Most prominent celebrity deaths of the year

"Thriller." "Beat It." "Billie Jean." "Smooth Criminal." "Black or White." In a career that spanned nearly half a century, Michael Jackson produced countless songs and inspired a generation of artists.

Jackson was as well known for his strange behavior as he was for his music, but in the immediate aftermath of his death, allegations of sexual abuse went unnoticed as major news networks devoted most of their broadcast time to cover his death and funeral.

Over 1.5 million Jackson fans entered an online raffle to win tickets to his memorial service, which was held at LA's Staples Center and broadcasted live on national television. For weeks after the memorial service, the world continued to mourn Jackson's passing, and month's later heated debate continues about who is responsible for his death.

As Berry Gordy said at Jackson's memorial service, "He is simply the greatest entertainer who ever lived."

On the same day Michael Jackson died, the world lost another icon — Farrah Fawcett. In fact, E! aired a show titled "Michael & Farrah: Lost Icons" soon after their deaths. Fawcett, who played P.I. Jill Munroe on "Charlie's Angels" and whose haircut was as ubiquitous as Jennifer Aniston's  "The Rachel," was one of the biggest sex symbols of the ‘70s and ‘80s.  She was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and after treatment, was in remission until May 2007.

Fawcett had a prolific television and film career, and was nominated for four Emmys, including one post-humus nomination for her role as a producer of the NBC documentary "Farrah's Story."

Coverage of Fawcett's death may have taken a backseat to coverage of Jackson's, but we'll never forget her — or her ‘do.

Billy Mays — the man who brought OxiClean, the Quick Chop and Mighty Putty into the public conscienceness — died unexpectedly this summer at his home in Tampa, Fla.

Mays was known for his booming voice and demonstrative persona, which he employed as he pitched a variety of "As Seen on TV" products.  His commercials almost always began with the famous line, "Hi, Billy Mays here!"

Even though there was initial debate surrounding the cause of his death — head injuries sustained in a plane crash were cited as a possible factor, and rumors of a cocaine overdose flooded the media — Mays in fact died from heart disease.

Sadly, the only way to get OxiClean since Mays' death has been to go the supermarket — no infomercial needed.

In the original incarnation of "Dirty Dancing," Patrick Swayze danced his way into the hearts of millions of girls. As Johnny Castle, the rough-around–the-edges but nevertheless seductive dance instructor at Kellerman's Lodge, Swayze showed Jennifer Gray's character, Baby, how to dance and what it was like to be in love. The film was initially a low-budget project set to go almost straight-to-video, but it became an international success and skyrocketed Swayze's star into the international arena.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Swayze appeared in many other films, including "Point Break" and "Donnie Darko." In 1991, he was named "People" magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

Sadly, Swayze's career was cut short when he was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in Jan. 2008. He fought a courageous, 20-month-long battle, before passing away on Sept. 14, 2009. One thing's for sure — Swayze's legacy will live on.

Throughout the 2009 baseball season, the Phillies sported an extra touch on their uniforms — a small black patch that read "HK." Those HK signs commemorated Harry the K, formally known as Harry Kalas, the Phillies' lead play-by-pay announcer from 1971 until his death in April.

Kalas called game after game from 1971 until his death. One of his best-known narrations went, "Swing ... and a long drive, and this ball is ... outta here! Home run Utley!" (Or Howard or Werth or any other Phillies player.) Kalas saw the Phils through a number of milestones, including the opening of the now-demolished Veterans Stadium and two World Series championships.

Kalas had his major league baseball debut with the Houston Astros in 1965, and was also an announcer for "Inside the NFL" from 1977 until 2008. The beloved anouncer will truly  be missed.