# Which Celebrity Death Will Impact You Most? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274 "2006-08-26T00:15:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/1 "2006-08-26T00:15:33Z")
Future death, that is, and not just because you’re in the pool. 😛 From past experience, my mom was hit hard by John Wayne, her childhood hero. As an adult, I know I was astounded when River Phoenix died, especially of a drug overdose. Just. Could. Not. Be. Yanno? Then, although I wasn’t a royal watcher or anything, the seemingly back-to-back demise of both Princess Di and JFK, Jr. knocked me for the proverbial loop. Now I’m just digging in my heels to be prepared for some of my favorites, when the time comes. Like, say, Dustin Hoffman, who’ll be 70 next year and although that isn’t very old, he’s a lot further along in life than I realized. Furthermore, I’ll be absolutely devastated when my rock gods aren’t here anymore… like Steven Tyler (who holds numero uno position) or Alice Cooper (a close second). So, all that said, who break your heart when the reaper comes calling? And why do you feel that way? Are they a life-long favorite or someone you just really admire for a certain ethic? How about them being your first crush or such? Give me more than simply my own potential sorrows to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/2 "2006-08-26T00:21:04Z")
When Bruce Springsteen passes I shall truly mourn. Ditto Dylan. Of the Hollywood crowd, I think the one that will impact me the most will be Clint Eastwood. Too much talent, and none of it wasted. He has accepted and embraced aging, and worked with what he has at each stage of life. A true giant. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/3 "2006-08-26T00:23:40Z")
**Zsa Zsa Gabor**. I can’t picture a world without Gabors; they are a higher life form, like fairies. I have a feeling the world will go black-and-white. **Anita Page** and **Olivia de Havilland** , because they are friends of mine. **Jan Morris** , one of my favorite writers and a role model. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/4 "2006-08-26T00:46:34Z")
It’s going to be tough when Ozzy and Iommi go. ---
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/5 "2006-08-26T00:53:19Z")
Dylan. I didn’t do friends very well as an adolescent, but waiting for his next album did very well as a Goal to Keep Living For[sup]TM[/sup]. He’s taken on one musical genre after another and left them all more … well, Dylanish. He’s unique. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/6 "2006-08-26T00:55:37Z")
Agreed about Bob Dylan. So much influence on contemporary music. I’ll be really upset when the last Beatle dies (whether it’s Paul or Ringo) because the group influenced my musical tastes so much. However, I think the death that will upset me the most is an author I’ve barely read. I couldn’t even make it all the way through his most popular book, and haven’t touched his others. But I will miss **Stephen Hawking**. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/7 "2006-08-26T02:08:50Z")
For me it’s Charlton Heston. I’ve always admired his work, and, since I read his autobiography, the man himself. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/8 "2006-08-26T02:10:56Z")
I re-read **The Actor’s Life** and **In The Arena** every other year or so. He will be missed when he passes. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/9 "2006-08-26T02:20:27Z")
Oh, also for me (because she was almost born the same year as Mr. Tyler and Cooper) would be Meryl Streep. I think she was one of my first great love affairs with an actress of monumental talent. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/10 "2006-08-26T02:23:59Z")
Hmm… I’m not sure I can play, as the persons whom I don’t know about but would still grieve don’t fit the usual definition of celebrity. I mean, Pay Conroy, Valerie Martin, Mary Gaitskill, and Donna Tartt can all walk down the street without being recognized, I’m sure. I 'spose I’d mourn Alyson Hannigan if she died tomorrow, but not for more than ten seconds; mere hotness does not equal tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/11 "2006-08-26T02:27:41Z")
In the music world, Ian Anderson, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour will freak me out upon their demise. Richard Dean Anderson will freak me out, actor wise… he was my first celebrity crush back when he was on MacGuyver. The world will dim a bit when I have to face the grim mortal reality that Terry Pratchett will write no new books. (Unless his writing turns all crappy before that or something. But even if that happens, it will still be sad.) I’ve thought about this before with other people but can’t remember who they are. As in, I have from time to time thought “wow, I’ll freak out when So And So dies!” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/12 "2006-08-26T02:30:11Z")
The last Apollo astronaut. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/13 "2006-08-26T02:35:03Z")
Don’t worry **Skald** , I’m never stringent in my threads about what qualifies. As long as they’re a celebrity to you, then your input is welcome here. 🙂 I also forgot to add someone that’s been _huge_ in my life and the literary world that will bowl me over when the time comes… Stephen King. I almost fainted when he was hit by that van, so even that didn’t prepare me. I shudder to think of anything worse. ☹☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/14 "2006-08-26T03:08:11Z")
Tom Waits, Stan Lee, Bill Murray, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese (he had better win an Oscar first, dammit!), and Robert DeNiro. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/15 "2006-08-26T03:13:54Z")
Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullin, Jr., and Adam Clayton. God only knows how many hours of my life I’ve spent listening to those boys. ---
**Author:** ![MaggietheCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@MaggietheCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaggietheCat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/16 "2006-08-26T03:54:47Z")
Mick Jagger. But most of all, Harlan Ellison. The world may be a quieter place after Harlan goes, but it will be much diminished. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/17 "2006-08-26T04:04:46Z")
I was pretty upset when I was in middle school and Chris Farley died. Right now it would be Anthony Hopkins especially now that he’s getting on in years. I second the poster that mentioned Stephen King. It will be sad when tom petty passes away. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/18 "2006-08-26T04:07:06Z")
I’ll say Dr. Paul Farmer. The man’s been a hero of mine ever since I read "[Mountains Beyond Mountains](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375506160/102-5442654-3288148?v=glance&n=283155) ". Truly amazing story. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/19 "2006-08-26T04:09:40Z")
My own? Oooo…wrong thread! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274/20 "2006-08-26T04:16:39Z")
Bob Barker. He’s a childhood institution to me. Not to mention the fact that, as a fan of game shows, his passing will reduce the big game shows back down to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (not counting the passing fads like Deal or No Deal). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrity-death-will-impact-you-most/370274.md?page=2)