Death of the Famous...

It seems as if many well known and/or important people have died recently. This sparked some thoughts and questions on the whole topic of the death of those who are celebrities, leaders, legends, etc.

A few of the questions brought to mind:

Who of the recently reported deaths do you feel represents the greatest loss?
Whose death will have the greatest public impact, deserving or not?
Has the death of a notable person ever truly and deeply affected you ? (not limited to recent deaths)
Is there anyone who has died recently with little or no fanfare or attention, that you feel deserved more?
Whose death do you think received more attention than it deserved?

These are a few questions on the subject, but any thoughts, comments, observations, etc. on the topic of the death of the noteworthy are welcome.

Note:
This topic is intended to be about the impact of the death of notable people. I avoid saying "famous" or "celebrity" as many very important and influential people are not very well known, but I definitely wanted to include them in the discussion. However, "notable" should be interpreted to mean those that are known publicly in some significant way, and not our personal friends or relatives or those with no true public identity. We all recognize the impact of personal loss - this is just not that topic.
Also, remember the topic can be sensitive: Please try to avoid the offensive, even if you are going for humor. Dark humor is not off limits, it's part of the whole phenomenon, just please use some judgement, and avoid going extreme. Debate and difference of opinion are the legs of interesting discussion, but personal attack and outright cruelty gets a conversation nowhere, - all opinion is only opinion, comment accordingly!!

Recently: Lux Interior and Ron Asheton's deaths bummed me out.

The last celebrity death I can remember that affected me on any level was June, then Johnny Cash.

I still can't get over the loss of Jeff Goldblum. I don't think I ever will.

Nor will he, judging by his appearances on Colbert.

Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith's deaths affected me.

Jeff's was so ridiculously untimely, and Elliott's was so damn tragic.

The earliest celebrity death I can remember was Kurt Cobain. I was actually pretty young at the time and didn't know who he was, but I remember reading a magazine article about it in the dentist's office.

I was a bit disappointed at Isaac Hayes' death. Not that I was a huge fan, but I was hoping he would have some sort of reconciliation with Matt & Trey.

I remember being really upset when Tupac died, but that was 8th grade and I had different musical tastes back then.

Chris Farley and Phil Hartman were both pretty big ones. Jerry Garcia is up there. Johnny Cash as well. Joey and Johnny Ramone, Hunter S. Thompson, George Carlin...the list goes on.

Truth be told, I'm a bit of a sissy: I tear up pretty easily. I got a little misty-eyed watching Michael Jackson's funeral, and almost lost it when his daughter went up and said how much she misses her daddy.

He's still watching you poop.

I was just thinking about Mother Theresa. I was going to a Catholic school at the time, and they announced it on the loudspeaker.

The first celebrity deaths that ever really bothered me was Jim Henson, Mel Blanc, Charles Schultz and Chuck Jones. That's pretty much my whole childhood right there.

Just Johnny Cash, emotionally.

Though Hunter S. Thompson's did bum me out.

Kurt Cobain was the first and only "celebrity" I ever cried over when he died. He was just a major influence on me and my friends' lifestyle...Plus I was a teenager so I cried over things I might not cry over now.

I was bummed by Johnny Cash, Hunter S, and Joey Ramone though. (Joey's was while I was living in Argentina, and though they appreciated him, they didn't get it man!

bernie mac

I've never cared much about celebrities. So I don't get bummed out about their deaths.

John Peel. No one else, really.

Michael Jackson.

There's only been 1 celebrity death that I'm still upset about that's Heath Ledger.

Not the only instance in my case, but definitely the largest.

I *really* miss that guy, and he was cheated out of a lot of life.

Sad his last movie was Small Soldiers.

yep. he's been the only one to have a great impact on me thus far.

The one I can remember that effected me most was Walter Matthau. Then when Jack Lemmon died less then a year later I sobbed. Tears and Tears. They were really that funny to me.

johnny cash, hunter thompson and kurt vonnegut. im running out of heroes.