What celeb deaths would bother you the most? And why?
Mine:
Tom Hanks- He’s my generation’s Jimmy Stewart. My mother cried when Stewart passed away. I think I will feel a shot to the stomach when Hanks passes.
Stan Lee- (Discussing him in another thread was impetus for this thread). He is the creator (ok…co-creator less I piss off the diehards) of the Marvel Universe, which have given me so much joy over the years. He narrated one of my favorite cartoons. He has given every appearance he’s ever made gusto. He is larger than life camp value. I love the guy.
William Shatner- He’s been in showbiz, and worked consistently, for 50 years. If his career had ended with the earlier Trek films, he would have been memorable. But, somewhere around the time of that SNL skit, he kind of got the joke and started playing into it. Since then, he’s become far less arrogant, and much more lovable. I’m not even a huge Trek guy, but the world without Shatner would be a sadder place.
Colin Powell- Some will never forgive him for the UN moment, but I love the guy. The great moderate hope.
Betty White- I was actually saddened when Bea Arthur died. Admittedly, I likely wouldn’t have thought to type her name until recently.
*Andy Griffith- Don Knotts really saddened me. Andy is in the same territory.
I think the saddest death for me would be Bob Dylan. I can’t stand the thought of living in a world where he isn’t writing songs or making music anymore. My husband feels the same way about Paul McCartney. When either of these two dies, our household will be in mourning for quite a long time.
I’ll also be bummed when Rue McClanahan dies. She was my favorite Golden Girl, and she’s not in great health.
Mentioned it before in other threads, but Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers. I’m a nearly life-long fan of the team, and he’s been their announcer since 1950 (not a typo), well before my time. It’s hard to imagine that voice not being around any more. There is hardly a Dodger highlight that does not include him.
Richard Herd, particularly since meeting him at Dragon*Con last year; he now corresponds with my girlfriend, and we consider him a friend.
Two of the worst celebrity deaths, in terms of how hard they hit me, have already happened: Chris Reeve and Richard Pryor. I don’t want to disrespect anyone mentioned above, but I have a hard time believing I’ll be affected the same way by any others again.
No one current that’s living. But Kurt Cobains death bothered me for awhile.
I was always a fan of music but during the pre-Nirvana days the music that was around never inspired me to the level that Nirvana’s music did. So when I heard SLTS for the first time I ran out bought all available albums, then eventually started playing guitar. Then he killed himself.
Bummer.
Because of Nirvana I found a hobby I really love, playing music.
I second that. When he dies, I’m sure they will have a memorial to him at Dodger Stadium where Frank McCourt will charge $20.00 for parking to this “free to the public event.”
It’s weird, but I felt really crappy when Corey Haim died. Not that he was some great thespian or whatever, but he was part of my life. I’m not sure what it’s going to be like when it’s people of my culture dying all the time. Kinda sad, I’d guess…
Heh. Be careful what you wish for. I worried about Stephen King dying before he finished the Dark Tower books, and look how those turned out.
I’m still bummed about Johnny Cash and Paul Newman. Nobody else even comes close. Maybe Clint Eastwood, like Mr. Kobayashi said – he’s definitely made an impact.
