What celebrity death hit you the hardest

in light of the recent passings, I was thinking what celebrity's death hit me the hardest. I guess for me it was Jim Croce. I was a kid, I liked his music and he was the first celebrity that died. As a young kid you really don't think that these people are not going to be there forever.

Edit to add- I think the other would be John Belushi. Loved his work and thought his passing was way too soon.

I grew up watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and I think it had a great yet subtle impact on the way I view things in life. I remember shortly after he died PBS ran a tribute on him and I actually teared up a little bit. That's the only time I've ever really cried regarding a celebrity.

A part of your childhood died with him

When my friend told me that an SNL cast member had just died I just knew it was gonna be Phil Hartman. The world is much less humorous than it once was. :(

It may seem odd, but I really identified with him... and I don't have many good memories from childhood, but some of my favorite ones involve his music.

I was a senior and I heard about his death on the radio as I was getting dressed for school. Felt like the wind had been knocked outta me.

but I cry whenever I see video of the crowds and vigils of those mourning.

For me, it has to be Paul Newman and George Carlin. Newman was an angel and a gift to humanity, and also a down to earth, beer drinking, cursing, race car driving, man's man. Carlin was also a gift, sent to keep us thinking and honest about the world around us. I loved them both and cried on and off for a few days after both passed.

And then I suppose Fred Rogers and George Carlin.

1000 times more than any of the recent passings...

:cry:

although Jim has made a dead career out of being his brother.

:hi:

The future is unwritten.

And when I was a kid, Jim Henson. Felt like an uncle died.

but I actually cried over Strummer --the one and only "celebrity" I've ever done that over.

I watched his work for 6 and a half years on the West Wing when I heard he died. It was devestating to lose a brilliant actor in the middle of his finest work.

He was definitely another one

The Roman Empire was never the same after that.

Gary Gygax (the founder of D&D) bothered me some. Kurt Cobain as well.

I got a bit sad when he died over a year ago.

eom

but Garcia definitely made the most impact.

I had seen him in concert years prior (before he sobered up). Though he was still fantastic, you could tell that he was kind of sloppy and drunk. The year he died, I got the opportunity to see him again (clean and sober and an absolutely flawless performance) and even got to shake his hand after the show! He seemed to be such a truly nice and humble person. Then, a few months later- gone.

Because it was so violent and unexpected. George was my favorite, and I mourned his passing, but because of his throat cancer it was more..."expected" if you will.

Also Princess Diana--another violent, unexpected death.

And Douglas Adams just because it was sudden and because I loved him so very much. :loveya:

:cry: and I never got to see him perform. There was a rumor he would be coming to Pgh. and my friends and I were really excited and planning to get tickets. The next morning we heard of his death. Gone way too soon, but we will always have his music.

I was so excited - I was going to see Led Zeppelin in concert for my first time. LZ was a big part of my healing process after my father died. So it was tough to have this happen soonafter.

I was only alive for 8 months before John was killed.

That really sucked, though Layne Staley and Kurt Cobain were bad too...

Chris Farley...

Ed McMahon was from my hometown, so that was pretty big around here...

I was pretty young when he died but for some reason even when I was really little I adored him. I always wished I would find out that he was secretly my father, I guess I was an odd duck.

Hi,
It just seemed like so much talent there and he had a lot of enablers around him it seemed as seems to be the case all too often. I really think he could have done it all, crazy comedies and more serious roles.

Have you ever seen Neighbors? I just loved his portrayal of Earl.

Peace

Even though I expected her to flame out early, given her lifestyle, I thought she would have a few more years. Her music moved me at a very deep level. I've never been able to explain why I connected with her, or why her death blew me away so completely.

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Cried for days. :(

I ugess music really does touch our hearts.

Hi,
Interesting, I noticed that too, and yes music does touch everyone and is so personal. I would have posted Bob Dylan, but he has had a relatively long life in terms of a lot of his contemporaries.

Peace

WAY too young. I often remarked that Frank should be arrested for making sense and sentenced to six years in the Presidency.

Woof

I heard about it the morning after it happened and I thought I was going to puke.

And that miserable little fuck who did it keeps getting more and more elbow room and allowances at prison; he'll probably walk out free in a few years. Just goes to show how advantageous it is to be white and the son of a prosperous oilman.....

I heard about it the morning of, while driving from D.C. down to FL for my grandmother's funeral. Double sadness.

The miserable little fuck used to get beaten regularly by pissed off cons who liked Lennon. I hope that hasn't stopped.

I'd given birth 3 months earlier, and I was still hormonal.

The irony of an advocate for peace being gunned down on the street.

Definitely.

and Kurt Cobain.

He and MJ are the only two I've cried about. Jerry Garcia made me very sad, but I didn't cry.

but his death was upsetting to me.

so unnecessary, and so odd.

I do not know what I will do when Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner die

I'm not a big popular culture kinda guy, I guess...

Or is it minus one.


:cry:

:cry:

I feel like he took part of our history with him. Carlin was someone who was with me from adolescence on and I think he helped form much of my philosophy on life but Johnny seemed like more of a global loss.

Honestly, I can't remember feeling anything quite close to what I'm feeling at the moment for the death of a celebrity -perhaps Princess Diana would come close. I grew up with him as he was a major influence during my childhood years

Jim Henson and Alex Haley also come to mind. I'd be tempted to say Paul Wellstone but he isn't a celebrity in the traditional sense

My gut reaction is Hunter S. Thompson simply because I obsessed over it for awhile and still do to a degree. The circumstances of his death were part of it as well as a realization that voices like his are so few and so desperately needed.

But with Vonnegut, there were some special circumstances, notably the fact I had actually met him recently. He shook my hand and spoke to me briefly about some random question I asked, and in that response and handshake I felt the presence of my grandmother, her wit, strength, and charm all wrapped up in a frail human package that was not long for this world. So, when he died shortly thereafter, it was a moment when I revisited my grandma's death, and it became more personal as a result.

Hunter S. Thompson, Kobain, Michael.
AND Carlin, my hero.

George Harrison, too. And Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo - yes, I'm a boomer).

Hell, I remember where I was when Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright) had his death announced.

But it's the leaders that mean the most, and they are celebrities. JFK, RFK, MLK. All within five years.