MOVIE stars, musical masters, and “The Greatest” of all time, 2016 saw the deaths of many of the world’s most beloved celebrities.Here are some of the biggest names we will always remember:

DAVID BOWIE
The year started badly for music fans with the death of rock star, David Bowie at the age of 69 on January 10.
As news of his death spread, social media went into meltdown, and moving impromptu memorials were held for the well-loved singer and performer.

ALAN RICKMAN
Like Bowie, Alan Rickman died suddenly on January 14 at the age of 69 from cancer, a condition he had not publicly disclosed.
Best known for his roles in ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Die Hard’, he was remembered as an actor who redefined the ‘bad guy’ role.

PRINCE
Music fans were in for yet more shock when Prince died, aged 57, on April 21.
He was found unresponsive at his Paisley Park Studios home, and was later pronounced dead.
The news of his death prompted a world-wide out-pouring of grief.

MUHAMMAD ALI
Three-time heavyweight boxer, Muhammad Ali, who once declared himself to be “The Greatest”, died aged 74 on June 3.
Ali was known for his showmanship and his stellar career, and fought a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was an inspiration to many social media users around the world.

GEORGE MICHAEL
George Michael’s publicist announced the superstar singer had “passed away peacefully” at his home on December 26. He was 53.
The singer-songwriter, who first rose to prominence after forming Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981, went on to have a highly successful solo career, releasing popular hits, including ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Faith’ and ‘Jesus to a Child’.
Michael’s first solo album, ‘Faith’, released in 1987, sold over 25 million copies, and landed him a Grammy. By the time of his death, he was one of the world’s biggest selling artistes.

CARRIE FISHER
Carrie Fisher, known for her “Star Wars” role, died on December 27, days after suffering a heart attack. She was 60.
The American actress, best-selling author and screenwriter, who suffered from numerous addictions and later turned that into writing gold, was a member of Hollywood royalty, both on screen and off.

DEBBIE REYNOLDS
And just when we thought 2016 could not wrench one more giant from among our ranks, Carrie Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, died at age 88 on December 28.
She died after she was rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected stroke just one day after her daughter’s death.
Debbie Reynolds, who received the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2015, first captivated audiences in 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain”.
She was later nominated for an Oscar, and helped found a group that works to combat mental health issues.