# Celebrity Deaths that Upset You the Most? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362 "2002-11-18T19:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/81 "2002-11-19T14:12:29Z")
The total shock of John Lennon’s death. And then Harrison. I mean, I’ve outlived half the Beatles. All the other shocks: John & Robert Kennedy, Princess Diana, JFK, Jr, Phil Hartmann, Jim Hensen (I was so in love with Kermit). Interesting story: I go to Broadway on Broadway every year. One year, the last act was Savion Glover from “Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk.” I was right at his feet level, and was totally astonded by his dancing. I went home dancing, turned on the radio, and heard about Tupac’s death. Here’s two young, totally talented guys. One is dancing in front of thousands on Broadway, and the other is having his head blown off. Speaking of theatre, Steve Barton’s death in July of 2001 hit me hard. He was the first Phantom I saw, and I so hoped he’d do Dance of the Vampires on Broadway. When they passed him up for Michael Crawford, he delibertately O.D.'d. Really upset me. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/82 "2002-11-19T14:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > \*\* > Len Bias - I never even saw him in action, mainly because he acted out his absolute worst macho impulses in the absolute worst way imaginable. Why does a budding NBA superstar who’s about to have everything a young man could ever want need cocaine? And why does an NBA-caliber athlete need to “prove his manhood?” Isn’t it already self-evident? Bill Laimbeer goes ballistic if he gets called for more than one foul per game and Dennis Rodman turns into a one-man freakshow, and it’s not a hundredth as insane as this. > \*\* Oh God, how could you remind me… I grew up in the D.C. area and I was absolutely thrilled about Bias (I even got to see him play a couple of times at the old Cole Field House). When I remember how gooooooood Bias was … He could jump higher than Jordan, he had a much sweeter jumper, those huge hands and that huge wingspan of his, and the pure joy and athleticism. I mean this guy would have been better than His Airness if you ask me. Then to hear he had died the day after being drafted. Just for one noseful of cocaine. I had friends who went to Maryland at this time, and they all said that Bias was as clean as clean could be. So this one time, after getting drafted by the Celtics, knowing multi-million dollar contracts were in the future, just thrilled with life, he decides to try some blow. And then … WHAM! Goodbye. I still remember that day as being really strange. I was alternately sad (To make things even worse, Len was just such a nice guy. Look at the picture of him after being drafted, with the Celtics cap on. The guy just looks like a really happy kid.) and angry (How could he blow it all just for a high?). So, remember kids … just say no! ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/83 "2002-11-19T14:35:39Z")
And props to the man… Andy Kaufman ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/84 "2002-11-19T14:36:22Z")
Jimmy Stewart is dead? Holy crap, where have I been? I was just thinking the other day that he sure is getting really old. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/85 "2002-11-19T14:52:35Z")
**Jim Henson** - I was surprised how hard it hit me - so sad for one that young to die. The world lost some magic that day. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/86 "2002-11-19T14:55:55Z")
Most of mine have been named: **Jim Henson** was the first, I think. **River Phoenix** - close to my age and so incredibly talented, really underrated. The scene by the campfire in _Private Idaho_ is stunning - and IIRC from an interview with Gus Van Sant, Phoenix wrote it himself. **Diana** - a Newsweek article speculating on the effect her death would have on her sons got me into therapy. (Lost my mom young, too - so my reaction was a bit strong.) **Bill Sherwood** - director of the marvelous 1986 film _Parting Glances_ (which provided the big break for both Steve Buscemi and Kathy Kinney), Sherwood died of HIV-related causes before completing his second feature. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/87 "2002-11-19T15:09:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Jimmy Stewart is dead? Holy crap, where have I been? I was just thinking the other day that he sure is getting really old. \*\* Yes, he died July 2, 1997. He died the day after another film icon died, **Robert Mitchum**. That was a sad double-blow for movie-lovers. Besides those two, I’m with Lissener on **Princess Diana** and **Jeff Buckley**. I’m still prone to tears at times when I think of them. And Douglas Adams. A huge blow came when the singer/songwriter/musician **Kirsty MacColl** was killed in a boating accident. She was so talented, and had so much more to give to the music world. I still can’t believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/88 "2002-11-19T15:41:30Z")
James Coburn, RIP ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/89 "2002-11-19T15:50:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Equipoise \* > \*\*Yes, he died July 2, 1997. He died the day after another film icon died, **Robert Mitchum**. That was a sad double-blow for movie-lovers. > \*\* That is right! When I typed that Jimmy Stewart’s death was notewortthy, I KNEW there was something more that made it worse. It was Mitchum dying right around there. It seems every year when I watch the Oscars’ “Who Died” montage, there is usually one that shocks me. I must have been off the net that day and not caught their passing. There is a really embarrassing story of my thinking someone was dead, when they were in fact still alive…and I went around telling people for the better part of a decade this man was dead. When I was in high school, my speech/debate coach told me this man had been dead for several years and they just kept his reports in syndication because of the timeless nature of his broadcasts. There was not a HINT of sarcasm in his voice. I think he believed it. I went around for the next ten years telling people he was dead any time his name would come up. There are literally dozens of people who think this man is dead because of me and my coach. When I would, on _rare_ occassion, hear his reports, they would not contradict my belief. Finally, one day, I heard him give a report detailing the death of Shirley Povich, the famed Sports Columnist (and Maury’s dad). I knew then that I had been giving out bad information (a sin to a person like me). I wanted to punch my beloved coach in the nose if I ever saw him again. That man’s name? It should be obvious. That man’s name, who I mistakenly reported as dead was none other than Paul Harvey. And now you know…the rest of the story. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/90 "2002-11-19T16:33:09Z")
After checking, Jimmy and Robert and Brian Keith all died within days of each other. Now I’m bummed. ---
**Author:** ![Alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/91 "2002-11-19T16:36:06Z")
Another one for \Brandon Lee\. I remember he died on April 1st (or it was reported on April 1st) because my flat mate and I were both big fans, and when I tried to tell her he’d died, she thought I was just doing an April Fools Day joke, and wouldn’t believe me. Also \Freddie Mercury\ hit me pretty hard, although I’m not really sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/92 "2002-11-19T16:37:36Z")
Hey, why didn’t my \s work? ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/93 "2002-11-19T16:40:07Z")
I still choke up a bit over **Jimmy Stewart** , mainly because a cartoon ran right after his death that depicted him shambling up to the pearly gates with the words “What A Wonderful Life It Was” written above the clouds. Damn. If that doesn’t bring a tear to the eye, you’re dead inside. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/94 "2002-11-19T17:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alice \* > \*\*Hey, why didn’t my \s work? \*\* you need 's, not \<\>'s. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/95 "2002-11-19T17:59:20Z")
**Michael Jackson LeToya Jackson Billie Mays** For Oxy Clean \*\*Osama Bin Laden Yassir (no really, I’m a man of peace) Arafat Jennifer Lopez’s Career™ Saddam (I-actually-don’t-have-any-weapons-of-mass-destruction,-so-you-don’t-need-to-look-for-them) Hussain That sniper guy Ok. I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/96 "2002-11-19T18:01:15Z")
Aw, crap. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/97 "2002-11-19T18:23:07Z")
\*\*Who will you be stunned by when they die? \*\* Robert Duval Gene Hackman Robert Plant Billy Gibbons Mick Jagger Larry McMurtry Henry Kissenger Walter Cronkite ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/98 "2002-11-19T19:34:59Z")
**Whose deaths have stunned me?** Jerry Garcia and John Lennon’s deaths were heavy blows because their music had been the soundtrack of my life. I have so many memories attached to their songs that losing them meant the end of a chapter of my life. Princess Di and JFK, Jr, were uspsetting not so much for their losses, but that they and I were the same age, and that seemed too young to die so senselessly. **Whose deaths will upset me?** Bob Dylan. Even though he has fallen largely into irrelevance, his body of work has produced some of the most powerful anthems of the past century. George McDonald Fraser, for that will mean no more Flashman novels. Terry Pratchett, for that will mean no more Discworld novels Paul and Ringo. Mick Jagger/Keith Richards ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/99 "2002-11-19T20:21:03Z")
The crew of the Challenger. ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362/100 "2002-11-19T20:26:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*Mel Blanc \*\* that silent tribute to Mel after he passed of all the characters that he gave voices too standing there, heads down cast, before an empty microphone, it tears me up every time. [Deeply Moving](http://www.wbshop.com/escalate/store/DetailPage?pls=wbs&bc=wbs&prod=015180328d4f&promo=PROMOTIONAL) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-deaths-that-upset-you-the-most/137362.md?page=6)