The calendar on the wall says the middle of July. It is also the middle of the year. Even though it is only the seventh month, the world has seen a great deal of loss in the celebrity world.
One might wonder why the universe cares so much when a celebrity dies. The answer is simple; we watch them play our favorite roles. They might be acting, but they are actually being vulnerable and allowing us into their worlds. Also, watching them takes us away from our own problems for the hour and a half that the movie is playing.
Seeing all the loss that has occurred in just a few short months impelled me to compose a list to pay tribute to all the celebrities we have lost.
January: Don Larsen; the former Yankees baseball player, who famously pitched a perfect World Series game in 1956, died on January 1 at the age of 90.
The rapper, Lexii Alijai died at age 21 on New Year’s Day.
The Prozac Nation author Elizabeth Wurtzel died at age 52 on January 7.
Harry Hains, the Australian-born American Horror Story actor died on Jan. 7 at the age of 27.
Buck Henry – The screenwriter and actor, who penned the 1967 film The Graduate, was 89 when he died on January 8.
Silvio Horta, the Ugly Betty creator died on January 8 at the age of 45.
Neal Peart, the drummer for Rush died at 67-years-old on January 10.
La Parka was a famous wrestler. His real name was Jesus Alfonso Huerta Escoboza. He died January 11 of injuries related to an in-ring accident. Reports indicate he was 54 or 55.
Stan Kirsch was best known for his role in Highlander, died in January 15. He was 51.
Rocky Johnson, former wrestler and father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, died January 15 at 75-yearsold.
Chris Darrow of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band died on January 16 at the age of 75.
On Jan. 18, the folk singer David Olney died at 71 while performing on stage at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida.
The NBA star Kobe Bryant star died on January 26 at the age of 41.
February: Kirk Douglas passed away on February 5 at the age of 103.
Orson Bean, the actor, known for his roles on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and The Twilight Zone, died at the age of 91 on February 8 after being hit by a car in Los Angeles.
The Munich and Hunger Games: Catching Fire star, Lynn Cohen died at the age of 86 on Feb. 14.
Amie Harwick was 38 and passed away on February 15. She was found with serious injuries “consistent with a fall,” according to People, and later died at the hospital. The LAPD arrested Gareth Pursehouse in connection with Amie’s death.
Caroline Flack – The former Love Island host died at age 40 on February 15.
Nikita Pearl Waligwa – The star of Disney’s Queen of Katwe died at age 15 on February 17.
Pop Smoke, the rapper, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed by masked gunmen in a Los Angeles home invasion on Feb. 19. He was 20.
B. Smith, the model, author, and restaurateur died at age 70 on February 22.
March: James Lipton – The longtime Inside the Actor’s Studio host died at age 93 on March 2.
The So You Think You Can Dance, Danny Tidwell star died on March 6. He was 35.
Max von Sydow, who was well-known for his roles in Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and countless other films and shows, died on March 8 at age 90.
Country singer Kenny Rogers died of natural causes at age 81 on March 20, surrounded by family.
Curly Neal, 77-year-old Harlem Globetrotter, died March 26.
Joe Diffie, country music artist died on March 29. He was 62.
April: Irrfan Khan – The Bollywood actor and Slumdog Millionaire star died at 53 on April 29 after being admitted to the hospital with a colon infection.
May: Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder, known for discovering Sean “Diddy” Combs and managing Motown Records, died at age 59 on May 8.
Roy Horn, of Siegfried and Roy fame passed May 8 at the age of 75.
The legendary Little Richard, “Tutti Frutti” singer, died on May 9. He was 87.
On May 10, the Betty Wright, the Grammy-winning soul singer died at age 66.
Jerry Stiller, the actor, whose memorable roles include those on Seinfeld and The King of Queens, died at the age of 92 on May 12.
Gregory Tyree Boyce, the actor, who played Tyler Crowley in Twilight died on May 13 at 30-years-old.
The actor, Fred Willard, known for Everybody Loves Raymond died at age 86 on May 16.
Phyllis George – In May, the former sportscaster and Miss America 1971 winner died on May 17 at age 70.
Bob Kulick, the 70-yearold guitarist who played with Kiss and Meatloaf died on May 29.
June: Mary Pat Gleason who starred in A Cinderella Story and on Moms, died on June 2. She was 70.
Sushant Singh Rajput: The Bollywood star was found dead in his Mumbai home on June 14. He was 34.
The Lord of the Rings actor, Ian Holm died on June 19. He was 88.
July: The Pool of London star, Earl Cameron, who was one of the first Black actors to break into British cinema, died 102 on July 3.
Nick Cordero, the Broadway star died on July 5. He was 41.
Charlie Daniels Band founder and frontman Charlie Daniels died on July 6 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83.
Benjamin Keough, son of Lisa Marie Presley and brother of Riley Keough, died July 12 at the age of 27.
Actress Kelly Preston died at the age of 57 on July 12.
The MythBusters host, Grant Imahara died on July 13 at the age of 49.
The Glee actress, Naya Rivera was found dead on July 13. She was 33.
Zindzi Mandela, South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark and the youngest daughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandel, died on July 13 at age 59.