A Look Back at the Life of Celebrities Who Passed Away
The entertainment industry is filled with stars from all walks of life. Some have rags-to-riches stories, while others have reached stardom through perseverance and skills. Many of us look up to these celebrities not just because of their looks, but also because they inspire us in their own ways. From sports, to delivering news, to entertaining us on TV or in films, these celebrities have left a mark in our lives in their own special way. However, some celebrities were gone too soon, either due to accidents or their failing health.
We have recently said goodbye to stars like basketball legend Kobe Bryant, Hollywood A-lister Sean Connery, and more. The brilliance of these celebrities will not fade with age, even when they have passed away. We take comfort that we were lucky enough to see them in our midst and that we can share about their lives with the new generation. Here we will take a moment to remember celebrities who have made a mark in their respective industries before moving on to the next life.
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor rose to fame for her work in the Carry On films as well as the popular soap opera East Enders. She was loved not just in the UK but also in the United States especially after receiving a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress Doing A Musical. Though she did not make any more movies in the United States, she gave her all playing the part of Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders from 1994 to 2016. It was only when her illness set in that she retired from the entertainment industry.
Her personal life had its ups and downs, especially when it comes to her married life. However, Windsor stated that she did not want to think negatively. She preferred to focus on the highlights of her life and the fact that she got paid for her work. It is not surprising that her investments in her acting garnered her an impressive net worth. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 83 due to her disease.
Bill Withers
Soul singer Bill Withers was best known for penning songs like Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean on Me, and Lovely Day. He passed away at 81 years of age due to heart problems. The singer was a three-time Grammy Award winner and released eight albums before retiring. His songs peaked back in the 1970s but have become timeless as singers cover his songs thus ensuring that his contributions to the music industry remained intact.
Withers taught himself how to play the guitar and was soon writing songs. His demo tape was later heard by Clarence Avant, who invited him to record the song Ain’t No Sunshine. His first album was all it took to propel the singer to stardom. Thanks to his smart investments on real estate and other endorsements, Withers and his family had a comfortable life before he passed away.
Caroline Flack
Caroline Flack enjoyed fame after her breakthrough performance as a co-host for TMi with Sam and Mark back in 2007. Afterwards, she moved on to host Gladiators, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, and The X Factor, just to name a few. She sealed the deal on her popularity after winning the top award at the Strictly Come Dancing back in 2014. To her credit, she was the one who put Love Island on the map of British TV shows. Flack was the one who picked up the award for the show after it won at the BAFTAs.
The TV host was enjoying her popularity before her career took a nosedive due to some controversies. Flack’s manager stated that the “show trial” took a toll on her emotional and mental state. The host was remembered for her charm and popular appeal to the masses which helped her get the job for Love Island.
Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton may have stayed in the shadow of his brother Bobby, but he became a legend in football in his own right. The tall but clumsy teen didn’t believe that he was made for sports until after he got back from tour. To the credit of Don Revie, he was able to train the young football player until he became a pro on the field. Charlton dominated the air and the ground which helped propelled him into the limelight.
He retired from football and was able to transition into becoming a manager. It was here where he also found success. He was best known for his unique combination of compassion and authority as a coach which helped him and his players. He later took over as manager of the Republic of Ireland where, although he made quite a few enemies, he was able to land them great wins. The great Charlton passed away at 85 due to illnesses.
Kobe Bryant
Basketball star Kobe Bryant along with his daughter, Gianna, were involved in an accident last year. It was one of the biggest shocks that the world received. The star was off to a basketball session with his daughter and her teammates when the tragedy happened. The sudden loss caused many tributes to come his family’s way as many look up to the star across the globe.
Bryant’s career in NBA was a successful one and, to his credit, he worked hard for it. He was agile on the floor and can give other basketball stars a run for their money. It was his skills on the ring and on the court that did all the talking. There was no denying that he was one of a kind as he kept setting record after record. Truly, the man was a legend in his own right and was simply gone too soon.