Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer
When we suffer the loss of a loved one, friend, relation or someone we knew, the loss is felt deeply, personally and affects us greatly. This time will require some solace and adjustment. However, when we lose someone we admired or enjoyed as an entertainer, the loss feels very different, and rightfully so.
These famous individuals, giants in their fields, ICONS in fact have also had a part in our lives and upbringing. They have walked with us as we try to make major decisions and helped us navigate life during the good and bad times. But overall, they brought us a sense of joy, excitement and exhilaration in times they were most necessary.
That is why this article is so difficult to write because the month has started off like any other October. The weather is changing, the campus is showing more fall foliage and we all are in the midst of our fall semester studies, particularly midterms. However, we are losing some very profound and impactful entertainers, and as we know in life, death is unavoidable. Below we share a few who have passed on to glory. We will forever cherish their talents and gifts they shared with us and hopefully carry on the good works by re-watching, and introducing them with others.
“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.” — John Lennon
Years: 9/17/31 – 9/9/24
Profession: Actor/Film, TV and theater
Known for: Voiced Darth Vader in “Star Wars” movies and voiced King Mufasa in “The Lion King”
Years: 12/28/34 – 9/27/24
Profession: Actress
Known for: Professor Minerva McGonagall in “Harry Potter” movie series, Downton Abbey, Violet Crawley and the Dowager Countess of Grantham
Years: 12/27/39 – 8/21/24 (There is some controversy about his death which the family just informed the public about this month.)
Profession: Actor
Known for: Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries “Roots” and James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series “Good Times.”
Years: 6/23/36 – 9/28/24
Profession: Country Singer, Actor, Oxford scholar, Golden Gloves boxer and Army Ranger
Known for: Whistler in the Marvel movie “Blade,” “A Star is Born,” (He won a Golden Globe for this role) and he was in “The Highwaymen.”
Years: 6/25/66 – 9/30/24
Profession: Athlete/Basketball
Known for: He was a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history. Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets.
Years: 10/15/53 – 9/15/24
Profession: Entertainer
Known for: Guitarist in the Jackson 5
Years: 12/1946 – 9/10/24
Profession: Entertainer, Singer, Songwriter and Producer
Known for: His recordings with the soul and funk band Maze
Years: 1/20/54 – 9/30/24
Profession: Voiceover Actor
Known for: Original Cast Member of Broadway’s “Cats” and voiced Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Years: 10/4/89 – 9/5/24
Profession: American Rapper
Known for: 2013 single “Type of Way”
Years: 2/22/48- 9/26/24
Profession: Actor
Known for: “Beverly Hills Cop” movie series, “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “Midnight Run”
Years: 9/29/53 – 9/28/24
Profession: Actor/Daytime Soap, former New York Yankee prospect
Known for: His nearly four decades on “Days of Our Lives”
The La Salle Collegian 