Life Celebrities who die... - Page 4

**jAZ** · 08-13-2014, 09:54 PM

Robin Williams' death was a big deal to me. Much bigger than any celebrity death that I can remember. It seems to me that I'm not alone. I don't recall there being such broad community grief from a celebrity death in a long time. Maybe Kurt Cobain? Be that was pretty narrow to young people, I think.

I think part of it has to do with the sad and surprising way he died.

It was surprising to me was how personally I am taking his death. It's almost like he was a family friend or close, and he was not remotely that.

I think it's a combination of how iconic RW was for me as I was growing up. It was less about M&M and more about his standup routine and remembering watching it on HBO (and later on VHS) with my dad. RW, Bill Cosby and George Carlin's stand up routines were all iconic entertainment for me growing up.

I think another part of it for me was the surprise at how beloved RW was. I assumed it was mostly just my thing.

I guess I have a couple questions for people here:

Did anyone else here have the same heart-felt reaction I did?
If not Robin Williams', what celebrity passing hit you hardest?
Is there any prior celebrity death that you think had such a widely emotional reaction?

**wazu** · 08-13-2014, 11:59 PM

This one affected me, but wasn't huge. I think he was brilliant, but it isn't something I'm in mourning over.

At this point in my life there have been two celebrity deaths I can think of that hit me hard: Derrick Thomas and Pat Tillman. DT was a hero of mine growing up. Tillman became a hero of mine after I was already grown. Between the two, DT was a much bigger deal, I guess because I somewhat felt like he came from my village or something because he was an all-time great Chief. With Tillman there was a sense that it was just so wrong and horrible. That somebody who gave up an NFL career to join the military would be cut down by friendly fire. Ugh. I'm depressed all over again thinking about both.

**Rain Man** · 08-14-2014, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

So?

If someone thinks they have a personal relationship with a celeb, that's one issue.

But if you've spent 100s of hours listening to someone's music or just being entertained by an actor or comedian and they die after you've watched them for 20, 30, 40, 50 years, I don't think it is 'pathetic' to feel a bit of loss at their passing. Not saying it is the same as losing a parent or best friend, but most humans would be able to understand this.

As I mentioned earlier, I think it's also about how the celebrity intertwines with your own memories. If it's a celebrity that was in the movie for your first date with your spouse, or a singer that you listened to with your friends on an iconic summer night your senior year of high school as you were all about to go your separate ways, there's going to be a connection. It's not necessarily about the celebrity, but the celebrity is the emblem.

RobBlake · 08-14-2014, 12:45 AM

it hit me hard because he is a fellow human being who went for something he was passionate about and his passion greatly brought entertainment to my life... eff celebrity status. I've been in dark places emotionally but to be THAT dark is really disheartening and sad. I wonder what clicked when he woke up that morning that.. yep.. today's the day.

What makes it worse is that he played a movie where he found his son dead from suffocation..

Why Not? · 08-14-2014, 12:54 AM

Wazu said it. Pat Tillman's death was a big deal to me. So much so that Pats Run is the only run/walk thing I have ever done in my life and I do it every April.

Why Not? · 08-14-2014, 12:56 AM

Oh and I guess this counts, I was in shock at the Jovan Belcher news. That did feel like a personal loss. Not because of his death per say but because I knew how much the great KC community would be in pain.

Miles · 08-14-2014, 12:59 AM

I was bothered more with something like Paul Walker dieing than this. Might have much to do with age and how he went.

**alanm** · 08-14-2014, 01:37 AM

John Lennon and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

listopencil · 08-14-2014, 02:53 AM

Yeah, Robin Williams dying really got to me. I watched way too much TV as a kid. Back when it was just ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS/UHF you'd get maybe six options at any one time. I knew all of them, every day of the week, every time slot. I was a walking TV Guide. I first saw him on Happy Days. A quick check of wikipedia says that it was February of 1978 so I would have been ten years old. Then I was glued to Mork And Mindy of course when it started up. Again according to wikipedia it ran until 1982. Oddly enough I moved to Boulder, Colorado in the late Spring of 1983. I moved from my mother's house (who raised me) to my father's house (who I never got to know). I got to see a lot of the location shots from the show and it was great. I got a Robin Williams album for my birthday. I think it was Reality: What A Concept. I followed him as I could through my adulthood. I enjoyed many of his movies and watched them with my kids as time went by. My youngest son's favorite movie is What Dreams May Come. Eventually I took him for granted. He was an icon, an institution, part of pop culture that was just always going to be there. Not a friend, not a person, not a fellow human being. A character in abstract. The manic funny man that just pulled you in and took you along for the ride. And now he's gone. Not with a bang but with a whimper. A sad and quiet exit from life like he just slipped away while I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, Robin Williams dying really got to me.

**TimBone** · 08-14-2014, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

A few individuals that actually made me sad when they passed: Derrick Thomas, Steve Irwin, Junior Seau, Chris Farley, Macho Man, Michael Jackson and for some odd reason Warren G.

Note* I said individuals, most are not celebrities so

Warren G isn't dead.

**TimBone** · 08-14-2014, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico

George Carlin hit me hard. So did Layne Staley.

Carlin may have been row first that messed with me.

Mojo Jojo · 08-14-2014, 03:09 AM

RW was big for me too...in fact much bigger than I would have expected and maybe the biggest ever. I think it has to do with the fact one way or another he has been entertaining me a large part of my life. Didn't realize until Monday evening how many of his movies I actually own. On top of that...it's the way he died. Farley, Belushi I wasn't really that surprised given their lifestyles. It was sad but I could buy into not surprised. I had read of RW and his battles with substances and depression but you just didn't see it coming.

Eleazar · 08-14-2014, 05:12 AM

I don't develop connections to celebrities in this way I guess. The hardest death for me of a famous person whom I didn't personally know was a pastor and author that I really loved. I did feel like a poorer person knowing that I would never heard any new work or read a book by that person again.

Coochie liquor · 08-14-2014, 05:39 AM

The only one I can really remember mourning as far as celebrities go was Brad Nowel of Sublime.
I lost my son 4 1/2 years ago, NOTHING can ever compare to the pain of losing a child. Now when celebrities die I think, that person had a good life and lived to be older than 16 (the age my son was when he died).

ping2000 · 08-14-2014, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I know not many of you are big into the group Chicago but I have followed them most of my life. When they start passing it will be a HUGE loss for me. Especially Jimmy Pankow.

I hope they never die, because when they do, they will play their music 24 x 7, and their music sucks the penis.

Kman34 · 08-14-2014, 06:00 AM

DTs death really hit me hard. I stupidly didn't wear a seatbelt till after, now I can't move my car 10ft without it.
A few others....
Dean Martin.
Robin Williams
MJ
John Lennon
Chris Farley
John Candy

08-13-2014, 09:54 PM
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $9847493	Celebrities who die... Robin Williams' death was a big deal to me. Much bigger than any celebrity death that I can remember. It seems to me that I'm not alone. I don't recall there being such broad community grief from a celebrity death in a long time. Maybe Kurt Cobain? Be that was pretty narrow to young people, I think. I think part of it has to do with the sad and surprising way he died. It was surprising to me was how personally I am taking his death. It's almost like he was a family friend or close, and he was not remotely that. I think it's a combination of how iconic RW was for me as I was growing up. It was less about M&M and more about his standup routine and remembering watching it on HBO (and later on VHS) with my dad. RW, Bill Cosby and George Carlin's stand up routines were all iconic entertainment for me growing up. I think another part of it for me was the surprise at how beloved RW was. I assumed it was mostly just my thing. I guess I have a couple questions for people here: Did anyone else here have the same heart-felt reaction I did? If not Robin Williams', what celebrity passing hit you hardest? Is there any prior celebrity death that you think had such a widely emotional reaction?
Posts: 24,799

08-13-2014, 11:59 PM	#46
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $2222295 VARSITY	This one affected me, but wasn't huge. I think he was brilliant, but it isn't something I'm in mourning over. At this point in my life there have been two celebrity deaths I can think of that hit me hard: Derrick Thomas and Pat Tillman. DT was a hero of mine growing up. Tillman became a hero of mine after I was already grown. Between the two, DT was a much bigger deal, I guess because I somewhat felt like he came from my village or something because he was an all-time great Chief. With Tillman there was a sense that it was just so wrong and horrible. That somebody who gave up an NFL career to join the military would be cut down by friendly fire. Ugh. I'm depressed all over again thinking about both.
Posts: 27,732

08-14-2014, 12:45 AM	#48
RobBlake Banned Join Date: Aug 2013 Casino cash: $10011127	it hit me hard because he is a fellow human being who went for something he was passionate about and his passion greatly brought entertainment to my life... eff celebrity status. I've been in dark places emotionally but to be THAT dark is really disheartening and sad. I wonder what clicked when he woke up that morning that.. yep.. today's the day. What makes it worse is that he played a movie where he found his son dead from suffocation..
Posts: 7,127

08-14-2014, 12:54 AM	#49
Why Not? In Search of a Life Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $3178994	Wazu said it. Pat Tillman's death was a big deal to me. So much so that Pats Run is the only run/walk thing I have ever done in my life and I do it every April.
Posts: 21,690

08-14-2014, 12:56 AM	#50
Why Not? In Search of a Life Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $3178994	Oh and I guess this counts, I was in shock at the Jovan Belcher news. That did feel like a personal loss. Not because of his death per say but because I knew how much the great KC community would be in pain.
Posts: 21,690

08-14-2014, 12:59 AM	#51
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $1682400	I was bothered more with something like Paul Walker dieing than this. Might have much to do with age and how he went.
Posts: 14,521

08-14-2014, 01:37 AM	#52
alanm Feeling Victorian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Nebraska/Wyoming/Colorado Casino cash: $1856436	John Lennon and Stevie Ray Vaughan. __________________ It bears repeating, ** Herm, Pioli, Haley, and Crennel for ing up my franchise for a goddamn decade. Buehler 445**
Posts: 33,611

08-14-2014, 02:53 AM	#53
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $2245880	Yeah, Robin Williams dying really got to me. I watched way too much TV as a kid. Back when it was just ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS/UHF you'd get maybe six options at any one time. I knew all of them, every day of the week, every time slot. I was a walking TV Guide. I first saw him on Happy Days. A quick check of wikipedia says that it was February of 1978 so I would have been ten years old. Then I was glued to Mork And Mindy of course when it started up. Again according to wikipedia it ran until 1982. Oddly enough I moved to Boulder, Colorado in the late Spring of 1983. I moved from my mother's house (who raised me) to my father's house (who I never got to know). I got to see a lot of the location shots from the show and it was great. I got a Robin Williams album for my birthday. I think it was Reality: What A Concept. I followed him as I could through my adulthood. I enjoyed many of his movies and watched them with my kids as time went by. My youngest son's favorite movie is What Dreams May Come. Eventually I took him for granted. He was an icon, an institution, part of pop culture that was just always going to be there. Not a friend, not a person, not a fellow human being. A character in abstract. The manic funny man that just pulled you in and took you along for the ride. And now he's gone. Not with a bang but with a whimper. A sad and quiet exit from life like he just slipped away while I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, Robin Williams dying really got to me. __________________ Everything the State says is a lie, and everything it has...it has stolen.
Posts: 55,927

08-14-2014, 03:09 AM	#56
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	RW was big for me too...in fact much bigger than I would have expected and maybe the biggest ever. I think it has to do with the fact one way or another he has been entertaining me a large part of my life. Didn't realize until Monday evening how many of his movies I actually own. On top of that...it's the way he died. Farley, Belushi I wasn't really that surprised given their lifestyles. It was sad but I could buy into not surprised. I had read of RW and his battles with substances and depression but you just didn't see it coming.
Posts: 3,341

08-14-2014, 05:12 AM	#57
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	I don't develop connections to celebrities in this way I guess. The hardest death for me of a famous person whom I didn't personally know was a pastor and author that I really loved. I did feel like a poorer person knowing that I would never heard any new work or read a book by that person again.
Posts: 80,659

08-14-2014, 05:39 AM	#58
Coochie liquor Bolton gonna knock you out Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Free Vybz Kartel Casino cash: $2722394	The only one I can really remember mourning as far as celebrities go was Brad Nowel of Sublime. I lost my son 4 1/2 years ago, NOTHING can ever compare to the pain of losing a child. Now when celebrities die I think, that person had a good life and lived to be older than 16 (the age my son was when he died).
Posts: 20,410

08-14-2014, 06:00 AM	#60
Kman34 My Mamma Says Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Glass Cage Of Emotion Casino cash: $1991786 VARSITY	DTs death really hit me hard. I stupidly didn't wear a seatbelt till after, now I can't move my car 10ft without it. A few others.... Dean Martin. Robin Williams MJ John Lennon Chris Farley John Candy
Posts: 13,878