RIP: Who We Lost in 2011
by Richard Sharp
From the young, talented and gone-way-too-soon (i.e. Amy Winehouse) to legends that forever shaped the face of pop culture (like Elizabeth Taylor), we lost some real greats this year.
We've gotta be honest. Writing about some of these deaths, and sharing with readers in the comments on our Facebook page, it was always fascinating to see whose deaths people were genuinely upset about, and which figures from the past held a warm place in our hearts, even after they'd faded from the spotlight.
From the Overweight Lover Heavy D and Randy "Macho Man" Savage, who always kept us amused and entertained, to true cultural giants like Steve Jobs, who inspired us and made the world a better place, we lost many amazing human beings in 2011.
Like the RIP reel at the Oscars, we know we've missed some very important people here, but we've focused primarily on entertainment figures whose deaths we've covered.
Yes, we know that Osama Bin Laden was killed, and the Kim Jong Il finally kicked the bucket, but we're not writing the "Evil Bastards Who Died in 2011" list here, folks.
Read our coverage and remember some of the beloved figures we lost in 2011 below (in no particular order):
Steve Jobs - Founder of Apple, Visionary
Michael Showers- Actor from HBO's "Treme
Betty Ford - Former First Lady, Founder of The Betty Ford Center
Elizabeth Taylor - Actress, Philanthropist
Andy Rooney - "60 Minutes" Commentator, Writer
Janie Lane - Warrant Lead Singer
Andy Whitfield - "Spartacus" Star
Bubba Smith - Football Legend, "Police Academy" Star
Russell Armstrong - Actor "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"
Jeff Conaway - Actor, "Grease"
Gil-Scott Heron - Poet, Musician
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Pro Wrestler, Slim Jim Spokesman
Gerard Smith - Musician, TV on the Radio
Tim Hetherington - Photographer, Filmmaker "Restrepo"
Jane Russell - Actress, Sex Symbol
Who's missing from this list? Who will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments.