In Memoriam 2016: Film, Television, Music, Sports, Literature, the Arts”¦

With 2017 upon us, let’s take one final look back at the luminaries and personalities of the entertainment world who left us in 2016, during a year that seemed more turbulent and taxing than any other in recent memory.

Challenges in the past and challenges ahead, it’s a tough time to live in the world right now with so many changes like a whirling dervish to the senses. While there is much sadness in recognizing and accepting the passing of so many great figures in 2016, it’s the endearing, endless, never-ending fanbase and legacy that will keep each and every one of these names mentioned here (and some are of only cult status, but still enjoy a rabid passionate following as equal as any global figure) alive and well in the consciousness and beyond. In no particular order and apologies in advance if some of your favorites were left off. This was a huge list to go through and what was more painful than compiling this list was the fact that these incredibly talented people are all no longer with us.

Kenny Baker, who became an international star for portraying R2-D2, the lovable iconic droid in the Star Wars franchise, has died after fighting a long illness, according to CNN. He was 81.

Like Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Anthony Daniels, or even James Earl Jones in a way, the British-born Baker became a household name to the immense legions of Star Wars fans, who span almost 45 years of generational adoration for the franchise by donning the instantly recognizable R2-D2 costume. Not many people knew what the diminutive actor looked like in real life, but Star Wars fans wore a proud badge of honor knowing that it was Baker inside the R2 unit, a sort of early trivia nugget before the trivia boom started in the 1980s and never let its grip on popular culture.

In less than two weeks, fans will finally get to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We know that J.J. Abrams is already finished with the film, and he and everyone else involved working on it are currently on a whirlwind press tour to help promote the film (not that it needs it because it pretty much markets itself). But as we wait long and longer, our anticipation grows at an incredible rate, and the TV spots that reveal nothing about the film only feeds our fever pitch. Now a set of new images have appeared to reveal a little more about The Force Awakens, but still doesn’t tell us much about the film at all.

Check out the photos after the jump.

The flood gates have opened in promoting Star Wars: The Force Awakens (not that any promotion is actually necessary). We’ve already seen a wealth of peeks and teases and glimpses that have us all a flutter and near fainting, but I suppose more TV spots can’t hurt anyone with just a little less than a month left (!!!) before the movie is finally released to our starving, eager eyeballs.

A pair of new preview spots have been released for the movie, one clocking in at 30 seconds and the other running a little bit longer at 46 seconds. Both brief, but still plenty of fun to watch…especially if you’re ecstatically eating up any and everything Star Wars related you can get your eyes on. You can check them out below.

Last week saw the release of the first TV spot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and with it came new footage to be excited about.

Now, Lucasfilm has released a new, extended TV spot that has even more new material!

Check out the new 60-second extended TV spot here below.