When Famous People Die

[sp1814]

This question isn't about specific celebrities who have passed this year, but a general question about deceased famous people...

What is it that makes us sad?

Is it the actual death of someone you admire, or is it the impact that their death has upon us?

Obviously the death of a family member would make us grieve more intensely than someone we know of (but don't know personally), so what is it that make us sad?

This question has been prompted by the recent deaths of Patrick Moore and Gerry Andsrson.

Cards on the table - there are a number of celebrities whose deaths would genuinely upset me - but I suspect my grief would be entirely based on selfish reasons...

[China Doll]

I feel that way about Bill Hicks Splat, I would have loved to see him live. But I didn't even know he existed until well past his death.

[LazyGun]

I am not sure I have ever grieved about any celeb or famous person that has passed on. Momentarily saddened perhaps, but thats about it.

I think that, for many people, celebs become sort of extended members of their families or friends - they assume a knowledge of them based upon exposure to their work and appearances and gossip about them in the media. The extent to which one grieves is probably measured by how much interest you had in them, or if you identified with them, or if their work had some special meaning to your life.

I have felt a momentary sadness at hearing of the death of some celebrities, but in the main that is it. The only famous persons death that effected me to an greater degree was upon hearing of the death of John Smith, Labour leader, at only 55 years of age - I was genuinely saddened at hearing the news, shocked at the relatively young age at which he died, and also because I am an unrepentant leftie and he struck me as being a politician of principle.

[giveup]

I think we feel our own mortality as we get older and these famous people seem to have always been around,but as a friend of mine remarked recently "They are taking them off our shelf now"

[TTG]

As a teenager, the sudden and unexpected death of some of my rock heroes shocked and saddened me at the same time. Bon Scott and Randy Rhoads are two that spring to mind. Now I have got older, I still feel sad at their passing.

[boxtops]

For me, giveup's hit it on the head - suddenly, people are dying who are my generation - or "blimey, I didn't realise they were that old..." - it brings your own mortality a bit closer. I like that phrase about taking people off our shelf....

[sp1814]

box tops, LazyGun and giveup - I can't give all three of you 'best answer', so you'll have to share it.

When celebrities die who have always 'been around', especially the ones who have entertained us, I suppose it rings a little bell that says, "this will happen to you one day".

Well...not me - I've signed a contract with the devil with a guarantee that I will live to 200.

Madonna has a similar one.

[sandyRoe]

But the devil's a tricky customer. Madonna didn't read the small print. It says there that she'll soon start to look as though she's already 200

[Just-Jude]

Don't really give it a second thought, probably mutter hmmm...

Please don't get nasty with goodlife, it's winterval after all!

[sp1814]

Ohhhh SandyRoe - I see you had an extra sprinkling of bitchy on your corn flakes this morning!

[owdhamer]

When famous people die it costs the tax payer.

[baza]

when I hear of someone passing I just think ..I am still above ground.

[Psybbo]

It depends on how much pleasure they gave us. I was really upset when Ronnie Barker passed away

[flip_flop]

I don't grieve, but I do feel a little sad when people die who I have admired, but it only tends to be from a music point of view.

People like Phyliss Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass, Rick James, Luther Vandross (can you see a theme here?). I was also sad when Amy Winehouse died - she was a terrific talent, so my sadness stemmed from the fact that I felt 'what a waste'.

I despise public outpourings of grief, and think anybody who partakes is bedwettingly pathetic. The ridiculous scenes when Lady Di died were absurd - as were the scenes when Jade Goody, Jade Goody fer gawd's sake!!! died.

The people wailing over the (admittedly sad) death of somebody famous only for getting her kit off on Big Brother and for being retarded, was so pathetic it was actually rather funny.

[modeller]

Grief is a powerful word and I can honestly say I have only experiernced it once in my life , when that person closest to me died , and that feeling of deep loss lasted for almost two years and the feeling of sadness is still with me 15 years later.
As for famous people I have never grieved, At best I might think "that's a shame ". and when its self induced through drugs or alcohol , so what !

I think it probably depends on how you view celebs and famous people. I don't hold anyone in awe . I might admire someone for what they do and if they interest me but I can not think of a single person , I would walk a mile just to see dead or alive, unless there was entertainment value. e.g. pageantry.

As for public expressions of grief , the wailing and beating of breasts as expressed by some people , to me it is shallow ,insincere and I must admit bejond my under standing.

I will also admit that the loss of a dear pet upsets me far far more than any
famous person in the world but that of course is a personal selfish reason.

[dotty.]

I was massively affected by the death of my avatar subject in my last year at grammar school, i lost alot of weight because of not eating and I was in shock for months. I came to terms with it eventually, about 10 years ago I think if I'm honest, but my main ambition in life , after the garth ambitions of course, is to visit his grave before i die. If anything ever happened to garth, and sometimes I consider that a possibility, I really do not know if i could function, which must mean i am rather more obsessed than just a fan of 20 years standing.

[goodlife]

If only you could see the future for dead ones.

Everyone makes a name for himself, famous or not.

Would it not be nice to live for more than just a few years on earth, or live with the hope of something better.
(Ecclesiastes 7:1)

[naomi24]

I don’t hero-worship anyone so I don’t grieve when a well-known name dies, but I do feel a certain sadness at the passing of those who have given pleasure to the world. People like Patrick Moore who opened up the wonders of universe to so many, and Morecambe & Wise who left us the wonderful legacy of laughter. Laughter - what a superb legacy to leave!! Priceless.

[Arksided]

OP, Yes for me it would be Freddie Mercury and the late passing of Sir Patrick Moore the reason for the sadness is in my eyes the loss of not only the talent but of inspiration, we'll never see the like again.