Celebrities whose passing is taken personally

[vito]

The current thread about the death of actor John Mahoney made me think about the subject of this thread. I am not a big sports fan, or someone who gets super excited about most entertainers, so their passing might sadden me to see the loss of that talent to the world, but after a very short moment I just move on and likely do not ever think about them again. It meant little to nothing to me when Prince died, or Michael Jackson, or John Lennon or many others, and even less in my mind and heart if the death was due to personal indulgence with drugs or alcohol. But there was one singer whose death hit me as if the man were part of my family.

When Harry Chapin was killed in a car crash back in 1981, which was 37 years ago, I was stationed in Germany and still on active duty with the Army. I remember having to sit down when I heard the news on the radio. Harry was not just a singer, but a consummate story teller. His songs, mostly sad tales of loneliness and heartache, but a few of humor (even of the dark kind that I am fond of) hit home to me as no one before or since has done. To this day his biggest hit, "the Cat in the Cradle" makes me think deeply of my role as a father and grandfather and reminds me that time with the little ones is precious and cannot be recovered if missed.

So while some who died made me a bit sad; Steve McQueen comes to mind, mostly I have been indifferent to the passing of the rich and famous. For me, Harry Chapin was unique and different and I still miss him sorely to this day.

What about you?

 

[ChiefMuzz]

I think it all hinges on how you relate to them. People have a tendency to talk very negatively about entertainers, etc when someone whom they never physically knew, feels some personal grief when they pass. If you connect in some way to a singers music, or follow a team for a while - there is a personal connection - even if it doesn't exist in a physical, "I know them" way. I don't think I've ever felt a personal connection when an entertainer passed, but I've definitely felt sorrow.
For me, I typically feel more sorrow when it is related to alcohol or drugs, mainly because I feel like it is unnecessary, something that could have been avoided. In some ways, I feel looking down on someone for how they passed, be it addiction, or related to lifestyle disease is not something I hope I don't get into the routine of doing.

 

[Snake45]

I can think offhand of four "celebrities" whose deaths saddened me deeply: Jimi Hendrix, drag racer "Jungle Jim" Liberman, comedian Sam Kinison, and Warren Zevon. Also Steve McQueen to a slightly lesser extent.

 

[Bob Wright]

No death passes unnoticed, of course. But many deaths recorded here on this forum are names I never heard, mostly members of bands.

But I recall the last meeting between Miss Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff. Minnie Pearl was in a nursing home at that time, and Roy Acuff often visited her. Upon leaving, his farewell was, "I'll be seein' you."

At that farewell, Minnie pearl was quoted as saying, "Roy, the next time we see each other, we'll be in Heaven."

That was to come true, as both died shortly afterwards. But few other celebrities have such testimony.

Bob Wright

 

[wwb]

Never got too worked up over the passing of any movie, TV, or sports figure. Their talent may be missed by some, but life goes on; I feel some sense of loss when someone passes who has truly made a contribution to society and mankind - the great thinkers and leaders whose presence benefited us all.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
Personal loss when a celebrity dies?
No...just not that invested in any celebrity to take their death personally.
About the closest to feeling that would be when Ronald Reagan, James Stewart, John Wayne and Sen. John Heinz died.
Most celebrity deaths are noted with passing attention but little else...

 

[A.J.]

I was kinda bummed when David Bowie died. Just days before he passed, he finished a few songs he wanted to give to his fans free of charge. The song "Lazarus" is pretty haunting and very well done. It's kinda cool that Mr. Bowie thought enough as me; a lowly fan to spend his last day on planet Earth working hard to GIVE me some of his songs.

 

[Danjet500]

It bothered me for quite a while when John Candy passed. I liked his movies but more importantly, I liked him. A genuinely funny man.

 

[jollymon]

When Harry Chapin died I was in the Army too ,Serving With the 101st Abn. it was our turn to give summer training to the Cadets at West Point , My Mother was living on Long Island then and when I had the weekends off I would go see her.
So the first weekend I went to see her my buddy and I got stuck in a miles long traffic jam ,we were just inching along .
As we got to the cause of the jam up , It was a car crash ,As we inched past they said that Harry Chapin had just died in
a crash on the Long Island Expressway over the radio , That's when we realized that car with the tarp over it was his .
Loved his music . Every time I hear one of his songs takes me to that day and place .
That's the only one that has any personal effect on me , Other's are missed but not the same way

 

[blackhawknj]

I met Ernest Borgnine and Tony Curtis at Chiller Theatres here in NJ, even shook hands with them-one veteran to another. At another Chiller Theatre I met Kate O'Mara, English actress who played The Rani on
Doctor Who, she passed away a few months later.
Recording artists, movie and TV actors achieve a form of immortality.

 

[Coop]

Kate Wolf

Towns Van Zant

I am (and Annie, my wife) still performing as a musician/singer to this day (74 years old), and I/we always include one or more of their beautifully crafted songs in my/our set list.

Both were incredible gifted song writers/performers.

 

[eveled]

Harry was a rare person, his death truly was a loss. Lots of celebrities give to charity, yet still live extravagant lives.

Harry gave all he had and was driven to give more. So sad.

 

[Daveboone]

Robin Williams came as a shock...he was still young, very productive, I can still remember the first "Mork and Mindy" episode when he was released onto prime time TV with the energy and originality unseen on TV in decades...I didn't allways agree with his politics, but that doesn't mean he couldn't make me laugh my butt off...
I was also set back by David Bowies death. Although I really only came to appreciate his music in the last 20 years or so, I have grown to love his music, from the amazingly beautiful (in its own way) "Space Oddity" to the fun upbeat "Pablo Picasso" of Reality.
that said...I cant really get into his last album...
I mourned for Johnny Cash....it seemed his music only got better and more profound as he aged. His death was no surprise, as his health had been poor for years. His marriage was a love story for the ages.

 

[mcb66]

Steve Irwin. From all appearances just a good all around guy who cared about his world and wanted to share it with folks. Taken too early.

 

[smoke-eater]

Yes, I clearly remember the death of Harry Chapin. It wasn't just his passing, but the terrible way that he died. Part of why it hit me so hard was that such a talented, humble and generous man was fated to die such a cruel death. I still can't come to terms with it.

The only other celebrity death that deeply affected me was the passing of Jimmy Stewart. An American Hero in every way. It felt like I had lost a beloved grandfather.

 

[Heliman]

To me, those who have led a full life do not bother me too much. We all die, hopefully after a long life. These bothered me the most:

Joplin, Hendrix, Cline, Horton, Presley, Chapin, Croce and others my sleepy brain doesn't recall at this time.

Dave

 

[vito]

Thanks for all the responses. Over the years I have remarked to people about my feeling a loss at the death of Harry Chapin, and the most common reaction has been "who was that?". Its a bit heartening to read that many others felt about him the way I did. He started World Hunger and would do about 200(!) fund raising concerts a year for the organization. A really special guy as well as a gifted entertainer.

 

[stubbfarmer]

Harry Chapin's songs are wonderful stories with a moral lesson to me. Our family has had a tradition of listing to his music on family trips since our kids were young. How my daughter is passing that tradition to my grandkids. I probably have the only 3d and 4th graders in the country that know all the words to 30000 lbs. of bananas.

I miss Jim Croce also.

 

[xtratoy]

Let me think............ Nope, I got nothing...... :?

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Good start Dave. I'd have to add Glen Campbell, Hugh Hefner, and Fred Thompson. Not all singers but famous. I don't personally know any one that is famous.