Baller Alert’s Year in Review: Celebrities We Lost in 2016

2016 was a year! Many experienced great success, incredible comebacks and amazing glow-ups. Our favorite artists provided the perfect soundtrack for the year, with their new releases, from Anti to Lemonade to Major Key. But, with all the ups experienced throughout the year, we’ve had even more downs. 2016 claimed the lives of so many people, leaving the world to mourn the loss of some of our favorite celebrities.

As we gear up to leap into the new year, it’s time to remember all of those that we lost in 2016.

1. David Bowie – January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016 – Bowie was a popular music figure for decades. The singer, songwriter, and actor, made his mark in the music industry in 1962. However, his career took off in the 1970s. Throughout his lifetime and career, his record sales estimated at 140 million worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artist. On January 10th, two days after his 69th birthday, Bowie died from liver cancer, after having been diagnosed 18 months prior.
2. Alan Rickman – February 21, 1946 – January 14, 2016                                                                              Actor and director, best known for his role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Severus Snape in Harry Potter
3. Abe Vigoda – February 24, 1921 – January 26, 2016                                                                                  Actor and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather
4. Joe Alaskey – April 17, 1952 – February 3, 2016                                                                                       Stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, best known for voicing Warner Bros. cartoon characters and Grandpa Lou Pickles on Rugrats
5. Maurice White – December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016                                                                         Singer-songwriter, musician, founder of Earth, Wind and Fire
6. Vanity – January 4, 1959 – February 15, 2016                                                                                       Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and model
7. Angela “Big Ang” Raivola – June 30, 1960 – February 18, 2016                                                               Reality Tv personality, co-star in the VH1 series Mob Wives
8. Harper Lee – April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016                                                                                  Novelist, best known for To Kill a Mockingbird
9. Tony Burton – March 23, 1937 – February 25, 2016                                                                                  Actor, comedian, boxer, best known for his role as Tony “Duke” Evers in Rocky
10. Nancy Reagan – July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016                                                                                         Actress, best known as the First Lady of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan
11. Frank Sinatra Jr. – January 10, 1944 – March 16, 2016                                                                            Singer, songwriter, best known as son of one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra.
12. Rob Ford – May 28, 1969 – March 22, 2016                                                                                            Politician, best known as the 64th mayor of Toronto
13. Phife Dawg – November 20, 1970 – March 22, 2016 –                                                                            Rapper, best known as a member of A Tribe Called Quest
14. Erik Bauersfeld – June 28, 1922 – April 3, 2016                                                                                          Voice actor, best known for the voice of Admiral Akbar and Bib Fortuna in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
15. Doris Roberts – November 4, 1925 – April 17, 2016                                                                               Actress, author, best known for her role as Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond
16. Chyna – December 27, 1969 – April 20, 2016                                                                                     Professional wrestler, bodybuilder
17. Prince – June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016 – Prince was a pop icon, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince discovered his love for music at a young age. By 18, signed his first contract and released his first album. The following year, he released a self-titled album which went platinum, kicking off his success as a innovative pop-rock/funk musician. In 1984, Prince released Purple Rain, alongside the film debut, which received widespread acclamation. For years, he would continue to be one of the greatest multitalented musicians to ever live. On April 21, he died from a fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park home, at the age of 57.
18. Billy Paul – December 1, 1934 – April 24, 2016                                                                                            Soul Singer, best known for his #1 single, “Me and Mrs. Jones”
19. Afeni Shakur – January 10, 1947 – May 2, 2016 Shakur was a political activist and Black Panther. She was also the mother of rap legend and actor, Tupac Shakur. During her time as an activist, she was accused of conspiracy, however the charges were dismissed and she was released from jail just before she gave birth to her son. After the death of her son, she founded Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, to provide art programs to the youth. On May 2, she died of a heart attack.
20. Muhammad Ali – January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016 – Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay Jr., was a professional boxer and activist. Wildly regarded as one of the important and most celebrated athletes of the 20th century. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali began his training at the young age of 12. At 18, he won his first gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, which lead him to become a professional. In his early 20s, Ali changed his name from his “slave name” to Muhammad Ali, paving the way for African Americans in regards to resistance to white dominance, during the Civil Rights Movement. He used his celebrity to speak out against the white domination and American involvement in the Vietnam War. He would go on to achieve great success, and become on of the greatest boxers of all time, which in turn lead to the nickname “The Greatest.” In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, as a result of his career in boxing. Over time, the condition got worse. On June 3, he died in Scottsdale, Arizona.
21. Kimbo Slice – February 8, 1974 – June 6, 2016 – Slice was a mixed martial artist, boxer and an actor, who’s best known for his viral street fights. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, was born in Nassau, Bahamas, and moved to the States as a child. In his early years, he played football and quickly became the star middle linebacker, because of his size and strength. In 2003, he began his career in street fights. Following the internet success, Rolling Stone named him “The King of the Web Brawlers.” In 2005, Slice began training in martial arts, which furthered his career. From the beginning of 2015 up until his death in June, the MMA fighter was under contract with Bellator MMA.
22. Pat Summitt – June 14, 1952 – June 28, 2016                                                                                       Woman’s college basketball head coach
23. Garry Marshall – November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016                                                                                Actor, director, producer, best known for creating Happy Days 
24. Miss Cleo – August 12, 1962 – July 26, 2016                                                                                         Television personality, best known for psychic pay-per-call service
25. Dr. Sebi (Alfredo Darrington Bowman) – November 26, 1933 – August 6, 2016                        Vegetarian herbalist, healer, pathologist
26. Gene Wilder – June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016                                                                                            Film and theatre actor, screenwriter and author, best known for his role as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
27. Jerry Heller – October 6, 1940 – September 2, 2016                                                                                  Music Manager and businessman, best know for managing N.W.A and Eazy-E
28. Shawty Lo – March 22, 1976 – September 21, 2016 – Shawty Lo was a rapper/hip-hop artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He was a founding member of the group D4L, who is best known for this hit singles “Laffy Taffy” and “Betcha Can’t Do It Like Me.” In 2007, Lo released his first solo single, titled “Dey Know,” which charted in the Top 40 of Billboard Hot 100. Shawty Lo would go on to have major success, from mixtapes to albums and even a potential television show. However, on September 21, 2016 Lo was killed in a single car crash in Fulton County, after his car went over a guardrail, hit two trees, and caught on fire. He was ejected from the car and pronounced dead. Lo’s funeral was held on October 1 at an Atlanta Church, afterwards his family and friends drove the funeral procession to The Blue Flame Lounge, which was one of the rapper’s favorite strip clubs.
29. Bill Nunn – October 20, 1953 – September 24, 2016  Nunn was an American actor best known for his role as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. The actor was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a journalist and editor at the Pittsburgh Courier. In his early adult years, he graduated from Morehouse College, nearly ten years prior to his acting debut in 1988 in the Spike Lee film School Daze. Following his popular role as Radio Raheem, he portrayed Nino Brown’s bodyguard in New Jack City. Most recently, he appeared in the TV series Sirens as Cash, which became his last appearance before his untimely death in his family’s home, at the age of 62.
30. Arnold Palmer – September 10, 1929 – September 25, 2016                                                                            American professional golfer, regarded as one of the greatest in sports history
31. Tommy Ford – September 5, 1964 – October 12, 2016 – Tommy was an actor, best known for his role as Tommy Strawn in the sitcom Martin. Ford was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Long Beach, where he went to high school and college before he transferred to the University of Southern California. There, Ford graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, which lead to his most beloved role as Tommy Strawn. Once Martin ended, Ford became a detective in New York Undercover and Kim Parker’s father on The Parkers. Following the success of the shows, he went on toe future his career, picking up roles here and there, all while, directing and producing. On October 12, Ford died after an aneurysm in his abdomen ruptured, at the age of 52.
32. Florence Henderson – February 14, 1934 – November 24, 2016                                                          Actress and Singer, best known for her starring role as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch
33. Fidel Castro – August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016 Castro was a Cuban revolutionary and politician, who ruled the Republic of Cuba from 1959 – 1976. From 1976 – 2008, Castro took on the role as President of the Republic. His death caused a divide between around the world, of those who mourned and rejoiced at the announcement of his passing. Many believed his death was the mark of the end of an era of ideologies, the end of a tyranny. However, others connected Castro to libration, as he granted political asylum to Assata Shakur. In light of his death, Cubans rejoiced and celebrated for days, with several Americans mourned.
34. Alan Thicke – March 1, 1947 – December 13, 2016 The Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host, made his mark in the industry during his time as Jason Seaver, the father on the TV show Growing Pains. Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Thicke kicked off his career as a game show host in Montreal in the 70s. The game show gig then turned into a talk show host gig in the late 70s. To which transitioned into a successful career as a TV theme song composer, along side his then-wife Gloria Loring. From 1985 to 1992, Thicke became one of America’s favorite dad’s with his role as Jason Seaver on Growing Pains. From there, he would go on to take on several hosting gigs, as well as multiple acting gigs, before he reprised his role as Seaver in two Growing Pains reunion TV movies, in 2000 and 2004. On December 13, Thicke collapsed while playing hockey with his son in California. After being taken to the hospital, Thicke died at the age of 69.
35. Craig Sager – June 29, 1951 – December 15, 2016 –                                                                                   Sports reporter, best known for his work as a sideline reporter for the NBA
36. Zsa Zsa Gabor – February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016                                                                         Actress and socialite, best known for her role in Moulin Rouge
37. George Michael – June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016                                                                          Singer, songwriter, best known as a member of the music duo Wham!
38. Ricky Harris – January 29, 1962 – December 26, 2016                                                                              Actor, comedian, best known for his role as Malvo in Everybody Hates Chris 
39. Carrie Fisher – October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016                                                                          Actress, writer, best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars
40. Debbie Reynolds – April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016                                                                                 Actress, Singer, Film Historian, Mother of Carrie Fisher

We tried to fit in as many as we could, but for a more complete list, Click HERE.