2016 will likely be remembered as the year far too many people in the entertainment business died.
The year started with the shocking news of the passing of David Bowie, though fans of the singer long suspected he suffered from health issues following the abrupt ending of the Reality Tour, due to a heart attack, in 2004, and his subsequent 10 year sabbatical. He would release two more albums, the second of which, Blackstar, was clearly meant to be a “goodbye” album.
More recently we’ve had the passing of accomplished (and extremely talented) actor Gene Wilder.
There are other things one notices when one gets older.
When I saw the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I was somewhat taken aback by how old both Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford looked in the film but, let’s face it, the last time they were in a Star Wars feature it was Return of the Jedi and that film was released in 1983 (for those counting, thirty three years ago).
Today came this bit of sad news in an article written by Scott Eric Kaufman and presented on salon.com:
Monty Python founding member Terry Jones diagnosed with dementia
One of the startling things one realizes with the passage of time is that the many people out there you hold in high esteem, be they musicians like David Bowie or actors such as Gene Wilder or comedians like Terry Jones, are all too human.
As high a pedestal as we may place them upon, we all carry the same flesh and blood and are thus just as susceptible to the passage of time.
In my mind, I picture David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust or as The Thin White Duke, or that too-cool Let’s Dance crooner. I see him older, too, yet holding up remarkable well during his final full tour, The Reality Tour…
Gene Wilder, as well, sticks in my mind for his acting in The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Silver Streak…he’s forever frozen in those features. Forever frozen during those more youthful years.
Like many, I love the Monty Python troupe and their absurdist humor. The original show was great (well, except for the final John Cleese-less season). I loved the first two Monty Python films, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian. Life of Brian, in particular, is along with Airplane! one of my all time favorite comedies ever. Not only was Terry Jones a writer and actor in both films, he was also the co-director of one, The Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam co-directed) and sole director of the other.
According to the article, the Terry Jones’ disease is such that…
(It) affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews.
Incredibly, incredibly sad to read.
When news like this hits I can’t help but think we should take a moment to appreciate what time we have on this planet and, further, appreciate the works of others who entertain us with their hard work.
Not to end the week on such a down note, but there will inevitably come a day when we cannot do so anymore.