George Michael: His Life in Photos

  • <p>George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! in 1983. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
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    George Michael in Wham!

    George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! in 1983. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

  • <p>George Michael of Wham! performs on the TV Show <i>Solid Gold</i> in the band’s first American TV appearance in 1983. (Photo: Ron Wolfson/WireImage) </p>
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    ‘Solid Gold’

    George Michael of Wham! performs on the TV Show Solid Gold in the band’s first American TV appearance in 1983. (Photo: Ron Wolfson/WireImage)

  • <p>Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage in London in 1984. (Photo: Phil Dent/Redferns) </p>
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    Wham! in 1984

    Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage in London in 1984. (Photo: Phil Dent/Redferns)

  • <p>In this April 7, 1985, photo, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of the British group WHAM! perform during a concert in Beijing. (Photo: AP/File) </p>
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    Wham! in Beijing

    In this April 7, 1985, photo, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of the British group WHAM! perform during a concert in Beijing. (Photo: AP/File)

  • <p>A July 13, 1985, photo shows, from left, George Michael of Wham!, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Bono of U2, Paul McCartney, concert organizer Bob Geldof, and Freddie Mercury of Queen in the finale of the <i>Live Aid</i> famine relief concert at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: AP/Joe Schaber) </p>
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    George Michael in 1985 ‘Live Aid’ concert

    A July 13, 1985, photo shows, from left, George Michael of Wham!, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Bono of U2, Paul McCartney, concert organizer Bob Geldof, and Freddie Mercury of Queen in the finale of the Live Aid famine relief concert at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: AP/Joe Schaber)

  • <p>Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage at <i>The Final Concert,</i> Wembley Stadium, London, June 28, 1986. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
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    ‘The Final Concert’

    Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage at The Final Concert, Wembley Stadium, London, June 28, 1986. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

  • Celebs React to George Michael’s Death
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    Celebs React to George Michael’s Death

    Celebs React to George Michael’s Death
  • <p>George Michael and Boy George perform onstage at an AIDS awareness concert in London in April 1987. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael and Boy George

    George Michael and Boy George perform onstage at an AIDS awareness concert in London in April 1987. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

  • <p>George Michael performs onstage in Japan in March 1988. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael in Japan

    George Michael performs onstage in Japan in March 1988. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

  • <p>George Michael performs onstage on the “Faith World Tour” at Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, April 12,1988. (Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns) </p>
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    George Michael in Holland

    George Michael performs onstage on the “Faith World Tour” at Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, April 12,1988. (Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns)

  • <p>George Michael performs on his “Cover To Cover” tour at Wembley Arena on March 22, 1991, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
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    ‘Cover to Cover’

    George Michael performs on his “Cover To Cover” tour at Wembley Arena on March 22, 1991, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

  • <p>In this Aug. 30, 1988, photo, Aretha Franklin joins George Michael during his “Faith World Tour” in Auburn Hills, Mich. (Photo: AP/Rob Kozloff) </p>
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    George Michael and Aretha Franklin

    In this Aug. 30, 1988, photo, Aretha Franklin joins George Michael during his “Faith World Tour” in Auburn Hills, Mich. (Photo: AP/Rob Kozloff)

  • <p>George Michael, Whoopi Goldberg, Lionel Richie, Liz Taylor, and Elton John perform at a benefit concert for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 11, 1992. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns) </p>
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    Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation show

    George Michael, Whoopi Goldberg, Lionel Richie, Liz Taylor, and Elton John perform at a benefit concert for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 11, 1992. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

  • <p>George Michael performs at the <i>Concert of Hope</i>at Wembley Arena on Dec. 1, 1993, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
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    ‘Concert of Hope’

    George Michael performs at the Concert of Hopeat Wembley Arena on Dec. 1, 1993, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

  • <p>George Michael performing live with Elton John in the early 1990s. (Photo: Steve Rapport/Photoshot/Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael with Elton John

    George Michael performing live with Elton John in the early 1990s. (Photo: Steve Rapport/Photoshot/Getty Images)

  • <p>George Michael and Stevie Wonder during the 1997 VH1 Honors in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) </p>
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    George Michael and Stevie Wonder

    George Michael and Stevie Wonder during the 1997 VH1 Honors in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

  • <p>George Michael performs at <i>NetAID</i> at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 9, 1999, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
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    George Michael at NetAID

    George Michael performs at NetAID at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 9, 1999, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

  • <p>Garth Brooks and George Michael sing during the <i>Equality Rocks</i> concert on April 29, 2000, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mazur/WireImage) </p>
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    Garth Brooks and George Michael

    Garth Brooks and George Michael sing during the Equality Rocks concert on April 29, 2000, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mazur/WireImage)

  • <p>In this July 2, 2005, photo, George Michael and Paul McCartney perform during the <i>Live 8</i>concert in Hyde Park, London. (Photo: AP/Lefteris Pitarakis) </p>
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    George Michael at Live 8 with Paul McCartney

    In this July 2, 2005, photo, George Michael and Paul McCartney perform during the Live 8concert in Hyde Park, London. (Photo: AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • <p>George Michael performs at Datch Forum (now Mediolanum Forum) on Oct. 07, 2006, in Milan.(Photo: Morena Brengola/Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael in 2006

    George Michael performs at Datch Forum (now Mediolanum Forum) on Oct. 07, 2006, in Milan.(Photo: Morena Brengola/Getty Images)

  • George Michael’s Prescient 2008 Interview: ‘In 10 Years, I Won’t Be Able to Stand Unassisted’
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    George Michael’s Prescient 2008 Interview: ‘In 10 Years, I Won’t Be Able to Stand Unassisted’

    George Michael’s Prescient 2008 Interview: ‘In 10 Years, I Won’t Be Able to Stand Unassisted’
  • <p>George Michael performs on the first night of his “George Michael Live” Australian tour at Burswood Dome on Feb. 20, 2010, in Perth, Australia. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images) </p>
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    ‘George Michael Live’

    George Michael performs on the first night of his “George Michael Live” Australian tour at Burswood Dome on Feb. 20, 2010, in Perth, Australia. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

  • <p>George Michael performs during a concert at O2 World arena on Sept. 5, 2011, in Berlin. (Photo: Frank Hoensch/Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael in Berlin

    George Michael performs during a concert at O2 World arena on Sept. 5, 2011, in Berlin. (Photo: Frank Hoensch/Getty Images)

  • <p>George Michael performs at Palais Garnier on Sept. 9, 2012, in Paris. (Photo: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images) </p>
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    George Michael in Paris in 2012

    George Michael performs at Palais Garnier on Sept. 9, 2012, in Paris. (Photo: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

<p>George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! in 1983. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
<p>George Michael of Wham! performs on the TV Show <i>Solid Gold</i> in the band’s first American TV appearance in 1983. (Photo: Ron Wolfson/WireImage) </p>
<p>Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage in London in 1984. (Photo: Phil Dent/Redferns) </p>
<p>In this April 7, 1985, photo, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of the British group WHAM! perform during a concert in Beijing. (Photo: AP/File) </p>
<p>A July 13, 1985, photo shows, from left, George Michael of Wham!, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Bono of U2, Paul McCartney, concert organizer Bob Geldof, and Freddie Mercury of Queen in the finale of the <i>Live Aid</i> famine relief concert at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: AP/Joe Schaber) </p>
<p>Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael of Wham! perform onstage at <i>The Final Concert,</i> Wembley Stadium, London, June 28, 1986. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
Celebs React to George Michael’s Death
<p>George Michael and Boy George perform onstage at an AIDS awareness concert in London in April 1987. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
<p>George Michael performs onstage in Japan in March 1988. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
<p>George Michael performs onstage on the “Faith World Tour” at Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, April 12,1988. (Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns) </p>
<p>George Michael performs on his “Cover To Cover” tour at Wembley Arena on March 22, 1991, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
<p>In this Aug. 30, 1988, photo, Aretha Franklin joins George Michael during his “Faith World Tour” in Auburn Hills, Mich. (Photo: AP/Rob Kozloff) </p>
<p>George Michael, Whoopi Goldberg, Lionel Richie, Liz Taylor, and Elton John perform at a benefit concert for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 11, 1992. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns) </p>
<p>George Michael performs at the <i>Concert of Hope</i>at Wembley Arena on Dec. 1, 1993, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
<p>George Michael performing live with Elton John in the early 1990s. (Photo: Steve Rapport/Photoshot/Getty Images) </p>
<p>George Michael and Stevie Wonder during the 1997 VH1 Honors in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) </p>
<p>George Michael performs at <i>NetAID</i> at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 9, 1999, in London. (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns) </p>
<p>Garth Brooks and George Michael sing during the <i>Equality Rocks</i> concert on April 29, 2000, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mazur/WireImage) </p>
<p>In this July 2, 2005, photo, George Michael and Paul McCartney perform during the <i>Live 8</i>concert in Hyde Park, London. (Photo: AP/Lefteris Pitarakis) </p>
<p>George Michael performs at Datch Forum (now Mediolanum Forum) on Oct. 07, 2006, in Milan.(Photo: Morena Brengola/Getty Images) </p>
George Michael’s Prescient 2008 Interview: ‘In 10 Years, I Won’t Be Able to Stand Unassisted’
<p>George Michael performs on the first night of his “George Michael Live” Australian tour at Burswood Dome on Feb. 20, 2010, in Perth, Australia. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images) </p>
<p>George Michael performs during a concert at O2 World arena on Sept. 5, 2011, in Berlin. (Photo: Frank Hoensch/Getty Images) </p>
<p>George Michael performs at Palais Garnier on Sept. 9, 2012, in Paris. (Photo: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images) </p>
Yahoo Music Staff

On Christmas Day, a day when Wham!’s “Last Christmas” plays at celebrations around the world, it was announced that Grammy-winning pop icon and former Wham! frontman George Michael had passed away at age 53. Here, we look back on the life of one of pop’s brightest stars.

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