To say that we lost a lot of great people in 2016 would be an understatement.
Between the deaths of David Bowie, Muhammad Ali and Prince, the world inevitably now feels
like a slightly less awesome place.
From rock legends to Emmy-winning actors and, yep, even TV psychics, take a look back at
some of some of the saddest and most high-profile deaths Hollywood has grieved.
David Bowie
Music icon David Bowie died on January 10 after a reported 18-month battle with cancer.
The White Duke's death came as a shock to fans around the world, as he'd never disclosed
his illness publicly and had just released a critically acclaimed CD, Blackstar, two
days prior.
The album contained a number of hidden messages about his condition, and it was later confirmed
that Blackstar was Ziggy Stardust's parting gift to his fans.
Alan Rickman
Film and stage actor Alan Rickman lost his battle with cancer on January 14.
Much like Bowie's, Rickman's cancer — rumored to be pancreatic—was kept secret from the
public until his death at age 69.
Rickman was arguably best known to movie fans for his work in the Harry Potter franchise,
but he was also beloved for his work in Love Actually, Die Hard, and his award-winning
turn in Rasputin.
René Angelil
After a decades-long battle with throat cancer, René Angelil, the husband and manager of
Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion, died on January 14.
Angelil — who had three sons with Dion — was 73.
Glenn Frey
The Eagles' guitarist passed away on January 18 due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis,
acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia.
As his bandmates said in commemoration of their co-founder, "He was the spark plug,
the man with the plan."
He was 67.
Angela Raiola
Mob Wives star Angela Raiola succumbed to her battle with lung and brain cancer at the
age of 55 on February 18 after a lengthy public battle with the disease.
Her struggle with the illness was documented on her reality show and promotional appearances.
Harper Lee
The Pulitzer Prize winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, died in her sleep
at an assisted living facility on February 19 at the age of 89.
Her long-awaited follow-up to the legendary tale, Go Set a Watchman, was released just
a few months prior to her passing.
She was 89.
Nancy Reagan
Former First Lady Nancy Reagan died at 94 on March 6 from congestive heart failure at
her home in Los Angeles.
Although she started her career as an actress, Reagan would go on to become known for her
loyalty to her husband, Ronald Reagan, and involvement in his many political campaigns,
including his two terms in the White House.
Garry Shandling
Comedian and actor Garry Shandling died unexpectedly on March 24.
He reportedly suffered a "massive heart attack, with no prior warning whatsoever."
Shandling will forever be known for his work on the beloved HBO comedy The Larry Sanders
Show, for which he finally received an Emmy after the show's final season, in 1998.
He was 66.
Merle Haggard
Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6, which just so happened to be the
morning of his 79th birthday.
The "Mama Tried" singer had battled double pneumonia for several months before his death.
Doris Roberts
Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts died in her sleep on April 17 at 90 years old.
Best known for her work on Everybody Loves Raymond and St. Elsewhere, the actress was
90 when she passed.
Chyna
Wrestling star Joanie Laurer, best known by her stage name Chyna, was found dead in her
apartment on April 20 amid reports of an accidental overdose.
The Surreal Life star was only 43.
Prince
Legendary "Purple Rain" singer Prince was found dead in an elevator inside his Paisley
Park estate in Minnesota on April 2.
After months of investigation, the officials confirmed that Prince died of an accidental
overdose.
He was 57.
Michelle McNamara
Michelle McNamara, the wife of actor Patton Oswalt, died unexpectedly in her sleep on
April 21 at the age of 46.
Oswalt has been very open about his grief over the loss of his wife, who was a true-crime
novelist.
Morley Safer
60 Minutes icon Morley Safer died on May 19 after battling pneumonia.
Safer spent 46 years on the show and filed nearly 1,000 reports before his retirement
in May.
He also became famous for exposing some of the most horrific acts executed by American
soldiers through his reports on the Vietnam War for CBS Evening News.
He was 84.
Muhammad Ali
On June 4, Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight champ widely considered to be the greatest boxer
who ever lived, died at 74 after being hospitalized in Arizona for respiratory complications.
Gordie Howe
The world of sports lost another great on June 10 when hockey star Gordie Howe died
at the age of 88, having been diagnosed with dementia about four years prior.
Anton Yelchin
The phrase "gone too soon" will forever be applied to Star Trek star Anton Yelchin, who
died tragically and suddenly June 19 after his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo rolled backwards
and pinned him against the gate to his home.
He was just 27 years old.
Garry Marshall
Film and television icon Garry Marshall died at the age of 81 on July 19th, after "complications
from pneumonia following a stroke."
Marshall was best known for creating popular '70s sitcoms like Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley
and Mork & Mindy, among others, and directing a slew of popular movies, including the Oscar-nominated
smash Pretty Woman.
Youree Dell Harris
Youree Dell Harris, better known as the Jamaican television psychic Miss Cleo, died on July
26 of colon cancer that had subsequently spread to her liver and lungs.
She was 53.
Kenny Baker
British actor Kenny Baker, the man who played R2-D2 in the Star Wars movies, died on August
13 at the age of 81 after battling a long illness.
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder died on August 26 after battling Alzheimer's disease for about three years.
His disease was not made public until after his death, according to his nephew, Jordan
Walker-Pearlman, because "he simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world."
Wilder became one of the great screen comics in the '60s and '70s, who may be best remembered
for his lead performance in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Alexis Arquette
Transgender actress and advocate Alexis Arquette died in the early hours of September 11 after
battling an illness that sources now claim was AIDS.
Arquette—who transitioned into a woman in her 30s — was 47 when she died.
Arnold Palmer
Golf legend Arnold Palmer died September 25th while awaiting cardiac surgery.
Palmer won over 90 tournaments, including four Masters titles and the U.S. Open, among
many others.
He was also known among tea and lemonade fans for the popular drink named in his honor.
He was 87.
Janet Reno
At the age of 78, '90s political figure Janet Reno died from complications of Parkinson's
disease on November 7 after first being diagnosed in 1995.
Reno became the first woman to earn the office of attorney general of the United States.
Leonard Cohen
Music legend Leonard Cohen, who sang the now-iconic number "Hallelujah," died on November 7th
after suffering a fall in the middle of the night.
He was 82.
Robert Vaughn
Actor Robert Vaughn, who rose to fame in the '60s for his TV work, died at the age of 83
on November 11th "after a brief battle with acute leukemia."
Gwen Ifill
Trailblazing PBS news anchor Gwen Ifill died at the age of 61 on November 14th after battling
cancer.
Ifill was best known for her work on PBS NewsHour and and Washington Week, as well as her role
as moderator in vice presidential debates.
Florence Henderson
Popularly known as "America's Mom," TV star Florence Henderson died on November 24th of
heart failure.
The Brady Bunch matriarch had been an avid supporter of heart health awareness efforts
and was 82 when she passed.
Alan Thicke
On December 13, TV legend Alan Thicke died at the age of 69 after suffering a sudden
heart attack.
While he was probably best known for playing Doctor Jason Seaver on Growing Pains, Thicke
also had a talent for songwriting.
He composed the themes to several game shows in the '70s, as well as the iconic tunes for
The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes.
George Michael
Pop great George Michael was found dead at his home in England on December 25 at age
53.
Michael rose to fame as part of the pop duo Wham! in the '80s with hits such as "Wake
Me Up Before You Go-Go" and later found great success as a solo artist, winning a Grammy
in 1989 for album of the year with Faith.
Carrie Fisher
Actress Carrie Fisher, known the world over for her role as Princess Leia in the Star
Wars franchise, died Dec. 27 after suffering a heart attack during a flight on December
23.
After garnering tremendous success on screen, Fisher's spotlight often shifted to her personal
issues.
She became an outspoken advocate on behalf of substance abuse and mental health, writing
about her personal battles with drugs and bipolar disorder.
As 2016 wound down to a close, the world lost a true member of Hollywood royalty.
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