Jackson, Fawcett and Kennedy: Summer of 2009 Memorable for Who Failed to Survive It

Sept. 3, 2009 — -- Michael Jackson. Farrah Fawcett. Ed McMahon. Walter Cronkite. Sen. Ted Kennedy. Name your favorite celebrities and chances are at least one of them didn't survive the summer of 2009, which is almost certain to be known for an abundance of celebrity deaths.

"This summer saw some pretty spectacular celebrity deaths," said Jeremy Wallach, an associate professor in the department of popular culture at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

"They're dropping like flies."

Indeed, even before the official start of summer June 21, one celebrity had already been pronounced dead.

David Carradine, 72, star of the1970s TV series "Kung Fu," was found hanged, naked and dead in a Bangkok hotel room June 4.

Then, two-and-a-half weeks later on June 23, Ed McMahon, who had served as Johnny Carson's loyal sidekick on NBC's "Tonight Show" for 30 years, died at age 86.

Two days later, it was actress Farrah Fawcett's death from anal cancer at age 62 that made news.

A few hours later, reports emerged that the so-called King of Pop, Michael Jackson, had died.

Jackson, 50, died after suffering cardiac arrest after taking a cocktail of prescription drugs.

Bex Schwartz, a New York-based pop culture commentator, said the onslaught of celebrity deaths meant that as soon as you finished mourning one idol, it was time to turn your attention to the next fallen star.