I’ve been home sick all day (summer cold from hell), so naturally I’ve been listening to the news as well as watching movies. I was going to write about two interesting food articles I’ve seen, but instead I’m going to talk about some recent celebrity deaths, but perhaps not as you might think of them.
By now, we all know of the death of Michael Jackson (the one in the Jackson 5, as opposed to the former KABC radio host). Although I was squarely in the middle of the Jackson 5 and the early Jackson solo era, I was never a Michael Jackson fan. I do remember seeing Captain Eo at Disneyland, but that’s the closest I came. What gets to me more about Jackson’s death is how young he was. I turn 50 next year. He was 50. He died of a sudden heart attack — sudden death always scares me, for I worry about its impact on my family. I do feel sorry for his family, for they had no time to prepare for this. The shock of a sudden death is an experience.
As for Farrah. This death was expected, so I’m sure her family was prepared. I remember Farrah from the days of Charlie’s Angels (although I always was more the Kate Jackson type), and from her issue of Playboy (it was a December issue, as I recall). Although she went the route of unconventional treatment, that is her choice (and should be anyone’s choice, if the disease isn’t contageous). She was 62.
Folks are talking about the trifecta with Ed McMahon. McMahon’s death, too, was expected: he was up there in years, and in poor health (and poor finances).
Deaths like Michael Jackson’s always make me think back to the moment when I realized I was old. It was in 2003 (when I was 43), and the report came across, two days after my birthday, of the death of Nell Carter. I had always admired Ms. Carter from the time I saw her in Ain’t Misbehavin’. When I heard she was 56, and thought “Gee, that’s young”, I realized I was old.
ETA: I forgot to mention the death of David Carridine, which was also an unexpected death, although he was less of an icon.
So rest in peace Michael, Farrah, David, and Ed. Your suffering is over; your family’s suffering will ease with time. You will be remembered for your talent and tenacity, and the paparazzi will go on to some other person.
