Celebrities who die...

[jAZ]

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?

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by jAZ

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?

this post is just pathetic on all levels. I dont understand how people can literally get upset over a celeb's death....like they had any "real" barring on your life other than what you saw them do for a living on TV.

[Baby Lee]

Of deaths outside their control, DT and Harold Ramis both hit hard.

RW's death is different because it colors his work. No matter how hard I try to understand, it's going to be hard to laugh unencumbered at his comedy or appreciate unencumbered his dramatic turns, as great and as far reaching as they are. A pall has been placed over vast swathes of entertainment, some of which I hadn't even gotten around to enjoying for the first time yet.

[Psyko Tek]

the only deaths that have bothered me where the shuttles
challenger and columbia

columbia was the first time my step daughter let me hug her, we both heard the news , while setting in the family computer room and surfing, she took it hard,I never knew she cared about anything that wasn't on facespace...

[CoMoChief]

Newsflash.....many rich hollywood people are horribly depressed individuals. They're so self centered throughout their careers once they hit it big that many of them live in their own fantasy world off set, none of them have any "real" true life long friends outside of the business because the fame and all that comes w/ it has distanced them away from reality. They can't hold relationships because most of them are fake PR moves anyway to help get them into the spotlight. It's better to be talked about negatively than to not be talked about at all when it comes to the life of a hollywood celeb.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Growing up in st. Joe obviously tupacs loss was huge.

I haven't lived in the St. Joe area for 30 years, so pardon my ignorance, but what does St. Joe have to do with Tupac?

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Newsflash.....many rich hollywood people are horribly depressed individuals. They're so self centered throughout their careers once they hit it big that many of them live in their own fantasy world off set, none of them have any "real" true life long friends outside of the business because the fame and all that comes w/ it has distanced them away from reality. They can't hold relationships because most of them are fake PR moves anyway to help get them into the spotlight. It's better to be talked about negatively than to not be talked about at all when it comes to the life of a hollywood celeb.

You read that in the Enquirer?

[Saccopoo]

When I heard about John Goodman passing, it tore a hole in my heart.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Of deaths outside their control, DT and Harold Ramis both hit hard.

RW's death is different because it colors his work. No matter how hard I try to understand, it's going to be hard to laugh unencumbered at his comedy or appreciate unencumbered his dramatic turns, as great and as far reaching as they are. A pall has been placed over vast swathes of entertainment, some of which I hadn't even gotten around to enjoying for the first time yet.

Yeah, Van Gogh's paintings turned to shit once his mental illness lead to him cutting his ear off and later death.

[cosmo20002]

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.

You're in for a rough time then. There's like 60 of them.

[rocknrolla]

Adam Yauch aka "MCA" of the Beastie Boys and George Carlin deaths are the only celebrities that have effected me. MCA more so, the Beastie Boys were such a big part of teen years. They will never make music again.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

When I heard about John Goodman passing, it tore a hole in my heart.

Damn I can't believe I didn't think of that. I'm kind of pissed at myself, frankly.

Nicely done.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by splatbass

You read that in the Enquirer?

no....a friend whos met a shit ton of really famous people and is getting kinda bigtime herself now told me this.

[007]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

You're in for a rough time then. There's like 60 of them.

There are 7 and one is already gone. Terry Kath. I am only referring to the originals.

[Rain Man]

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 was a bit like that when Danny Federici died. He was the first member of the E Street band to die, and he was a key instrumental voice for them that really set them apart. He was organist and accordionist on songs like Jungleland and Sandy/4th of July. I think his death bothered me more than Clarence's just because he was the first to go.

The best recording of Sandy that I've heard:



Here's Jungleland.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Newsflash.....many rich hollywood people are horribly depressed individuals. They're so self centered throughout their careers once they hit it big that many of them live in their own fantasy world off set, none of them have any "real" true life long friends outside of the business because the fame and all that comes w/ it has distanced them away from reality. They can't hold relationships because most of them are fake PR moves anyway to help get them into the spotlight. It's better to be talked about negatively than to not be talked about at all when it comes to the life of a hollywood celeb.

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.