Look Back At Celebrities Who Passed Away in 2016

There will be many people who when they look back on 2016 will see it as the year that a lot of big name celebrities passed away, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Yes, of course every year we sadly lose someone, but 2016 just felt especially cruel to many.

The year started off with the shocking death of music icon David Bowie, Prince passed away in April, boxing great Muhammad Ali died in June and in the same month we had the tragic shooting death of Voice star Christina Grimmie. More recently, December has been especially hard with Wham singer George Michael passing away on Christmas Day, then just two days later we lost Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher; her mother, Hollywood starlet Debbie Reynolds passed away the very next day.

Below, we take a look back at the lives lost in 2016.

JANUARY:

DAVID BOWIE passed away on January 10th after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

FILE - In this June 5, 2007 file photo, singer David Bowie accepts the lifetime achievement award at the 11th Annual Webby Awards in New York. Sotheby's is to sell more than 200 pieces from David Bowie's extensive art collection, including works by Damien Hirst and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The musician, who died in January 2016, was an avid collector, and served on the editorial board of Modern Painters magazine. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File) — FILE – In this June 5, 2007 file photo, singer David Bowie accepts the lifetime achievement award at the 11th Annual Webby Awards in New York. Sotheby’s is to sell more than 200 pieces from David Bowie’s extensive art collection, including works by Damien Hirst and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The musician, who died in January 2016, was an avid collector, and served on the editorial board of Modern Painters magazine. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

ALAN RICKMAN passed away on January 14th after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Alan Rickman arrives on the red carpet for the film "A Little Chaos " at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Saturday Sept. 13, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn — Alan Rickman arrives on the red carpet for the film “A Little Chaos ” at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Saturday Sept. 13, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

RENE ANGELIL (husband to Canadian singer Celine Dion) died on January 14th.

Celine Dion, right, and husband Rene Angelil posing for photos after being decorated with the Order of Canada in Quebec City in July 26, 2013. Celine Dion told her late husband Rene Angelil in his final moments that she wanted him to "go in peace" after a battle with throat cancer."I saw him suffer and that was the worst," Dion told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot — Celine Dion, right, and husband Rene Angelil posing for photos after being decorated with the Order of Canada in Quebec City in July 26, 2013. Celine Dion told her late husband Rene Angelil in his final moments that she wanted him to “go in peace” after a battle with throat cancer.”I saw him suffer and that was the worst,” Dion told ABC’s “Good Morning America” in an interview that aired Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

FEBRUARY:

HARPER LEE, best known as the author of the popular book To Kill A Mockingbird died on February 19th.

FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2007 file photo, author Harper Lee smiles during a ceremony honoring the four new members of the Alabama Academy of Honor at the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala. The elusive author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" died Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, according to her publisher, Harper Collins. She was 89. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File) — FILE – In this Aug. 20, 2007 file photo, author Harper Lee smiles during a ceremony honoring the four new members of the Alabama Academy of Honor at the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala. The elusive author of “To Kill a Mockingbird” died Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, according to her publisher, Harper Collins. She was 89. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)

MARCH:

FORMER TORONTO MAYOR ROB FORD died on March 22nd after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

More on the passing of Prince HERE.

JOANIE LAURER (A.K.A. ‘CHYNA’ in the WWE) died on April 20th.

MAY:

MORLEY SAFER (CBS News correspondent) died on May 19th.

FILE - In this July 23, 2009 file photo, "60 Minutes" correspondent Morley Safer leaves the funeral of Walter Cronkite in New York. CBS News paid tribute to late "60 Minutes" reporter Morley Safer on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, with some New Orleans jazz from Wynton Marsalis and a letter from the prime minister of his native Canada. Safer died May 19 at age 84, eight days after CBS announced his retirement and four days after "60 Minutes" aired a special about his work during more than 50 years at CBS. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File) — FILE – In this July 23, 2009 file photo, “60 Minutes” correspondent Morley Safer leaves the funeral of Walter Cronkite in New York. CBS News paid tribute to late “60 Minutes” reporter Morley Safer on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, with some New Orleans jazz from Wynton Marsalis and a letter from the prime minister of his native Canada. Safer died May 19 at age 84, eight days after CBS announced his retirement and four days after “60 Minutes” aired a special about his work during more than 50 years at CBS. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

JUNE:

MUHAMMAD ALI died on June 3rd.

More on the passing of Muhammad Ali HERE.

FILE - This 1966 file photo shows world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Ali, the magnificent heavyweight champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world, died June 3, 2016 after a three-decade battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 74. (AP Photo, File) — FILE – This 1966 file photo shows world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Ali, the magnificent heavyweight champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world, died June 3, 2016 after a three-decade battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74. (AP Photo, File)

CHRISTINA GRIMMIE (former contestant on The Voice) was tragically killed on June 10th as she was signing autographs for fans.

More on the passing of Christina Grimmie HERE.

MAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY - Singer Christina Grimmie performs during The Humane Society of the United States To the Rescue! benefit gala, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 in New York. To the Rescue! is a benefit in celebration of the life-saving work of its animal rescue efforts across the nation and around the world. In its sixth year, the event honored Anjelica Huston, Heineken and Jennifer and Alan Fournier and family. (Amy Sussman/AP Images for Humane Society of — IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY – Singer Christina Grimmie performs during The Humane Society of the United States To the Rescue! benefit gala, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 in New York. To the Rescue! is a benefit in celebration of the life-saving work of its animal rescue efforts across the nation and around the world. In its sixth year, the event honored Anjelica Huston, Heineken and Jennifer and Alan Fournier and family. (Amy Sussman/AP Images for Humane Society of The United States)

GORDIE HOWE died on June 10th.

Gordie Howe watches the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks play during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on November 14, 2013. Howe was among the notable Canadians who died in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

JULY:

MISS CLEO died on July 26th.

AUGUST:

GENE WILDER died on August 29th due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

More on the passing of Gene Wilder HERE.

KENNY BAKER (“R2-D2” in Star Wars) died on August 13th.

FILE- In this Saturday, May 26, 2007 file photo, actor Kenny Baker, who portrayed the R2-D2 in the first Star Wars movie, signs autographs at Star Wars Celebration IV, billed as the world’s biggest Star Wars party, marking the 30th anniversary of the release of the first film in the Star Wars saga, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Baker, 81, has died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. His niece, Abigail Shield, said he was found dead by a nephew on Saturday at his home in northwest England after a long illness. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

LOU PEARLMAN (the man behind the Backstreet Boys & ‘NSYNC) died on August 19th.

**FILE** Lou Pearlman poses outside his office's at Church Street Station in Orlando, Fla., in this Oct. 27, 2006 file photo. The creator of the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync was indicted Wednesday, June, 27, 2007 by a federal grand jury on charges he defrauded a bank out of $20 million dollars. (AP Photo/John Raoux, FILE) — **FILE** Lou Pearlman poses outside his office’s at Church Street Station in Orlando, Fla., in this Oct. 27, 2006 file photo. The creator of the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync was indicted Wednesday, June, 27, 2007 by a federal grand jury on charges he defrauded a bank out of $20 million dollars. (AP Photo/John Raoux, FILE)

SEPTEMBER:

ARNOLD PALMER died on September 25th due to heart complications.

FILE- This April 5, 2007, file photo, shows Arnold Palmer acknowledging the crowd after hitting the ceremonial first tee shot prior to the first round of the 2007 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. His was a life well played. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

JERRY HELLER (former manager of rap group N.W.A.) died on September 2nd after having a medical emergency while driving.

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2006 file photo, music industry veteran Jerry Heller is photographed in New York's Central Park. Heller, the former manager of N.W.A., filed a defamation lawsuit on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles against rappers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and NBCUniversal, alleging the film "Straight Outta Compton" portrayed him as a villain and has done lasting damage to his reputation. The movie released in August 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Cooper, File) — FILE – In this Aug. 14, 2006 file photo, music industry veteran Jerry Heller is photographed in New York’s Central Park. Heller, the former manager of N.W.A., filed a defamation lawsuit on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles against rappers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and NBCUniversal, alleging the film “Straight Outta Compton” portrayed him as a villain and has done lasting damage to his reputation. The movie released in August 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Cooper, File)

OCTOBER:

TOMMY FORD (best known as ‘Tommy’ on the sitcom Martin) died on October 12th after an aneurysm ruptured in his abdomen which caused him to be on life support.