So Many Celebrity Deaths in One Week

In the relatively short time that I have been alive (24 3/4 years, mind you), I have never experienced so many famous people dying in a single week. Yet it has happened, and it makes me wonder if we will lose anyone else tomorrow, or sometime in the very near future. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Fred Travalena, Billy Mays, and, of course, Michael Jackson. A month ago, they were still alive and kicking, but now they are likely continuing their endeavors in heaven. One could be curious as to whether this is a bizarre coincidence (likely) or a new trend (hopefully not), as some of these deaths were expected to occur eventually, while others simply came out of the blue. So who were these individuals? Let us find out.

Ed McMahon was the first of these stars to pass away, on June 23, 2009. He was, of course, Johnny Carson's sidekick, and was also the star of Star Search and a spokesperson for American Family Publishers and, more recently, Cash4Gold.com. In recent years, he had been suffering from health problems and financial difficulties. At one point, Donald Trump saved Ed's home from foreclosure, and with new endorsements it seemed that McMahon would be back on his feet. Unfortunately, having suffered a broken neck in 2007 and a bout with pneumonia in 2009, his health was finally catching up to him, and he soon joined his longtime partner Johnny in the afterlife. A likable personality, now sorely missed.

A former Charlie's Angel star became an angel herself when Farrah Fawcett lost her long battle with anal cancer on June 25th. After appearing on the popular TV series for a single season, her career continued in made-for-TV movies, but in 2006, the revelation of her cancer shocked the world. Three years later, the disease had become so powerful that Fawcett became weaker over time, and in recent months she had been bedridden. In May, a two-hour documentary of her brave fight with cancer was aired, but there will never be another such special, as the disease finally overtook her. The news of her death saddened her fans, and it seemed to be no bigger than any other celebrity death. However, no sooner did the news of Fawcett's death break than another death the very same day, that of one of the biggest natures seen in a long time, was announced.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, had suffered a cardiac arrest, and by the late afternoon/early evening hours, the news of his death was confirmed. After all the years of providing memorable and best-selling music, after all the strange and controversial circumstances he had gone through, and after all the preparations that went into his planned comeback tour, his life had ended in great tragedy. His death has easily become the most famous one of the recent bunch, as tributes have occurred worldwide, his albums have sold out rapidly, and at one point, Google briefly crashed as a result of having so many people search for Michael Jackson on the Internet. All of this comes amid a growing series of questions, such as whether prescription drugs contributed to his death and who will get custody of his three children. It will surely take quite some time for these issues to be sorted out. In the meantime, fans continue to pay tribute to a pop music icon who, despite the issues of his personal life, has left a lasting legacy for generations of people, and his music will surely continue to live on long after his death.

Just when things could not get more bizarre, a person familiar to those who watch "as seen on TV" ads was suddenly and unexpectedly silenced forever. Billy Mays was notable for plugging products like OxyClean and Orange Glo, as well as a variety of mail-in products, in his trademark loud voice. He also became an Internet star of sorts, with many of his commercials being used by others for comedic purposes, and just two months ago, his show Pitchmen premiered on the Discovery Channel. Mays had been on a rough flight, and upon landing, had some objects strike him on the head. It is not entirely clear if this is what caused him to die the following day, June 28th, but as of June 29th, an autopsy on Mays was scheduled. While he will no longer be featured in any more commercials, the ones that did air will likely remain popular on YouTube and elsewhere due to his dynamic personality and distinctively loud voice.

The same day that Billy died brought the death of comedian Fred Travalena. He was frequently seen on the ABC Comedy Hour and in Dean Martin's celebrity roasts during the 1970s, and guest starred on a variety of shows through the 1990s. Ironically, he was a guest star on the short-lived sitcom Good Sports which starred Farrah Fawcett. Over the past few years, Travalena had been battling cancer; specifically, lymphoma and prostate cancer. The former had, however, been in remission for five years until 2008, and it claimed his life the following year. While not much of a major celebrity death, this loss is no less tragic, especially coming on the heels of so many deaths in just a single week.

These stars each brought their own legacies into the public eye: Ed McMahon with his longtime stint with Johnny Carson, Farrah Fawcett with her stunning beauty, Michael Jackson with his music, Billy Mays with his loud voice, and Fred Travalena with his comedy routines. What they all had in common was that they became well-known personalities that people would enjoy for as long as they lived, and long after their deaths, as well. Unfortunately for some of these personalities, their end has come far too soon, and their promising futures have been cut short. With so many deaths within a span of just one week, one may be curious as to who could be next. Even though I am hopeful that this was likely a bizarre sequence of events, one that does not come very often, I fear that other stars may soon be knocking on heaven's gate. Otherwise, a similar series of events may happen sometime down the road, with similar results. Fortunately, we were given the chance to get to know those who are no longer with us, and their legacies will live on forever, as they, unlike the stars themselves, are both immortal and everlasting.