The past couple of years have not been kind to us actors. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like every time they turn on the television, there’s news of another actor dying? Not to throw shade at the deaths of behemoth entertainers like Michael Jackson, Prince, or David Bowie, but when an actor dies it is an extremely emotional and ethereal loss. Maybe it’s because we feel like we’re losing not only the person, but the characters that made us fall in love with them in the first place. To pay tribute, here’s my list of 5 incredible characters that the world lost and the reasons we adored them.
5. Severus Snape
Earlier this year Alan Rickman’s death stunned the world and left us all with a giant hole in our hearts. Severus Snape intrigued audiences because of his cold exterior, but highly complex psyche that always kept us on our toes. For those of us who never read any of the Harry Potter novels (maybe I am the only one), we never really knew whose side he was on. But what we did know was that there was a lot more to him than what we saw on the surface.
“Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair” — Severus Snape
DONT MISS: 5 Shows That Should’ve Never Been Cancelled
4. Mickey
If you haven’t seen Killing Them Softly, go watch it–and then come back. Mickey, a hit man who seemingly lost his nerve, was one of James Gandolfini’s last roles before his untimely death in 2013. When I first saw this film, I couldn’t help but observe the nuanced performance by Gandolfini. Mickey was a highly flawed character that resonated with me because of his inability to accept the reality of his situation. Nonetheless, Mickey was vile, bombastic, and a connoisseur of the seven deadly sins whom the audience loved.
“We’ll sell him a party. Fly in, wack a guy, fly out. 15.” — Mickey
3. Attar
Don’t act like you’ve never seen 2001’s Planet of the Apes. Admittedly, I think this movie is pretty bad, but the one good thing about it was Michael Clarke Duncan as Attar. It surprises me that so many people don’t even know that Duncan passed back in 2012, but for me he will have a lasting impact. What made Attar stand out was his unequivocal hate for humans that produced some uncomfortably comedic moments that always make me laugh.
“Get your stinking hands off me, you damn dirty human!” — Attar
2. Saruman
You gotta love Christopher Lee’s take on the White Wizard from The Lord of the Rings. Even though he was a bad guy, I always found myself rooting for him even at the expense of The Shire. Perhaps I couldn’t separate Lee from Saruman, who’s charisma and knowledge of the craft exuded from his very being. In a way, you have to respect Saruman. I mean, he was able to fool Gandalf. Let that sink in…
“Well, I go and I will trouble you no more” — Saruman
1. Euphegenia Doubtfire
This is a no-brainer. I honestly can’t think of one person who doesn’t love this character. For me, Mrs. Doubtfire was the first time I was introduced to Robin Williams, and it was the beginning of my obsession with the late actors eclectic array of characters. Mrs. Doubtfire was smart, funny, and unapologetically sarcastic. What surprised me most is how no one ever caught her many underhanded comments that were just loud enough to bring a smile to my face.
“Touch me again I’ll drown you, you bastard” — Mrs. Doubtfire
To these characters and the actors who inhabited them, thank you. To get weekly articles like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe!
theactorsmonolith.com 