Obituary: George Michael

2016 will surely go down as the biggest year ever of deaths of prominent people in the entertainment industry. It is even bigger than 1977, which had some major, major performer deaths (Elvis, Charles Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford, Groucho Marx, to name a few).

Today it was just reported that singer George Michael, 53, has died. He reportedly died of a heart attack. He started his career with Wham! and then had big success as a solo artist.

In 2011 he had been treated for pneumonia:

The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have "passed away peacefully at home".

Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT.

Police say they were treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.

In a statement, the star's publicist said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.

"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

More details are here.

A typical work of his: