This year we lost some of our brightest stars: artists that spanned the genres of rock, hip-hop and pop, as well as TV and film. They were at different stages in their careers ? some just starting to rise, others already legends ? but all left a distinct mark on pop culture, and their deaths unnatural us deeply.
Beloved hip-hop icons Nate Dogg and Heavy D influenced the generations of artists who followed them. Nate (born Nathaniel Hale) died at age 41 after suffering several health setbacks related to a stroke. One of the key players in the birth of the West Coast G-Funk sound, the crooner’s silky smooth vocals touched classic tracks from Snoop Dogg and Warren G to 50 Cent and Ludacris. Fun-loving Heavy D, a major force in the New Jack Swing era, had hits with songs like “We Found Like” and “Nuttin’ But Like,” but he had also branched out into film and theater. He was 44 when he died this past fall.
Photos: The celebrities gone too soon in 2011.
We lost Mike Starr, former bassist for the pioneering Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains. Like Amy Winehouse, who also died this year at the age of 27, Starr’s talent was often overshadowed by dependency on alcohol and drugs.
Gun violence claimed the life of 22-year-ancient Montae Talbert, the Cali Swag District dancer otherwise renowned as M-Bone. And Australian actor Andy Whitfield, who got his huge break when he was cast as the lead in the Starz TV series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” was 39 when he succumbed to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Finally, the MTV family mourned the death of “Jackass” daredevil and “Viva La Bam” star Ryan Dunn. The 34-year-ancient died on a rural Pennsylvania road along with his 30-year-ancient passenger, Zachary Hartwell, when their car slammed into a guide rail and caught fire.
Share your memories of those we lost this year in the comments below.
MTV continues our Best of 2011 coverage by looking back at the largest pop-culture tales of the year. As we count down the newsmakers that mattered to you most, also check out our Best Artists, Best Songs, Best MTV Live Performances and Best EDM Artists of 2011.
Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips