I’ve never been one to idolize celebrities. That said, it would be foolish of me to claim they haven’t touched countless lives. So, when they’re gone, it’s no wonder their loss is felt so deeply.
Just last week, I paused mid-scroll during an otherwise mundane social media browse to learn that David Lynch had passed.
It felt strangely personal. His work, creative talent, and unshakable authenticity had always inspired me. He was a dreamer unlike any other, and it saddened me to realize there won’t be any more projects under his name. I’m still thinking about him.
As it happens, Redditors recently reflected on other celebrity deaths that struck a similar chord. Their stories moved us to put together a list of their choices as a tribute. Read them below, and let’s honor their legacies together.
#1
Robin Williams still gets me.
Image source: Leeser, Conan O’Brien
#2
Alan Rickman.
Image source: erikivy, Warner Bros.
#3
When I was a boy, my dad would vocally discuss how he didn’t want me.
Mister Rogers was an adult male who seemed to like me just fine. I would watch his show as a child and my mom say I would *plead* with the television when he started putting on his shoes.
“Stay today! Just this time, please, just stay this time…”
I heard he died at the end of my work day. I couldn’t finish my supper, I went into my room, closed my door and cried my eyes out. I was 24. I really, really, really wanted to just tell him thank you.
Image source: RealLiveLawyer, PBS KIDS
#4
Princess Diana.
Image source: Agreeable_Air_8270
#5
Chadwick Bozeman.
tdrknt1:
Chadwick Bowsman that dude was dying and still visited sick folks in the hospital. He was a good man.
#6
Anton Yelchin. He was an only child, too.
Image source: dizzyspell, Paramount Pictures
#7
Steve Irwin.
maybeee123_Report:
Steve Irwin could have done some some amazing things in the last 20 years.
His kids are making him proud though.
Image source: Huge-Mango-8403, Real Wild
#8
Heath ledger.
Image source: TheWizOf1FtSq, Warner Bros. Pictures
#9
Grant Imahara.
He was full of life, totally healthy, uplifting, jovial, enthusiastic about science, the exact kind of voice we need in this current time. And he died due to a very sudden brain aneurism. Basically, absolutely nothing you could do to prevent that. It’s just a thing that…happens.
A lot of celebrity deaths are tragic and heart-breaking. But Grant’s death also felt just straight-up *unfair*.
KahlessAndMolorReport:
Grant Imahara from myth busters was on a date with his fiance when he complained of a headache and then passed out in a restaurant.
Sudden aneurysm at age 49 with virtually no warning.
Image source: ImNotRacistBuuuut, Star-Advertiser
#10
Betty White dying just 17 days before her one-hundreth birthday was so sad. She was a wonderful person. Her death was sad enough, but seeing that picture of the empty Golden Girls couch that was doing the rounds that day hit me the hardest.
Image source: bettymwhite, bettymwhite
#11
John Ritter.
Image source: retailguy_again, Conan O’Brien
#12
Matthew Perry hit me HARD! My partner is very much like chandler and I am “a Monica.” People compared us all the time. I had JUST finished his memoir, then less than an hour later heard he died. I have never cried over a celebrity death, I’m not really a cryer (control freak) but I came close with him.
Image source: NothingElseWorse
#13
John Candy broke my heart.
Image source: Neely67, Letterman
#14
Judith Barsi. I loved her as Ducky. 😢.
Image source: broken_glass08, Island Pictures
#15
David Bowie.
Image source: Candy_Lawn, Later With Jools Holland
#16
Phil Hartman.
Image source: StrawberryAlert
#17
Brandon lee.
Image source: elsa-thora, Miramax Films
#18
River Phoenix. He’d be just as big as Joaquin if he didn’t die.
Image source: DilophosaurusMilk, Columbia Pictures
#19
Marvin Gaye— getting murdered by your dad during an argument is definitely one for the books.
Image source: Electrical_Seat7887
#20
Brittany Murphy.
Image source: Sharzzy_, Conan O’Brien
#21
Dolores O’Riordan.
Image source: Professional_Yam3047, TheCranberriesTV
#22
Jim Henson. Refused to go to a doctor and ended up with Disney running The Muppets.
Image source: gandolffood, Disney Plus
#23
I’m still sad that Gilda Radner died way too soon.
Image source: valandsend, Saturday Night Live
#24
Bill Paxton. It still hurts to watch Twister.
Image source: Thesilverfoxetter, 20th Century Fox
#25
Natasha Richardson. She left behind her husband and her two children.
Image source: Deep_Narwhal_5758
#26
There are so many, but Otis Redding has to be on the list. He recorded “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” three days before he was killed in a plane accident. It became the first posthumous No. 1 single in the US.
Image source: chriswaco, Otis Redding
#27
Vic Morrow, on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie.
He and two child actors were killed by a helicopter blade.
Image source: TheGardenBlinked, Warner Bros.
#28
Chris Farley and Robin Williams.
#29
Anthony Bourdain, Prince.
Image source: jeney57
#30
Naya rivera.
Image source: ineedadrink1000, PodcastOne
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