When Icons Die...

It’s unhealthy to worship celebrities. I say that not only as a Jew, since it’s idolatry, but also someone who’s seen what it’s led to. That said, sometimes they contribute enough that when they pass away, it hurts. I’d like to give attention to that, as well as what it says when their loss is sudden. Let’s get started.

Firstly, the elephant in the room: no one lives forever. I know death sucks, and it makes people uncomfortable, but human bodies have expiration dates. That’s not necessarily bad, as it means that we can make an impact during our time on Earth. For some, that impact’s huge! Especially when they make positive changes:

Betty White passed away last year at the age of 99. Despite not living to her 100th birthday celebration, her contributions to comedy and entertainment can’t be understated. Her career in the latter was so big that she was starring in The Golden Girls in her 50’s. Given that celebrities, women particularly, often fall into a casting vacuum when they hit a certain age, to have that privilege was ground-breaking. Even after outliving her co-stars, White remained an active force in Hollywood well into her 80’s and 90’s, such that her death was felt by the entire industry.

When Carrie Fisher passed away in 2016, everyone felt it. Despite becoming famous at a young age, thanks to a combination of famous parents and landing the role of Princess Leia, Fisher was a huge social justice advocate. Even in the 1980’s, Fisher was campaigning for HIV awareness and gay rights before both were societal norms. Fisher was also an advocate for addiction awareness, as she suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse. It was both of these that may have led to her death at 60. As someone who’s struggled with addiction issues for some time, Fisher’s openness has made me feel comfortable knowing I’m not alone.

Speaking of dying young, we can’t forget Robin Williams. A comedic genius, Williams could craft a joke on any subject at rapid speed and make it graceful and funny. Comedy and mental health issues routinely go hand-in-hand, but Williams’ Lewy Body Dementia was something he struggled with intensely toward the end of his life. He was so concerned with his suffering that he hung himself, to the shock of everyone. It felt like one of our greatest friends was gone forever, even if his acting roles were hit-or-miss. Such is the power of a good joker.

On the critic side, Roger Ebert’s death from cancer at 70 was hard to swallow. Ebert was a pioneer in the world of journalism, and while his reviews were divisive, you (usually) could see where he was coming from. He wasn’t afraid to challenge norms and embrace the new, and many upcoming directors and actors were thankful for his openness. Ebert was a juggernaut critic, and his legacy has yet to be matched. He’s missed by many.

And then there’s Arleen Sorkin. While not the first VA from Batman: The Animated Series to die young, Kevin Conroy predeceased her, Sorkin’s death hit hard because she’d pioneered a brand new character. Harley Quinn has had several iterations since 1992, but none laid the foundation like Sorkin did. It made sense, Harley was based on her mannerisms, but that the bar has yet to be fully-surpassed in 31 years speaks to her impact. Not to mention the impact she’d had on fans.

But the biggest celebrity loss, at least in my mind, was June Foray. Beginning work as a radio announcer in her teens, Foray’s career lasted well into her 90’s. She was Rocky the squirrel, but also Granny of the Looney Toons fame and many others. She was a passionate advocate for animation and voice actors, helping to craft a Best Animated Feature at The Oscars. Foray never made it her 100th birthday, but those decades of voice-work were enough to immortalize her anyway. June, you’ll be missed!

What do these individuals have in-common, outside of working in or around the entertainment industry? Ignoring their ages, their individual legacies made them icons. And yes, that doesn’t mean we should worship them. Not only do I think they wouldn’t want that, but by worshipping them, you rob them of their greatest asset: their humanity. None of them were perfect, and it’d be really unfair to treat them as such. That doesn’t mean we should act like they haven’t made an impact, either in their occupations or in their personal lives.

In the end, it goes to show the power that influence can have. Does it suck that fame gives celebrities an unfair advantage over lesser-known individuals? Possibly. But it also gives them a responsibility to set an example for others, however big-or small, in some cases-it may be. Because God knows how often influence allows for the opposite!

And there you go: a piece about celebrity deaths that impacted me. I would’ve included Bob Barker as well, but all I only really know him for is the fight in Happy Gilmore. I’m sorry.