Celebrities Who Sadly Passed Away Recently - And The Ones You Didn’t Know Are Gone

We hate it when we check the news or look at what’s trending on social media and find out that another celebrity has passed away. It feels like it happens far too often nowadays, with so many big names departing this world before we’re ready to say goodbye to them.

Of course, there have also been some notable stars whose passing flew under the radar or who we’d totally forgotten are no longer with us. Reminding ourselves about their tragic fates hurts, but it’s always good to remember those celebrities who aren’t around anymore.

Angus Cloud had been battling his mental health when the 25-year-old lost his life

Did you know that Angus Cloud once attended the same performing arts school as Zendaya? Little did the pair know that they would later be reunited on the drama show ‘Euphoria.’ Here, Angus Cloud really hit the big time as he was working at a New York restaurant when he landed the part of Fezco.

Angus proved to be a major part of the first two seasons, and it really opened the door for future endeavors. It’s said the actor was set to co-star in the slasher ‘Scream 6’ when news broke in July 2023 that Angus was gone. He was just 25, with his family saying Angus had been struggling with his mental health.

Paul Reubens wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis to himself

It wasn’t until the 1970s that Paul Reubens helped to turn the Groundlings into a workshop for so many top-level sketch comedians to come. In fact, it was here that Paul first came up with the character Pee-wee Heman, something that quickly unfolded into a darkly skewed old-fashioned TV show - ‘The Pee-wee Herman Show’ - in the 1980s.

From there, there was no stopping Paul and his character, with Pee-Wee Herman landing several of his own movies, including one directed by none other than Tim Burton. After years of playing the part and working on his comedy, Paul was announced to have lost his life in July 2023. He’d been privately battling cancer and was 70.

Tony Bennett turned jazz music into something that took over the world

Jazz music has Tony Bennett to thank for a lot. The musician will forever be one of the biggest names in the genre, with his Lifetime Achievement award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and 20 Grammys certainly seeing Tony’s name go down in the history books. In fact, Tony enjoyed his first number-one in 1951 with ‘Because of You.’

All these years later, and Tony continues to be a worldwide star. In fact, working with Lady Gaga to create the album ‘Cheek to Cheek’ in 2014 did nothing but boost his popularity. Sadly, the world lost a legend in 2023. Tony had been battling Alzheimer’s for seven years, with his family saying he continued singing until the end.

Raquel Welch had apparently been living with Alzheimer’s when she passed away

There are times people don’t need many lines to stand out. At least, that was the case for Raquel Welch. The actress was the star of the fantasy adventure movie ‘One Million Years B.C.,’ with her time in nothing but a bikini on the poster earning Raquel quite a number of fans around the world.

In fact, Raquel soon became a symbol of beauty to many throughout the ‘60s, with the star going on to appear in a host more movies. Plus, she often starred in celebrity spots on game shows and specials. However, things came to an end on February 15, 2023. Apparently, Raquel had been living with Alzheimer’s and was 82 years old.

Angela Lansbury was days away from turning 97 when she lost her life

Not many people can say they have careers so great that they span 80 years. Amazingly, that’s the case for Angela Lansbury. The actress and singer was seen across the TV, stage, and movies and spent much of her life working in the US. Still, Angela was no stranger to worldwide fame, thanks to her work.

After signing with MGM in 1942, Angela’s career went from strength to strength as she was cast in no fewer than 11 of their films. After decades of success and accolades, tragedy struck Angela in October 2022. The LGBTQ icon was just five days from celebrating her 97th birthday when she tragically passed away at home.

Paco Rabanne turned fashion on its head with his futuristic and space-age designs

The chances are most people have heard of the global fashion label Paco Rabanne. Did you know the designer behind the brand actually rose to fame in the 1960s? That was all thanks to Rabanne’s reputation for being an enfant terrible, largely because of his use of plastic and metal in his designs, as well as his space-age style.

The unusual clothes were what helped to make Rabanne so famous, with the designer enjoying decades of his work being all over the catwalk. Of course, away from fashion was none other than the Paco Rabanne fragrance line that continues to dominate the market, even with Rabanne’s passing in February 2023 at 88 years old.

Louie Anderson only learned he had cancer three days before he lost his life

Stand-up comedian, author, actor, game show host - was there anything Louie Anderson didn’t achieve in his life? The star made a name for himself thanks to a host of roles, including starting his own sitcom titled ‘The Louie Show’ and a cartoon series named ‘Life with Louie,’ but that’s not all. Anderson even hosted the game show ‘Family Feud.’

One of Anderson’s longest runs came during his stand-up show ‘Louie: Larger Than Life,’ which dominated Las Vegas’ comedy scene from 2003 to 2012, but things came to a tragic end in 2022. Anderson was 68 and had already been through two heart procedures when a secret cancer diagnosis took his life after learning about the illness three days prior.

John Aniston had an incredible run of 37 years on Days of Our Lives

When people hear the name Aniston, there’s a good chance they think of the legendary actress Jennifer Aniston. Amazingly, the actress had a good influence when it came to her career as her father, John Aniston, was also an actor. In fact, John brought Victor Kiriakis to life in the drama series ‘Days of Our Lives’ for 37 years.

Throughout his career, John earned a host of accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award and several other Emmys. Sadly, John’s incredible run on the soap ended when the actor lost his life. That moment came in November 2022, as John passed away at an incredible 89 years old, with it being assumed natural causes were to blame.

Pelé was one of the greatest soccer players the sport has ever seen

There are few athletes that have gone down as the Greatest of All Time, but that’s a title Pelé enjoyed throughout much of his career. The Brazilian soccer legend was a real force to be reckoned with in the sport, with fans quickly giving Pelé the title of The King as a result. Tragically, his run ultimately had to end.

After wowing crowds with his two Copa Libertadores and three World Cups, Pelé was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021. This wasn’t the first health scare for the athlete, who had already had a kidney removed in 1977. However, the illness was too much, with his passing in December 2022 leading to a national day of mourning in Brazil.

Len Goodman became a household name by appearing on dance competition shows

Even though he made a name for himself as a ballroom dancer and teacher, Len Goodman is better known for his time in reality TV competition shows. After all, he was the head judge on the UK’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ from the show’s beginning in 2004 all the way through to 2016. Len even crossed the pond.

Here, the dance expert served as a judge on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for years from 2005 until 2022. Retiring from the show gave Len a chance to focus on his bone cancer diagnosis. The star was living in a hospice in the UK when the world learned that Len passed away in April 2023, three days before turning 79.

Gilbert Gottfried never told the world about his genetic illness before passing away

Just because you might not recognize this guy’s face, there’s a very good chance you might know Gilbert Gottfried’s voice. That is especially the case if you love all things Disney, as Gilbert was the one to bring the sarcastic parrot Iago to life in the animated movie ‘Aladdin.’ From there, the only way was up for the star.

Gilbert largely worked as a voiceover artist, appearing in the likes of the comedy movie ‘Dr. Dolittle’ and the animated shows ‘The Fairly OddParents’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’ Although Gilbert had been living with type II myotonic dystrophy - a type of genetic muscle loss - he never made the news public and passed away at 67 in 2022.

Anne Heche suddenly lost her life following a high-speed car accident

With several awards and even more fans to her name, Anne Heche quickly became an actress who was known around the world. The star got her start in the soap opera ‘Another World’ before moving onto a host of movies and TV shows. Anne’s time in the crime drama movie ‘Donnie Bracro’ certainly helped her reputation.

However, it was always her personal life that upstaged her career. Anne was one in a high-profile relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, earning the couple title of the first LGBTQ supercouple. In August 2022, Anne was involved in three car accidents, with the third seeing her crash into a house at high speed and lose her life at just 53.

Georgia Holt enjoyed an incredible career before passing away at 96 years old

What happens when you have children, and you’re already an incredible singer-songwriter yourself? If you’re anything like Georgia Holt, you give the world the legend that is Cher. That’s right’ Cher’s mother enjoyed her own successful career that all started after a radio appearance when Georgia was just six years old before moving on to work as a club singer.

Throughout her life, Georgia was the subject of plenty of interviews and documentaries about Cher’s life, including the 2013 documentary ‘Dear Mom, Love Cher.’ Georgia and Cher teamed up on several projects throughout the years, including shows and albums, but in December 2022, at 96 years old, Georgia lost her life after decades in the limelight.

Omar Sharif rapidly saw a decline in his mental health in his final month

While he might be best known for his time in the biographical movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and the historical romance film ‘Doctor Zhivago,’ they were far from Omar Sharif’s only time to shine. The Egyptian actor offered Hollywood something they had rarely seen before, and it won Omar a ton of admirers as a result.

Omar continued acting up until 2013, but the actor had no choice but to retire by the time 2015 rolled around. Apparently, Omar had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, with his mental health rapidly deteriorating as a result. In 2015, Omar suffered a heart attack and ultimately passed away in July 2015 at 83 after forgetting many of his roles.

Aaron Carter was just 34 years old when he accidentally drowned in the bath at home

Even though he was just nine years old, nothing stood in the way of Aaron Carter hitting the big time. The musician followed in his brother’s footsteps and really hit the big time as Nick was a part of the Backstreet Boys, with Aaron often appearing alongside the band. Sadly, that family love would eventually fizzle out.

Aaron and his family were often feuding in the headlines, with the singer being open about his battles with his mental health and addiction. After years of controversies, Aaron was found at his home in the bathtub in November 2022. He was just 34 years old, with reports later stating drowning after using substances was to blame.

Tony Burton battled pneumonia for a long time before it claimed his life

The 1970s brought one of the most famous franchises of all time to life: ‘Rocky.’ The sports franchise has since spawned several decades and helped Sylvester Stallone bring his most famous character - and vision - to life. Throughout the years, one of the many stars of it all was none other than Tony Burton, aka boxing trainer Duke.

Apparently, Tony had been friends with Stallone for years and was more than happy to work alongside his buddy. It might be little surprise that he was a former boxer before switching things up for Hollywood, but Tony’s final fight came in February 2016. The 78-year-old had been in a long battle with pneumonia before finally passing away.

Samantha Weinstein continued to work up until the weeks before they passed away

Some stars really know how to stand out and make a name for themselves at a young age. That was the case for Samantha Weinstein, who started acting when they were just six years old. In fact, by the time Samantha turned 13, they had appeared in at least one movie every year from 2004 to 2008.

It was a grueling schedule, but one that Samantha seemingly loved. In fact, they loved it so much that Samantha continued working until just weeks before she passed away. Tragically, Samantha had been battling ovarian cancer for two and a half years and was just 28 years old when they were taken from the world in 2023.

George Martin was the reason the Beatles became the band so many know and love

Sure, most of us know the Beatles by now, but there's a good chance you wouldn't if it wasn't for George Martin. The music producer was often referred to as the "Fifth Beatle," with John Lennon admitting himself that Martin "made us what we were in the studio." For years, he was the real driving force behind their international success.

In fact, Martin joined the Beatles for their first LP - 'Please Please Me' - and worked with them through to 1969's 'Abbey Road.' He even continued working with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney after the band's split, but everything ended in 2016. The producer lost his life in his sleep due to unknown causes at 90 years old.

Ray Liotta was still busy filming when he suddenly passed in May 2022

You might need to cast your mind all the way back to the ‘80s to remember a time when Ray Liotta wasn’t a part of Hollywood. Thankfully, that all changed in 1986 when Ray earned his breakout role in the action comedy movie ‘Something Wild.’ From there, Ray learned the world was his oyster and continued to enjoy it all.

The actor appeared in a host of movies - including the horror ‘Hannibal’ and the crime drama ‘The Many Saints of Newark.’ Although he appeared in a 2023 release, Ray actually passed away in May 2022 at 67 years old. Apparently, abnormalities in Ray’s arteries led to heart failure, pulmonary edema, and respiratory insufficiency, all causing him to lose his life.

Kenny Baker was one of the biggest parts of Star Wars, even though many never knew

Just because we never saw his face doesn’t mean Kenny Baker failed to make an impact. That’s because if R2-D2 was in a movie, Kenny was there. From ‘A New Hope’ in 1977 all the way through to 2005’s ‘Revenge of the Sith,’ Kenny was the one to bring the loveable robot to life in the sci-fi ‘Star Wars’ franchise.

Although he acted elsewhere, it was ‘Star Wars’ that really saw Kenny shine. Sadly, the actor had been living with a lung condition for years when it eventually claimed his life in August 2016. Kenny was 81 years old and received a ton of honors, including one from George Lucas, who called Kenny the “heart and soul” of R2-D2.

Elizabeth Hubbard always knew how to make a soap opera her own

Plenty of stars make incredible careers through their time on soap operas, but it’s not every day we get to see someone who takes two by storm. Still, nothing could hold actress Elizabeth Hubbard back from dominating the world. It all started when Elizabeth was cast as Althea Davis on the soap opera ‘The Doctors.’

However, after stepping back from her role on the show, Elizabeth signed up as Lucinda Walsh on the soap ‘As the World Turns’ and continued to dominate the scene. For years, the actress appeared in a handful of movies, but ultimately it was cancer that took her life. Elizabeth was 89 years old when she passed away in April 2023.

Nick Lashaway was on the road to success before his life was tragically cut short

Tragically, Nick Lashaway never got the chance to become a household name. Still, there’s no telling how far the actor’s career could have gone if he was given an opportunity to shine. One of his biggest roles came when Nick got to appear opposite Miley Cyrus in the teen romantic drama ‘The Last Song,’ but that wasn’t all.

Throughout his short career, Nick worked with a host of big names, such as Steve Carell and Wes Caven. Nick even played a young Fox Mulder in the drama show ‘The X-Files’ for a time. Unfortunately, everything was ripped away from the 28-year-old in 2016 when Nick was involved in a three-way car crash in Massachusetts.

Taylor Hawkins will forever be remembered as one of the greatest drummers of all time

Drummers often don't get the recognition they deserve, but Taylor Hawkins certainly made sure he stood out of the crowd. The drummer was a part of Foo Fighters, recording eight studio albums with the band from 1999 to 2021. However, this was far from Taylor's first brush with fame, as he once toured with Alanis Morissette and Sylvia.

For years, Taylor had been battling his addictions and was once in a coma for two weeks in 2001 after an overdose. Although he came out the other side, Taylor was complaining of chest pains in 2022, shortly before a scheduled show. Medics did what they could, but a mixture of substances and extreme exhaustion claimed Taylor's life at 50.

Arnold Palmer continues to inspire thousands of golfers around the world

There’s a good chance if you earn the nickname The King that you’ve done something right with your life. Thankfully, that’s something Arnold Palmer got to enjoy throughout his many years on the green as the athlete really made golf his own. Even today, Palmer is still one of the biggest names in the sport. 

Throughout the years, Palmer won no fewer than 62 PGA Tour events between 1955 and 1973 and was one of the 13 original stars added to the World Golf Hall of Fame. After inspiring thousands of golfers, Palmer ultimately lost his life in September 2016 at 87 years old, with his wife stating he had been living with heart issues.

Andrea Evans was most famous for her varied soap opera roles

Appearing as Tina Lord in the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ was enough to make Andrea Evans a household name. Although she first joined the soap back in 1978, Andrea continued to appear in the show throughout the years, with her latest appearance coming in 2011. This was far from her only soap opera.

Andrea also appeared in shows like ‘Passions,’ ‘The Bold and the Beautiful,’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’ during her career, with her most famous role introducing Andrea to her husband, actor Wayne Massey. Unfortunately, the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer and ultimately lost her battle at 66 years old on July 9, 2023.

Ronnie Spector didn’t know about her cancer diagnosis for long when she passed away

The Ronettes are still labeled as one of the most influential bands of all time, with Ronnie Spector co-founding the band all the way back in 1957. The group enjoyed an incredible career and a host of hit songs, with Ronnie earning the title of one of the original “bad girls of rock and roll.”

Ronnie was later open about the alleged abuse record producer and husband Phil Spector subjected her to, such as his supposed threats to end her life if she left. The singer continued to rebuild her career after they finally split and continued to dominate music. That was until 2022, when cancer claimed Ronnie's life at 78 years old.

Zsa Zsa Gabor was most famous for just being Zsa Zsa Gabor

Long before the likes of Paris Hilton and the Kardashians hit the world, there was Zsa Zsa Gabor. While she did appear in more than 30 movies since breaking into acting in the 1950s, Zsa Zsa was most famous for being Zsa Zsa. She was a true fashion icon who loved to grab attention whenever she went.

Her personality always saw Zsa Zsa grab the attention of everyone in the room. She was even married nine times - stating girls “must marry for love” and then “keep on marrying until she finds it.” Tragically, a 2002 car accident left her partially paralyzed before her health declined, with Zsa Zsa passing away at 99 in 2016.

Carole Cook almost made it to 100 before heart failure took her life in 2023

Lucille Ball was a true Hollywood legend who really changed the game for so many women in the industry. One of the many lucky ones who got to benefit from Lucille’s work - and even work alongside the star - was none other than Carole Cook. In fact, she worked on both comedy shows, ‘Here’s Lucy’ and ‘The Lucy Show.’

Away from the small screen, Carole landed a handful of roles in movies, including one in the comedy ‘Sixteen Candles,’ and even appeared in several stage shows in between work. Amazingly, Carole made it to 98 years old before heart failure claimed her life. That moment came on January 11, 2023, with Carole leaving an incredible legacy behind.

Richard Griffiths had just been through heart surgery when complications ended his life

The fantasy ‘Harry Potter’ series might have started as books, but the movies brought millions of people into the world of Hogwarts, witches, and wizards. The franchise has earned billions around the world, with Richard Griffiths able to be a part of it all as Harry’s Uncle Vernon Dursley. However, this wasn’t Richard’s only role.

Throughout his career, Richard earned plenty of awards with his busy schedule, particularly his time in the stage show ‘The History Boys,’ where he was behind teacher Douglas Hector. It turns out Richard had just been through heart surgery when complications from the operation ended his life in March 2013. Richard was just 65 years old at the time.

Bo Goldman is the one we have to thank for so many incredible productions

Not everyone makes a name for themselves in front of the camera. After all, without the playwrights and screenwriters of the world, we wouldn’t have the greats that we know and love today. It turns out we can thank Bo Goldman for plenty of those, including the psychological drama ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.’

After serving three years with the US Army, Bo returned to do what he loved and worked on some huge productions throughout his life. In fact, plenty have thanked Bo for inspiring their own careers, with his awards boosting his reputation. Tragically, at 90 years old, it was seemingly Bo’s time to go in July 2023.

Kathryn Joosten lost her life two weeks after her character on Desperate Housewives passed away

It took until 1980 for Kathryn Joosten to realize she was missing out on her dreams of being an actress. Thankfully, by the time the ‘90s rolled around - and Kathryn was in her 50s - the actress was building quite the career for herself. Despite her late start in her career, nothing ever seemed to hold her back.

Kathryn made a name for herself playing a one-off yet memorable character, with appearances in a host of Hollywood hits. In 2001, Kathryn was diagnosed with breast cancer. While undergoing treatment, her character in ‘Desperate Housewives’ - Karen McCluskey - was going through the same thing. Tragically, Kathryn passed away at 72, two weeks after her character passed away.

Ginnie Newhart helped inspire her husband, Bob Newhart, during some of his biggest projects

Bob Newhart has been a part of our lives for decades, with the star’s comedy career leading to several acting roles throughout his career. What about his wife, Ginnie Newhart? Apparently, Ginnie was the one to inspire Bob when it came to the ending of his sitcom ‘Newhart’ and was always there for her husband.

The pair had also been together for decades and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary when Ginnie lost her battle and passed away. She was 82 years old at the time, with a statement claiming she had been living with a long-term illness. However, it was too much for Ginnie, who passed away in April 2023.

Moses J. Moseley still hasn’t had an official cause of passing listed

When you think of the post-apocalyptic horror series ‘The Walking Dead,’ there’s a good chance you think of the survivors battling to stay alive instead of the zombies. However, if you paid really close attention to the walkers, you might have spotted Moses J. Moseley, who joined the show in 2012 and left in 2015.

The actor was also in a handful of other roles, but everything changed when the 31-year-old was found with a gunshot wound to the head in January 2022. Sadly, Moseley’s passing was listed as “undetermined.” Apparently, authorities haven’t determined if it was a self-inflicted wound or a terrible accident that ended Mosely’s life at such a young age.

Helen McCrory was in the middle of filming when breast cancer ended her life

Classically trained actors come in all shapes and sizes. Helen McCrory used her talents and skills to appear in a host of stage shows before moving on to some big-name TV shows and movies throughout the years. Appearing in London in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ certainly earned the actress a host of fans through her work.

Perhaps the stage isn’t your vibe? You might just recognize Helen from playing Narcissa Malfoy in the fantasy ‘Harry Potter’ franchise. It turns out Helen was working on season six of the drama show ‘Peaky Blinders’ when she lost her battle with breast cancer at 52 years old, leading certain scenes to be rewritten in the show.

William Hurt first announced he was ill in 2018 before passing away in 2022

Being one of the biggest stars of the 1980s seemingly came easily to actor William Hurt. After all, he ultimately won two Oscars for his various roles, including time in the drama movie ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ the romantic drama ‘Children of a Lesser God,’ the comedy-drama ‘The Big Chill,’ and the romantic drama ‘The Accidental Tourist.’

The world first learned that something was wrong with the legendary actor in May 2018, when it was announced William had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although he continued to fight the illness for years, William ultimately lost his battle in March 2022 at 71 years old, with several stars leaving their tributes to the actor.

Mary Pat Gleason did incredible things in front of and behind the camera

There are plenty of stars we know we have seen, but we just can’t place them. Mary Pat Gleason might be one on the list. However, with a career that spanned almost 40 years and saw her in a host of movies and TV shows, it might be little wonder so many people have enjoyed Mary’s work throughout the years.

Still, it was her time writing for the soap opera ‘Guiding Light’ that might be Mary’s most famous contribution of them all. Winning a Daytime Emmy certainly showed just how talented she was as a writer. Unfortunately, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer and ended up losing her battle with the illness at 70 in June 2020.

Lance Reddick seemed to dominate just about every kind of media during his career

There was something about Lance Reddick that made him stand out for all the right reasons, no matter what he was doing. The actor earned a lot of recognition for his time in the prison drama ‘Oz’ before moving on to the likes of the drama show ‘The Wire’ and the sci-fi series ‘Fringe,’ to name just a few.

Lance even made a name for himself on the big screen by playing Charon in the action thriller ‘John Wick’ movie franchise and as Commander Zavala in the ‘Destiny’ video game series. Sadly, natural causes ultimately ended Lance’s life in March 2023 when it was discovered he’d passed away at home at 60 years old.

Dustin Diamond ultimately lost his life to lung cancer after his time as a young star

Sure, the sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell’ had a host of characters, but perhaps the most unusual of them all was Sam Powers, better known as Screech. The character was a total dork and brought to life by Dustin Diamond, who knew just how to steal all the scenes he was in until Screech was any people’s favorite character.

Sadly, Dustin was also the odd one out in the real world, as the actor struggled to land a worthwhile role after the show. He also found himself in the middle of bizarre controversies, with Dustin admitting he was behind at least one. In the end, lung cancer caught up to Dustin when he was just 44 in 2021.

Traci Braxton was battling esophageal cancer for a least a year before her passing

Being a part of the Braxton family meant Traci was never too far from the limelight. It all began in 1989 when Traci and her four sisters signed a record deal, a contract that would change their lives. From there, Traci continued to work on her music and earned a host of fans across the world.

In fact, Traci even let people into her personal life when the star and her family starred in the reality show ‘Braxton Family Values.’ Although she continued to work on her music, everything changed for the Braxtons in March 2022. Traci was just 50 years old when she lost her life after at least one year of battling esophageal cancer.

Lisa Robin Kelly publicly battled her addictions while in the limelight

The sitcom ‘That ‘70s Show’ seemingly came out of nowhere, but it instantly became a beloved addition. Thankfully, it also gave the leading cast a chance to shine, with Lisa Robin Kelly one of the many who kept the audience laughing for years. Unfortunately, Lisa’s private life was far from funny as the actress constantly battled addiction.

Instead of hiding her demons, Lisa’s substance abuse often played out in the headlines during her time on the show. Although she had a promising career, checking into rehab in 2013 proved to be a move that came too late. Lisa ultimately passed away in her sleep due to an accidental overdose. She was just 43 years old.

Michael Lerner was a character actor who never blended into the background

Being a character actor can make it easy for people to blend into the background. However, that’s something Michael Lerner never did as he always knew how to support the rest of the scene oh-so-perfectly. It all started back in the ‘60s when Micahel landed several theater roles before moving on to work on the small screen the following decade.

Still, it might be Michael’s role as Jack Lipnick in the period comedy thriller ‘Barton Fink’ that stands as his most famous of them all. While many have gotten to enjoy Michael’s incredible work, the actor’s nephew - fellow actor Sam Lerner - announced on April 9, 2023, that Michael had lost his life at 81 years old.

James Avery was in almost 200 productions before losing his life on New Year’s Eve

There have been plenty of sitcoms over the years, but there’s never been one quite like ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’ The show shot Will Smith to fame, but he wasn’t the only star of it all. Thankfully, we have James Avery to thank for bringing Uncle Phil to life, with the part eventually becoming his most famous role.

Still, it was far from James’ only work in the industry, with the actor appearing in almost 200 productions throughout his career. A lot of that came from doing voice work, particularly in the ‘80s. Sadly, everything changed in November 2013 when James went in for open-heart surgery. After complications, James passed away on NYE at just 68 years old.

Robert Morse enjoyed an incredible career on stage and on camera until his passing in 2022

What started as a career on the stage quickly turned into one on the big screen for Robert Morse. The actor was a true legend in the field, earning a host of Tony and Emmy Awards throughout his life. Still, it’s Robert’s time in the drama series ‘Mad Men’ that really saw him go down as a household name.

Throughout the years, Robert spent most of his time switching between Broadway shows and camera productions, but that wasn’t all. It turns out the actor also got to work with some huge names in the business, such as Alfred Hitchcock. After decades of work, it was announced in 2022 that Robert had passed away at 90 years old.

James Winburn gave us some of the most memorable slasher scenes in Halloween

Sometimes, we don’t need to see someone’s face to appreciate the work they do for the entertainment industry. Fans of slashers might have seen ‘Halloween’ and wondered how Michael Myers pulled off all those impressive moves. After all, he’s fallen through windows, been hit, and endured more than most others, especially in the original 1978 release.

It turns out we have James Winburn to thank, as he was the stuntman to bring the criminal to life. James went on to appear in a host more movies, but it was the scene when Myers is shot no less than six times that’s arguably his most famous. Sadly, James lost his life at 85 in 2022.

The Iron Sheik is still WWE’s only Iranian champion to date

WWE has seen a monumental number of names come through the ring throughout the years. That’s why it’s so impressive when someone can still go down as one of the biggest champions, with The Iron Sheik - or Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri outside of the ring - being one to truly put his stamp on the sport.

The Iranian wrestler is still the only Iranian champion in the history of WWE after winning 1983’s WWF World Heavyweight Championship. The Iron Sheik earned a huge amount of popularity through the 1980s for his persona and shoot interviews. Sadly, hypertension and congestive heart failure ended his life at 81 years old in June 2023.

Mike Hagerty suffered a seizure after taking medication for an infection in his leg

While some actors like to show off their diverse set of skills, others know how to find a part that suits their talents and turn it into something incredible for years to come. The latter was the case for Mike Hagerty, who earned a reputation for playing comedy blue-collar workers in various recurring roles throughout his career.

Mike is best known for playing the manager of a muffler store in the sitcom ‘Lucky Louie’ and Mr. Treeger - the building manager - in the sitcom ‘Friends.’ However, the world lost a true legend in May 2022. Apparently, Mike was battling an infection in his leg when an adverse reaction to the medication ended his life at 67 years old.

Irene Cara was one of the many to gain worldwide recognition from Fame

The teen musical drama ‘Fame’ was an instant hit as soon as it took the big screen by storm in 1980. At the time, musical movies were all the rage, and Irene Cara was lucky enough to find herself as a part of it all when she landed the character of Coco Hernandez in it all.

In fact, with the film’s title song reaching one in several countries, Irene could add an incredible musical career to her resume before even writing and recording ‘Flashdance… What a Feeling’ in 1983. Sadly, heart disease and issues with her arteries meant Irene was taken from the world too soon in November 2022 at 63 years old.

Bob McGrath kept so many kids entertained throughout his epic Sesame Street run

Plenty of us grew up with the charming kids’ show ‘Sesame Street.’ The sketch show has been a part of our lives since 1969, with Bob McGrath one of the original faces of it all. Here, the musician, author, and actor was the one behind the music teacher Bob Johnson and won over families across the world.

Amazingly, Bob was a part of the show for almost 50 years, eventually leaving the role in 2016. The star often used his time in the limelight to help charities and various organizations, meaning so many were heartbroken when they learned the news in December 2022. Apparently, after suffering a stroke, Bob passed away at 90 years old.

Helen Slayton-Hughes earned plenty of fans thanks to her time in Parks and Recreation

It comes to something when your list of credits reaches the 200s. While some can only dream of achieving that level of work, it's something Helen Slayton-Hughes got to enjoy throughout her incredible run in front of the camera and on stage. Still, her most famous part might be in the mockumentary 'Parks and Recreation.'

Here, Helen brought Ethel Beaver to life and became one of the most popular side characters in the show - earning her a host of fans as a result. Sadly, it was announced on December 8, 2022, that Helen had passed away. Apparently, she passed the day before in her sleep at a whopping 92 years old.

Stephen “tWitch” Boss was always known for his joy but was sadly living with darkness

Stephen Boss - better known as tWitch - was once on the reality show ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ coming in second place, but that was far from the end for the star. The dancer went on to have an incredible career in his profession and as a choreographer, often working closely on the talk show ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’

In fact, tWitch often guest-hosted the show and even worked to become a co-executive producer. For years, we got to see the incredibly joyful side of his life. Tragically, like so many others, tWitch was living with a darkness, as his body was found in December 2022, with reports claiming he took his own life.

Vivienne Westwood defined the punk era on the catwalk through her designs

There was a time when punk was just about everywhere we looked, and we might have Vivienne Westwood to thank for bringing the movement to the mainstream. The designer really turned things on its head with her tartan patterns and bold designs that took the catwalk by storm time and time again. Amazingly, nothing held Westwood back.

After people noticed Westwood was making clothes for the boutique where she worked, she shot to worldwide fame. The world of fashion really lost a true icon when it was announced Westwood passed away just before New Year’s Eve in 2022. Apparently, no cause of passing was given, but they did say Westwood was surrounded by friends and family.

Anita Pointer was one of the leading voices of the Pointer Sisters for years

The Pointer Sisters have Anita Pointer to thank for their worldwide success. She was the grounding member of the group and actually the lead singer on some of their biggest hits, including ‘I’m So Excited,’ ‘Slow Hand,’ ‘Fire,’ and ‘Yes We Can Can.’ It seemed there was nothing Anita couldn’t do, especially when it came to the group’s success.

Anita was all set to return to the stage in October 2021, but it wasn’t meant to be. It later turned out she was set to perform with her sister, Ruth, on the reality competition show ‘The Masked Singer.’ Unfortunately, Anita pulled out because she was battling an illness, with cancer claiming her life at 74 in December 2022.

Estelle Harris became famous for her unique voice and enjoyed a decades-long career

You don’t have to look too far to find roles actress Estelle Harris took and made her own throughout the years. The actress was the one behind the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the animated ‘Toy Story’ franchise and of Mama Gunda in the animated ‘Tarzan II.’ Still, it’s her time as Estelle Costanza that’s probably Estelle’s most famous.

Her time in the sitcom ‘Seinfeld’ certainly meant Estelle was always going to go down in history, with the actress earning a lot of fame for her shrill, grating voice. In 2001, Estelle and her husband were involved in a dangerous car accident, but it was natural causes that ended her life at 93 years old in 2022.

James Michael Tyler appeared in more than 100 episodes of Friends before his passing

Even though it was a show with six main characters, the sitcom ‘Friends’ had a way of turning side stars into leading characters. Gunther is certainly one on the list. The coffee shop opener was there for all ten seasons, with Gunther appearing in a total of 150 episodes, even though he didn’t speak for the first 33.

We have James Michael Tyler to thank, and it was actually his knowledge of working the fancy espresso machine that landed him the part. James was known to never take himself too seriously, but news broke in 2021 that he’d been living with prostate cancer. James was diagnosed in 2018 and passed away in October 2021 at 59 years old.

Naomi Judd struggled with her mental health for years before ending her own life

One-half of The Judds was none other than Naomi Judd. The country music singer was once just about everywhere, with her band winning no fewer than nine Country Music Association awards and five Grammys. However, getting diagnosed with an illness saw Naomi walk away from The Judds in 1991. Still, the duo did reunite a handful of times.

After leaving the band, there were several reports about Naomi’s personal struggle with her mental health. It’s said the musician was suffering from panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of taking her own life, with her treatment not helping her mental health. Ultimately, Naomi ended her life in April 2022 at 76 years old.

Meat Loaf will likely forever be one of the best-selling musicians of all time

It’s tough to find a musician more influential than Meat Loaf. The star was known for his incredible album sales - going down as one of the best-selling music artists of all time - and was the one behind the ‘Bat Out of Hell’ trilogy that took the world by storm. In fact, Meat Loaf’s first album charted for nine years.

As if his albums weren’t enough, Meat Loaf was known for his theatrical live shows, with the musician selling millions of tickets throughout his lengthy career. Meat Loaf was diagnosed with a condition that causes a rapid heartbeat in 2003 before news broke in 2022 that he’d passed at 74 years old. No official cause was given.

Jerry Springer became a household name with his famous tabloid talk show

For many, their afternoons were spent chanting “Jerry” Jerry” Jerry!” at their TV screens - and it was all thanks to Jerry Springer. Believe it or not, but the star actually rose to fame for his work in politics before he moved to hosting his own tabloid talk show ‘Jerry Springer’ in 1997, a show that aired almost 5,000 episodes.

The series was enough to see Jerry become a household name, with many left feeling devastated when the star lost his life in April 2023. A spokesperson announced Jerry had been privately battling pancreatic cancer for a few months when his battle finally came to an end. Jerry was 79 years old when he passed away.

Barbara Walters left behind thousands of the most memorable interviews in 2022

There are interviewers, and then there’s Barbara Walters. People can only dream of achieving what she did throughout her career, with Barbara giving some of the most memorable interviews of all time. In fact, she was even given several leading roles on talk shows such as ‘20/20,’ ‘The View,’ ‘Today,’ and ‘ABC Evening News.’

Throughout her career, Barbara hosted interviews with every President of the US and First Lady, starting with the Nixons. That’s why so many around the world were devastated to learn that Barbara was gone in December 2022. Apparently, she had been living with dementia and eventually passed at 93 years old at her home in Manhattan.

Nichelle Nichols used her fame to inspire a generation of minority astronauts

Nichelle Nichols really changed the game for so many actresses to come. The star was cast as Uhura in the sci-fi ‘Star Trek’ show before appearing in a host of the franchise’s movies - a major moment for African American actresses in the US. However, it wasn’t just her acting work that saw Nichelle become so beloved.

The star also used her time in the limelight to promote NASA’s programs to diverse astronauts, including some of the first ethnic minority and female astronauts. Learning that she had passed away in July 2022 was a huge blow to millions of her fans. Nichelle suffered a stroke in 2015 before heart failure claimed her life at 89 years old.

Olivia Newton-John left a huge hole in the world when she passed away in 2022

For years, the only one the world wanted was Olivia Newton-John - and for so many reasons. Of course, her time in the musical film ‘Grease’ made her a household name, with the soundtrack still being one of the best-selling albums in the world. From there, it was only onward and upwards for the Australian star.

As well as her successful acting career, Olivia enjoyed an incredible music career that led to five number-one singles, 15 top-ten singles, and two number-one albums. Tragically, in 2017, it was announced Olivia’s breast cancer was back and spread to her lower back. Ultimately, she passed away at 73 years old on August 8, 2022.

Matthew Perry died after an apparent drowning in a hot tub

Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died suddenly on October 28, at the age of 54. The cause of his death has not been officially released, but it is believed to be related to his long-standing struggles with addiction. Perry had a troubled childhood and turned to drugs and alcohol at a young age. His addiction worsened as he rose to fame, and he checked into rehab several times over the years.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Perry had been struggling with his health and was reportedly in and out of the hospital. On the morning of his death, he was found unresponsive in his home and pronounced dead at the scene. Perry's death is a reminder of the dangers of addiction and the importance of seeking help. He was a talented actor and beloved entertainer, and his loss will be felt by many. His death is also a reminder of the importance of talking about addiction and mental health issues.