So far, 2016 has been a year of attrition, with many lives lost to illness and tragedy.
Here are 6 people of the many people we feel have gone too soon:
1.Prince
The Artist died earlier this year after an accidental overdose of the drug Fentanyl, a drug usually used for cancer treatment. Prince was a prolific musician with many hits that have become part of popular culture.
Click here to see touching tributes to Prince’s music
2.Alan Rickman
The Love Actually and Harry Potter star passed away this year of pancreatic cancer. In addition to his many movie roles, Rickman was also a member of The Royal Shakespeare company.
#rip
3. Gugu Zulu
The rally driver and popular sporting personality died on Mandela Day during the #Trek4Mandela charity climb of Kilimanjaro. The local sportsman had a following of dedicated fans and friends who loved his warm nature and giving personality, as well as his adoration for his wife and baby daughter.
Click here to read about 5 times Gugu and his wife made us believe in true love
A photo posted by Gugu Zulu (@guguzulu) on
4.Muhammed Ali
Muhammed Ali, boxer and sporting hero, died this year after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. The boxer, whose real name was Cassius Clay, was as charming outside of the ring as he was deadly in it, and gained a following of fans who lovingly supported him until his death.
5.David Bowie
The singer, who managed to keep fans enthralled with his unusual style, passed away earlier this year after a battle with liver cancer. He died shortly after his 69th birthday.
6.Garry Marshall
The director of movies like Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride and The Princess Diaries passed away recently after complications caused by pneumonia at he age of 81. The director, producer and director is believed to have had a stroke prior to becoming ill. Marshall was also an actor who appeared in The Odd Couple as well as Two And A Half Men.