Robin Williams. I grew up knowing his more kid-friendly side as the voice of Genie and Batty Koda, his role in Jumanji, etc. Then growing up saw him in films like What Dreams May Come, Patch Adams, Mrs. Doubtfire. When I heard the news he not only died, but by suicide because the man suffered from a severe mental illness it really cut me to the core. It was like losing a favorite silly uncle. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch any of his movies as I fear it will make me emotionally unstable again. Every year since it seems like I find out more about how much of an amazing character he was, and I’m glad he left a legacy, but god damn does it suck.
Marie Fredriksson of Roxette, especially with the circumstance of her illness.
It was just a kind of perfect music.
Carrie Fisher really hit me hard. I don’t know why. I guess she’s always just has a soft spot in my heart.
That toddler that got shot in a road rage incident a while back. I broke down when I read that the child said “Mommy, my tummy hurts” before he died. I think it hit me so hard because I have a little brother who was around that age at the time.
That is really heart wrenching, oh my god.
Mr Rogers. Was like a light went out in the world. Robin Williams came close. Each a symbol of joy and kindness.
Robin Williams was my first big celebrity cry.
I did when Mac Miller ODed, actually. Another friend of mine had also ODed somewhat recently and I was a huge fan of Mac’s music.
I was watching American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden the other day and the details about 9/11 really got me emotional. The suddenness and intensity of the attack, the efforts of first responders and government agencies, and the heroism of the passengers of flight 93 affected me very deeply.
I remember seeing another video once of firefighters hearing the sound of people jumping from the towers and crashing into the roof of the building they were in. Absolutely unimaginable how that day must have felt to the people that were there…
Leonard Nimoy was a pretty tough celebrity death for me. It was like losing a super cool uncle, a person who’d been in my life for my whole life, but hadn’t seen in a long while, was dead.
Yes, hardcore for Steve Irwin. His shows taught me what love is, since I never really saw it at home
Seconded for this. I actually bonded with my partner over our intense idolization of Steve Irwin as kids lol
Steve Irwin was my first, but Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington back to back definitely got me hard. I choked up when LP played numb with nobody at the mic during their remembrence concert
Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. Because or seemed like they still had more to contribute
On the subject of authors, Robert Pirsig. His book made a bigger impact on me than any other, and I constantly re-read it anytime I feel lost or depressed or in need of some kind advice. It’s the kind of advice I wish my dad had given me. Losing him was like losing the dad I wish I’d had.
I’m reading through Discworld for the first time now. Terry’s genius cannot be overstated. Each next book is an absolute revelation (well. Eric was good not maybe not a revelation…). The way the characters grow and become individuals, seemingly with their own real lives. It hurts to know Sir Terry will never be able to tell us more about this fantastical, commentary-laden, hilarious world.
GNU Sir Terry Pratchett.
Iain M. Banks too. ;-; Hydrogen Sonata was so good, and I remember seeing if there was another one in the works but turned out, no. Never will be…
I’ll be honest, one of his books was my least favourite I’ve ever read - Player of Games. I hated it the whole way through, just kept reading because I figured it would get better, and it didn’t.
The Wasp Factory was good though, albeit fucked up.
Grant Imahara. I don’t have to explain myself with this one. He made me childhood and his absolute inventiveness, curiousity and enthousiasm just was so terrific.
Anthony Bourdain. Still have a hard time watching his shows. Haven’t yet watched the last season of Parts Unknown
Chester Bennington made me sad.
Was teary all day at work when Terry Pratchett died
My comment copied from above:
I’m reading through Discworld for the first time now. Terry’s genius cannot be overstated. Each next book is an absolute revelation (well. Eric was good not maybe not a revelation…). The way the characters grow and become individuals, seemingly with their own real lives. It hurts to know Sir Terry will never be able to tell us more about this fantastical, commentary-laden, hilarious world.
GNU Sir Terry Pratchett
GNU Terry Pretchett
GNU Terry Pratchett
I knew he was gone when I started reading his books, and still I wept for hours when the realisation fully hit me.
Through Discworld I really felt that he was, somehow, in a way, my friend. And then I finished all the books, remembered he was gone and I mourned him like a dear friend.
