Music
The singer tragically succumbed to Covid-19 at the age of 37 on August 9. She had been eight months pregnant at the time. Fortunately, her baby boy survived. Following her death, her husband comedian Shuib Sepahtu urged Malaysians to get vaccinated against the virus.
The legendary drummer for the Rolling Stones joined the band in 1963 and played for them throughout their storied existence. He died in late August, at the age of 80, and was celebrated by his contemporaries across generations of musicians. He was named the 12th greatest drummer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2016.
Bunny Wailer
Wailer was a founding member of legendary reggae group The Wailers – alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. He passed away on March 2, at age 73.
Tony Alberto Iskandar
The bass player for the Spider was found dead on July 30. Sadly, the group had been planning a small performance to celebrate their 25 years in the music industry. Tony helped the ska pop rock band produce albums Ngam Ho, Aladin, Nazraku, Bintang 12, Kita Satu and Ankabut.
A founding member of the Birmingham, England pop and reggae band, Terence Wilson (his real name), died after a short illness at the age of 64. He played percussion and trumpets, as well as provided vocals in the band from 1978 until 2013.
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Though he died at the relatively young age of 50, DMX left behind a staggering legacy in the annals of hip hop with hits such as ‘X Gon’ Give It to Ya’, ‘Ruff Ryder’s Anthem’, among others. He also starred in a number of martial arts movies opposite Jet Li.
Hajmi Ibrahim
Famously known as Gmie, the singer for the band Screen, died at age of 50 on December 10. Throughout his time with Screen since 1996, Gmie helped popularise hit songs, including Tak Suka Tak Apa, Bila Cinta Didusta and Kita Ditakdirkan Berpisah.
Personalities
The 55-year-old beloved radio personality died suddenly at his home on the morning of December 15. He leaves behind a legion of fans from his days hosting a number of popular football shows, ‘On the Ball’ and ‘Off The Ball’, ‘Thank Friday it’s Football', and ‘Life’s a Pitch’.
King was one of the most iconic interviewers in the history of television – most famously for the 25 years he spent on CNN, where he interviewed just about everyone from world leaders to movie stars and more.
Aie
Malaysian cartoonist Saari Sulang passed away at his home on June 28 from kidney complications. He leaves behind 25 years of experience in the cartoon and comic field, including work with projects in Australia and the US.
Diagnosed with a rare form cancer just a year after becoming the first black man to become artistic director for Louis Vuitton, the fashion pioneer was only 41-years-old. His partnership with Kanye West – both from Chicago – helped propel him to international renown.
Actors
Arguably the greatest actor to come from Canada, the legendary thespian died at the age of 91 on February 5. He had a six decade career, spanning The Sound of Music to Knives Out, and earned three Academy Awards nominations after turning 80.
Born into an acting family with mother Azean Irdawaty an acclaimed performer herself, Benjy’s later life was sadly defined by an 11 year jail sentence for drug smuggling in Indonesia. However, his early life held much promise with acclaimed work in Kerana Cintaku Saerah, Kifarah, Orang Gaji 41 among others.
While her last days were bizarre in that she was reported dead one day, only for that to be denied, she finally succumbed to a urinary tract infection at the age of 65. She was a Bond girl in 1985’s A View to a Kill, before returning in a recurring role on the hit sitcom That 70’s Show.
The perennially cantankerous Asner died at the age of 91 on August 29. While older people probably remember him for his work on the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, younger generations remember him for his extensive voice work on a number of cartoons, including the 2009 hit Up.
Abu Bakar Omar
The renowned actor died on July 16 at the age of 73. Popular in the 80s and 90s, Abu Bakar Omar received many nominations and won awards based on his acting on TV and movies. Among the awards were Best Male Actor (Drama), Sri Angkasa Award 1983 and Best Male Actor (Radio Drama), Sri Angkasa Award 1990.
Most well known for her work in Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter, the veteran actor tragically died at the age of 52 after being diagnosed with cancer. She kept her diagnosis secret to the public, continuing to advocate on behalf of the UK’s National Health Service.
Dustin Diamond
Though his later years were marked with controversy, nothing can take away from his iconic – perhaps too iconic – role as Screech on the hit 90s sitcom Saved by the Bell. He died at the age off 44 just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
Politics
The Duke of Edinburgh led a long and sometimes controversial life, having been married to Queen Elizabeth from 1947 to his death on April 9, just two months shy of his 100th birthday. He lived through the long sweep of history, much of that highlighted on Netflix’s hit show The Crown.
The recently passed Archbishop was a stalwart defender of human rights throughout his entire life, most of which was defined by his stand against the apartheid government of South Africa. The Nobel Prize winner was 90 years old at the time of his death.
Once deeply respected as the highest ranking African-American military officer in US history, Powell’s role as part of the Bush administration in the selling of the invasion of Iraq forever hurt his credibility. Appearing at the UN, he made false claims on Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction.
Creative pioneers
The local film industry was shocked by his unexpected death at 56, as he reportedly collapsed at his cafe before being taken to Slim River Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was responsible for many popular films such as Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang, Man Laksa, Rock, Zombi Kampung Pisang and Hantu Kak Limah.
Labeled the father of ‘stand-up comedy’ in Malaysia, Datuk Jamali Shadat , 78, passed away on February 3. He was also known for his skills as a ventriloquist through the characters Atan and Atuk. The multilingual performer brought together people of all racial backgrounds together with his brand of comedy.
The bestselling author, who saw seven of her novels adapted for the big screen, including 1994’s Interview With a Vampire, died on December 11 at age 80. One of her legacies was redefining people’s view of vampires, depicting them as mysterious and sensual.
With a career spanning seven decades, the titan of musical theater oversaw some of the biggest hits on Broadway, inspiring generations of fans, many of which would create plays of their own. Among his many achievements include Tony Awards, Grammys and an Academy Award.
As one of the defining literary figures of the New Journalism movement in the 1960s, Didion inspired a generation of writers. She wrote five novels, 13 works of non-fiction and six screenplays, and after her husband’s death in 2003, she had a brief renaissance. – The Vibes, December 31, 2021
