This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Remembering The Celebrities And Cultural Icons We Lost In 2016

Remembering The Celebrities And Cultural Icons We Lost In 2016
Credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images

We had to say goodbye to an overwhelming number of famous figures this year.

In 2016, we lost beloved, influential and fiercely talented entertainers, artists, athletes and politicians. Their lives and work touched millions, and people around the world mourned their deaths.

Here are some of the people who died in 2016, and who will be missed for years to come.

David Bowie

Credit: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

The year started off with a major blow, when British legend David Bowie died on Jan. 10 after battling cancer. He was 69. A celebrated singer, songwriter, artist and actor, Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famein 1996 and given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

His death provoked an outpouring of grief from famous friends and fellow artists. He “[led] the way for so many of us,” singer Cyndi Lauper wrote after his death. “The world is emptier now,” said author Neil Gaiman.

Antonin Scalia

Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died on Feb. 13 at the age of 79. Scalia, the most influential member of the Supreme Court’s conservative wing, was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1986. President Barack Obama remembered the late justice as “larger than life” and “one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court.”

Harper Lee

Credit: Larry Downing/Reuters

Celebrated American writer Harper Lee died on Feb. 19 at the age of 89. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, continues to be widely read and adored. Lee published a long-awaited companion novel, Go Set A Watchman, last year. The author received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 and the National Medal of Arts in 2010.

Nancy Reagan

Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Former first lady Nancy Reagan died on March 6 after experiencing congestive heart failure. She was 94. She served as first lady from 1981 to 1989, using her position to fight youth drug and alcohol use with the “Just Say No” campaign. Following her husband’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and his death in 2004, Reagan became a strong advocate for using stem cell research to learn more about the illness.

“Nancy’s strength of character was legendary, and her advocacy ― especially for Alzheimer’s research ― was tireless,” Hillary Clinton wrote in Reagan’s memory.

Prince

Credit: Bertrand Guay/Getty Images

Legendary musician Prince died on April 21 at the age of 57. He’s had countless memorable hits, including “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry” and “Raspberry Beret.” He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score in 1984 for “Purple Rain,” a film in which he also starred. Prince was a deeply spiritual man and outspoken social activist whose music and style were utterly original.

Muhammad Ali

Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Muhammad Ali, celebrated boxer, charismatic popular hero and symbol of the civil rights movement, died on June 3 at age 74. Known as “The Greatest,” he racked up countless accolades for his prowess in the boxing ring. He became a philanthropist later in life, continuing his work after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 42.

“Muhammad Ali shook up the world,” Obama said in June. “And the world is better for it. We are all better for it.”

Elie Wiesel

Credit: Gary Cameron/Reuters

Author and activist Elie Wiesel died on July 2 at the age of 87. Born in Romania, Wiesel survived a World War II concentration camp and spent his life speaking for victims of the Holocaust. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, the Nobel Committee described him as “one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterize the world.”

Leonard Cohen

Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died on Nov. 7 at age 82 after a late-night fall at his home. The gifted poet and beloved folk singer had just released his 14th studio album, “You Want It Darker.” His most famous song, “Hallelujah,” has been covered hundreds of times since its release in 1984. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Another magical voice stilled,” Bette Midler wrote after his death.

Look back on the other notable individuals we lost in 2016 in the gallery below.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.