Is 2008 really any worse than other years for celebrity deaths? [Archive]

RicochetShaw

08-09-2008, 05:36 PM

In just about every "RIP" thread I come across in this forum, there are several comments along the ilk of "what is going on this year?! Is it some kind of insane curse against celebrities?" or "what is it with us losing some damn good people this year?" Essentially, everyone seems to be lamenting over how bad of a year 2008 is, in terms of celebrity deaths.

But is it really any worse than previous years? I mean we have thousands of celebrities out there, and everyone dies. It logically follows that we're going to have a ton of celebrity deaths every year then. Sure enough, that's what happens. For example, here's a list of celebrity deaths in 2007 (http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/entertainment&id=5847668), as well as a list for 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63stMsq8nCg), for good measure.

So I ask, is 2008 really any worse than previous years? If so, why?

SkyNet

08-09-2008, 05:51 PM

i think 2008 has alot of Shocking and Unexpected deaths.. which is where those comments come from.

i mean... no one, NO ONE would have guessed Heath Ledger and Bernie Mac would pass away. Anyone who put money on them dying this year... got PAID, cuz those were im sure 1,000,000 to 1/2 odds.

Then you have Anthony Manghella and Sydney Pollack, directors, producers who were well respected and their deatsh came at a time when it just seemed way to young for them.

George Carlin left us, and even though he was up there in years, it's fuckin Carlin! Thats one dude that i would have guessed would live forever if possible!

im sure there are other deaths im missing.. but for 2008.. i think the thing isnt the NUMBER of deaths, as much as it is WHO is passing away.

Shockwave

08-09-2008, 05:58 PM

We almost lost Morgan Freeman.:)

The years not over yet guys! Plenty of time for the grim reaper to pay a visit to everyones fav star/director/writer, ect, ect.

thedudeman69

08-09-2008, 06:06 PM

Uh, yes it is worse than the previous years because we didn't lose actors that were on their death beds. We lost actors that were young, and upcoming and actors that were young and established. so this year has been most fucked up when it comes to deaths.

RicochetShaw

08-09-2008, 06:12 PM

Uh, yes it is worse than the previous years because....

Sorry, do you have an online stuttering problem? It's a pet peeve of mine when people start replies with "uh," as if to announce that they're about to start their condescension to talk down to whomever they're replying to. Don't pull that on me, please. Just get to the point, without those two letters.

thedudeman69

08-09-2008, 06:15 PM

Sorry, do you have an online stuttering problem? It's a pet peeve of mine when people start replies with "uh," as if to announce that they're about to start their condescension to talk down to whomever they're replying to. Don't pull that on me, please. Just get to the point, without those two letters.

Oh I am sorry. I didn't know.

mutant_gorilla

08-09-2008, 06:47 PM

Why hasn't there been a Joblo News Column on Bernie Mac yet?

pablo_super1!

08-09-2008, 06:50 PM

Maybe not worse but shoking yea, I agree with Skynet. I mean who would've guessed that Heath Ledger, Bernie Mac, George Carlin, or Stan Wiston would go.

There are plenty of other very sad deaths that I didn't expect that I was sad about like the mentioned Pollack, Charlton Heston, and Brad Renfro.

Lots of people never expexted these deaths and that's probably why they think its worse.

Tyler Durden4

08-09-2008, 11:28 PM

http://missraconteur.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/heath_ledger_six.jpg
http://82muchf00d.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/georgecarlin.jpg
http://www.gii.in/hollywood/images/B/Bernie-Mac-1.jpg

'Nuff Said

FLAME_ON

08-09-2008, 11:33 PM

Damn Tyler Durden4, that post was a downer

Trail_Blazer

08-09-2008, 11:56 PM

Agreed with what's been stated above. Not only has this been a fucking god-awful shitty year in terms of celebrity's, but my father's uncle, my grandma and my other grandpa's wife have died this year. Not only that, but the economy is in the fucking shitter, the dollar is worth garbage, the housing crisis is ridiculously bad, and these wars don't seem to ever be ending.

It's just a god-fucking-awful year for me all the way the fuck around, and I can't wait till this fucking year is through.

SoCool

08-10-2008, 12:03 AM

FLAME_ON

08-10-2008, 12:14 AM

Just to list the more "significant" (and I use that term with no disrespect to the other people who have passed) celebrities who have died in 2008:

Bernie Mac

Brad Renfro

Charlton Heston

George Carlin

Heath Ledger

Roy Scheider

Stan Winston

Sydney Pollack

Maybe it isn't any worse, or any better for that matter, than any previous year, it just seems that way because a lot of these came out of left field.

People do die every year... And to answer RicochetShaw's original question that started this thread: I think the names listed above mean more to people; not that there are more deaths this year or that these people are more important, it's just an abundance of people that are more relevant to more people.

starcat

08-10-2008, 12:48 AM

I just hate that Brad Renfro is never very high on the list. Heath Ledger was totally awesome, 10 things and the Patriot are 2 of my favorite movies, and im not even gonna talk about how much I loved the Dark Knight... but come on, The Client is one of the greats in my opinion, and Renfro was awesome in it.

Donnie_Darko

08-10-2008, 12:51 AM

Renfro > Ledger. Far better actor, but I guess he wasn't as "pretty" or mainstream.

Carlin's death trumps everyone else. George WAS comedy, when he died, it died. Nothing is funny anymore. :(

outsyder

08-10-2008, 02:12 AM

We're likely going to lose Paul Newman before the year is out, so yes, this is a fairly bad year as far as celebrity deaths go.

CyclicNightmare

08-10-2008, 03:05 AM

We'll find out when we hear the applause during the death segment at the Oscars next year.

NuclearMisfit

08-10-2008, 07:48 AM

It seems like a year of well known celebrities passing away, thats what makes it so hard to take.

someguy

08-10-2008, 01:27 PM

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I think this is obvious why people find this year so bad right now.

NuclearMisfit

08-10-2008, 05:22 PM

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I think this is obvious why people find this year so bad right now.

Do you have an online stuttering problem?? just kidding.

Issac Hayes joins the list. :(

-AlekasAttic

08-10-2008, 08:31 PM

Renfro > Ledger. Far better actor, but I guess he wasn't as "pretty" or mainstream.
Thankyou!

Ledger was nothing compared to Renfro in my opinion and what really ticked me off was that Renfro died a week before Ledger and never got nearly as much hype or recognition.

Nobody I knew even talked about how much they loved Heath before he died and then all of a sudden he kicked the bucket and now, he's praised and talked about obsessively.

Terror Australis

08-10-2008, 10:39 PM

To answer your question....Yes. Yes it is.

AshleysDad

08-10-2008, 11:07 PM

If Woody had gone straight to the police, done of this would have happened.

Tyler Durden4

08-11-2008, 12:39 AM

BadCoverVersion

08-11-2008, 02:15 AM

No it's not.

I think Heath Ledger's passing was a real shocker, and has prompted some sort of mass hysteria.

There have certainly been more SURPRISING deaths than previous years. Mac, Ledger, Renfro to name a handful.

But all the people who are acting like one of their family members has just bit the big one and claim to be writing with tears in their eyes just weird me out a little.

It reminds me of when Princess Di popped her clogs and there were simple-minded clowns on the telebox with tears streaming down their faces telling us they hadn't cried when their own parents had passed away...that kind of disgusted me. Of course it's not that bad AT ALL.

But I do think a little perspective is needed.

R.I.P to all the kids that have left us. It's just nice to know they led a privileged life for the most part, and had the opportunity to leave their mark on the entertainment world.

CyclicNightmare

08-11-2008, 10:00 AM

Can I start the Paul Newman death thread now?

BubbaStrangelove

08-11-2008, 11:09 AM

If we get Ed McMahon, Drew Carry, and George Lopez on a charter plane from Wisconsin to Minnesota this might be the worst year yet.

therealjohng

08-11-2008, 12:05 PM

Can I start the Paul Newman death thread now?

Yes.

g1ng3rsnap9ed

08-11-2008, 12:06 PM

I think that no matter when a person dies it is as tragic as if it happened one year before or after the date,my assumption is that the deaths most people are referring to (George Carlin,Bernie Mac,Stan Winston,Heath Ledger)were still quite busy in their works and mostly young,thus they are unexpected.

Now a moment of silence for those who have passed on.

thedudeman69

08-11-2008, 12:57 PM

Can I start the Paul Newman death thread now?

fuck no I am so offended now

the clever guy

08-11-2008, 01:15 PM

Can I start the Paul Newman death thread now?

unless there's something i'm missing i'm only going to ask you this:

WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!

therealjohng

08-11-2008, 01:34 PM

unless there's something i'm missing i'm only going to ask you this:

WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!

He stopped chemo treatment and is being taken home where he wants to die. His family is with him.

Tyler Durden4

08-11-2008, 01:45 PM

He stopped chemo treatment and is being taken home where he wants to die. His family is with him.

Oh, no. This is terrible.

thedudeman69

08-11-2008, 02:13 PM

He stopped chemo treatment and is being taken home where he wants to die. His family is with him.

where did you hear that?

therealjohng

08-11-2008, 02:26 PM

where did you hear that?

the awards daily forums where there is a lot of links to news reports.

corran horn

08-11-2008, 02:38 PM

I think it is, not so much in terms of numbers, but in how unexpected some of them were.

Heath Ledger
Brad Renfro
Anthony Minghella
Stan Winston
Stanley Kamel
Tim Russert
George Carlin
Estelle Getty
Bernie Mac

While some of them had health problems or were reaching advanced age (Getty and Carlin), they all appeared to be in excellent health at last look. Minghella's is particularly aggravating to me b/c he died as a result of someone else's negligence.

The following were less surprising, but no less tragic:

Charlton Heston (age and illness)
Sydney Pollack (I learned of his illness when Minghella died)
Danny Federici (illness)
Paul Scofield (age)
Arthur C Clarke (he was in his 90s, so it wasn't too surprising)

It's particularly saddening for me as many of the above were involved in films, books, TV shows, etc that I greatly enjoyed. Paul Newman's impending death makes things all the more saddening.

Trail_Blazer: my deepest sympathies for your losses.

Is there anyone I'm forgetting? I feel as if I neglected to mention someone.