One year later: 5 things we've learned about David Bowie after his death Bowie had his ashes scattered in Bali, according to his will. He wanted it to be in line with "the Buddhist rituals of Bali," his son Duncan Jones said. He didn't know his cancer would be fatal until three months before he died. He was concerned with the way Blackstar would be received, Bowie auditioned to be Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, according to the movie's casting director, Amy Hubbard. Bowie, after being asked what he'd like to be remembered for, once said "that I really had great haircuts."