Celebrity Deaths in 2019
2019 is close to its end. Unfortunately, this year has seen many notable deaths. Celebrities seem larger than life due to the nature of their work, their astonishing talents, and how public figures are perceived in the media. However, famous people are just that: people. All humans have a finite amount of time on Earth. Let’s remember the amazing individuals who shared their time with us.
We have a short description with a link to their tribute notice and obituary on the notable obituaries section of the Memories site. If there is someone that you would like us to include in this, please feel free to reach out to us with your suggestion.
Luke Perry
October 11, 1966 – March 4, 2019
Luke Perry was an American actor best known for playing Dylan McKay on the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 1995, and again from 1998 to 2000. He also starred as Fred Andrews on the CW series Riverdale, and had guest roles on notable shows such as Criminal Minds, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Will & Grace.
Read Luke Perry’s Online Memorial Here
Karl Lagerfeld
September 10, 1933 – February 19, 2019
Karl Lagerfeld will always be remembered as the most prolific designers and creative directors of the 20th and 21st centuries, and a man whose career formed the prototype for today’s fashion industry. He was the definition of a fashion polyglot, able to speak the language of many different brands at the same time. In the public, Lagerfeld was known for always wearing his iconic black sunglasses, stiff collar, and fingerless gloves.
Read Karl Lagerfeld’s Online Memorial Here
James Ingram
February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019
James Ingram was one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1980s and 1990s. He has won the Grammy Awards twice and was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Original Song two times. Among his achievements were thirteen Top 40 hits during his career. His most well-known songs are “Just Once”, which was produced by Quincy Jones, and "Baby, Come to Me".
Keith Flint
September 17, 1969 – March 4, 2019
Keith Flint was one of the founders of the Prodigy, a pioneering band that fused the electronic and rock sound. His live show performances were known for their high energy. Equally notable were the Prodigy’s music videos, some of which were considered controversial at the time due to the realistic depiction of drug use and violence. However, Keith Flint’s artistry would be heralded by music critics throughout the decades, and many future artists from various genres would cite him as a major influence.
Toni Morrison
February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019
Toni Morrison is one of the most critically-acclaimed American writers of all time. Her work and lectures have become classics, some of which upon publication, and inspired countless writers of the newer generations. Her most well-known books are Beloved, Song of Solomon, and The Bluest Eyes. Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in 1987. In 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Don Valentine
June 26, 1932 – October 25, 2019
Don Valentine was a venture capitalist who concentrated on technology companies in the US. He is considered the "grandfather of Silicon Valley venture capital”. Valentine founded Sequoia Capital in 1972, arguably his most successful company, and is today still regarded as one of the top venture capital firms in Silicon Valley.
Read Don Valentine’s Online Memorial Here
John Singleton
January 6, 1968 – April 28, 2019
John Singleton has made numerous critically-acclaimed films that also did very well in the box office, some of which are considered cult classics by critics and fans. This has led to Singleton becoming the first African American filmmaker to nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. His most well-known films are Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice, Shaft, and 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Read John Singleton’s Online Obituary Here
Ric Ocasek
March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019
Ric Ocasek was an American rockstar and lead singer of The Cars, a new wave band which led to huge international success from the late 1970s to 1980s. The Cars had chart hits like “My Best Friend's Girl”, “Just What I Needed”, “Let the Good Times Roll” and “You Might Think”. Their alternative style of punk and new wave was the first of its kind to hit mainstream with Ocasek's outstanding talent leading the way and helping them enjoy almost a decade's worth of success.
Nipsey Hussle
August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019
Nipsey Hussle’s untimely death would shock many of his fans and peers in the hip hop community. In fact, various celebrities memorialized him on social media. Nipsey, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was considered a leading figure in the resurgence of the new West Coast hip hop scene. While his body of work is critically-acclaimed, his social and political activism was also equally lauded. Nipsey Hussle contributed to multiple charities dedicated to helping the youth in inner-cities, especially in his hometown of Los Angeles, and was working on a documentary film at the time of his death.
Peggy Lipton
August 30, 1946 – May 11, 2019
Peggy Lipton was best known for her role as Julie Barnes in the hit show The Mod Squad during the 1960s and early 1970s. The role would earn Lipton four Emmy Award Nominations and another four nominations at the Golden Globes. Lipton would go on to win the Golden Globes for Best TV Actress in a Drama in 1971. The show was iconic for portraying the “hippie” culture of the time. Lipton would later take part in David Lynch’s ensemble in Twin Peaks. She was married to legendary producer Quincy Jones from 1974 to 1990. She is the mother of actress Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones, the fiancée of Tupac Shakur before his death.
Eddie Money
March 21, 1949 – September 13, 2019
Eddie Money was the definition of the 80s rock star. He backs this up by having 11 Top 40 songs during the 1970s and 1980s. Some of his hits include "Take Me Home Tonight", "I Wanna Go Back", "Walk on Water", and "The Love in Your Eyes". His most well-known song, “Take Me Home Tonight,” is considered one of the quintessential songs of the 1980s, and has been featured in numerous classic movies of the era.
Although death is a tragedy, it shouldn’t always be seen as something somber, especially as time goes on. One of the universal qualities of being human is humor. It’s a trait that shows us our liveliness, and that is something that extends even after death. Here are some witty and humorous gravestone epitaphs that we’ve found online.
Sickness, just like death, is a part of life. Although it’s a sad fact, some people come to accept it with humor and grace.
A touching epitaph dedicated to one’s children is something that can be cherished by loved ones and the public alike, especially when it’s done in a humorous way.
Incorporating the gravestone itself in the epitaph is a clever way of showing one’s humor.
The wittiest types of humor are the ones that come from a unique perspective, which in this case is literal.
Humor illuminates even the darkness of death. This epitaph gives provides us a clever perspective on the term “eternal rest”.
The best way to accept a loved one’s passing, or your own mortality, is by taking a Zen-like approach.
Humor is a coping mechanism for the living and can be a memorable final statement after death. Epitaphs like this one remind us that we just have to go with the flow of what life gives us.