While each and every year remains significant to movie buffs and cinephiles for a whole array of reasons including things like top grossing films, box office bombs, award winning performances, the deaths with their eternal message of finality hold a very special place leaving behind a trail of bitter sweet memories. Even 2009, till now has got its share of bereavements, some coming as an end to full and recognized lives while others that have left many wondering and questioning the all seeing eye and his divine notion of reason and justice.

The event that really left the whole world along with movie lovers almost dazed with shock was the untimely demise of actress Natasha Richardson on 18th March in Quebec as a result of a skiing accident. The 45 year old was the daughter of director Tony Richardson and the legendary Vanessa Redgrave and was married to Irish star Liam Neeson. She has been fondly remembered for Patty Hearst (1988), The Handmaid’s Tale (1990) and Maid in Manhattan (2002) among many other films. The other such death that left film lovers all upset and astounded with grief was that of American screen star Patrick Swayze, who passed away on 14th September from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. The star of films like Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Point Break, City Of Joy and Waking Up in Reno including several others was diagnosed with the illness in late 2008 though he continued acting till his last day.

Among those whose deaths can be described as matured, nonetheless equally hurting for the lovers of the silver screen, the first to name would be the legendary Karl Malden who died on 1st July at the age of 97. One of the last survivors of the golden age of Hollywood, his name is associated with eternal screen classics such as A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, One Eyed Jacks, I Confess, Baby Doll, How The West Was Won, Cheyenne Autumn, Patton and The Cincinnati Kid which only form a minor percentage of a long filmography that spanned for six decades. Composer Maurice Jarre, whose “Lara’s Theme” is considered to be one of the greatest pieces of film music ever recorded, also died this year on March 28. The 84 year old Frenchman is equally lamented by members of film as well as musical fraternity who left behind an impressive body of work including scores for films like Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Topaz, The Last Tycoon, Witness and Ghost along with countless such other equally enchanting pieces of works. 2009 would also be certainly etched into the memory of cinephiles for the demise of two beloved and very dear antagonists. One of them is the iconic David Carradine whose portrayal of Bill in Quentin Tarantino’s epic Kill Bill will certainly go down in history. The other is German born actor Joseph Wiseman who breathed life into the immortal creation of the title role in the maiden Bond flick Dr. No.