Some are superstitious and believe that bad things come in threes. Agree to disagree, but one real-life example is the recent passing of David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey. These three men, who were all around 60 years old, will be remembered for their respective crafts. All three were praised for their talent, and many of us were saddened when they were abruptly taken from us.
David Bowie was a singer and songwriter who died at the age of 69 from cancer on Jan. 10, 2016. He was well-known for his experimental and abstract style, in both appearance and music. He was widely known for being Ziggy Stardust, his alter ego, who was a rock star that acted as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings. The album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” was well-known for its glam rock influences and themes of sexual exploration and social commentary. Bowie had many successes, one of which included his 1976 role as an alien who sought help for his dying planet in Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” In December of 2015, he revisited this character in the rock musical “Lazarus” in New York City. Following his death, Bowie left the majority of his $100 million estate to his wife, Iman, and his children, Duncun Jones and Alexandria Jones, who received 25 percent of his estate. He also gifted Alexandria’s one-time nanny $1 million, and left $2 million and shares in a company called Opossum Inc. to his long-time assistant Corinne Schwab.
Alan Rickman, famously known for his role as the sarcastic and complicated Professor Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” series, died of cancer on Jan. 14, 2016. His first Hollywood film role was as the evil terrorist Hans Gruber in “Die Hard.” Rickman claimed that the producers of this movie wanted cheap people, and indeed he came cheap. However, this role led to the other better-known roles he has obtained. Rickman did not just do good on screen, but off screen as well. He was the Honorary President of the International Performers Aid Trust (IPAT), an organization that assists artists and performers around the world who are challenged by poverty, helping them to develop their talent for a brighter future.
Glenn Frey, widely known for being a member of The Eagles, passed away on Jan. 18, 2016, from complications with his intestines that had burdened him since the 1980s. In his younger years, he taught himself how to play the guitar and jumped from band to band for a while until he found The Eagles. During his career, he also spent some time solo. His first solo album, “No Fun Aloud,” came out in 1982. One of his songs, “Smuggler’s Blues,” caught the attention of writers from Miami Vice, enlisted Frey to play a smuggler in an episode, which later led to additional acting roles. The Eagles did not remain a steady group and broke apart, but eventually they came back together for a reunion. In the late ’90s, The Eagles were inducted into the Hall of Fame and were named the Artists of the Century by the Recording Association of America. Their final tour ended in 2015, the same year the band received a Kennedy Center Award for musical achievements. Frey’s fame was not his only legacy. He was also dedicated to his family and participated in benefit tournaments for causes such as leukemia research and treatment, and also worked toward preventing child abuse.
