The death on Christmas day of pop singer George Michael, who had numerous hits in the group Wham in the 1980s and later as a solo artist, took many by surprise. Image: Flowers left below a mural of David Bowie on the wall of a Morley's store in Brixton, London (AAP)
And just three days before 2016 ends, Hollywood star Debbie Reynolds died of a possible stroke while making preparations for the funeral of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, who had died one day earlier following a heart attack on a flight from London.
These three are latest of many high-profile figures to leave us this year, from larger-than-life musicians to sporting legends.
We take a look back at who we lost in 2016.




