Why Do We Mourn These Actors?

Why do we mourn these actors so much more than any others? Why do they impact our lives in ways others fail to? Because they inspired without the need to conspire. They acted, they didn’t act out. They helped, they didn’t help themselves. They gave, they didn’t give up. When people looked up to them, they didn’t look down. They were gracious, not ingratiating.

They didn’t need to brag. They didn’t need to create controversy to generate publicity. They didn’t need to post selfies of their butts, or build reality shows around their supposed upper-middle class misery. They gave themselves to other people’s plights for the long haul, not for a 5-minute photo-op.

They “respected”, they didn’t “expect it”.

And they were so much more than what we saw on the screen.

Leonard Nimoy was a photographer (when he died, he was still using a camera he had rebuilt himself when he was 13), a musician, and a poet.

Christopher Reeve was a pilot (he soloed twice across the Atlantic Ocean).

Robin Williams was, of course, a comedian (and a regular on the USO circuit, entertaining the troops worldwide).

Jimmy Stewart was a soldier (after being rejected by the draft because of his weight, Stewart fought hard to serve his country, eventually going on to fly 20+ dangerous combat missions over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. He retired from the military as a Brigadier General).

Audrey Hepburn worked tirelessly with UNICEF (starting in the 1950s and eventually going on to become the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts. She donated all of her salaries on her last 3 movies to UNICEF. Her work with the organization was inspired by having grown up, and suffered in, Nazi occupied Netherlands).

And they were happy to help others who needed it.

They were who they were, nothing more. And they didn’t expect more because of who they were.

After reading about Nimoy’s death, and who he was, I got to thinking. Why? Maybe at middle-age I’m becoming more thoughtful, and because it’s a quiet night over here, which lends itself to thoughtful musings.

I see we are living in a world of manufactured celebrity with people who expect everything for nothing. They already have more than enough, but act like they deserve even more. Overindulgence is the new measure of success. Young people clamor to feed those indulgences, and in return are receiving nothing of any value. They are idolizing hollow shells who appreciate them only as long as they are buying their apps, wearing their clothing lines, or tweeting their body parts.

There are good people out there, doing good things, but their efforts are often overshadowed by the shenanigans of their colleagues in the entertainment world.

Who will inspire future generations? Hell, who will inspire current ones? It feels like the list grows shorter everyday.

I’m rambling now. It’s time to bring it to an end. In short, after reading about everything Nimoy – and the others – had accomplished in their lives, it’s inspiring me to step up my game.

It’s time to stop being distracted by the endless barrage of misery and selfishness that seems to fly out of my computer screen, tv, or smartphone whenever I turn them on.

It’s time to power down and power up.

It’s time to start doing something constructive, without the distraction of that which is destructive.

It’s time to do, or do not (Star Wars reference….Ka Ching!)

It’s time to make some changes.

Let’s hope the living will learn to inspire as much as the dead.

 

David McGrath
Contributor | The Hollywood Outsider