The loss of a beloved celebrity is always incredibly sad, but there’s something about this recent string of deaths that’s really hitting home for us. Perhaps it’s the fact that it’s only two weeks into the new year, and we’ve already experienced a handful of shocking deaths spanning the film and music industries. From world-renowned icons to young, up-and-coming stars, here’s a look back at the saddest celebrity deaths of 2016 thus far — R.I.P. all.
The most shocking death of the year thus far was without a doubt the passing of rock n’ roll legend David Bowie. The British icon passed away on Jan. 10 at the age of 69 after suffering through a difficult 18-month battle with cancer. David is survived by his wife of 23 years, model Iman, as well as his two children, Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jonesand Duncan Jones.
Unsurprisingly, countless celebrities and fans took to social media in the days that followed to mourn the death of the great artist. Stars like Harry Styles, Kanye West, Pharrell and more shared their condolences on Twitter while remembering his decades of artistic contributions, including a total of 25 albums and dozens oficonic music videos.
Alan Rickman, Rene Angelil & More Of The Saddest Deaths of 2016
The U.K. lost another beloved celeb with the tragic passing of legendary actor Alan Rickman on Jan. 14. The British acting icon, best known for his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Pottermovies, also died at the age of 69 after going through his own cancer battle. Alan, who played Professor Snape in all eight of the Harry Potter movies, first made headlines on the big screen when he starred as the evil Hans Gruber in 1988’s Die Hard. He was notorious for playing villains in movies, including Nottingham inRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Rasputin, but was loved by fans all the same. Following his death, Daniel Radcliffe paid a heartbreaking tribute to the actor in which he referred to Alan one of the “most loyal and most supportive people” in the industry, while Emma Watson said she was “so lucky” to work with him.
Celine Dion‘s, 47, husband Rene Angelil also lost his decades-long battle to cancer on Jan. 14. The music manager who discovered — and would later marry the gifted singer — tragically passed away at the family’s home in Las Vegas surrounded by his family and loved ones at the age of 73. After managing Celine for over 30 years, Rene had to resign in 2013 due to his declining health — he was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. As he continued treatments, Celine even suspended her Las Vegas residency to take care of her ailing husband. As his final hours approached, Celine assured her husband that he’d die in her arms, calming his fears in his time of need while forcing herself to remain strong, despite her fear of losing him. Rene is survived by Celine and their three sons René-Charles, Eddy, and Nelson.
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