Remembering the Notable People We Lost in 2016
This will be remembered as a year we lost many icons who shaped our world
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A Year of Loss
Starting with the loss David Bowie and ending with the passing of Debbie Reynolds, perhaps from a broken heart, 2016 was a heartbreaker for many of us. It was a year riddled with sad — often shocking — news of celebrity deaths. We didn't know about Bowie's cancer, Patty Duke's sepsis, Prince's painkiller addiction, Gene Wilder's Alzheimer's or Carrie Fisher's heart disease until these icons were gone.
As we marked the passing of these and other notables — Alan Rickman, George Michael and Merle Haggard, to name a few — we at Next Avenue looked for ways to shed light on their lives and deaths that would inform our readers and help them lead healthier lives. Click through for a retrospective.
Jan. 11, 2016: David Bowie
Age: 69
Cause of death: Cancer
Known for: The flamboyant, groundbreaking British rock star’s commitment to exploring many styles of music and his unique sense of style have influenced several generations of musicians.
Read more: A video look back at Bowie's greatest hits, plus little-known facts about the musician.
Jan. 18, 2016: Glenn Frey
Age: 67
Cause of death: Complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia
Known for: Eagles guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
Read more: Can rheumatoid arthritis kill you?
3. Feb. 13, 2016: Antonin Scalia
Age: 79
Cause of death: Natural causes
Known for: Long-time conservative Supreme Court Justice
Read more: What Justice Scalia’s told the actor who portrayed him onstage about work and retirement
4. Feb. 19, 2016: Harper Lee
Age: 89
Cause of death: Died peacefully in her sleep
Known for: Author of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
Read more: Lee leaves a publishing mystery in her wake amid speculation about elder abuse.
5. March 6, 2016: Nancy Reagan
Age: 94
Cause of death: Congestive heart failure
Known for: First Lady of the United States and Alzheimer's caregiver
Read more: On the personal and political level, Reagan stood up for those with Alzheimer's.
6. March 24, 2016: Garry Shandling
Age: 66
Cause of death: Blood clot in heart
Known for: Comedian and creator of The Larry Sanders Show
Read more: Mourning the man who went by the TV name Larry Sanders
7. March 29, 2016: Patty Duke
Age: 69
Cause of death: Sepsis
Known for: Child star, actor and mental health advocate
Read more: What you should know about the sepsis
8. April 21, Prince
Age: 57
Cause of death: Accidental fentanyl overdose
Known for: Flamboyant pop star who revolutionized music in the ’80s
Read more: Prince’s death comes amid overdose epidemic
9. May 19, 2016: Morley Safer
Age: 84
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Known for: 60 Minutes correspondent
Read more: Remembering Safer’s sparkle and humanity
10. June 3, 2016 Muhammad Ali
Age: 74
Cause of death: Septic shock
Known for: Outspoken three-time world heavyweight boxing champion
Read more: Ali fought courageously against the establishment and Parkinson's
11. June 28, 2016: Pat Summitt
Age: 59
Cause of death: Alzheimer’s disease
Known for: Longtime NCAA coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols
Read more: Summitt was a model for dealing with the disease in the workplace
12. July 19, 2016: Garry Marshall
Age: 81
Cause of death: Complications of pneumonia after suffering a stroke
Known for: Writer, director who created Happy Days and Pretty Woman
Read more: Five things we loved about Garry Marshall
13. Aug. 29, 2016: Gene Wilder
Age: 83
Cause of death: Complications of Alzheimer’s disease
Known for: Comic actor who played neurotic characters in movies such as Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Stir Crazy
Read more: Wilder isn’t the only one with Alzheimer’s secret
14. Nov. 14, 2016: Gwen Ifill
Age: 61
Cause of death: Cancer
Known for: Political reporter and co-anchor of PBS Newshour
Read more: A tribute to the late PBS NewsHour co-anchor and managing editor
15. Nov. 24, 2016: Florence Henderson
Age: 82
Cause of death: Congestive heart failure
Known for: Portraying Carol Brady in TV’s The Brady Bunch
Read more: Why the beloved boomer icon kept working late in life
15. Dec. 8, 2016: John Glenn
Age: 95
Cause of death: Declining health after a stroke
Known for: The first American astronaut to orbit Earth
Read more: How Glenn changed the space race
17. Dec. 27, 2016: Carrie Fisher
Age: 60
Cause of death: Cardiac arrest
Known for: Portraying Princess Leia in Star Wars, and a bestselling author, script doctor and humorist