[Flowers on top of a stone engraved “IN LOVING MEMORY”. Photo credit: Unsplash]

Recently, there have been several deaths of famous celebrities, including Matthew Perry and Michael Gambon.

On October 29th, 2023, Matthew Perry, 54, famously known as Chandler Bing from Friends, sadly passed away.

The exact cause of his death isn’t confirmed, but it’s reported that he appears to have drowned at his Los Angeles residence.

The actor was a fan-favorite, known for his portrayal of Chandler, an awkward and sarcastic character from Friends, along with other famous TV series and movies such as Mr. Sunshine and Fools Rush in.

Even though Matthew Perry was recognized as a great person in real life, he also had a sad history with addiction to alcohol and drugs.

As mentioned on CNN, he underwent 14 surgeries and 15 rehab stints due to his struggles with addiction, which also led to him forgetting 3 years of filming Friends.

As people mourn the news of Matthew Perry’s passing, there was also another unfortunate loss of a famous actor this year.

On September 27th, 2023, Michael Gambon, an Irish-English actor, died in Witham, United Kingdom.

He was 82 years old at the time of his death, and the cause was pneumonia.

He left a lasting impression on people as the iconic Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series, and first appearing in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

To delve deeper into the sentiments of those disappointed by the recent celebrity deaths, two questions were posed to students fond of the shows/movies these celebrities were a part of.

The questions inquired about their choice between Matthew Perry and Michael Gambon, asking, “Which show/movie do you know them from, and how did their character influence you/your life? How did you first feel when you heard that they passed away?”

Kendra Poole, a student at St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, stated, “I know Matthew Perry from the show FRIENDS, and he influenced my life because I watched it oftenly. His character always seemed very interesting and unique! Also, I don’t know why, but I felt really sad on the inside once I found out about the news.”

A current 9th grader at SJA who wished to remain anonymous said, “I first saw Michael Gambon in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and I felt some respect for his belief in someone. His courage and wisdom led me to a more thought-provoking state. It was tragic that he died.”

The last student, an 8th grader who also wanted to stay anonymous, shared, “I instantly felt heart-broken when I found out that Michael Gambon passed away. I used to be very into the Harry Potter franchise, and I thought his role was always unique to me as he seemed very sure of his choices. Especially his famous (character) quote, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” inspired me a lot. The quote helped me feel more confident when I felt hopeless.”

The responses highlight the impact these celebrities had on citizen’s lives, and now, eveyone hopes they rest in peace.