East Carolinian

Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: AP

Media Credit: AP

Media Credit: AP

Media Credit: AP

Weird coincidence or not, four famous celebrities have died in less than a week. First was Ed McMahon, then Farah Fawcett and the King of Pop (both on June 25th) followed by Billy Mays, aka the true "Infomercial King." This is perhaps one of the most bizarre turn of events that has happened in recent years to the "big-wigs" in entertainment. A "Tonight Show" sidekick, a '70s glamour idol, one of the biggest-selling musicians in recording history and an infomercial guru are all dead within a week. Crazy.

Ed McMahon is most famously known for being an announcer and co-star on the "Johnny Carson Show," the show which he was a part of for 30 years. According to a recent article by Entertainment Weekly, he was considered one of television's "greatest sidekicks." McMahon could be heard laughing through many portions of the Johnny Carson Show, which gained him the nickname "The Human Laugh Track." He's also famous for his "Here's Johnny" opening line that had also resonated to the big screen, thanks to Jack Nicholson, in the horror film "The Shining." McMahon died on June 23rd from natural causes at the age of 86.

As a star on the hit '70s show "Charlie's Angels", Farah Fawcett became an American sex symbol. Men lusted for her and women desperately wanted to look like her. She had beautiful, blond flowing hair, a gorgeous smile and a wonderful pair of legs. Her tremendous screen presence garnered her roles in the film "Extremities" and the TV movie "The Burning Bed." After having a long, three year tenure with anal cancer, Fawcett tragically passed away on June 25th at the age of 62.

Michael Jackson's passing has been the most widely publicized death of this week and has overshadowed the other celebrities.

With his death, there have come some bizarre conspiracy theories, such as that he staged his own death (very similar to the Elvis conspiracy theorists who thought he was abducted by aliens) and even the possibility of murder. Jackson's personal doctor had been in hiding up until just recently and has hired a big-shot lawyer. Whether or not the guy is guilty, he still has the potential to be blamed for the death of Jackson. Jackson's exact cause of death, up until now, is unknown. He is thought to have died from cardiac arrest and this may have been drug-induced. Jackson received a daily dose of Demerol, a painkiller which he had been addicted to for several years. Jackson died on June 25th at the age of 50.

"If only you [Michael] knew how much love you were getting, after all those years of paparazzi abuse," said senior Chris Thompson. "You will be missed. [Michael pose]" said Thompson as he struck a Michael pose.

Other's feel pity for Jackson and are even still mesmerized by his oddity. When asked about Jackson, junior biology major Megan Vann said, "He was very talented, but at the same time he creeped me out. I don't blame him entirely for this because I think his father had a lot to do with his strangeness for making him work extremely hard at a young age."

The last, but not least, celebrity passing of this week, Billy Mays, happened sometime in the early morning hours on Sunday. He was pronounced dead on Sunday at 7:45 a.m., apparently having died sometime during the night. Mays had been on a plane the night before his death, in which a front wheel blew out. Mays mentioned to a local news station in Tampa, Florida, WTVT-TV, saying that some of the objects "hit me on the head, but I got a hard head." Investigators still do not have enough information as to whether or not this incident had anything to do with the "Infomercial King's" death. Like Jackson, Mays died at the age of 50 on June 28th.

"All of these deaths were a big shock to everyone and they were all definitely strange. Despite all this, I think it's a coincidence though," said Kayleigh Smith, a junior exercise and physiology major.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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