We associate our favorite celebrities with pinnacle moments in our lives. They in essence become the living embodiment of our most cherished memories, places, and events.
Because of this, when a celebrity passes away, it almost feels as if we're grieving them. Have a look below and check out these 15 celebrity deaths that genuinely had us all in tears.
The death of Paul Walker was further compounded by the cruel irony of the circumstance. For the star of the regaled Fast and the Furious franchise to perish in a high-speed car crash seemed unbelievable at first.
"I was sitting down in a sandwich shop and it was broadcast on the store radio. I heard it but it didn't really register at first, but as soon as I got home it hit me and I had to lie down and cry for a few minutes." - Reddit u/the_idea_pig
Cory Monteith became a household name on the hit dramedy Glee but was plagued by inner demons and addictions. When the news of his accidental overdose first hit the airwaves, it seemed to unite the world in a shared sadness.
"I remember hearing that Steve Irwin died when I was a kid. His show and anything involving him on Animal Planet I immediately ate up. I really love animals and especially more exotic ones because of him." - Reddit u/Catduardo
"As an adult, I will admit to having to wipe my eyes when I heard Chris Cornell died. It was just such a shock. So many of my musical heroes from my youth were already gone, I'd really thought he'd be one of the ones who made it to a ripe old age." - Reddit u/Adorable_Misfit
To say that Bernie Mac was an innovator doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all this man was. Bernie was a mogul in the Black community, as well as one of The Original Kings of Comedy.
"For my mother[sic] it was James Gandolfini. I was too young to know who he really was when he passed, but I’ve gotten to see his stuff now that I’ve gotten older. What a phenomenal actor and human being." - Reddit u/CapGatsby530
Reddit user StubbornBubble admits that at the time of Heath's death, they weren't really that big of a fan of his acting. They were just so sad to hear the way in which he'd passed; it was an absolute tragedy.
"Kurt Cobain. He was a really big deal when I was a teenager and his music was what first got me playing the guitar," Reddit user ChaseDonovan.
I too can still remember a time when all I wanted to do was learn "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
When Robin made the decision to take his own life, it sent the world crumbling to its knees. While reports of his struggles with mental health had been widely documented, absolutely no one knew how severe he was hurting.
"I used to watch her movies all the time with a friend of mine who is also now deceased. I still get sad watching her movies," Reddit user girls_on_bread said.
I've never been able to make it through Girl Interrupted without crying my eyes out.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman was widely considered to be one of the most talented and prolific actors of his or any generation. His death heroin overdose was a shocking reminder of the fragility of life and the power of addiction.
The number of deaths attributed to opioids and prescription drugs in the past decade has been staggering. Absolutely no one could have foreseen Prince passing after an accidental overdose of fentanyl. He will forever and always be a legend.
Are you a fan of Adele? Do you enjoy the smoky sounds of Lana Del Rey? Well, neither one of them would be where they are today if it were not for the groundbreaking efforts put forward by the much-maligned musical genius that was Amy Winehouse.
The COVID-19 global pandemic was actually the second biggest news story of the year. The first was the passing of sports legend/NBA icon Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gigi. It's been nearly two years and it still doesn't feel real.
h/t: Reddit
