David Bowie died 10 years ago today, and in his final days the singer shared intimate moments with one of his closest friends, actor Gary Oldman, including unexpected final words
Bowie spoke to his dear friend just days before his passing (Image: WireImage)
David Bowie, who tragically passed away a decade ago today on 10th January 2016, spent his final days sharing intimate moments with one of his closest mates, Gary Oldman, unbeknownst to him that these would be their last.
Oldman revealed post Bowie’s demise that the pair would frequently Skype during the music icon’s battle with cancer.
The Starman singer spent his last days residing in New York, catching up every Sunday via video call with the Batman star, keeping him updated on his health status.
The actor opened up about their final conversation, just before Bowie succumbed to liver cancer, describing their last exchange as something quite fitting for a rockstar.
He claimed the last words from his dear friend were “so wonderfully David,” as he struggled to end the video call.
Gary Oldman and David Bowie video called on the lead up to his death (Image: NCJ Archive)
Oldman recounted: “We were Skyping and you know when you want to disconnect with someone, sometimes you try and disconnect and you can’t and they keep coming back. So he’s pressing the button, and he said, ‘Alright, talk to you next week’ or whatever.
“And he went, ‘Go away, go away.’ And he pressed the button, and he went ‘f— off’, The Telegraph reports.
Offering further insight into Bowie’s later life, Oldman shared how the world was rocked by the news of his death just two days after the release of his final album, Blackstar.
According to the close friend, the legendary artist handled his cancer diagnosis with “dignity, grace and humour”, breaking the news to Oldman via email.
The actor revealed the poignant exchange: “I’ve got some good news, I’ve got some bad news’, he wrote: ‘the bad news is I’ve got the big C’.
Gary Oldman was close friends with David Bowie(Image: Gilbert Flores/GG2025, Penske Media via Getty Images)
And underneath he wrote, ‘The good news is I got my cheekbones back,’ which I thought was just really dark and really sweet and funny of him.
“Prior to their friendship blossoming, Oldman had long admired Bowie from afar, despite being a celebrated performer himself, having portrayed iconic figures such as Winston Churchill and Sid Vicious.
The pair first encountered each other backstage at a theatrical production, though it took years before the full magnitude of their bond truly dawned on him.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, he shared a memorable moment when the celebrated duo were enjoying a yacht holiday near Mustique.
As he wandered through the vessel before venturing ashore for dinner and exploration, he discovered Bowie casually seated in shorts and bare feet, gently strumming and crooning Space Oddity.
Bowie glanced up and mentioned he was simply “just messing about”, but that brief encounter marked the first occasion Oldman truly processed the thought: ‘You’re David Bowie. ‘ Despite years of friendship, he remained captivated by that extraordinary rockstar presence.
