We look up to our favorite stars, and when one of them passes away, it leaves us all
with a heavy heart.
Assuming we know about it.
With today's hyperspeed news cycle, even the death of a beloved actor, musician, or sports
legend can slip through the cracks, scrolling past in your feed too quickly to see.
Here's a look at some favorite stars that you may not know have died.
David Huddleston
You can't watch The Big Lebowski without cracking up at David Huddleston's performance.
In a cast littered with heavyweight stars, Huddleston stole his scenes without even bothering
to stand up.
“Every time a rug is micturated upon in this fair city, I have to compensate the person?”
He was one of "those guys," a face you knew immediately with a name you could never remember,
appearing in films ranging from Santa Claus: The Movie through the Mel Brooks classic Blazing
Saddles.
“Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this
day and age.”
On August 2, 2016, David Huddleston died in New Mexico after a long fight with heart and
kidney disease at the age of 85.
According to his wife, he was a man who lived as large as the roles he played, but who never
hesitated to slow down and enjoy the little things.
Here's to you, Dave.
“Strong men also cry.
Strong men also cry.”
Kenny Baker
You never saw his face, you never heard his voice, but Kenny Baker played one of the most
recognizable characters in movie history.
Standing just 3'8" tall, Kenny Baker went down in history as a giant.
From A New Hope in 1977 to Revenge of the Sith in 2005, Kenny Baker was the man inside
the suit in every Star Wars movie that featured R2-D2 until The Force Awakens in 2015.
In addition to the Star Wars films, Kenny Baker also acted in Labyrinth, Time Bandits,
Willow, and The Elephant Man.
For years, Baker suffered from a lung condition, and the English actor finally succumbed to
the illness on August 13, 2016.
He was 81 years old, and he reportedly died peacefully in his sleep.
George Lucas said that he was the "heart and soul" of R2-D2, a man who always worked hard
to bring the droid to life.
Tony Burton
On February 25, 2016, 78-year-old actor and ex-boxer Tony Burton finally fought his last
round after a long battle with pneumonia.
The world knew Tony Burton best as Duke, the hard-ass boxing trainer in the Rocky series:
He had a supporting role in six total Rocky films, most recently the 2006 sequel, Rocky
Balboa.
“Yeah!”
It should come as no surprise that the man who trained both Creed and Rocky on film was
a boxer himself in his early years, before retiring in 1959.
While serving a three-year prison sentence for armed robbery, he took an interest in
acting, landing his first role in the classic 1974 blaxploitation film The Black Godfather.
Two years later he was in Rocky, and the rest is history.
Nick Lashaway
In 1998, at the ripe old age of ten, Nick Lashaway was cast in The X-Files as a young
Fox Mulder.
It was the beginning of a bright and promising career for a star who would go on to appear
in The Last Song, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and as Frank on HBO's Girls.
Lashaway seemed poised for a long career as a character actor, but tragically, he was
killed in a car accident on May 8, 2016, prompting Girls creator Lena Dunham to post a heartfelt
tribute on Instagram, expressing her "gratitude for his gifts."
He was only 28 years old.
Kimbo Slice
He seemed larger than life, vaulting to instant internet superstardom as the main attraction
in a series of YouTube videos showcasing his backyard brawling skills.
And Kimbo Slice's legend grew so fast, he quickly made the leap to the big time as a
professional MMA fighter, with his third professional match becoming the first MMA fight broadcast
on prime-time television.
In many ways, Kimbo's larger-than-life attitude brought the young sport of MMA into the mainstream,
and although he looked fearsome in the ring, he was said to be a "gentle giant" in private.
“I mean, life is what you make of it brah, and I try to stay humble with it.”
On June 6, 2016, Kimbo Slice was rushed to a hospital in Florida.
He died of heart failure the same day; according to ESPN, the man born Kevin Ferguson had been
on a waiting list for a heart transplant at the time of his death.
Arnold Palmer
When people nickname you "The King," you know you're doing it right.
The godfather of golf and a god on the green, Arnold Palmer is one of the most recognizable
names in sports history, and not just because he also invented the awesome beverage — a
simple-yet-brilliant mix of lemonade and iced tea — that bears his name.
“Before he knew it, he was overcome with this sensation of ‘I’ve just created the
world’s most refreshing drink, registered trademark.”
Between 1955 and 1973, Arnold Palmer raked in victories at 62 PGA Tour events, earning
him a spot as one of the 13 inaugural members of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
In 2012, Palmer became the sixth athlete in history to receive the Congressional Gold
Medal.
He passed away on September 25, 2016, at the age of 87, due to heart issues, according
to his wife.
But while he may be gone, his career inspired thousands and went a long way toward making
golf a nationally beloved sport.
And for people who don't care about golf?
His contribution to the art of beverages can't be understated.
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