In Memoriam: Gems we lost in 2020; fans will always mourn the loss

Arhama Altaf

30th Dec, 2020. 09:59 pm
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For some, the year 2020 was a year of catastrophe, with millions dying during the global pandemic and due to natural shocking deaths.

From the shocking accidental deaths of Kobe Bryant and Naya Rivera to the secret cancer that claimed actor Chadwick Boseman, there were plenty of unexpected losses that had nothing to do with the virus.

In chronological order, here are few stars who died in 2020 and we’ll remember them always.

1. Kobe Bryant

The NBA superstar and Oscar-winning producer of the short film Dear Basketball lost life in a helicopter crash on January 26 alongside eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. He spent his entire career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships, two scoring titles and the league MVP award in 2008.

2. Irrfan Khan

Known for his role in Slumdog Millionaire and Inferno, this Bollywood star died on April 29. In 2018, Khan was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine cancer and underwent months of treatment in the United Kingdom. Irrfan Khan won a number of film awards in India, including a 2012 Indian National Film Award for best actor for his performance in Paan Singh Tomar.

3. Naya Rivera

On July 8, 2020, the Glee star Naya Rivera drowned in the Lake Piru in California, where she had rented a pontoon boat with her four-year-old son. She was 33. Diving teams and law enforcement searched the waters of the lake for five days after she went missing. Her son was found on the boat by himself wearing a life-jacket, and the actor’s identification was also found on the vessel.

4. Chadwick Boseman

The entire world mourned the sudden loss of Black Panther star Boseman, who had secretly been fighting colon cancer since 2016. He succumbed to the disease August 29, at the age of 43.

5. Sushant Singh Rajput

Sushant Singh Rajput’s death on June 14 left everyone dumbstruck. The young actor was found dead at his home and the reason behind his death is still shrouded in mystery. He rose to immense fame and appreciation with his Bollywood debut Kai Po Che! With MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, the actor set a benchmark in the industry.

SSR, who started his career after dropping out of his engineering courses, had worked in several commercially hit movies. His last film ‘Dil Bechara’ that released posthumously garnered lots of appreciation.

6. Gene Deitch

Gene Deitch, an American Oscar-winning illustrator, animator, film director and producer had died at 95. His Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, told Dene Deitch died unexpectedly during the night from Thursday to Friday in his apartment in Prague’s Little Quarter neighborhood. No further details given. Deitch’s movie “Munro” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960. He was also nominated for the same award twice in 1964 for “Here’s Nudnik” and “How to Avoid Friendship.”