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Celebrity deaths that shocked you

596 replies

OneCosyCrow · 30/06/2025 17:30

Which celebrity’s death do you feel shocked at?

I would probably say Robin Williams. Which is probably an obvious one. George Micheal and Bowie also.

OP posts:
cumbriaisbest · 30/06/2025 19:13

Back in the day… River Phoenix Terribly sad.

Robin Williams, sad but no shock.

urghhh47 · 30/06/2025 19:13

Victoria Wood and Alan Rickman. I felt genuinely sad when I heard of their passing

ChessorBuckaroo · 30/06/2025 19:13

DryDay · 30/06/2025 18:39

Princess Diana and Paula Yates. I loved them both

The only thing that took away some of the shocking element from Diana is we knew (those of us still up that late Saturday/early Sunday) she was in a car crash so we were all waiting for the update. Of course when that update came a few hours later it was still shocking (it also remains the biggest celebrity death in my lifetime as the entire week after it was wall to wall coverage then the funeral). During those few hours waiting for updates there were conflicting reports of "sustained life threatening injuries", and "minor injuries, she walked from the wreckage", so there was confusion, and then the news she has died broke.

Think if I'd woken up that Sunday morning, knowing nothing of the crash, and then heard/seen the headline, Princess Diana dead, I'd have been numb.

It's why I'd put Winehouse as the most shocking as it was the way I found out by casually searching for the showbiz section on teletext and being confronted by the headline, Amy Winehouse dead. No build up, no warning, nothing. She's dead.

Michael Jackson, again like Diana, we knew he was in trouble before his death was announced as it showed the ambulance going to the hospital and that he was in cardiac arrest. Then a few hours later he passed away and the announcement came.

Having said all that the Queen's death was utterly shocking. We had a fair idea of what was going to be announced for about 3 hours beforehand when the news coverage switched to her, and you saw the family make a beeline to Balmoral. But the moment when it was announced (was watching Mary Nightengale on ITV and she took as long nervous pause before saying the words) was still a 'my God' moment. There has been no more famous person than her in our lives, from grandparents to kids, and she was gone. So many news presenters struggled to announce her death.

Abhannmor · 30/06/2025 19:14

JudgeJ · 30/06/2025 18:27

HM probably missed Boris a lot!

Really need a laugh react sometimes 😂

urghhh47 · 30/06/2025 19:14

Oh and Paul O'Grady

taxguru · 30/06/2025 19:15

Olivia Newton John - knew it was coming after her third cancer diagnosis, but still a massive shock when it actually happened. A wonderful person, gone far too soon. Even at her age (early 70s when she died), had she lived longer she'd have done even more good for the World, in terms of her environmental and animal welfare and promoting her cancer research and wellbeing hospital.

PopeJoan2 · 30/06/2025 19:15

Itawapuddytat · 30/06/2025 18:54

Carrie Fisher 😔

And then her mum a few days later

Gingernaut · 30/06/2025 19:15

Tommy Cooper - Collapsing live on stage with a heart attack on national television and people laughing as they thought it was part of the act

Robin Williams - First reported as a 'sudden death', then suicide and then the heartbreaking reason why

morethanspice · 30/06/2025 19:15

Richard Beckinsale

HÆLTHEPAIN · 30/06/2025 19:16

George Michael the most. I was gutted. I know some people think it strange people get upset over someone they don’t know. But George’s music is the soundtrack of my life - all of the happy stuff, particularly growing up to Wham! And then his other music has been there for me no matter what - I listen to him loads still. I know he had some problems while alive but to find out what he had done for charity without wanting anyone to know was just bittersweet. He also always seemed to have a good sense of humour - things like Carpool Karaoke, being in the Catherine Tate show and then Extras. I loved him! And his voice was perfect.

I was also so sad to hear about Victoria Wood and Sean Lock. And Patrick Swayze, being a young teen in the Dirty Dancing era.

ScruffMuffin · 30/06/2025 19:17

I was saddened, but not remotely shocked, about Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse and Shane McGowan. Their troubles were there for all to see. No idea why, but I had a feeling that George Michael wouldn't make a ripe old age either.

John Peel was another shock for me. Just that week, I'd seen a guy pushing a trolley round Tesco, containing 15 pumpkins and nothing else, and I'd considered ringing in to his Saturday morning show to hear viewers' suggestions about why one might need 15 pumpkins. Then he was gone.

BlackStrayCat · 30/06/2025 19:17

WhatIsAUsernamee · 30/06/2025 18:06

You were the violent one! It doesn’t matter how big he is or that he injured you by pushing you away, you were the instigator

No. It is called reactive abuse. Common is relationships with people with NPD. It would have been the exact outcome he was pushing for.

minerva7 · 30/06/2025 19:17

harpytohelp · 30/06/2025 17:37

Chester Bennington.
Still not over it.

Back in the day… River Phoenix.

The live recording of One More Light came on my playlist in the car yesterday. His scream ‘well I doooo’ still makes me well up. Big loss.

DarkForces · 30/06/2025 19:18

urghhh47 · 30/06/2025 19:13

Victoria Wood and Alan Rickman. I felt genuinely sad when I heard of their passing

Edited

Me too and Rik Mayall 😢

NattyFox · 30/06/2025 19:18

I found Matthew Perry's death very sad but not shocking, just sad. Sarah from girls aloud was also sad.

Lilactimes · 30/06/2025 19:19

ChessorBuckaroo · 30/06/2025 19:13

The only thing that took away some of the shocking element from Diana is we knew (those of us still up that late Saturday/early Sunday) she was in a car crash so we were all waiting for the update. Of course when that update came a few hours later it was still shocking (it also remains the biggest celebrity death in my lifetime as the entire week after it was wall to wall coverage then the funeral). During those few hours waiting for updates there were conflicting reports of "sustained life threatening injuries", and "minor injuries, she walked from the wreckage", so there was confusion, and then the news she has died broke.

Think if I'd woken up that Sunday morning, knowing nothing of the crash, and then heard/seen the headline, Princess Diana dead, I'd have been numb.

It's why I'd put Winehouse as the most shocking as it was the way I found out by casually searching for the showbiz section on teletext and being confronted by the headline, Amy Winehouse dead. No build up, no warning, nothing. She's dead.

Michael Jackson, again like Diana, we knew he was in trouble before his death was announced as it showed the ambulance going to the hospital and that he was in cardiac arrest. Then a few hours later he passed away and the announcement came.

Having said all that the Queen's death was utterly shocking. We had a fair idea of what was going to be announced for about 3 hours beforehand when the news coverage switched to her, and you saw the family make a beeline to Balmoral. But the moment when it was announced (was watching Mary Nightengale on ITV and she took as long nervous pause before saying the words) was still a 'my God' moment. There has been no more famous person than her in our lives, from grandparents to kids, and she was gone. So many news presenters struggled to announce her death.

I agree. I missed the reports of the accident over night - I had a lie in and turned on the radio mid morning on that awful Sunday and heard the news and could not believe it. I really cried when her coffin landed in RAF Northolt.
Very shocked and saddened about George Michael, Versace, Bowie, Michael Jackson also.

ClassicStripe · 30/06/2025 19:19

Chadwick Boseman. I checked my phone in the middle of the night and saw it. When I woke up in the morning I assumed I had been dreaming.

HAB75 · 30/06/2025 19:21

Latenightreader · 30/06/2025 17:40

Victoria Wood. She was so funny and created amazing observational work which made it feel as if she knew me. I grew up watching her and I was very sad there would be no more work from her.

Terry Pratchett. Not unexpected but I was pretty ill with flu at the time and remember sobbing on the sofa.

You've got our household in one - me Victoria Wood, and DH Terry Pratchett. Those are our real biggies that we each still mention quite regularly.

I also still remember to this day weeping and weeping when Eric Morecambe died.

MathsIsNotMyStrongpoint · 30/06/2025 19:22

Not sure I've seen these, so my two are
Emma Chambers (Alice in Vicar of Dibley) and Charlotte Coleman (Scarlett in 4 Weddings)

Both just really sad, lonely deaths.

BitOutOfPractice · 30/06/2025 19:22

Shocked: John Lennon.

saddened: Victoria Wood.

NCForThatForumM · 30/06/2025 19:23

MemorableTrenchcoat · 30/06/2025 17:38

You realise he was a kiddie-fiddler?

.

BlackStrayCat · 30/06/2025 19:23

Sad: The Hairy Biker
Shocked: Sean Locke

NewsdeskJC · 30/06/2025 19:23

Kirsty Macoll too
John Lennon
David Bowie
Victoria Wood

Mimilamore · 30/06/2025 19:24

Sean Locke, Jeremy Hardy, George Michael, Victoria Wood 😥

stargirl1701 · 30/06/2025 19:24

Carrie Fisher.