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Celebrities We’ve Lost Recently
An unfortunate reality at the end of the day is that we all perish, and yes, that even means the celebrities and influential people who’ve been at the cultural forefront of our lives. It’s sad, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate their legacy and contributions for years after they’re gone.
In recent years, we’ve lost some of the greatest names in film, music, and entertainment, and it would be a disservice not to celebrate their lives, achievements, and most importantly, their influence and collective works they’ve left us to enjoy. May the following stars Rest In Peace.
James Caan (1953-2022)
James Cann was a repeatedly nominated actor whose role in The Godfather I & II as Sonny Corleone was his biggest claim to fame. And he would continue to put on stellar performances in both television and on the big screen in the following decades. Some of his most notable works include El Dorado, The Gambler, Rollerball, and A Bridge Too Far.
Ray Liotta (1953-2022)
Ray Liotta is one of the most respected actors of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, being featured in huge films like Field of Dreams, Goodfellas, Hannibal, and Blow. He also was a Primetime Emmy Award winner for his role in the hit series ER. He was respected for his tough roles, using his New Jersey roots to his advantage and receiving many role offers because of his talent.
Gilbert Gottfried (1953-2022)
It’s hard to say there’s a more recognizable voice from Hollywood than Gilbert Gottfried’s. The strong New York accent paired with the comedic humor made him a marvel in the animated scene, where he voice Lago in Aladdin, Kraang in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and even the Aflac duck in all those commercials over the years. He was highly respected amongst his peers.
Estelle Harris (1953-2022)
Estelle Harris is most familiar to everyone as the mother of George Costanza, also named Estelle in Seinfeld, but she also voiced Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story and played Muriel in the Disney TV series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She was also an incredibly popular commercial actress.
Taylor Hawkins (1953-2022)
The energetic and charismatic drummer best known for his work with the multi-platinum rock band Foo Fighters got his beginnings playing for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette. He also had his own side project called Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders. He was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
Louie Anderson (1953-2022)
Louie Anderson was one of America’s most loved comedians, and his contributions to TV through his cartoon Life with Louie and The Louie Show sitcom will always be remembered. He also won three consecutive Emmys for Best Supporting Actor in Baskets. The Minnesota native also had a long-running tenure as a stand-up in Vegas.
Meat Loaf (1947-2022)
Meat Loaf was one of the most popular musicians in American history, selling over 65 million albums from just his Bat Out of Hell trilogy alone. Though he was more popular in Europe than the States, he’s still regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in rock, and he was also a savvy actor who appeared in numerous shows and movies.
Peter Robbins (1956-2022)
Peter Robbins’ legacy will live on for years to come, as the famous voice of the Peanuts’ Charlie Brown is more recognizable than almost any cartoon character in history. The child actor rose to fame in the ‘60s, and appeared in all the original holiday specials we’re all so fond of.
Sidney Poitier (1927-2022)
Mr. Poitier was more than just the first African American actor to win an Academy Award. He was a part of the golden age of Cinema, but he also won multiple Golden Globes and even a Grammy for spoken word. The Bahamian-American was even granted Knighthood by the Queen in 1974, along with numerous other legacy commemorations.
Ronnie Spector (1943-2022)
Veronica Greenfield, or Ronnie Spector, was one of the co-founders of the Ronettes. She formed the group with her sister and cousin and reached rockstar status quickly under the wing of producer Phil Spector’s label. Though the Spectors would have a short and rocky relationship, Ronnie came back stronger from it and was eventually elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dustin Diamond (1977-2021)
Dustin Diamond was best known as a friendly face known as Screech on Saved by the Bell, but he also performed as a stand-up comedian. That wasn’t all though, as he made numerous appearances in professional wrestling, on game shows, and in odd movies here and there. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a severe form of lung cancer at a young age.
Hank Aaron (1934-2021)
One of baseball’s most prolific hitters was lost, but his lasting legacy will always be untouched thanks to his 755 home run record, which will likely never be matched. Aaron was also one of the most important African American players that helped expand the game, as he hold many other batting records, rightfully earning himself the nickname of “The Hammer.”
Siegfried Fischbacher (1939-2021)
Part of the duo known as Siegfried & Roy, Siegfried Fischbacher was a German magician and entertainer, best known for their use of white lions and tigers in their acts. Their show in Las Vegas ran from 1990 until his partner Roy Horn’s career-ending injury in 2003, but during that span it was the Strip’s most popular show.
Norm Macdonald (1959-2021)
Norm MacDonald was a Canadian comedian, actor and writer who worked on numerous popular works from SNL to Roseanne, and he was best known for his classical phrasing and use of deadpan humor. He also served as a voice actor, podcast host, and storyteller through his various shows and fictionalized biography.
Sarah Harding (1981-2021)
Rising to fame on the British reality show Popstars: The Rivals, Harding won a place in the pop group Girls Aloud, and subsequently went on to release numerous platinum albums and twenty consecutive top-10 singles with them. She later moved into acting, before winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. She tragically lost her life due to terminal breast cancer.
William Smith (1933-2021)
William Smith was a behemoth in the acting industry, appearing in more than 300 feature films over the course of his 75-year career, and accumulating 480 credits for an astounding variety of roles. He was best known for his role in movies like Conan The Barbarian, Rumble Fish, and Red Dawn, or his TV character in Rich Man, Poor Man, Anthony Falconetti.
Betty White (1922-2021)
The legacy of Betty White will never be forgotten, as the Golden Girls star’s lifetime spanning career is even a Guiness World Record for Longest TV Career for an Entertainer. She’s appeared in countless TV shows, and won numerous awards throughout her tenure as an actress, and perhaps no one will ever be more beloved in Hollywood again.
Johnny Solinger (1965-2021)
Johnny Solinger was an American singer best known for his role as lead vocalist of the rock group Skid Row from the years 1999 through 2015. Solinger replaced founding vocalist Sebastian Bach, and made his first appearance opening for Kiss’ Farewell Tour. He was the band’s longest tenured vocalist.
Clarence Williams III (1939-2021)
Clarence Williams was introduced to fame through his role as Linc Hayes in the police television series The Mod Squad, but he subsequently starred in many other popular movies like Purple Rain and American Gangster. He was the son of two musicians, but got his beginnings by accidentally walking on stage at a YMCA play.
James Michael Tyler (1962-2021)
James Michael Tyler is best known for his role on the hit TV show Friends, where he played a recurring character named Gunther. While he played a barista on the show, this was actually because he was one in real life, which helped him with the role that saw him take interest in Jennifer Aniston’s character.
Tawny Kitaen (1961-2021)
Tawny Kitaen was cast to superstardom after becoming featured in numerous rock & roll music videos, all in the ‘80s, but she was a pretty decent actor too, appearing in Malibu and California Girls. She got her start doing commercials, and also had some notable husbands during her career.
DMX (1970-2021)
Rapper DMX, or Earl Simmons as he was born, was one of the most commercially successful rappers of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, reaching the top of the Billboard charts five times. He sold millions of copies of his albums, then navigated into an acting career as well, being cast in major roles in films such as Belly and Cradle 2 the Grave.
Prince Philip (1921-2021)
The Duke of Edinburgh had been married to Queen Elizabeth II since 1947, and the two ascended to royalty in 1952. He became the longest serving consort to a monarch in royal history, as well as the longest-lived male member of the royal family. Over his years, he completed the most engagements and speeches of any member on record.
Paul Ritter (1966-2021)
Paul Ritter was an english actor who played many roles in both films and on television, including the 007 movie Quantum of Solace and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His roles in recent series like Friday Night Dinner, Chernobyl, and The Hollow Crown made him a commonly known figure, especially in British entertainment circles.
Gavin MacLeod (1931-2021)
If you were into The Love Boat or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, you undoubtedly recognize Gavin MacLeod as Captain Merrill Stubing and Murray Slaughter respectively. He also was an author and Christian television host, with a career spanning more than six decades.
Jahn Paragon (1954-2021)
Paragon’s legacy will always be affiliated with Pee-wee’s Playhouse, where he served as an actor, writer and director for the show. He played the role of Jambi the Genie, as well as voicing Pterri the Pterodactyl. He worked with other television shows as well, but also had a gig with Disney Imagineering to help include improvisational performances in the Disney parks.
Rush Limbaugh (1951-2021)
The notorious radio host Rush Limbaugh surely had an array of opinions about him, but the nationally syndicated radio host had an impressive tenure as a conservative voice in the media, which lasted from 1988 until his death in 2021. He was one of the highest compensated radio figures ever, and reached his peak audiences towards the end of his life.
Larry Flynt (1942-2021)
While Larry Flynt’s content production certainly was explicit and targeted specifically mature audiences, he was a crucial figure in multiple first amendment legal battles, which certainly were unprecedented at the time. He’s best known for as founder of the Hustler Magazine brand.
Bob Saget (1956 -2022)
Bob Saget was as familiar a face as any, and always made you feel at home in your own living room. Primarily known as Danny from Full House, and later on for his role as the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, Saget also did stand-up aimed for the adult crowd, something he was very good at. He tragically passed due to complications from blunt head trauma.
Christopher Plummer (1929-2021)
Christopher Plummer is one of Canada’s national treasures, with the famed actor winning the Triple Crown of Acting, which includes an Academy, Tony, and Emmy awards, in addition to a Grammy, considering he got his start on Broadway. However, his countless acting contributions found him a staple in films around the world in all genres, leaving him with a number of awards.
Larry King (1933-2021)
Larry King and his iconic voice will always be known for the immense contributions he offered as a radio and television host, leaving a legacy with countless awards, and notching more than 50,000 interviews over the span of his career. He’s best known for his show on CNN, which spanned from 1985-2010, and he even moved into the podcast field toward the end his illustrious career.
Tanya Roberts (1955-2021)
Tanya Roberts was a blooming actress who got her big break in the final season of Charlie’s Angels when she played Julie Rogers, but she also succeeded later in the James Bond film A View to a Kill, as well as other productions, including That ‘70s Show in her later years.
Peter Scolari (1955-2021)
Peter Scolari became a household name during his tenure on the show Newhart, where he received three primetime Emmy nominations. He also later gained notability for his role in HBO’s hit show Girls as Tad Horvath, which finally won him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Willie Garson (1964-2021)
Willie Garson is primarily known for his recurring roles in the Sex in the City franchise, appearing not only in the TV show, but in the films as well as his character Stanford Blatch. However, that wasn’t all, as he was featured in more than 75 films and 300 TV shows. Unfortunately, he was another one taken too soon by cancer.
Michael K. Williams (1966-2021)
Michael K. Williams certainly made an impression on many thanks to his captivating role in the hit HBO series The Wire back in 2002. He was often praised for making each character his own, and he did so in tons of highly rated films and shows over the course of his career. He’s credited with being part of the movement which changed dramatic television at the turn of the century.
Charlie Watts (1941-2021)
There’s so much you can say about the influence of Charlie Watts, the famed drummer of legendary rock group The Rolling Stones. He elevated from playing jazz and blues in clubs with his eventual bandmates in the Rolling Stones, and would end up playing with them for the next 58 years. His nickname “The Wembley Whammer” was given to him by singer Mick Jagger. He’s inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as one of the greatest drummers ever.
Chick Vennera (1947-2021)
Chick Vennera played Joe Mondragon in The Milagro Beanfield War, and also often served as a voice double for Joe Pesci. He got his start on Broadway in the production of Grease, but was also a prevalent voice actor who was featured in a number of Hanna Barbera productions during the ‘80s, as well as the famous Animaniacs at Warner Bros.
Alex Trebek (1940-2021)
Jeopardy would never be as well known as it is today without the genuine leadership of late host Alex Trebek, who piloted the trivia show for 37 seasons before finally falling victim to his long battle with pancreatic cancer, which was widely known. He also appeared on a number of other game shows including Double Dare and Battlestars. The Canadian-American also won eight daytime Emmys for his outstanding performance.
Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)
Kobe Bryant’s legacy in basketball will always be unprecedented, especially after the way he was abruptly taken. The 5-time champion and 18-time all-star is widely considered one of the best to ever play the game, and his career with the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the most successful tenures for a single team in NBA history, where he owns tons of the team records.
Sean Connery (1930-2020)
Sean Connery will always go down in history as the original James Bond, and that alone is royalty to say the least. He played the character in six productions as well as appearing in other popular films by great directors such as Highlander, The Hunt for Red October, and The Untouchables. He also received some of the most respected honors, including the coveted knighthood.
Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)
Chadwick Boseman was a respected up-and-coming film star from Howard University, and he got his big break portraying Jackie Robinson in the biography 42. He played historical figures until he earned the role of Black Panther, captivating audiences everywhere with his skillful acting and humble personality off-screen. He unfortunately passed young due to a privately kept cancer diagnosis.
Regis Philbin (1931-2020)
Regis Philbin was nicknamed “the hardest working man in showbusiness” for good reason, because the talk show host, game show host, and all-around likable guy has the Guinness World Record for most hours spent on television. He was most well-known for his morning show Live! With Regis and Kelly, as well as hosting the hit Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
Margaret Nolan (1943-2020)
Margaret Nolan was a former English model who first was known through the Carry On films, of which she appeared in 6 between the ‘60s and ‘80s. She also later starred in Goldfinger and A Hard Day’s Night, making her more prevalent in the American film industry. Her final appearance came in the 2019 film Last Night in Soho.
Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020)
Olivia de Havilland is one of those legacy actors that was the oldest living Academy Award winner at the time of her death. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her era, and she came from a good family, because her sister was Joan Fontaine. Her notable films included The Adventures of Robin Hood, Gone with the Wind, and To Each His Own.
Naya Rivera (1987-2020)
Naya Rivera is one of the many stars who got their big break on the show Glee, and she was heavily awarded for her performance as Santana Lopez, both in the Screen and Latino Actors guilds. She was a strong LGBTQ advocate, and also a staunch supporter of immigrant’s rights.
Kelly Preston (1962-2020)
Kelly Preston was known much more than just for her marriage to John Travolta. She starred in many movies herself, including Jerry Maguire, For the Love of the Game, and What a Girl Wants. Preston began her career as a model, moving into acting and television for a more stable career. She also appeared in Maroon 5’s music video for “She Will be Loved.”
Ian Holm (1931-2020)
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Richard Herd (1932-2020)
Sir Ian Holm was another English actor who received the privilege of being knighted, and the graduate of the Royal Shakespeare Academy deserved it. His best known works were for his roles in the movies The Homecoming and King Lear. He also appeared in Chariots of Fire, and even The Hobbit trilogies, as an old Bilbo Baggins. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1989.
Gregory Tyree Boyce (1989-2020)
Gregory Tyree Boyce was known for his acting role in the famous teen drama film adaption of the book Twilight. He played the character Tyler Crowley.
Geno Silva (1948-2020)
Geno Silva’s most notable role came in Scarface, where he played The Skull, but he also appeared in movies such as Tequila Sunrise, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Mulholland Drive. He was a mainstay on television and in various movies from the ‘70s until the late 00s.
Little Richard (1932-2020)
Little Richard might quite literally have created Rock & Roll as we know it today, being an absolute enigma and cultural zealot whose intense performance style and eccentric look was far ahead of its time. Nonetheless, Little Richard blended many genres, produced dozens of popular albums and hits, and was heavily influential and copied by his white counterparts.
Jerry Stiller (1927-2020)
Jerry Lewis was indeed the “King of Comedy,” as the larger than life figure was easily one of the most popular cultural icons of his day. His career spanned eight decades, and to kick it all off, his original start was alongside the legend Dean Martin. After becoming an actor, he became the highest grossing movie star and changed the way directors would shoot movies for years to come.
Kirk Douglas (1916-2020)
Kirk Douglas was a legendary actor who rose to fame for roles in countless box office classics like Champion, Young Man with a Horn, and Lust for Life. He was also responsible for bringing Stanley Kubrick into the mainstream for his own company Bryna Productions. He was also applauded for breaking the Hollywood Blacklist at the time, and later was honored with an Academy Honorary Award as well as a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Tom Lester (1938-2020)
Tom Lester was an actor you’d know from the show Green Acres, where he played Eb Dawson. While he always worked in minor roles throughout the years, he also became a Televangelist where he would continue to travel and speak to various congregations.
Max von Sydow (1929-2020)
The Swedish-French actor who had a seven decade career was cast in more than 150 films and numerous television series, some in different languages. He appeared in films like The Greatest Story Ever Told, Dune, Minority Report, The Force Awakens and many more. He was highly awarded in European and French film academies.
Edd Byrnes (1932-2020)
Edd Byrne is a familiar face in American film history, as is anyone who had a starring role in the hit movie Grease. He also was popular due to his role in 77 Sunset Strip, and even had a charting musical number alongside Connie Stevens.
Eddie Mekka (1952-2020)
Eddie Mekka was cast as Carmine Ragusa in the popular sitcom Laverne & Shirley, and would subsequently make many television appearances over the next few decades, from 24, to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He also was a great live performer, starting out on Broadway and even performing in Las Vegas in Hairspray in his later years.
Art LaFleur (1943-2020)
Art LeFleur may not have been known to many, but his work behind the screen is the reason so many of your favorite actors succeeded on it. LeFleur was a popular acting coach, He would also appear as dozens of other specific character actors in tons of movies and TV shows over the years, usually called in for specialty roles.
Dean Stockwell (1936-2020)
Dean Stockwell’s seven decade career was one to be marveled, as the actor moved from Broadway to the big screens for his performance in the movie Sons and Lovers. He was considered one of the best and most consistent supporting actors of his age, and was featured in many popular films. According to him, his favorite roles were those in science fiction productions.
William Lucking (1941-2020)
William Lucking’s most famous role was as Piney Winston in the show Sons of Anarchy, but he actually got his start in the 1980s on the hit show The A-Team. He was featured in dozens of films throughout the course of his career, but was also extremely successful on television as well. He also starred in many theatrical productions, where he originally earned his degrees.
