbear and @merej99, who both lost beloved pets in the last two weeks.

January

• Wayne Rogers: The actor who played Trapper John McIntyre on MAS*H. He actually died on December 31, but we started the new year finding out about his death. Died from complications from pneumonia, aged 82.
• Pat Harrington Jr: American actor, best known for his role as building superintendent Schneider on the sitcom One Day At A Time. Died January 6, from a brain haemorrhage, aged 86.
• Richard Libertini: American actor known for his ability to speak in numerous accents. He had roles in roles in movies ranging from Catch-22 and Fletch to Lethal Weapon 4 and Dolphin Tale. Died January 7, from cancer, aged 82.
• Ed Stewart: Known as "Stewpot", Stewart, was an English broadcaster, who presented Top of the Pops and Crackerjack. Died January 9, after a stroke, aged 75.
• Angus Scrimm: American actor and author, best known for playing the Tall Man in the 1979 horror film Phantasm and its sequels. Died January 9, aged 90.
• Barbara Allyne Bennet: Known for her distinctive voice, this American actress's career spanned more than 50 years. Died January 9, aged 76.
• Singer David Bowie died aged 69 on January 10.
• Brian Bedford: English actor whose appeared in films including The Importance Of Being Earnest and A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Died January 13, from cancer, aged 81.
• Actor Alan Rickman died aged 69 on January 14.
• Dan Haggerty: American actor famous for playing the title role in The Life And Times Of Grizzly Adams. Died January 15, from spinal cancer, aged 73.
• Terence Dale "Buffin" Griffin, English drummer and founding member of 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople died 17 January
• Eagles frontman Glenn Frey died aged 67 on January 18 of pneumonia.
• Sheila Sim: British actress and wife of the late Richard Attenborough. Died January 19, from natural causes, aged 93.
• Abe Vigoda: American actor known for The Godfather and Barney Miller. Died January 26, from natural causes, aged 94.
• Colin Vearncombe: Lead singer and songwriter for the band Black. Noted for the 1987 hits Sweetest Smile and Wonderful Life. Died January 26 after a car accident in Ireland.
• An enormous coincidence that the two founders of Jefferson Airplane - Paul Kantner and Signe Toly Andrson - died on the same day, 28.01.16
• Frank Finlay: English stage, actor who was Oscar-nominated for his supporting role in 1965's Othello. Died January 30, from heart failure, aged 89.
• Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan died on January 31 aged 77.

February

• Marcus Turner, NZ folk musician, died Feb 2 just short of his 60th birthday.
• Maurice White: Founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, the American band spanned the musical genres of R&B, funk, disco, gospel and jazz. Died February 5, aged 74.
• Daniel Gerson: American screenwriter and voice actor who co-wrote the screenplays of Monsters, Inc., Monsters University and Big Hero 6. Died February 6, from brain cancer, aged 49.
• Johnny Duncan: American actor who played Robin the Boy Wonder. Died February 8, aged 92.
• Author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, died aged 89 on February 19.
• Tony Burton: American actor, comedian, boxer, and football player best known for his role as Tony "Duke" Evers in the Rocky franchise. Died February 25, from pneumonia, aged 79.
• Actor Frank Kelly, who played Father Jack in the comedy series Father Ted, died aged 77 on February 28.
• George Kennedy: Oscar-winning US actor who found fame in the movies Cool Hand Luke and Airport. On television, he played Carter McKay in Dallas and Albert Miller, the biological father of legendary character Victor Newman, in The Young And The Restless. Died February 28, from heart disease, aged 91.

March

• Coronation Street creator Tony Warren died aged 79 on March 1.
• Nancy Reagan, actress and former first lady of the United States, died aged 94 on March 6.
• Beatles producer Sir George Martin died aged 90 on March 8.
• Keith Emerson: British keyboardist of the 1970's progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Died March 12, from a self-inflicted single gunshot to his head, aged 71.
• Sylvia Anderson: The voice of Thunderbirds' aristocratic Lady Penelope. Died March 15, after a short illness, aged 88.
• Magician Paul Daniels died aged 77 on March 17.
• Phife Dawg: Rap pioneer and lyricist of New York hip hop group of A Tribe Called Quest. Born Malik Isaac Taylor, Died March 22, of diabetes, aged 45.
• Ken Howard: American actor who won the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his work in Grey Gardens. Died March 23, aged 71.
• Garry Shandling: Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, director, writer and producer. Died March 24, from a heart attack, aged 66.
• Ross Jennings: New Zealand television producer and director, whose credits included Close To Home, Police Ten 7 and Melody Rules. Died March 25, from cancer, aged 71.
• Jon English: English-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor.. Died March 26, following surgery, aged 66.
• Frank Torley: Known as the voice of long-running NZ farming show Country Calendar. Died March 27, from cancer, aged 75.
• Patty Duke: American actress who first became known as a teen star. Died March 29, from sepsis, at the age of 69.
• Comedian Ronnie Corbett died March 31, from motor neurone disease, aged 85.
• This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson died aged 83 on March 31.
• Sherlock Holmes actor Douglas Wilmer died aged 96 on March 31.

April

• Whai Ngata: New Zealand journalist worked in Māori broadcasting at Television New Zealand for 25 years. Died April 3, aged 73.
• Erik Bauersfeld: American actor who provided the voices of Admiral Ackbar and Bib Fortuna in the Star Wars movies. Died April 3, aged 93.
• Merle Haggard: Grammy Award-winning country singer. Died April 6 of complications from pneumonia. It was his 79th birthday.
• Drugs campaigner Howard Marks, known as Mr Nice, died aged 70 on April 10.
• Reality TV star and music producer David Gest died aged 62 on April 12.
• British playwright Sir Arnold Wesker died aged 83 on April 12.
• Doris Roberts, American actress. Died April 17, from a stroke, aged 90.
• Comedian Victoria Wood died aged 62 on April 20 from cancer.
• Pop star Prince died aged 57 on April 21.
• Barry Howard: British actor who played champion ballroom dancer Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in Hi-De-Hi. Died April 28, from cancer, aged 78.

May

• Reg Grundy: Australian creator of many TV hits. Died May 6, aged 92.
• Ian Watkin: New Zealand actor whose long acting career saw him playing doctors, priests, axe-wielding stepfathers, and American presidents. Died May 18, aged 76.
• Bert Kwouk: Chinese-British actor known for his role as Cato in the Pink Panther film. Died May 24, from cancer, aged 85.
• Former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza passed away May 21 while performing with the band OHM. He was 51 years old.
• Television writer Carla Lane, known for sitcoms such as The Liver Birds and Bread, died aged 87 on May 31.

June

• Boxing champion Muhammad Ali died aged 74 on June 3.
• Brian Kairau: Kiwi actor and youth social worker best known for his appearance in the iconic film Once Were Warriors. Died June 6, after a long battle with diabetes, aged 52.
• Singer Dave Swarbrick of folk band Fairport Convention died aged 75 on June 3.
• Michu Meszaros: Hungarian actor, circus performer and stuntman who was the man behind the costume in the sitcom ALF. Died June 13, from unknown cause, aged 76.
• Anton Yelchin, actor in Star Trek, died aged 27 on June 19.
• Scotty Moore: Pioneering rock guitarist best known for backing Elvis Presley as a member of his original band. Died June 29, aged 84.

July

• Robin Hardy: English author and film director whose most famous directorial work was The Wicker Man. Died July 1, aged 86.
• Comedian, Royle Family actress and writer Caroline Aherne died aged 52 on July 2.
• Caroline Aherne: Bafta-winning English writer and actress. Died July 2, from cancer, aged 52.
• Michael Cimino: American director, screenwriter, producer and author who co-wrote, produced and directed Oscar-winning movie The Deer Hunter. Died July 2, aged 77.
• Noel Neill: American actress who played Lois Lane in Superman (1948). Died July 3, after a long illness, aged 95.
• Garry Marshall: American actor, director, producer and writer. Died July 19, from pneumonia, aged 81.
• Ken Barrie, the voice of Postman Pat, died aged 83 on July 29.
• Vivean Gray: British-born Australian actress who played Ida Jessup in 16 seasons of The Sullivans before being cast as Nell Mangel in Neighbours. Died July 29, aged 92.

August

• Sagan Lewis: American actress best known for St Elsewhere and Homicide: Life on the Street. Died August 7, from cancer, aged 63.
• Kenny Baker, who played droid R2D2 in the Star Wars films, died aged 81 on August 13.
• Matt Roberts, ex-guitarist from 3 Doors Down, died August 20 from prescription drug overdose.
• Steven Hill: American actor from Law & Order for 10 seasons and Mission: Impossible. Died August 23, aged 94.
• Darrell Ward: American truck driver who became a reality TV star after joining the series Ice Road Truckers in 2012. He was heading to Missoula to begin filming a pilot for a new documentary-style show involving the recovery of plane wrecks when the plane he was piloting crashed. Died August 28, aged 52.
• Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka and other memorable comedy roles, including parts in The Producers and Young Frankenstein, died aged 83 on August 29 from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.

September

• Jon Polito: American actor who played more than 220 roles in his 35-year career. Died September 1, from cancer, aged 65.
• Hugh O'Brian: American who starred in the TV western The Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp. Died September 5, aged 91.
• Alexis Arquette: Transgender performer born Robert Arquette, brother of actors David, Patricia, Rosanna and Richmond Arquette. Died September 11, after a long illness, aged 47.
• Kim McGuire: American actress and author best known for her role of Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski in the comedy musical Cry-Baby. Died September 14, from pneumonia, aged 60.
• Charmian Carr: American actress and singer who played Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Died September 17, from dementia, aged 73.
• Curtis Hanson: American director, producer, and screenwriter whose work included The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, the L.A. Confidential and In Her Shoes. Died September 20, from dementia, aged 71.
• Bill Nunn: American actor known for his roles as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's film Do the Right Thing and Robbie Robertson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man film trilogy. Died September 24, from leukaemia, aged 62.
• Agnes Nixon: Known as the Queen of modern American soap opera, Nixon created the long-running series One Life to Live, All My Children, and Loving. Died September 28, from pneumonia, aged 93.
• Former Israeli president Shimon Peres died aged 93 on September 28.

October

• Zara Nutley: New Zealand-born British actress best known for Mind Your Language, and Never The Twain. Died October 9, after a long illness, aged 90.
• Patricia Barry: American actress who appeared in Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Laramie and Route 66 before going on to soaps First Love, Days of Our Lives and All My Children. Died October 11, from natural causes, aged 93.
• Former Coronation Street actress Jean Alexander, who played Hilda Ogden, died aged 90 on October 14.
• Raine Spencer, the stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, died aged 87 on October 21.
• London-born fashion designer Richard Nicoll died aged 39 on October 21.
• Jimmy Perry, screenwriter known for shows including Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum, died aged 93 on October 23.
• Singer, songwriter and television personality Pete Burns, who founded pop band Dead Or Alive, died aged 57 on October 23.
• Don Marshall: American actor best known for Land Of The Giants and Julia. Died October 30, aged 80.

November

• Sir Jimmy Young, who hosted BBC radio programmes for half a century, died aged 95 on November 7.
• The death at 82 of Canadian singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, who penned the classic song Hallelujah, was announced on November 11.
• The Man From Uncle star Robert Vaughn died aged 83 on November 11.
• Leon Russell, artist and songwriter died November 13
• Musician Craig Gill, drummer of Madchester band Inspiral Carpets, died aged 44 on November 22.
• Andrew Sachs: The German-born British actor found fame playing Spanish waiter Manuel in the 70s British sitcom Fawlty Towers. In 2009, he joined Coronation Street as Ramsay Clegg. Died November 23, from dementia, aged 86.
• Florence Henderson: Best known as Brady Bunch matriarch Carol Brady. Died November 24, from heart failure, aged 82.
• Ron Glass: American actor best known for his role as Detective Ron Harris in the cop comedy Barney Miller. Died November 25, of respiratory failure, aged 71.
• Ray Columbus: The New Zealand pop star became the first Kiwi to record an international hit, when She's A Mod topped the Australian charts. He also gave the world a signature dance move, The Mod's Nod. Died November 29, after a long illness, aged 74.
• The death of West End star Keo Woolford, 49, who starred in The King And I opposite Elaine Paige, and in the television remake of Hawaii Five-O, was announced on November 30.

December

• Peter Vaughan, who starred in Game Of Thrones and Porridge, died aged 93 on December 6.
• John Glenn, Astronaut. He died on December 8, 2016 at the age of 95.
• Greg Lake, King Crimson founder member and one-third of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, died aged 69 on December 8.
• Restaurant critic AA Gill died aged 62 on December 10.
• Alan Thicke, the Canadian actor died December 13
• Bunny Walters: NZ-born 1970s crooner, who had a series of top ten hits died at the age of 63 in Hamilton, December 15.
• Hungarian-American actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. Died December 18, just shy of her 100th birthday.
• Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt died in Spain at the age of 68 on Christmas Eve.
• Liz Smith, who played the Royle Family's Norma (Nana), dies aged 95 on Christmas Eve.
• George Michael passed away aged 53 on Boxing Day.
• 64 Russian singers, dancers and musicians of the Red Army Choir (Alexandrov Ensemble) in a plane crash on Boxing Day.
• Richard Adams, author of Watership Down, died aged 96 on December 27
• Actress Carrie Fisher died aged 60 on December 27
• And her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds died a day later.

Sources:

• http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/celebrity-deaths-2016-why-this-year-wont-be-considered-unusual-eventually-35325790.html
• http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/87664559/2016-was-a-brutal-year-for-celebrities--heres-who-we-lost

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