Some of the world’s biggest stars have tragically passed away on Christmas Day over the years, including George Michael, James Brown, and Dean Martin
Whilst Christmas Day is usually a period for happiness and festivities, it has also witnessed devastating tragedies.
Back in 2016, the globe was stunned when music legend George Michael was discovered deceased on the holiday morning. Yet George isn’t the sole celebrity to have sadly died on Christmas Day.
Here we reflect on some of the most talented and brilliant stars who heartbreakingly perished on December 25.
The world grieved a devastating blow on Christmas Day 2016, when cherished music icon George Michael was found dead at his residence in Goring-on-Thames, aged just 53. The performer’s boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, had gone to wake him that morning, only to discover him lifeless in bed, reports the Mirror.
In a statement, Fadi revealed: “We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch. I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed. Everything had been very complicated recently, but George was looking forward to Christmas, and so was I.”, reports the Mirror.
George and Fadi had been together since 2012, and the hairdresser voiced his overwhelming sorrow at the loss. Moments after the devastating discovery of George’s body, he posted on Twitter: “It’s a Xmas I will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning… I will never stop missing you xx”.
The mystery surrounding George’s death persisted until March the following year, when a coroner ruled he had passed away from natural causes – namely dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disorder that causes it to become stretched and weakened over time, hampering the heart’s capacity to circulate blood efficiently around the body.
In a cruel twist of destiny, George’s sister Melanie Panayiotou also passed away on Christmas Day just three years afterwards, at the age of 59.
The family issued a statement confirming Melanie had “passed away suddenly” over the festive season, having fallen into a diabetic coma.
Cinema icon Charlie Chaplin, born in 1889, suffered through a harsh childhood characterised by periods in the workhouse and his mother’s admission to a psychiatric facility.
Defying all odds, the silent movie star rose from destitution to become one of the film industry’s most revered and talented performers in history.
During the 1970s, Charlie’s health began declining dramatically.
After suffering several strokes, the legend became confined to a wheelchair and needed constant care by October 1977.
Sadly, on Christmas Day that year, Charlie died aged 88 following a stroke in his sleep.
A private funeral ceremony was conducted for the comedy great just two days later. Charlie left behind more than $100 million to his surviving spouse, which tragically resulted in a disturbing episode where his remains and casket were snatched in a ransom scheme, before officials recovered him for reinterment in a fortified tomb.
The iconic funk legend James Brown was suddenly taken poorly on December 23, 2006.
The 73 year old seemed “very bad… weak and dazed” whilst attending a dental appointment, with his dentist urging him to seek urgent medical care.
The musical giant was rushed to hospital, where his manager and dear mate Charles Bobbit remained at his side.
During the early hours of Christmas Day, James passed away from congestive heart failure, caused by pneumonia complications.
Bobbit stayed with him until the end, later disclosing that James had whispered: “I’m going away tonight,” before settling into sleep and passing away peacefully.
Nevertheless, some supporters and detectives have cast doubt on whether James’ swift deterioration and death happened naturally, hinting the performer might have been killed.
Showbusiness giant Dean Martin, christened Dino Paul Crocetti on 7 June 1917 in Ohio, was a shy lad who couldn’t speak English until he began school aged five.
Everything changed when he found his voice in song, quickly climbing the ranks to become a renowned entertainer, performer and cultural figure of his generation. Like many of his Rat Pack contemporaries, Dean had been a heavy smoker throughout his life.
In September 1993, he was diagnosed with lung cancer but declined the surgery doctors advised.
Two years later, he died from acute respiratory failure at the age of 78 at his Beverly Hills home.
Heartfelt tributes flooded in for the iconic performer, with the Las Vegas Strip dimming its lights in his honour.
In February 2009, Dean was awarded a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recognising his remarkable career.
The iconic singer Eartha Kitt died from colon cancer at the age of 81 at her residence on Christmas Day 2008.
Her daughter, Kitt McDonald, remained with her mum during her final moments and later described those last hours.
“I was with her when she died. She left this world literally screaming at the top of her lungs. I was with her constantly, she lived not even 3 miles from my house, we were together practically every day. She was home for the last few weeks when the doctor told us there was nothing they could do any more. Up until the last two days, she was still moving around. The doctor told us she will leave very quickly and her body will just start to shut down,” she told Mommy Noire.
“But when she left, she left the world with a bang, she left it how she lived it. She screamed her way out of here, literally. I truly believe her survival instincts were so part of her DNA that she was not going to go quietly or willingly. It was just the two of us hanging out [during the last days] she was very funny. We didn’t have to [talk] because I always knew how she felt about me.
“I was the love of her life, so the last part of her life we didn’t have to have these heart to heart talks. She started to see people that weren’t there. She thought I could see them too, but, of course, I couldn’t. I would make fun of her like, ‘I’m going to go in the other room and you stay here and talk to your friends.’
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