Actors that capture our attention and give us their best is what we’ve come to expect from A list celebrities. Some of my favorites are Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Robin Williams (pictured), Paul Walker, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Sandra Bullock, and Dustin Hoffman.
After many years of following their careers and watching their performances I couldn’t help but feel involved in their next projects. When they die while still in their prime is when it reminds me that they’re as fragile as the rest of us. I dearly miss my favorites, not because I feel robbed of their next movies, but because of the impact their movies have had on me.
As a father of three boys, Paul Walker’s Need For Speed engaged and inspired my youngest son so much he began drift racing. He now does it professionally. Philip Seymour Hoffman exposed acting talent that every director dreams of. He raised the bar with every performance. His death demonstrated that after the cameras and lights turned off, he had his demons to deal with. A reminder that success does not guarantee a safe passage.
When Robin Williams took his life, I was in denial. I was waiting for the punch line to match the hole in my stomach. Instead, the details revealed that his suffering from depression overtook his reasoning.
I am so grateful to have been entertained by my favorites and find solace in their contributions. However, I still miss them.
(U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Tabitha Mans via Wikimedia Commons)