Celebrities Who Have Died In 2016: Alan Thicke Adds To The Ever-Growing List Of Big Names Gone This Year
2016 is the year that so many would like to forget for a number of reasons, but mainly due to the numerous losses of big celebrity names. Well, the year still isn’t over and unfortunately, another great celebrity name has been added to the list of deaths that have tragically struck the world in 2016. Alan Thicke, the star of Growing Pains and so many other great shows and movies, has passed away at the age of 69.
According to TMZ, Thicke was playing hockey with his 19-year-old son on Tuesday when he had a heart attack. The movie and television star was then transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center around noon where he was pronounced dead.
Thicke is survived by his wife Tanya, and his three songs – Robin, Carter, and Brennan.
Alan Thicke has been a part of the entertainment world for decades as he has been in countless TV shows and movies, but his most famous role was that of dad Jason Seaver on Growing Pains. It is still one of the most well-known sitcoms in TV history and due in large part to him.
Thicke was also the host of numerous game shows and wrote a lot of well-known TV theme songs too. He did write the theme song for Growing Pains as well as Wheel of Fortune and the iconic Diff’rent Strokes. As reported by the LA Times, he most recently appeared in episodes of This Is Us and Fuller House.
Alan Thicke’s death far from marks the only big-name celebrity/TV parent that has passed away in 2016. Less than a month ago, Mrs. Brady herself passed away at the age of 82. Yes, Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch died from heart failure around Thanksgiving.
Other notable actors and actresses to pass away in 2016:
- Robert Vaughn
- Alan Rickman
- Gene Wilder
- Alexis Arquette
- Kenny Baker
- Anton Yelchin
- Abe Vigoda
- Patty Duke
- Dori Roberts
- Garry Shandling
- Richard Libertini
- Alan Young
The world of music also lost a lot of great talents in 2016, and it means that there will be no more new music created or written by them ever again. Yes, they may have lost notes and recordings hidden away somewhere, but the world will never be graced with their brilliance in brand new form again.
In early January, the year got off to a bad start with the death of the iconic David Bowie who passed away of cancer at the age of 69. As reported by the BBC, the legend “died peacefully, surrounded by his family,” and that is good news considering the world wept when word got out.
Other notable musicians to pass away in 2016:
- Prince
- Leonard Cohen
- Pete Burns
- David Bowie
- PM Dawn
- Glenn Frey
- Merle Haggard
- Maurice White
- Nick Menza
- John Berry
- Frank Sinatra, Jr.
- Dale “Buffin” Griffin
- Leon Russell
The celebrity world is not one that only includes those on stage and screen. A number of sports-related deaths took place in 2016 that deprived the world of many athletes and sports figures who gave so many amazing moments throughout time.
Back in August, ESPN reported that longtime host John Saunders had passed away at the age of 61. For decades, his face and voice had filled the homes of fans around the world to bring football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and numerous other sports results and news to everyone.
Other notable sports deaths in 2016:
- Dennis Green – football
- Fulton Walker – football
- Dennis Byrd – football
- John Saunders – sportscasting
- Sean Rooks – basketball
- Jose Fernandez – baseball
- Gordie Howe – hockey
- Joe Garagiola – baseball
- Nate Thurmond – basketball
- Balls Mahoney – wrestling
- Buddy Ryan – football
- Pat Summitt – basketball
- Muhammad Ali – boxing
- Kimbo Slice – fighting
- Joe McKnight – football
- Will Smith – football
- Dave Mirra – BMX
- Arnold Palmer – golf
- Chyna – wrestling
The world can not forget about the countless others who lost their lives in 2016 including Nancy Reagan, Pat Conroy, and Mother Mary Angelica. There are so many other celebrity deaths that have sadly descended upon 2016 and the world is more than prepared for it to be over.
Alan Thicke’s death is one that was always going to be hard to take for those who were fans of him and especially the show Growing Pains. Things have been made even more difficult due to the large number of celebrity deaths that have taken place in 2016. It has been a year that fans of music, movies, TV, sports, and numerous other things in the world…just want to end. It is coming close now, though, and the world is simply hoping that no more celebrities die.
[Featured Image by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images]
