The ‘80s generation is coming of age the hard way – especially this week. Three major celebrities from the ‘80s have died: Ozzy Osbourne, Malcolm Jamal Warner and Hulk Hogan.
These three meant more than Heavy Metal, a television series and professional wrestling. Each one left a lasting pop cultural stamp on the millions of Gen Xers who grew up with them.
Look around The Villages and you’ll find more and more people who came of age in the ‘80s. If you were born in 1970, you turn 55 this year. That’s the magic number for moving into a retirement community.
The vast majority of Gen X –as ‘80s’ people often call themselves—still have a lot of living to do. But they are discovering the perils of aging – including losing friends, relatives and media stars.
To paraphrase Kermit the Frog (another ‘80s star) it’s not easy getting old.
Ozzy Osbourne actually came to fame in the ‘70s, as lead singer for the metal band Black Sabbath. But he hit his solo stride in 1980, with the “Blizzard of Ozz” album. Some called it “satanism,” and legend has it Ozzy bit the head off a dove and a bat during concerts. It was crazy stuff, and Ozzy also was struggling with drugs and alcohol.
But the records kept selling and Old Ozzy cashed in on his wild image and music.
Eventually Ozzy became an accepted member of celebrity society. He was a Heavy Metal pioneer and went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath.
Ozzy, his wife Sharon Osbourne and kids Jack and Kelly Osbourne became TV staples with the hit reality show, “The Osbournes.”
Ozzy and the family crew even teamed with clean cut Donny and Marie Osmond for a Pepsi Twist Commercial. It featured Ozzy walking in on the kids drinking pop.
Ozzy Osbourne, 76, had been in ill health recently and died Tuesday.
Hulk Hogan was a professional wrestling revolutionary. Vince McMahon, head of the then Word Wrestling Federation saw something special in a muscular wrestler named Terry Bollea.
In 1984, Hogan beat the Iron Sheik to win the WWF championship. In the next couple of years Hulk was making “Hulkamania” run wild. Over 93,000 fans came out to see him wrestle in the Pontiac, Michigan Superdome.
Hogan brought an explosive style to the ring. He would rip off his bright yellow shirt and display his muscles. He would cup his hand to his ear, and urge the crowd to cheer him on.
In interviews, he offered a manic presence, shouting in the microphone and telling the “little Hulkamaniacs” to say their prayers. He was, indeed, larger than life, and big-time pro wrestling followed in his footsteps with future stars doing much of Hogan’s act.
During the ‘80s, Hulk was everywhere, in TV shows, movies and wrestling rings all over the world. He even body slammed Andre the Giant.
The WWF described Hulk this way:
“The key figure in WWE’s rise from regional attraction to worldwide entertainment leader in the 1980s, The Hulkster’s superhuman size and undeniable charisma set the standard for what a Superstar should be.”
Hogan was also part of the WWF’s “Wrestling and Rock Connection,” with MTV. The WWF used music stars like Cindi Lauper to work with wrestlers. Hogan was the star of his own kids cartoon show called “Hulk Hogan’s Rock and Wrestling.”
In later years, Hulk, like Ozzy Osbourne, also starred in his own reality series, “Hogan Knows Best.” There was controversy when he successfully sued a website over the release of a sex tape. He was married three times.
Hulk Hogan, 71, died Thursday morning after a “cardiac arrest” call was placed and medics were sent to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Fla., according to TMZ.
One family seemed to represent idyllic America during the 1980s, and it was on the Cosby show.
The Huxtables, featured Bill Cosby as Dr. Cliff Huxtable with Phyllis Rashad as his wife Clair, who was a lawyer. The series ran from 1984 to 1992.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner played Theo, the couple’s only son. Theo wasn’t always perfect and sometimes struggled on the difficult journey from adolescence to adulthood.
In 2023, Warner spoke to People magazine about the Cosby show.
“I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture.”
But there was more to Warner than Cosby.
“My proudest achievement was having a post-Cosby life and a post-Cosby career,” Warner told the Archive of American Television.
After Cosby, Warner acted in television and movies. His sitcom, “Malcolm & Eddie” ran four seasons during the ‘90s.
Warner also directed many shows and earned a Grammy Award for a poem he wrote on a music album.
Beyonce’ posted this tribute after Warner’s death:
“Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed.”
“Malcolm is a true, great person, hilarious, smart kid and meant a lot to America,” Adam Sandler posted.
Angela Bassett: “In this life, Malcolm is what’s known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded. He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts always.”
Malcolm-Jamal Walker, 54, died Sunday while swimming with his daughter in Costa Rica.
Tony Violanti writes about music and entertainment for Villages-News.com. He was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame as a music journalist.