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2016 Obituaries

Name these notable people who left us in 2016.
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: January 5, 2017
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First submittedDecember 13, 2016
Times taken16,671
Average score52.4%
Rating4.10
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Age
Hint
Person
90
Leader of Cuba for nearly 50 years
Fidel Castro
74
Boxer who fought the "Thrilla in Manila" and the "Rumble in the Jungle"
Muhammad Ali
57
"Purple Rain" singer who changed his name to a symbol in 1993
Prince
60
Actress who starred as Princess Leia in "Star Wars"
Carrie Fisher
84
Mother of the above who died the next day. Star of "Singin' in the Rain"
Debbie Reynolds
69
Singer with an androgynous alter ego named Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
53
English singer who recorded "Faith", the #1 charting song for the year 1988
George Michael
69
Actor who portrayed Hans Gruber and Severus Snape
Alan Rickman
94
Actress turned political wife. She urged Americans to "Just Say No" to drugs
Nancy Reagan
87
Popular golfer; namesake of a lemonade/iced tea drink
Arnold Palmer
95
First American to orbit the Earth
John Glenn
89
Author of "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Harper Lee
90
Music producer known as "The Fifth Beatle"
George Martin
46
Toronto mayor notorious for smoking crack
Rob Ford
88
Detroit Red Wings star who played 32 seasons of professional hockey
Gordie Howe
83
Actor who portrayed Willy Wonka and Young Frankenstein
Gene Wilder
93
Israeli PM who won the Peace Prize, together with Rabin and Arafat
Shimon Peres
82
Canadian singer-songwriter who recorded "Hallelujah" and "Suzanne"
Leonard Cohen
93
Egyptian with a repetetive name who was General Secretary of the UN
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
99
Hungarian-American actress, sister of Eva, who was married nine times
Zsa Zsa Gabor
69
Canadian star of "Growing Pains". Father to pop singer Robin
Alan Thicke
+2
Level 90
Dec 13, 2016
I made a similar quiz a couple of weeks ago

http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/119310/famous-people-who-died-in-2016

+3
Level 84
Dec 13, 2016
Peace price
+2
Level 92
Dec 13, 2016
What is the price of peace?
+2
Level ∞
Dec 14, 2016
Fixed
+3
Level 60
Dec 13, 2016
Where's Antonin Scalia? A SCOTUS isn't too important apparently.
+6
Level 74
Dec 14, 2016
*Deep breath* ...Whooooooooooooooooooooo?!?!
+1
Level 82
Dec 15, 2016
Scalia was a justice of the US supreme court (SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the United States). The justices are quite well known in US, as they have a lifetime term, and their appointments are a big political issue, besides of course their decisions, which are discussed in detail including how the justices voted.

Abroad we usually hear only about the SCOTUS decisions, but not about who the members are.

+1
Level 77
Dec 30, 2016
Except one party pretended he wasn't even dead and refused to allow a vote on a successor.
+1
Level 72
Jan 5, 2017
I was going to ask about him too. He should definitely be on this list.
+1
Level 79
Dec 14, 2016
Alan Thicke, RIP, goodnight sweet prince.
+1
Level 79
Dec 14, 2016
And Mrs. Brady, (Flo Hen) and Schneider from One Day at a Time - Pat Harrington
+1
Level 64
Dec 25, 2016
George Michael :(
+1
Level 60
Dec 27, 2016
Recommend adding Carrie Fisher :( May she rest in peace
+1
Level 54
Jan 3, 2017
absolutely
+1
Level 72
Jan 4, 2017
Definitely yes! And her mother Debbie Reynolds, star of "Singin' in the rain"!
+1
Level 60
Jan 13, 2017
And LOTS of other things!
+1
Level 77
Dec 27, 2016
This quiz needs too many updates :-(
+1
Level 65
Dec 27, 2016
Next year make the quiz after the year ends... so many deaths close to the end of the year :(
+2
Level ∞
Dec 27, 2016
So true. Not adding Carrie Fischer for now because I don't want anyone else to die in 2016. :(
+1
Level 69
Dec 28, 2016
I can't even face that Carrie Fisher is dead yet. I am glad you didn't add her already.
+1
Level 67
Dec 28, 2016
Unfortunately it wasn't enough, Carrie's mother Debbie Reynolds passed away earlier today. One of the most heartbroking stories of the whole year :((.
+1
Level 28
Dec 30, 2016
Not to correct you, but it's spelled just C-A-R-R-I-E F-I-S-H-E-R
+1
Level 47
Dec 30, 2016
Same with Debbie Reynolds
+5
Level 76
Jan 4, 2017
No, she's spelt D-E-B-B-I-E-R-E-Y-N-O-L-D-S.
+1
Level 70
Dec 28, 2016
This sucks... Not the quiz. I mean 2016 in general.
+1
Level 89
Dec 30, 2016
There have been worse years, believe me.
+2
Level 25
Dec 30, 2016
Exactly. The Spanish Flu in 1918 apparently wasn't so bad or the Soviet famine around 1933 and 1934 were nothing compared to celebrities dying according to many people on social media. 2016 has been a great year in science (Alzheimer advances and a exoplanet discoveries), for tigers and pandas and much more. I find sad that many people cry more over the death of say David Bowie than the death of their grandmother.
+1
Level 60
Jan 13, 2017
@Triviamaster2 I respectfully disagree. David Bowie's family is mourning for him, and he had millions of fans who felt a connection to him and therefore were also mourning his loss. Same goes for every celebrity who dies: they're all real people, and their lives have value. It's sad how often we forget that. No one WHO DIDN'T KNOW David Bowie would mourn more for him than for a close relative--that's just silly. Just FYI, a TON of people, both famous and ordinary, died in 2016. I did mourn more for people in my own small community, such as my aunt's best friend; her (my aunt's) mother-in-law (within two days of each other); the mother of a coworker; a 45-year-old husband and father down the street who VERY suddenly and unexpectedly died of an aneurysm; a sweet lady in my church; and a 15-year-old boy in my church's youth group who was accidentally shot to death by his best friend on a hunting trip. 2016 really was a "death year" of sorts, and that shouldn't be ignored.
+3
Level 60
Jan 13, 2017
Nobody anywhere truly believes that 2016 was the worst year in recorded history, just that it wasn't a good year.
+1
Level 66
Dec 28, 2016
Please add Joanie Laurer, a.k.a. former professional wrestler Chyna, the first woman to win a men's championship in a major professional wrestling organization, to the list. She died back in April 2016.
+1
Level 60
Dec 30, 2016
Why? Only wrestling fans would get her, and I doubt many on Jetpunk are WWE fans.
+1
Level 66
Jan 2, 2017
Because she's famous and she died. Lots of people wouldn't know a former Toronto mayor either, but he's on the list.

Besides, she was also a former Playboy centerfold and (sadly) an adult film star as well, so there will be people other than wrestling fans who would recognize her.

+1
Level 66
Jan 2, 2017
Also, there are lots of WWE-specific quizzes on JetPunk, including some that are actually worth points. So I do think there are plenty of wrestling fans on Jetpunk.
+1
Level 60
Jan 3, 2017
The Toronto mayor only got guessed by 30% of users. And many people won't know her by her real name, and she's not even in the featured WWE quizzes.
+1
Level 77
Jan 16, 2017
I resent that generalization. Just because we have troves of trivia stored in our noggin doesn't mean we don't appreciate a good frogsplash off the top rope once in a while.
+1
Level 89
Dec 30, 2016
I'm kinda disappointed to not see Glenn Frey or Garry Shandling make this list.
+2
Level 89
Dec 30, 2016
Or Frank Sinatra Jr. Or Garry Marshall. Or Kenny Baker. Or Harambe...
+1
Level 74
Dec 30, 2016
Harambe? On a more serious note, this is a depressing list
+3
Level 60
Dec 30, 2016
Harambe, a perfect example of how the internet can make something unknown into a meme and blow up in popularity. Thankfully it seems it's starting to die off.
+1
Level 70
Dec 30, 2016
Completely agree. Amazing how the internet can mourn the loss of a gorilla, oblivious to real life problems such as wars, corruption, etc.
+3
Level 60
Jan 4, 2017
You do realize that grief isn't mutually exclusive? It's quite possible to both mourn Harambe and the senselessness of his death, and also be concerned with larger world-wide problems.
+1
Level 84
Dec 30, 2016
Needs Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
+1
Level 68
Dec 30, 2016
Sadly needs to be updated. Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds...
+1
Level 46
Dec 30, 2016
"Repetetive" should be "Repetitive"
+1
Level 26
Dec 30, 2016
Also Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

(1936-2016)

+2
Level 67
Dec 30, 2016
Sad how you could make another quiz with so many who have died: Ronnie Corbett, Carrie Fisher, Johan Cruyff, The King of Thailand, Paul Daniels...
+1
Level 67
Dec 30, 2016
Also, what a rubbish year.
+2
Level 70
Jan 2, 2017
Speak for yourself. I had a great year.
+2
Level 88
Dec 30, 2016
Johan Cruijff????
+2
Level 78
Dec 30, 2016
The absence of Carrie Fisher and Johan Cruyff makes this test unworthy.
+1
Level 48
Dec 30, 2016
And Debbie Reynolds too
+1
Level 66
Dec 30, 2016
Now Carrie Fisher needs to be added :(
+1
Level ∞
Dec 30, 2016
Did you read the other comments?
+4
Level 55
Dec 30, 2016
I get the feeling that reading the other comments before commenting is not an incredibly common occurrence on JetPunk...
+2
Level 75
Jul 23, 2019
^ too true.

It astounds me how many people seem to think that quizzes like this are supposed to be exhaustive as well. The instructions don't say 'Name all of the notable people who left us in 2016'

+1
Level 77
Dec 30, 2016
I didn't know about Gordie Howe. And yes, the only good thing to happen this year was the Cubs winning the World Series.
+1
Level 50
Dec 30, 2016
2nd that!
+1
Level 77
Jan 16, 2017
I think the Cubs winning the world series is what CAUSED these deaths. Thanks a lot Cubs fans...
+1
Level 85
Jan 1, 2022
We honor your sacrifice.
+2
Level 41
Dec 30, 2016
phife dawg :((
+2
Level 75
Dec 30, 2016
I was just about to say that!
+1
Level 75
Jan 23, 2017
What? As in ATCQ? I didn't hear about that
+1
Level 65
Dec 30, 2016
Might want to add Carrie Fischer
+1
Level 60
Dec 30, 2016
Might want to read the other comments.
+1
Level 28
Dec 30, 2016
I know that Carrie Fisher died one day after this quiz was made but please, add her on here!
+1
Level 28
Dec 30, 2016
Sure, I can't really get over the fact that she's dead, but there might be people out there that don't know. And if in Star Wars, Princess Leia is killed off or something, they may try to create a theory or something off of it since they don't know so you may to spread the word out. What do you other people think? I think that people deserve to know
+1
Level 60
Dec 30, 2016
You really believe that in a world where information travels through the internet and we're only a few inches away from information that there'd be people that dont know that Fisher has died. Also, all of her scenes have been finished recording for Ep. 8 and they may use the same technology used to make Tarkin in Rogue One for Ep. 9, if they don't kill her someway.
+2
Level 59
Dec 30, 2016
WHAT ABOUT HARAMBE‽
+1
Level 60
Dec 30, 2016
Dead meme
+1
Level 28
Dec 31, 2016
I guess that Harambe doesn't count because he's a gorilla and not a person. So sad
+1
Level 28
Dec 30, 2016
Yes, that does make complete sense, but really though. I do realize that, but put yourself in a child's shoes. You dont have connection to the internet, and your parents know that Carrie Fisher has died, even after Han Solo had died, along with Alan Rickman (sorry if I spelled that wrong) and the only way you can see movies is by wathing them in theaters. You would be heartbroken if Princess Leia had died as well. It would throw off everything off. Yes, I know about the internet these days, but think about a child out there that will cry their eyes out. That is all I am saying
+1
Level 74
Dec 31, 2016
If memory serves, Natalie Cole died on 1/1/16, I think she merits inclusion as well.
+1
Level 28
Dec 31, 2016
True
+1
Level 60
Jan 13, 2017
Wikipedia says she died on New Year's Eve of 2015, but Time magazine includes her on a list of celebrities we lost last year. So I have no idea.
+1
Level 60
Dec 31, 2016
Cohen didn't just record "Hallelujah", he wrote the song!
+1
Level 28
Jan 3, 2017
so true
+1
Level 25
Jan 3, 2017
you forgot carrie fisher and debbie reynolds
+1
Level ∞
Jan 4, 2017
you forgot to read the comments before posting

But, seriously, I added them now. I didn't want to kill anyone else by adding them too early. Next year I will wait until December 31st to make the quiz.

+1
Level 60
Jan 4, 2017
Maybe wait until January 1st, just in case somebody dies on New Year's Eve.
+1
Level 65
Jan 4, 2017
it's bound to happen
+1
Level 59
Jan 3, 2017
Alan Rickman, though. That one hurts the most.
+1
Level 28
Jan 3, 2017
I feel ya. R.I.P Severus Snape
+1
Level 37
Nov 17, 2018
Same here. Alan Rickman was a great talent.
+1
Level 37
Jun 8, 2019
Always thought that George Michael was Greek.
+1
Level 60
Jan 4, 2017
Debbie didn't die "days later". She died the day after Fisher died.
+1
Level ∞
Jan 5, 2017
Fixed
+1
Level 82
Jan 4, 2017
Cruyff, Scalia and Thai king should be included IMO.
+1
Level ∞
Jan 5, 2017
Can you spell the name of the king of Thailand? Because I can't. :)
+1
Level 72
Jan 5, 2017
So many people passed away last year. Denise Matthews (Vanity from the Prince spin-off groups) and Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams) and right there at the last minute William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahy on MASH passed away. Oh, AND Kenny Baker (R2-D2) AND Erik Bauersfeld (Admrial Ackbar). Seriously, how Trump beat out The Grim Reaper for Person of the Year is beyond me.
+1
Level 74
Jan 12, 2017
I think if you have to explain who a person is after their name, they probably don't deserve to be included? Just a thought.
+1
Level 60
Jan 13, 2017
kinjapan isn't arguing that they be added, just forlornly observing the sheer number of celebrities who died last year (THREE people in the Star Wars world alone!)
+2
Level 70
May 5, 2017
Too Canadian-centric
+1
Level 46
Jun 23, 2017
You should really accept Deborah Reynolds and not just "Debbie"
+2
Level 76
Mar 29, 2018
But that wasn't her name. Her real name was Mary Frances Reynolds, and her stage name was Debbie, a nickname she got from Jack Warner. In no context did anyone in her life call her Deborah.
+3
Level 68
Nov 4, 2017
2016 really sucked.
+3
Level 71
Jun 1, 2020
2016 looks like a pleasant year compared to 2020...
+2
Level 54
Mar 25, 2019
No Cruyff :(
+1
Level 48
Feb 4, 2020
Where's Glenn Frey?
+1
Level 78
Jul 20, 2021
This quiz is a lot harder in the middle of 2021 for me than it would have been at the beginning of 2017.
+1
Level 56
Dec 23, 2023
JOSE FERNANDEZ NEEDS TO BE ADDED