Tragic Losses of 2016 Trivia Quiz

Answer: David Bowie

David Bowie was, to many, an important trendsetter of the 1970s...and '80s...and '90s...and soforth, releasing twenty-five albums, appearing in films like "Labyrinth" and "The Prestige", and shaping art and culture internationally all the while. In January 2016, the release of his final album, "Blackstar", was met with great acclaim and was, to many, a final gift from a man who knew that his time was short. Bowie died of cancer on January 10, two days after the release.

His final single, "Lazarus", was an eerily present metaphor for a man who would be everlasting in his own works.

Answer: Alan Rickman

Although Rickman never pursued a career in film acting until later in his life, his talent shone through. His roles onstage for the Royal Shakespeare Company led to further jobs and, eventually, Hollywood, before he broke out in the 1988 Bruce Willis film "Die Hard" as antagonist Hans Gruber.

He later played roles in "Love, Actually", "Galaxy Quest", and all eight core "Harry Potter" films. He passed away on January 14th after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the previous year.

Answer: Harper Lee

Known, of course, for "To Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee's passing on February 19 did not go unnoticed, especially due to the troubled release of her second novel, actually a prequel, "Go Set a Watchman". She died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 89, leaving behind one of the most treasured works of American fiction and fuelling the discussion of race in North America for decades. "To Kill a Mockingbird", since its release, became compulsory reading on educational syllabi internationally. Most high school students have read the work in North America.

Answer: Prince

One of the world's best-selling rock and roll artists and occasional actor, Prince's death was taken hard by much of the music community as his eccentric style and immaculate musical talents were second-to-none. Prince rose to fame in the 1980s with songs like "Little Red Corvette" and "Purple Rain" and continued into the 1990s and 2000s, singing and songwriting chart-toppers. Prince won Grammys, an Oscar in 1984 (for Best Original Song Score in "Purple Rain"), and led the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2007.

He was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2004. He passed away in his Minnesota home on April 21.

Answer: Muhammad Ali

While most remember Ali for his boxing career, his position in the spotlight through the 1960s and 1970 made him both an entertainer and a noteworthy role model. Ali became a figure who spoke out for civil rights and against the Vietnam War during which time, despite his admitted lack of talent in reading and writing, he used his infamous trash talk, occasionally in poem or freestyle verse.

He was nominated for two Grammy Awards for his spoken word work. Ali passed away on June 4 of septic shock; he was 74.

Answer: Garry Marshall

While Garry Marshall was never up for an Oscar, many of his films were famous romantic ventures. Movies like "Beaches", "Overboard", "Runaway Bride", and "Valentine's Day" had a particular feel to them, and Marshall's films brought in the audiences. Marshall was also a creator of many famous TV shows including "Mork and Mindy", "Happy Days", and "Angie" though he turned from TV to film in the 1980s.

His sister, Penny Marshall, is also famous in the industry. Garry died on July 19 of a stroke during a bout of pneumonia.

Answer: Leonard Cohen

Regarded as one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of 2016, "You Want It Darker", much like Bowie with "Blackstar", seemed to hint at Cohen's awareness of mortality and imminent death; he passed away at the age of 82 on November 7, only three weeks after its release. Cohen is most known for his poetic lyrics and the song "Hallelujah" though he also wrote two novels.

He's won Grammy and Juno Awards (and Lifetime Achievement Awards for both) as well as the Governor General Award in Canada for his works.

Answer: George Michael

One of the most-played musicians in the UK at the turn of the century, George Michael started his career as half of Wham!, releasing a number of popular singles (including "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Careless Whisper") before going solo in 1986.

A philanthropist and public figure, George Michael also helped make some of the largest charity hits ever released (including Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"). He passed away on Christmas Day, dying of heart failure in his bed.

Answer: Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher, most famous for her role as Leia Organa in the "Star Wars" series, was also known for her writing and sway in Hollywood screenplays. Aside from three memoirs, she also wrote four fictional novels and doctored the screenplays for "Sister Act" and "The Wedding Singer" (among others).

She continued to act until her final days; she died of cardiac arrest on a plane returning from a book tour on December 27 though, as per wishes in her memoir "Wishful Drinking", it's to be said that she "drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra".

Answer: Debbie Reynolds

Known for her acting, singing, dancing, and all-around performing, Debbie Reynolds was Hollywood through and through. The mother of actress Carrie Fisher, Reynolds received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy in the 1970s and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2015.

She was also known for being a collector and preserver of movie memorabilia, much of which was auctioned off for charity. Debbie Reynolds died one day after her daughter, passing away due to a severe stroke on December 28. She was 84.