Celebrity deaths: The big names mourned in 2016

Prince was found unresponsive and alone in an elevator at his complex in Paisley Park, Minnesota.

THE world lost many of its best-loved celebrities in 2016. Here are the stars the world has said goodbye to this year.

Music legend David Bowie passed away early in 2016 following an 18-month battle with cancer. We also lost broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan, actor Alan Rickman and The Eagles frontman Glenn Frey.

To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee died in February. Her 1960 novel about a child’s eye view of racial injustice in a fictional Alabama town in the 1930s became standard reading for millions of young people.

Frank Kelly – best known for playing the character of Father Jack in the comedy Father Ted – died in the same month.

Comedian Ronnie Corbett, famous for his TV partnership with Ronnie Barker, died in March, surrounded by his family.

Magician Paul Daniels, Beatles producer George Martin, Coronation Street creator Tony Warren and legendary footballer Johan Cruyff also passed away.

Prince was found unresponsive and alone in an elevator at his complex in Paisley Park, Minnesota, in April. He died of an accidental overdose.

Comedian and actress Victoria Wood also died in April at her home in London. In a statement, her older brother Chris said her death “has robbed us of one of the brightest talents of our generation”.

We also said goodbye to reality TV star and music producer David Gest, and agony aunt Denise Robertson.

TV writer Carla Lane, who was behind a number of sitcoms including Bread, Butterflies and the Liver Birds, died in May.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away in June. The three-time world heavyweight champion had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984, three years after he retired from the sport.

Also in June, Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin died in a freak accident after becoming pinned between his own car and a brick mailbox at his home in Los Angeles.

The comedian, writer and actress Caroline Aherne – famous for The Mrs Merton Show and The Royle Family – died in July.

Comedy legend Gene Wilder, who starred in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, died in August.

We also mourned Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2 in the Star Wars film franchise.

Golf legend Arnold Palmer, who won seven majors, passed away in September.

He drew thousands of fans to the game in the 1950s and 1960s and his keen fan base earned the moniker “Arnie’s Army”. 

Jean Alexander, who played Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street, died in October. 

We also lost Dad’s Army and Hi-de-Hi! writer Jimmy Perry in the same month, along with American singer Bobby Vee – known for Rubber Ball and Take Good Care of My Baby.

Dead or Alive singer and former Celebrity Big Brother star Pete Burns also died after suffering a cardiac arrest, aged 57.

Andrew Sachs, best known for his role as Manuel in Fawlty Towers, died in November. 

Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen also passed away, along with the actor Robert Vaughn, Brady Bunch actress Florence Henderson and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young.

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor died in December. She starred in dozens of films and TV shows, but was perhaps better known for her love life, having married nine times.

Rock superstar Greg Lake also passed away in December, as did Sunday Times critic AA Gill and actor Peter Vaughan, who appeared as Harry ‘Grouty’ Grout in TV sitcom Porridge and as Maester Aemon in Game of Thrones. 

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