2016 was kind of a kick in the dick for celebrity deaths. While every year is full of notable actors and musicians meeting their end, this year seemed a bit excessive. What seemed to make it worse was the large number whose deaths seemed premature. No one was incredibly shocked when Abe Vigoda passed away, but Bowie was a tough one to swallow. Here is the list in order of date.
JANUARY
4 – Robert Stigwood, Entertainment Manager – age 81
6 – Pat Harrington Jr., Actor – age 86
7 – Troy Shondell, Singer – age 76
7 – Kitty Kallen, Singer – age 94
9 – Angus Scrimm, Actor – age 89
10 – David Bowie, Musician – age 69
11 – David Margulies, Actor – age 78
13 – Brian Bedford, Actor – age 80
14 – Alan Rickman, Actor – age 69
14 – René Angélil, Singer / Manager – age 73
15 – Dan Haggerty, Actor – age 74
15 – Noreen Corcoran, Actress – age 72
18 – Glen Frey, Singer / Songwriter – age 67
26 – Abe Vigoda, Actor – age 94
28 – Paul Kantner, Singer / Songwriter – age 74
28 – Mike Minor, Actor – age 75
FEBRUARY
2 – Bob Elliot, Comedian – age 92
3 – Maurice White, Musician / songwriter – age 74
3 – Joe Alaskey, Voice Actor – age 63
4 – Joe Dowell, Pop Singer – age 76
13 – Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice – age 79
15 – George Gaynes, Actor – age 98
15 – Vanity, Actress/Singer – age 57
18- Tom Mullica, Magician – age 68
19 – Harper Lee, Novelist – age 89
22 – Yolande Fox, Singer – age 87
22 – Sonny James, Country Music Singer/Songwriter – age 87
24 – Lennie Baker, Musician – age 69
25 – Tony Burton, Actor – age 78
28 – George Kennedy, Actor – age 91
29 – Gil Hill, Police Commander/Actor – age 84
MARCH
4 – Joey Martin Feek, Country music singer/songwriter– age 40
6 – Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the U.S.(1981-1989) Husband, 40th President Ronald Reagan – age 94
8 – Sir George Martin, Producer for the “Beatles” albums – age 90
9 – Robert Horton, Actor– age 91
10 – Keith Emerson, Musician / keyboardist – age 71
13 – Adrienne Corri, Actress – age 85
16 – Frank Sinatra Jr., Singer– age 72
17 – Larry Drake, Actor – age 66
17 – Paul Daniels, Magician – age 78
18 – Joe Santos, Actor – age 84
21 – Peter Brown, Actor – age 80
22 – Rob Ford, Politician, mayor of Toronto – age 46
22 – Richard Bradford, Actor – age 81
22 – Phife Dawg, Singer – age 45
23 – Joe Garagiola, Baseball Player – age 90
23 – Ken Howard, Actor – age 71
24 – Earl Hamner, Jr., Writer/Producer – age 92
24 – Garry Shandling, Comedian – age 66
27 – Mother Angelica, Franciscan Nun – age 92
28 – James Noble, Actor – age 94
31 – Ronnie Corbett, Comedian/Actor, age 85
APRIL
6 – Merle Haggard, singer/songwriter – age 79
12 – Anne Jackson, Actress – age 90
17 – Doris Roberts, Actress – age 90
20 – Victoria Wood, English Comedian/Actress – age 62
20 – Chyna, WWE wrestler – age 46
21 – Prince, Musician – age 57
21 – Lonnie (Mack) McIntosh, Guitarist – age 74
23 – Madeleine Sherwood, Actress – age 94
24 – Billy Paul, Singer – age 81
MAY
8 – William Schallert, Actor – age 93
12 – Julius La Rosa, Singer – age 86
19 – Morley Safer, Journalist for CBS News for 52 years – age 84
19 – Alan Young, Actor – age 96
24 – Burt Kwouk, Actor – age 85
27 – Mike Barnett, Singer – age 89
29 – Patty Duke, Actress/Singer – age 69
JUNE
3 – Muhammad Ali, Professional Boxer – age 74
10 – Gordie Howe, Hockey player for Detroit Red Wings – age 88
10 – Christina Grimmie, Singer – age 22
13 – Michu Meszaros, Actor / Circus Performer – age 76
14 – Ann Guilbert, Actress – age 87
14 – Ronnie Claire Edwards, Actress – age 83
16 – Jo Cox, British Labour Party Member of Parliament – age 41
17 – Ron Lester, Actor – age 45
19 – Anton Yelchin, Actor – age 27
27 – Mack Rice, Songwriter – age 82
28 – Scotty Moore, Guitarist – age 84
28 – Buddy Ryan, NFL Football Coach – age 85
28 – Pat Summitt, NCAA Basketball Coach– age 64
JULY
2 – Michael Cimino, Writer/Director – age 77
2 – Elie Wiesel, Jewish Writer/political activist – age 87
2 – Teddy Rooney, Actor/Musician – age 66
2 – Caroline Aherne, Comedienne/Actress – age 52
3 – Noel Neill, Actress – age 95
6 – Danny Smythe, Musician – age 67
16 – Bonnie Brown, Musician – age 77
19 – Garry Marshall, Writer/Producer/Actor – age 81
27 – Jerry Doyle, Actor– age 60
30 – Gloria DeHaven, Actress/Singer – age 91
AUGUST
2 – David Huddleston, Actor – age 85
3 – Ricci Martin, Entertainer – age 62
6 – Pete Fountain, Jazz Musician – age 86
10 – John Saunders, Sports journalist – age 61
11 – Glenn Yarbrough, Singer – age 86
11 – Alexis Arquette, Actress – age 47
13 – Michel Richard, Chef/Restaurateur – age 68
13 – Kenny Baker, Actor – age 81
14 – Fyvush Finkel, Actor – age 93
16 – John McLaughlin, Television host – age 89
17 – James Woolley, Musician – age 49
19 –Jack Riley, Actor – age 80
23 – Steven Hill, Actor – age 94
25 – Jeanne Martin, Model – age 89
25 – Marvin Kaplan, Actor – age 89
29 – Gene Wilder, Actor – age 83
SEPTEMBER
1 – Jon Polito, Actor – age 65
6 – Hugh O’Brian, Actor – age 91
9 – James Stacy, Actor– age 79
17 – Charmian Carr, Actress – age 73
24 – Bill Nunn, Actor – age 63
25 – Jean Shepard, Singer/Songwriter – age 82
25 – José Fernández, Baseball player for Miami Marlins – age 24
25 – Arnold Palmer, Golfer – age 87
28 – Shimon Peres, Statesman – age 93
OCTOBER
12 – Thomas Ford, Actor – 52
21 – Kevin Meaney, Comedian – age 60
23 – Pete Burns, Singer/Songwriter – age 57
24 – Bobby Vee, Singer – age 73
30 – Tammy Grimes, Stage Actress – age 82
NOVEMBER
3 – Kay Starr, Singer – age 94
7 – Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States 1993-2001 – age 78
7 – Leonard Cohen, Poet / Songwriter – age 82
11 – Robert Vaughn, Actor – age 83
13 – Leon Russell, Musician / Songwriter – age 74
14 – Gwen Ifill, Journalist for “Washington Week” and “PBS NewsHour” on PBS – age 61
15 – Holly Dunn, Singer / Songwriter – age 59
18 – Sharon Jones, American soul and funk singer – age 60
24 – Florence Henderson, Actress / Singer – Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch” (1969 to 1974) – age 82
25 – Fidel Castro, Dictator – Prime Minister then President of Cuba from 1959-2008 – age 90
25 – Ron Glass, Actor – age 71
26 – Fritz Weaver, Actor – age 90
28 – Van Williams, Actor – age 82
28 – Jim Delligatti, McDonald’s franchisee/created The Big Mac – age 98
30 – Keo Woolford, Actor – age 49
30 – Grant Tinker, Television executive/Chairman and CEO of NBC (1981-’86) – age 90
DECEMBER
3 – Don Calfa, Actor – age 76
3 – Billy Chapin, Actor – age 72
5 – Rashaan Salaam, Former Bears RB and Heisman winner – age 42
7 – Greg Lake, Musician – age 69
8 – Joseph Mascolo, Actor– age 87
8 – John Glenn, WWII & Korean War Fighter Pilot. Marine Colonel. NASA Astronaut. Senator from Ohio (1974-99) – age 95
12 – Jim Lowe, Singer – age 93
13 – Alan Thicke, Actor – age 69
14 – Bernard Fox, Actor – age 89
15 – Craig Sager, Sports Reporter – age 65
18 – Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian Actress and Socialite – age 99
18 – Gordie Tapp, Entertainer – age 94
20 – Michèle Morgan, French Actress – age 96
24 – Rick Parfitt, Musician/Songwriter – age 68
24 – Liz Smith, Actress – age 95
24 – Richard Adams, Author – age 96
25 – George Michael, Singer/Songwriter – age 53
26 – Rickey Lopez, Actor – age 54
26 – George S. Irving, Actor – age 94
26 – Ricky Harris, Actor – age 54
27 – Carrie Fisher, Actress – age 60
28 – Debbie Reynolds, Actress – age 84