Inspiring Celebrities Who've Passed in 2009

Patrick Swayze (August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009)

His roles in "Ghost" and "Dirty Dancing" still make young women swoon. Young men around the world will forever regard his character Dalton in "Roadhouse" as one of the toughest guys in film. So when Swayze was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2008, it seemed anyone who had ever seen his work was saddened.

For a man with such a strong physique, photos quickly emerged of him appearing thin and gaunt, and tabloids claimed he had but a short time to live. But through it all, Swayze remained optimistic, even continuing to work on the A&E TV series, "The Beast," in which he had a starring role.

In a statement to People Magazine in December 2008, he said, "It's upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I'm fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious."

Swayze died in September at the age of 57.

Photo credit: A&E

Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009)

This "Angel" was one of the biggest stars of the '70s and '80s, known primarily for her luscious locks and, of course, her role on the hit TV series "Charlie's Angels." When the star was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, she refused to let cancer beat her and began documenting her journey for a cure. With the help of friend Alana Stewart, she created the documentary "Farrah's Story." And while painful to watch, the film showed Fawcett's courage and strength, undoubtedly giving many who are battling cancer the resolve to continue fighting.

In April it was discovered that the cancer had spread to her liver. The 62-year-old actress passed away in June.

Frank McCourt (August 19, 1930 - July 19, 2009)

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir "Angela's Ashes," the writer Frank McCourt gave us all an inside look at what it was like growing up in poverty, first in Brooklyn, N.Y., and then Limerick, Ireland, where his family returned in hope of a better life—but didn't get one. McCourt's "Cinderella" story--he spent many years as a high school English teacher before publishing the best-selling "Angela's Ashes"--inspired many. In his subsequent memoirs, "'Tis" and "Teacher Man," McCourt encouraged his readers to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and go after their dreams.

The 78-year-old literary giant passed away in July from cancer after meningeal complications.

Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009)

King of Pop Michael Jackson led an eccentric life for many years—with his numerous plastic surgeries, possible Peter Pan syndrome, and fascination with and befriending of children. And though his life was certainly not without controversy—he was accused of child sexual abuse twice and tried but acquitted once--the impact he made on music (he is the most commercially successful artist of all time) and on his millions of fans is undeniable.

The singer passed away at age 50 in June due to cardiac arrest, after reportedly being administered intravenous drugs. His death has been ruled a homicide, and an investigation is still pending.

Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009)

Club DJ and musician Adam Goldstein, known as DJ AM, had a public battle with drug addiction for more than 10 years and eventually died from what was ruled an accidental drug overdose. The bitter irony was that he was involved in helping others who were also struggling with drugs. At the time of his death, he had shot eight episodes of the MTV reality show "Gone Too Far," in which he helped stage interventions for drug addicts. And while there was much controversy over whether to air the episodes, given the circumstances of his death, the decision was made to go ahead in the hopes that others would be inspired to get clean after watching the series.

DJ AM, who had cheated death in 2008 after surviving a devastating plane crash with musician Travis Barker, died in August at the age of 36.

Walter Cronkite (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009)

"With all respect to John Chancellor, Peter Jenkins, Roger Mudd, David Brinkley, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, and others, it's been a long time since our culture trusted anyone as much as Walter Cronkite," wrote blogger Doug Howe upon the news of Cronkite's death.

The journalist called "The Most Trusted Man in America" had a long and distinguished career, including most notably a 19-year stretch as the anchor for the CBS Evening News, where Americans saw him cover Watergate, the Vietnam War, the Nuremberg trials, and countless other historic events.

Cronkite passed away in July from cerebrovascular disease. He was 92.

Jim Carroll (August 1, 1949 – September 11, 2009)

Author, poet, and punk rocker Jim Carroll was best known for his autobiography-turned-film, "The Basketball Diaries," which documented his teen years as a heroin addict and prostitute (all the while leading a double life as an all-star high school basketball player). Leonardo DiCaprio played his character in the film.

And though he certainly didn't sugarcoat his dark life—his big hit with "The Jim Carroll Band" was the song "People Who Died," a list of some of his friends who (you guess it) died—he gave hope to many angst-ridden teens who read his work and learned his story.

On Idol Chatter, blogger Paul O'Donnell's post on Carroll soon after he died, one commenter wrote of Carroll, "Your work got me through some of the darkest years of my life."

Carroll died of a heart attack in September. He was 60 years old.

Photo credit: Ray Lego/Cut the Fat

John Hughes (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009)

Director John Hughes was the king of 1980s teen films—"Pretty in Pink," "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" just to name a few. Not only was his work fun and entertaining (who wouldn't want to skip school with Bueller?) but there was something about his work that almost all young people could relate to. There was also something very comforting in knowing that his teen characters—especially those "Breakfast Club" kids—were going through the same things the rest of us were. He gave us hope that things would be better and that even if no one (read: adults) understood us, eventually there would be a time where they would have to take us seriously. Because we'd make them.

Hughes died of a heart attack in August. He was 59.

Les Paul (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009)

Where did rock 'n roll come from? Campfire hootenannies down south in the 1940s, sure. From Elvis's hips. From the Beatles' insanely inventive recording sessions. But most of all, it came from a guitar player and electronic tinkerer named Les Paul.

In the late 1940s and early '50s, Paul laid the foundation for the modern music industry by reinventing the electric guitar and inventing the multi-track recording system.

Paul's method of taping music quite simply changed everything about how music was made. His system allowed singers for the first time to mix several performances together, combining the best vocal and instrumental takes. It is unimaginable to think of making an album today without Paul's technological breakthrough.

Les Paul died in August of complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

--Paul O'Donnell, Idol Chatter

Photo credit: DiDi46