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George Michael dead aged 53
According to a statement released by his publicist, the former Wham singer died peacefully at home in Oxfordshire, England. Courtesy ABC News 24
George Michael's death on Christmas Day proves 2016 is not done yet in felling the ranks of some of the world's most beloved celebrities.
The year began with the death of David Bowie on January 10, closely followed by the passing of Alan Rickman four days later.
![Actor Alan Rickman, pictured in 2015, died in January.](/web/20161228203333im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/6/9/p/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gthux5.png/1482887216088.jpg)
Since then, the casualties have included prominent actors, writers, performers and athletes, including Prince, Muhammad Ali and Leonard Cohen.
With just five days left in the year, many thought the worst had passed.
Then, when George Michael's publicist announced the 53-year-old had died, there was a common refrain: "2016 has taken another legend".
Is this year over yet? Too many people are passing away. Rest In Peace, George Michael. ☹️
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 25, 2016
After the news broke that actress Carrie Fischer suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles before Christmas, we all hoped for a quick recovery. But the 60-year-old beloved for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars and literary works has too passed so close to the end of 2016; the year that seems the force was not with us.
Here is a look back at who the world has lost this year.
January
![David Bowie performs in New York in January 1997.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/d/j/c/w/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png)
David Bowie performs in New York in January 1997. Photo: AP
10 - David Bowie (69, UK rock music great)
14 - Alan Rickman (69, English actor)
18 - Glenn Frey (67, Eagles founder)
February
![Author Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, pictured in 2007.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/0/0/x/c/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png)
Author Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, pictured in 2007. Photo: AP
19 - Harper Lee (89, US author To Kill a Mockingbird)
March
![Comedian Ronnie Corbett died in 2016.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/v/k/i/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png)
Comedian Ronnie Corbett died in 2016. Photo: Nigel Shafran
8 - George Martin (90, British Beatles producer)
9 - Jon English (66, Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor)
24 - Garry Shandling, (66, US comedian/actor/writer)
31 - Ronnie Corbett (85, British comedian and actor (The Two Ronnies)
April
![Prince was found dead at his estate, aged 57.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/f/8/p/8/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1471927788077.png)
Prince was found dead at his estate, aged 57. Photo: AP
6 - Merle Haggard (79, US country singer-songwriter)
21 - Prince (57, US rock musician)
June
![Boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1966.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/a/4/2/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png)
Boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1966. Photo: AP
3 - Muhammad Ali (74, US boxer, Olympic gold medalist)
July
![Director Garry Marshall, right, died in July.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/9/p/0/r/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png)
Director Garry Marshall, right, died in July. Photo: Getty Images
19 - Garry Marshall (81, US writer/director Pretty Woman, Happy Days)
August
![Gene Wilder, who starred in Willy Wonka, was 83.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/6/b/e/m/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png)
Gene Wilder died in August, aged 83. Photo: Supplied
29 - Gene Wilder (83, US actor - The Producers, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory)
September
![Former cricketer Max Walker, pictured in 2006, died in September.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/v/w/2/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1482712213922.png)
Former cricketer Max Walker, pictured in 2006, died in September. Photo: Eddie Jim
25 - Arnold Palmer (87, US golf great)
28 - Max Walker (68, Australian Test cricketer/commentator)
October
7 - Ross Higgins (85, Australian TV actor, comedian and voice actor. Best known for his role as Ted Bullpitt in Kingwood Country and Louie The Fly ad)
23 - Pete Burns (57, British Dead or Alive singer/songwriter)
November
![Leonard Cohen in concert at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, 2009.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/f/g/z/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1479422658822.png)
Leonard Cohen in concert at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, 2009. Photo: Wayne Taylor
7 - Leonard Cohen (82, Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist)
11 - Robert Vaughn (83, US actor best known for The Man from U.N.C.L.E)
18 - Sharon Lafaye Jones (60, American soul singer, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings)
24 - Florence Henderson (82, US actor who played Carol Brady in the Brady Bunch)
December
![George Michael performs in Sydney in February 2010.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161228203333im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/u/l/b/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1482707319890.png)
George Michael performs in Sydney in February 2010. Photo: James Brickwood
2 - Andrew Sachs (86, British actor who became a household name as Manuel in the 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers)
13 - Alan Thicke (69, Canadian Growing Pains actor)
18 - Zsa Zsa Gabor (99, Hungarian-American actress and socialite)
24 - Rick Parfitt (68, Status Quo singer/guitarist)
25 - George Michael (53, British pop superstar)
27 - Carrie Fisher (60, Star Wars actor)
AAP with Fairfax Media