Over the past few months, and even the past few weeks, the world has lost many celebrity icons and role models. Many of these people who have passed are people we grew up watching on the screen or listening to their music and speeches — they were people whose work shaped our lives and how we grew up. Whether that was teaching us to be courageous in the face of our fears by watching actor Sam Neill in “Jurassic Park,” to be confident in who we are by listening to country singer Dolly Parton, or even how to be appreciative of the beauty of what surrounds us from author Wendell Berry. No matter what form, these peoples’ lives have made a lasting impact on our own, and it is our honor to respect their impact with a few kind words.
Catherine O’Hara was a Canadian-American actress and comedian. She is widely recognized for her roles as the mother in “Home Alone” and Delia Deetz in “Beetlejuice” as well as her roles in multiple comedy shows, including “Schitt’s Creek.” O’Hara was known to be a kind, loving and generous person to everyone she met and was a huge advocate for cancer awareness, supporting the Terry Fox Foundation. She also participated in the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to raise money for Upward Bound House, an organization aiming to end homelessness in Los Angeles. O’Hara died Jan. 30 at the age of 71.
Chuck Norris was an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force in Korea, Norris began to learn and practice martial arts, becoming a teacher several years later. In 1964, Norris began his martial arts career, losing several matches within his first few years before quickly becoming almost unbeatable. He was known for his martial arts films “The Hitman,” “Delta Force” and “Delta Force 2.” He worked for multiple charity organizations such as Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, the United Way, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Kickstart. He died March 19 at the age of 86.
Sam Neill was a beloved actor from New Zealand, known for his many blockbuster roles, and his versatility with different characters. He is primarily recognized for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in Stephen Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” which he reprised in 2022 with “Jurassic World: Dominion,” and Jane Campion’s “The Piano.” Neill, while suffering from blood cancer, partook in an Australian clinical trial involving CAR T-cell therapy, a kind of treatment that targets specific antigens within blood cells. After its success, he became an advocate for its wider access in Australia. He died July 13 at the age of 78.
Tim Curry was an acclaimed actor and singer, known and beloved for both stage and film roles. Well known for his parts on stage as King Arthur in “Spamalot: (Inspired by “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”), his role as the Pirate King in the “Pirates of Penzance” and for creating the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Some of his notable films included “Clue,” “Muppet Treasure Island” and the 1990 miniseries of Stephen King’s “It.” He also was known for his voice roles. He voiced the antagonist in Don Bluth’s film “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” and the Mouse King in Barbie’s first film “Barbie in the Nutcracker.” He died at 80 years old in his home in Los Angeles on Aug. 25.
Dolly Parton was a beloved American country singer, philanthropist and humanitarian, becoming one of the greatest artists of all time and creating multiple charity foundations. Her foundations focused on children’s education, disaster relief and healthcare. She captured the love of generations with her music and her dedication to making the world a better place. Not only was Parton an inspiration for women in the workplace, but someone who advocated for all people to follow and pursue their dreams. She was adored for her humility, compassion, love and generosity, traits that were clearly displayed in her work. Parton died Aug. 25 at the age of 80.
Wendell Berry was an accomplished American author, poet, farmer and environmentalist. Originally from Henry County, Ky., Berry was known for his stories about the conservation and cultivation of nature, primarily through his works of elegiac poetry and fiction. Throughout his life he was an advocate of environmental care, frequently stating in interviews how important it was to take care of rural America. He died Aug. 31 at the age of 92, in his home in Port Royal, Ky.
All of these people and many more will be dearly missed.
Although not all people can be recognized for their impact (otherwise we would have a never-ending list of all the great things people have done for others) it is important to remember the good things people have done and the legacies they leave for future generations.
Photo by Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash