Musicians
Alan Parsons (I cried when I found out Eric Woolfson died–the Alan Parsons Project has always been one of my favorite bands, and I had the pleasure of getting to meet Alan on several occasions).
Alice Cooper
Neil Peart
Peter Gabriel
Actors
Hugh Laurie
Alan Rickman
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka was my first crush)
Jeremy Irons
Authors/Artists
Stephen King
Chuck Palahniuk
Bill Watterson
J. K. Rowling
Bob Eucker – He’s been the soundtrack of many summer evenings for me for nearly as long as I can remember.
Michael Stipe – R.E.M.'s music was an incredibly prominent part of my teenage years and early adulthood, and I still love it (yes, even the new stuff).
Clint Eastwood – Because he is awesome.
I was going to say Chuck Norris, but of course he will roundhouse kick Death in the face.
I would say anyone too young to go. And Ozzy.
This is a BIG one for me. I am a huge Fox fan and his disease saddens me as it is. His death would be very sad indeed.
Add this one to the list, big time!
Also, add Muhammad Ali to the list. He’s the greatest!
And in the same vein, Charles Barkley is the funniest!
Springsteen. Hopefully no time soon…
Or Wayne Shorter for that matter. They’re only three years apart.
David Letterman - He’s always been a personal hero of mine, someone whose sense of humor I’ve always keenly shared. As far as broadcasting legends go, he’s the real fucking deal.
James Randi - The celebrity who’s influenced me almost as much as Mr. Letterman. The man is a damned national treasure, and whenever he does go, his death probably won’t generate all that much puclicity in the MSM. Unfortunately.
Don Rickles - I’ve always loved his biting, take-no-prisoners-and-play-no-favorites sense of humor. Plus, he’s one of the last links to the heyday of the Rat Pack, back when Las Vegas really was Sin City.
Howard Stern - Because he’s the King. Of all Media, don’tcha know.
If Ozzy or any member of the original Black Sabbath dies, or if they never tour again, a certain former co-worker who screwed me on Ozzfest tickets several years back is getting her neck wrung. At least I got to see Heaven And Hell in '07, although Dio’s death really bummed me out.
I’ll miss Roger Ebert big time. And I’ll second Vin Scully, even though I don’t give a hoot about the Dodgers. No one calls a game like that anymore.
I’ll add, since others have already: The celebrity death that affected me the most, by far, was Charles Schulz’s. I literally have been reading (and re-reading, and re-reading) Peanuts since I was a wee lad, so much so that Charlie Brown and his gang always felt like family to me; ergo, so did their creator, good ol’ Sparky Schulz. And his death really couldn’t have been more poetic, it happening the day that his final Sunday panel appeared in newspapers. I cried on that day and, shit, I’m about to cry right now just typing this.
Two more deaths that will affect me: the aforementioned Bill Watterson, and one Mr. Berkeley Breathed.
I don’t think he CAN die. He’s the world’s smartest human. He’ll figure out immortality or something. Unfortunately, he won’t share it with his Editor…
ETA: But that would be a neat way to wrap up the column if it can’t be produced anymore.
It wouldn’t surprise me to hear about any of these people, all of whom I like for various reasons:
Gordie Howe
Vera Lynn
The Queen
Doris Day
Hugh Hefner
Wow. I woulda guessed Doris Day died 30 years ago.
Good for her, what with the not being dead and all.
One of the human interest television programs, maybe CBS Sunday Morning, did a nice piece about her within the past year. She lives a very quiet life in (if memory serves) Malibu with her dog. She’s very active with the animal rescue programs and on her birthday each year is contacted on air by a local radio station and does a short interview. She’s unmarried, having been through a number of them that for one reason or another didn’t work and both looks and sounds great.
Terry Pratchett, because it would mean no more books.
Was totally gutted when Patrick o’Brian died.
Wouldn’t really care over much about actors dying.
I love my comedy, as such the three celebrities I would miss the most are:
Bill Bailey - I love his style of humour, from Stand-up to his roles in Sitcoms (Black Books)
Andy Hamilton - Simply brilliant comedian. Old Harry’s Game is my favourite radio show. Revolting People is good too… Hell, it’s all good (except Trevor’s World of Sport).
Paul Merton - He’s on our screens every week, making us laugh with his mostly improvised humour.
The world would be a sadder place if any of those were to die.
I still remember when Linda Smith died. That actually made me cry a bit.
Jimmy Carter. For my money the most morally upright person ever to live in the White House. History will be kind to him.
Bob Dylan. I think the best songwriter in history.
Valerie Bertinelli. My teenage TV crush.
Andy Griffith. So many times his show is still the best thing I can find on the television.
Michael Moore. Keeps the corporations on their toes.
Brian Wilson.
.
The handful of celeb deaths that really saddened me, in more or less descending order:
George Harrison
John Lennon
Jim Morrison
Richard Pryor
Edward Abbey
.
My boyhood heroes, natch:
Johnny Bench
Alan “Hawkeye” Alda
Lawrence Block
As if that would offset the sheer assholery they project to the world.