Not to be too morbid, but if you consider all of your favorite filmmakers and actors, whose sudden death would affect you the most profoundly?
(I meant someone who currently is alive, whose future work you would miss the most, I guess it could be a musician too, if they are more important to you)
The saddest actor deaths for me were Robin Williams, John Candy, Jim Henson, Charles Schulz. A part of my childhood died with every one of them.
I'm sorry, I should have asked my question more clearly, but I meant of those who are currently living.
But yes all of those were sad, especially the first three because they still were relatively young.
For me , Ron Howard comes to mind, maybe because I've kind of gotten into the habit of rewatching some of the Andy Griffith episodes occasionally and he was such a cute kid in those really early ones. But beyond that, he matured into a really talented director and has given us a number of memorable films.
His sudden passing would definitely be tragic and untimely ( he still has much to offer ) and I think would make me feel my own mortality more acutely.
I've enjoyed a lot of his movies, although maybe because I haven't loved the Dan Brown series that it feels a little like he's not as solid as he used to be. Still, a lot of fine movies since the early days of Splash and Cocoon.
Personally I'd miss Christopher Nolan or Tarantino the most. Especially Nolan, every film he makes seems like an epic event.
James Cameron would also be missed but I've never connected to his films on the same emotional level as some of the others.. but I love his ambition and just thinking of what he'll do next is always exciting.
Paul McCartney is going to be a bad day for me, I grew up with the Beatles music.
shareThe older the Beatles get, sadly the less earth shattering the remaining Beatles deaths will be... but they probably would hold the title of most influential pop culture figures for most of the older generations. Will probably never be surpassed in the category of popular music.
shareLess earth shattering only in the sense of it can't really be a shock or a surprise, yes --- but emotional impact is different.
There's a difference between being upset at someone's death because it was unexpected, too young, was an untimely tragedy, etc, and being upset at someone's death because of the more insidious struggles with letting go of something or someone who has had importance in our lives in one way or another.
For a much more personal example, my parents died aged 65 and 72 respectively. Many people would say well those aren't particularly young ages, people do die at those ages, so, no biggie.
But it was a biggie to me because I lost my mum and dad -- didn't matter at what age, it was the sense of it all that I experienced. Even if they had lived to 100, I still would have been upset for a plethora of other more internal and emotional reasons. That's more why people get sad at even an "old age" death.
Naturally when Paul or Ringo die they will be of such a venerable age that I'm not going to be "Oh no too soon!" But I will be overwhelmed with nostalgia and I'll be emotional because of that. But that's just me.
There is no wrong answer here... and perhaps I didn't ask my question properly... but I think what I wanted to know was whose artistic loss would you feel the most... It's possible that Paul or Ringo could come out with one more amazing album... but it would be very unusual at their age. When Amy Winehouse died... Jim Morrison... Janis Joplin... James Dean... Heath Ledger... Jimi Hendrix... you feel like we all missed out on a lot of future work... that's more what I was going for in terms of my question.
I will feel very sad when Paul and Ringo go... but I won't feel we all missed out on that much more amazing music.
Ah --- that's indeed a different aspect, yes.
For musical output -- yes to be honest I have to say my personal favorite music Paul ever made is in the past, not in his future I don't think. I agree with you there, I don't think anything better would have come along in years to come. My sense of loss would be more about personal nostalgia and affection for that figure, rather than anticipation for what else was coming down the line from them, yes.
"Naturally when Paul or Ringo die they will be of such a venerable age that I'm not going to be "Oh no too soon!" But I will be overwhelmed with nostalgia and I'll be emotional because of that. But that's just me. "
That's how I feel about it.
It's the end of an era. I felt that way when I heard of the passing of Paul Newman. I actually wept.
Yes exactly, it's the end of an era, is what really gets you.
shareToo morbid.
shareSorry, if this topic bothers some of you, but I kind of liked the idea of people declaring their affection for living performers or artists rather than going on and on after their deaths. If you love a particular artist you should go on their Facebook, IG and Twitter and tell them now how much their work has affected you. Don't wait until they're gone when they can no longer read it.
shareThe problem is there are so many to potentially pre-mourn...
Bill Murray (Groundhog Day on right now. Always have to watch a few minutes every time I pass it while channel flipping.)
Anthony Hopkins
Clint Eastwood
William Shatner
That's a really nice thought, actually.
Similarly in our "real lives" for our own actual people in our lives, we don't do enough to tell them when they're alive how much we appreciate them. Then they die and it's too late.
I like your idea of expressing what they mean to you now instead of when that day arrives.
Thanks, I always hate when people bandwagon on the grief train when someone dies. People who they haven't thought of in years all of a sudden take on a disproportionate significance. This is natural, I suppose but an outpouring of affection is so much more valuable to the living. I can't help but think if people had told Robin Williams how great he was instead of complaining about his more recent films that maybe it could have helped him out of his depression. I'm not saying we have no right to complain about bad work... I do it all the time... but praise should also be given freely.
shareI agree that an outpouring of affection is far more valuable to the living, and sadly redundant after someone has died.
However, maybe this is just me again, but I think it's very natural to have an outpouring of sadness when they die, even if we haven't thought about that person in years. I never see it as "badnwagoning" but as a mostly genuine collective gasp, a very human response to news like that. I also feel there's nothing wrong in genuinely expressing something even if, or even though, one hasn't thought about the person lately.
Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave had just died and it's in the news this morning. I hadn't thought about him for a few years, aside from still having tracks I listen to, but I don't think that means I shouldn't express my shock or sadness or general commiserations. I still feel genuinely sad at the news.
I don't think people need to justify their genuine regrets by qualifying because they had the person in their thoughts constantly or playing their music just yesterday.
I do agree though that maybe Robin Williams might have had a different complexion on things if he had known the massive feelings the world has for him. Not that it might have necessarily changed his plan, but then again you never know what could have changed someone's plan.
No, I didn't mean it like that... of course everyone should feel able to express themselves how they wish... I said in my post directly above "This is natural, I suppose".
What I object to is people who really go overboard with their comments on people who they never really cared about that much. You loved an artist during your teenage years but haven't listened to them or watched them in years... of course you will feel that rush of sadness years later. However, mob mentality is a thing... and when you have a Twitter, IG or Facebook account... and see people going on and on when they barely know anything about the artist. That is more what I mean.
Well of course there will probably be people who don't actually care much but join in for the sake of it -- personally I don't understand that impulse, as I'm pretty straightforward and sincere: what you see is what you get, with me. So I don't really get how people would do that as it's not in my understanding.
But I suppose it's a thing some people would do; people can be phony. Mostly though, I think I notice sincere posts, not necessarily on FB as I don't have a presence there. But this type of board, I think most people are fairly brutally honest if they don't really care -- you get lots of "oh no that's sad" but you also see lots of "I never really cared for him" lol!
William Shatner. That guy is such an hilarious genius.
Past (passed) person was definitely Robin Williams. I miss him so much :/
David Lynch
shareGood answer... especially now that Twin Peaks has been revived!
shareHuge fan since 1980 when I became obsessed with The Elephant Man at age 10. A complete anomaly in the business. A national treasure.
shareYep... he reminds me a lot of the Coen Brothers... who would also be one of my top answers. It's a terrible thing to ponder... but I wonder what would happen if one of the brothers died before the other... would the other go on making films? Is one more crucial to the process? I always think of them as one artist.
shareMy death
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