Who Died In 2016? Pictures And Facts About Dead Celebrities

2016 didn’t come without its fair share of hardships and sad moments, including the deaths of many of the world’s most influential celebrities.

From sports legends like golfing champion Arnold Palmer, hockey superstar Gordie Howe and MMA’s Kimbo Slice, to innovative greats like PBS newscaster Gwen Ifill, Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and former first lady Nancy Regan, there were several prominent figures to whom fans were forced to say goodbye during 2016.

While there were plenty more leading people who died in 2016 than who’s included in the list below, read on for pictures and facts on a few visionaries who died this year:

Muhammad Ali: The three-time world boxing champion died June 3, following a 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74. Although it was his light feet and strong blows that brought him fame in the boxing arena, Ali’s charitable and humanitarian efforts are what made him a beloved household name across the globe.

Prince: The iconic musician redefined the scope of rock, pop, soul, R&B and funk music from the moment he debuted his first album in 1978 until the day he died, April 21. His androgynous style and sexual lyrics catapulted the music industry and brought him a slew of awards — his first, a Grammy for his 1984 album, “Purple Rain,” which was also his top-selling album and has gone on to sell more than 13 million copies along with his quasi-autobiographical film of the same name, Rolling Stone magazine reported.

David Bowie: Before transcending to the heavens Jan. 10, the “Starman” singer was thrust into American spotlight in the early '70s following the U.S. released “Space Oddity” right after the 1969 launch of Apollo 11. However, he had already become an influential rock-star in Britain thanks to the success of albums “Hunky Dory,” “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars” and “Aladdin Sane.” Bowie’s quirky style and constantly changing persona paved the way for modern-day greats like Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Alan Thicke: The beloved actor, who may have been best known for his role on “Growing Pains,” died Dec. 13. Thicke’s career and introduction to fame started well before he landed the role of Jason Seaver on the ABC sitcom. The Canadian actor wrote and worked behind the scenes on “America 2-Night” and the “Richard Pryor Show” in the 1970s, during which time he also composed theme songs for famous sitcoms like “Diff’rent Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” as well as the theme song for game show “Wheel of Fortune.”

John Glenn: The famous astronaut died Dec. 8. Glenn made history twice — first when he became the first person to complete a three-orbit flight around the Earth in 1962 and again in 1998 when he became the oldest person ever to travel to space when he returned to the cosmos at age 77. He became a U.S. senator in 1974, representing Ohio politically for 24 years.