Gone but not forgotten: The stars we lost in 2019
It’s that time of year when we reflect on those we have lost over the year.
In 2019, we mourned the loss of screen legends like Doris Day, young talent including Mya-Lecia Naylor and Cameron Boyce and some of hip-hop’s biggest stars – Nipsey Hussle and Juice Wrld.
We also struggled to come to terms with those who took their own life, including Mike Thalassitis and K-pop star Sulli.
Here, we remember the stars we lost in 2019 – gone, but never forgotten.
JANUARY
Bob Einstein
The Curb Your Enthusiasm died on 2 January, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 76.
Einstein is best known for playing satirical stuntman character of Super Dave Osborne, along with playing Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development.
‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund
The legendary WWE interviewer died on 2 January aged 76.
He had undergone three kidney transplants and suffered a fall which caused complications in the weeks leading up to his death.
Kevin Fret
The Puerto Rican trap singer was shot dead on 10 January at the age of 24.
Described as Latin trap music’s first openly gay artist, Fret was riding his motorbike in San Juan when he was shot eight times.
Carol Channing
The legendary comedian and actress passed away on 15 January at the age of 97.
Channing was best known for her role on stage in Hello, Dolly! and her Oscar-nominated performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
FEBRUARY
Jeremy Hardy
The comedian died aged 57 on 1 February, after battling cancer.
His publicist confirmed: ‘Friends and family of comedian Jeremy Hardy are immensely sad to announce that Jeremy died of cancer, early on Friday 1st February. He was with his wife and daughter as he died.
‘He retained to the end principles that guided his life, trying to make the world more humane, and to be wonderfully funny.
‘He will be enormously missed by so many, who were inspired by him and laughed with him.’
Kristoff St John
The Young And The Restless star died aged 52 on 3 February.
The actor, best known for playing businessman Neil Winters on the soap, was found by a friend at his San Fernando Valley home.
A month later, his cause of death was ruled as hypertrophic heart disease, with the coroner listing alcohol as a contributing factor to St John’s death.
Albert Finney
The Oscar-nominated actor died aged 82 on 7 February at the Royal Marsden Hospital, after suffering a chest infection.
Finney was best known for his roles in Tom Jones, Skyfall and Erin Brockovich, as well as Murder On The Orient Express, in which he played Hercules Poirot.
The star was nominated five times for an Oscar – Best Actor for Tom Jones, Murder On The Orient Express, The Dresser and Under The Volcano, and Best Supporting Actor for his role in Erin Brockovich.
Although he never won, Julia Roberts thanked Finney in her Oscar speech after winning for the same film, saying she shared the award with him.
Cadet
On 9 February, rising rapper Cadet was killed in a car accident aged just 28.
The star, real name Blaine Cameron Johnson, was on his way to play a gig at Keele University when the taxi he was was hit by a red Vauxhall Combo van.
Earlier this month, Jordon Birch, 23, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, and will be sentenced on 9 January.
Cadet had found success on YouTube with songs like Letter To Krept, Instagram Girls and Advice racking up millions of views, and released two EPs, The Commitment and The Commitment 2.
As well as having his own headline shows, Cadet supported Krept & Konan on their The Long Way Home tour, as well as touring with Bugzy Malone.
Karl Lagerfeld
The legendary designer passed away on 19 February in hospital, following complications from pancreatic cancer.
Lagerfeld was an icon a fashion ever since designing his first collection for Chanel in 1983.
He was mourned by some of the biggest names in fashion, from Donatella Versace to Cara Delevingne, as well as his beloved cat Choupette.
Vinny Vella
The Sopranos star Vella died on 20 February at the age of 72.
The American actor had been fighting liver cancer.
Vella was best known for playing Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese’s Casino, as well as Jimmy Pertille in The Sopranos.
Peter Tork
The Monkees star Tork died on 21 February aged 77, after his cancer returned in 2018.
The keyboardist had been diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare, slow-growing form of head and neck cancer, in 2009, and although he underwent successful surgery and radiation treatment, he ‘slipped away peacefully’ at his home in Mansfield 10 years later.
Peter was the eldest member of The Monkees, and played bass and keyboard as well as singing on some of the group’s tracks.
Mark Hollis
Hollis, the lead singer of Talk Talk, died on 25 February, at the age of 64, from a ‘short illness from which he never recovered’.
Hollis co-founded the band in 1981 alongside Lee Harris and Paul Webb, earning success with singles Talk Talk, Such A Shame, Life’s What You Make It and It’s My Life.
Talk Talk disbanded in 1991, with Hollis releasing a self-titled solo album in 1998 before retiring from music.
Andy Anderson
The Cure drummer Andy died at the age of 68 on 26 February.
A week before his death, Anderson Andy – who also drummed for Iggy Pop and Steve Hillage – told his Facebook followers that he had terminal stage four cancer, and that he was ‘totally fine’ with it.
The drummer, real name Clifford Leon Anderson, joined The Cure in 1983 after original drummer Lol switched to keys and he featured on albums The Top and Concert, as well as top 10 hit The Lovecats.
MARCH
Luke Perry
Beverly Hills 90210 star Perry was 52 years old when he passed away on 4 March, days after suffering a ‘massive stroke’.
The actor – best known for playing Dylan McKay on 90210 and Fred Andrews on Riverdale – had been rushed to hospital on 28 February after having a stroke.
Hollywood was left devastated by Perry’s untimely death, with Riverdale airing a special tribute episode.
Perry’s final appearance came in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
Keith Flint
The Prodigy legend Keith passed away on 4 March, at the age of 49.
Keith was found dead at his home in Dunmow, Essex, with an inquest later hearing that he died by hanging, with cocaine and alcohol in his system.
However, a coroner recorded an open verdict, questioning whether Keith taking his own life was deliberate.
Flint’s death devastated the music community, with The Prodigy calling the star ‘a true pioneer, innovator and legend’.
Hal Blaine
Drummer Hal Blaine passed away on 11 March aged 90 from natural causes.
When he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, they said Blaine ‘certainly played on more hit records than any drummer in the rock era, including 40 number one singles and 150 that made the [US] top 10′.
These include The Beach Boys’ I Get Around, Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Mrs Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra’s Strangers In The Night and Elvis Presley’s I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You and Return To Sender.
Blaine played on 6,000 tracks, but his most famous work is undoubtedly the iconic opening bars of The Ronettes’ Be My Baby – a riff that has been reused on The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Just Like Honey, The Hollies’ Just Like A Rock, Lykke Li’s Sadness Is A Blessing and Duran Duran’s Is There Something I Should Know.
Pat Laffan
Irish actor Pat died aged 79 on 14 March.
Laffan was best known for playing womanising milkman Pat Mustard in the 1998 episode of Father Ted, Speed 3.
He also gained cult status playing Georgie Burgess in the classic Irish movie, The Snapper.
Mike Thalassitis
Love Island star Mike died aged 26 on 15 March.
The former professional footballer, who rose to fame on the third series of Love Island, was found dead in a park in North London.
His death was ruled a suicide.
Mike’s tragic death sparked a rejig of ITV’s aftercare package for reality TV stars, with new islanders now given therapy and 14 months of aftercare after appearing on the show to protect their mental health.
Scott Walker
Acclaimed singer songwriter Walker died aged 76 on 22 March, after battling cancer.
Scott first achieved fame in the 60s as part of The Walker Brothers – oddly named considering they weren’t actually brothers, and two of them changed their surnames to Walker to fit in.
The trio gained hits with The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore), Make It Easy On Yourself and My Ship Is Coming In, and achieved more success in the UK than their home country of the States.
Scott began his solo career in 1967 with his debut album Scott, going on to release Scott 2, 3 and 4. His solo music became increasingly experimental and avant garde, and he gained critical acclaim in 2006 for The Drift, his first album in 11 years.
His final solo album was 2012’s Bish Bosch, while Walker worked on the Vox Lux soundtrack last year.
Ranking Roger
Two-tone star Roger Charlery, aka Ranking Roger, died aged 56 on 26 March.
In January, he had undergone surgery for two brain tumours and was receiving treatment for lung cancer.
The musician was the vocalist in the two-tone band the Beat, best known for songs including Stand Down Margaret, Mirror in the Bathroom and Tears of a Clown, and later formed General Public.
Billy Clayton
Rising singer-songwriter Clayton passed away aged just 22 on 26 March, after battling an aggressive form of bone cancer.
Clayton’s girlfriend Jenny Hollingworth cancelled Let’s Eat Grandma’s US tour following his tragic passing.
His mother Becky confirmed the singer’s passing on 28 March, writing on Twitter: ‘On Tuesday 26th March at approximately 5pm, my darling beautiful boy Billy had to go to his new home in another realm. He held on for so long and had more strength than anyone could ever imagine. But his body would no longer allow him to live the life he so desperately wished for and his soul needed to escape to be free.’
Her’s
Stephen Fitzpatrick, 24, and Audun Laading, 25, of Liverpool band Her’s died on tour in the US when they were involved in a road accident on 27 March.
Both members and their tour manager, Trevor Engelbrektson, 37, died in the incident, which occurred as the band travelled to a gig in Santa Ana, California.
The crash was caused by a wrong-way driver, according to US authorities.
Her’s had released their debut album titled Invitation to Her’s in August last year. It came after the release of their 2017 compilation Songs Of Her’s.
They were on their second tour across the US, having scheduled 19-dates that were all sold out.
Agnes Varda
Director Varda died aged 90 after battling cancer on 29 March.
The Belgian-born French star was a pioneer in French new wave cinema, and is best known for directing films including Cleo from 5 to 7, La Pointe Courte and Jacquot de Nantes.
In 2017, she was awarded an Academy Honorary Award for her contributions to cinema.
Nipsey Hussle
Rapper Nipsey Hussle was 33 when he was fatally shot outside his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles.
Eric Holder, 29, was charged with Hussle’s murder on 2 April and is awaiting trial.
Nipsey, real name Ermias Asghedom, had received critical acclaim for his debut studio album Victory Lap, which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys posthumously.
A memorial service for the father-of-two, who was in a relationship with Lauren London, was held at the Staples Center on 11 April.
APRIL
Mya-Lecia Naylor
Mya-Lecia, the star of CBBC’s Millie Inbetween and Almost Never, died aged just 16 on 7 April.
A statement from the CBBC confirmed the teenager’s death a week later.
South London assistant coroner Toby Watkin ruled Naylor’s cause of death as misadventure, telling an inquest that she had hanged herself in a marquee at her family home.
The actress had been grounded and banned from going to a party, and the inquest heard that the night before her death, she had watched a film with her family that included a scene of suicide.
Mya-Lecia’s father Martin saw his daughter the morning of her death, and does not believe she believed to take her own life.
He said: ‘I honestly believe she was just making some sort of point. I genuinely believe she did not mean to do it.‘It was a silly spur of the moment thing. She clearly had plans for the future.’
Ian Cognito
Stand-up comedian Cognito died on 11 April after suffering a heart attack on stage.
The 60-year-old comic had been performing at the Lone Wolf Comedy Club in The Atic bar in Bicester.
Cognito, real name Paul John Barbieri, sat on a chair and ‘laid back for five minutes’, with audience members unaware that he had fallen ill, assuming it was part of the act.
An ambulance rushed to the venue, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bradley Welsh
Welsh, 42, was killed on 17 April, with his body found near his home in Edinburgh.
His death was confirmed as a murder, with reports claiming he was shot in the head after a £130,000 batch of heroin and cocaine he was guarding vanished. A 28-year-old man appeared in court over Welsh’s death in May.
The boxer starred as gangster Doyle in T2 Trainspotting, landing the role as a good friend of Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh.
Welsh once starred in season one of Danny Dyer’s Deadliest Men in December 2008 and The Real Football Factories in 2006, on which he was characterised as a ‘football hooligan’.
John Singleton
Boyz n The Hood director Singleton was 51 when he passed away on 28 April.
Earlier that month, he had suffered a stroke and was placed under intensive care. After multiple claims about his state from various family members, he was removed from life support on 28 April and died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
Singleton became the first African-American to be nominated for the best director Oscar for Boyz n The Hood, and also directed classics including Poetic Justice and Shaft.
Peter Mayhew
Star Wars legend Peter passed away on 30 April at his home in Texas, weeks before his 75th birthday.
Mayhew had suffered a heart attack.
The actor, who was 7 ft 2 in tall, played Chewbacca in all of his live action appearances from the original 1977 film up unil The Force Awakens in 2015, when Mayhew retired from the role due to health issues.
MAY
Freddie Starr
Stand-up comedian Starr died on 9 May, aged 76, at his home in Costa Del Sol.
His cause of death was confirmed as a heart attack.
Freddie came to fame in the early 1970s, thanks to TV show Opportunity Knocks, later landing a string of his own TV shows – with The Freddie Starr show among the most popular.
As well as this, he was also at the helm of game show Beat The Crusher, and took part on I’m A Celebrity…. Get Me Out Of Here! back in 2011, beaten to the jungle crown by McFly’s Dougie Poynter.
Freddie was also the subject of one of the most infamous headlines of all time, back in 1986 – The Sun’s: ‘Freddie Starr ate my hamster’.
Peggy Lipton
Twin Peaks star Peggy died aged 72 on 11 May, after battling colon cancer since 2004.
The actress was best known for playing Norma Jennings in Twin Peaks and Julie Barnes in The Mod Squad, for which she won the Best Actress Golden Globe.
Lipton was married to Quincy Jones from 1974 until 1990, and was mother to Rashida and Kidada Jones.
Doris Day
Legendary actress and singer Doris Day died on 13 May after contracting pneumonia. She was 97 years old.
The screen icon was best known for her roles in Calamity Jane, Move Over, Darling, Pillow Talk and The Man Who Knew Too Much, with her film career spanning 20 years.
Her wholesome screen presence in innocent romantic comedies in the early 60s made her the biggest female movie star of that time, and is in the top 10 of highest performing box office performers.
But as well as her movie career, she was a huge TV star thanks to her CBS sitcom The Doris Day Show, which ran from 1968 until 1973.
Doris was also a successful singer, releasing 20 studio albums since 1949. Her final album My Heart was released in 2011.
Her best known songs include Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera), which she recorded for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, her debut single Sentimental Journey, which reached number one, and her collaborations with Les Brown.
Isaac Kappy
Terminator: Salvation star Isaac died aged 42 on 14 May after jumping from a bridge in Arizona.
Kappy had been hit by a vehicle after he fell, hours after he shared an ominous letter on Instagram with a caption about a ‘man that has nothing to lose’.
Several bystanders are said to have attempted to restrain Kappy from jumping but struggled to hold him back.
However, his death sparked conspiracy theories, with some suggesting Kappy was killed for ‘trying to expose paedophiles in Hollywood’.
Niki Lauda
Legendary F1 star Niki Lauda passed away on 20 May, aged 70, nine months after undergoing a lung transplant.
He died at the University Hospital of Zurich, where he had been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems.
Lauda is considered one of the all time greats in Formula One, being a three tike F1 World Drivers’ Champion and having been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren.
Lauda raced since the age of 21 and only took a brief break from Formula 1 when he was badly injured in a 1976 racing blaze.
The driver’s Ferrari burst into flames at the side of the track during the German Grand Prix. Despite serious levels of smoke inhalation and third-degree burns to his face, he returned just six weeks later for the Italian Grand Prix.
Jake Black
Alabama 3 star Jake Black died aged 59 on 21 May.
His death came just four days after his final gig at Highpoint Festival in Lancashire.
Black composed the theme song for The Sopranos, Woke Up This Morning, with Alabama 3’s music also featuring in Gone In 60 Seconds and Football Factory.
JUNE
Gloria Vanderbilt
Socialite Gloria Vanderbilt died on 17 June, aged 97, from stomach cancer.
The daughter of railroad heir Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and Gloria Morgan, Vanderbilt was the subject of the ‘trial of the century’ in the 1930s, as her mother and paternal aunt fought for custody of her and her trust fund – which was worth $71 million in 2018 value.
She went on to become a model and designer and was mother to four sons, including CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper.
Etika
YouTuber Etika died aged 29 on 19 June.
The popular online star went missing a week before his body was located by police. Before he went missing, Etika – real name Desmond Amofah – posted a worrying video titled ‘I’m Sorry’ in which he had expressed suicidal thoughts.
A phone and a backpack, believed to belong to Etika, were discovered on a bridge in New York, along with the YouTuber’s driving licence, headphone, wallet and a Nintendo Switch.
His death was ruled a suicide by drowning.
Beth Chapman
Dog The Bounty Hunter star Beth died aged 51 on 26 June.
The reality star, who was married to Duane Chapman, was placed in a medically induced coma on 22 June and passed away four days later in a Hawaiian hospital.
Beth revealed in September 2017 that she had stage two cancer in September 2017, with A&E airing a two-hour special called Dog and Beth: Fight Of Their Lives documenting her health scare.
Months later, she announced she was cancer-free, but unfortunately, the cancer returned last year, leading her to have an emergency operation to remove a mass in her throat.
Her health deteriorated after the surgery, and Beth later learned the cancer had spread to her lungs and was incurable.
Douglas Fielding
Actor Fielding passed away on 26 June aged 73.
He was best known for playing Sergeant Alec Quilley in Z Cars – the second longest serving character – which ran from 1969 until 1978.
He also took on a role of a policeman in EastEnders, playing Roy Quick from 1985 until 1986 in 51 episodes, and returned to the soap in 2000 to play a private investigator called Will.
JULY
John McCririck
Racing broadcaster and reality star John died aged 79 following a short battle with lung cancer.
Back in October 2018, the racing broadcasting legend said he didn’t expect to be alive by that time this year. Speaking to the Daily Mail, John said: ‘What purpose is there in going on if you’re not working?
‘Racing was my life but now when I go I think: “What am I doing here?” I feel like a dinosaur. You’re a lost soul wandering around an environment you’re no longer part of.’
McCririck was sacked from Channel 4 racing in 2012, with the larger-than-life star suing the channel for ageism at an employment tribunal.
However, the tribunal ruled against him and pinned his sacking on him being ‘offensive’ and ‘disgusting’.
John famously appeared on the third series of Celebrity Big Brother.
George Kay
Kerry Katona’s ex George Kay died on 6 July at the age of 39.
The former rugby star had allegedly eaten a quantity of cocaine at a Holiday Inn in Cheshire before he was rushed to hospital.
George had married Kerry in September 2014 and they welcomed their daughter Dylan-Jorge five months later.
In October 2015 she confirmed that they had split, alleging he had assaulted her.
He was arrested by police but charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
Tanya Jones
Vinnie Jones’ wife Tanya died aged 53 on 6 July after a long battle with cancer.
She died surrounded by her family in Los Angeles.
Vinnie paid tribute to his wife of 25 years as he competed on The X Factor: Celebrity, dedicating his performances to her.
Cameron Boyce
Disney star Cameron died aged just 20 on 6 July.
The actor, best known for playing Luke Ross on Jessie and Carlos in the Descendants trilogy, died due to complications from epilepsy.
According to Boyce’s family, he died in his sleep ‘due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated’.
Cameron was remembered by his Descendants family as the third and final film premiered a month after his passing, with the end credits of the Disney Channel paying tribute to him.
Rip Torn
Actor Rip Torn died on 9 July at the age of 88, due to complications from Alzheimer’s dementia.
Torn was best known for playing Agent Zed in the smash 1997 comedy Men In Black alongside Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, as well as its 2002 sequel.
He also played the tough-talking coach Patches O’Houlihan in the 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story opposite Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.
Rip shot to fame as Artie on the series Larry Sanders, which aired from 1992 until 1998 and followed the behind-the-scenes antics of a successful late-night network talk show.
He won an Emmy for the Supporting Actor in a Comedy category in 1996 – but was nominated in each of the show’s six seasons.
Denise Nickerson
Actress Denise Nickerson died aged 62 on 10 July after contracting pneumonia and suffering seizures.
She had previously survived a stroke in 2018.
Nickerson was best known for playing Violet Beauregarde at the age of 13, opposite Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
The former child star also appeared on the soap Search For Tomorrow, and in the films Smile and The Man Who Could Talk To Kids.
Brendan Grace
Irish comedian, actor and singer Brendan Grace died on 11 July aged 68, a week after it emerged he was fighting for his life.
The star was hospitalised with pneumonia, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
In the UK, Grace was best known for his role as Fr Fintan Stack in the 1996 Father Ted episode New Jack City – in which he uttered the classic line: ‘I’ve had my fun and that’s all that matters.’
However, he will be remembered for an illustrious comedy career in Ireland and around the world, gaining acclaim for his characters Father of the Bride and Bottler and even sharing the stage with Frank Sinatra.
Emily Hartridge
Social media star and TV presenter Emily Hartridge was killed on 12 July when her e-scooter collided with a lorry at a roundabout.
She was 35 years old.
Emily’s death was the first involving an e-scooter in the UK – which are illegal to ride on the roads and pavement.
Emily was a personal trainer and had hosted the Channel 4 show S**t I’m 30 as well as her own YouTube channel which had over 300,000 subscribers, and various online shows.
Karl Shiels
Irish actor Shiels died in his sleep on 14 July.
Shiels was well-known for playing Robbie Quinn in the Irish soap Fair City, which he joined as a regular in 2014.
Shiels also starred in a number of television shows, playing a character called Ryan in an episode of Peaky Blinders back in 2013 as well as playing Declan in martial arts drama, Into the Badlands.
His film work included roles in Batman Begins, Veronica Guerin, Intermission, The Clinic and Capital Letters.
Rutger Hauer
Dutch actor Hauer died on 19 July aged 75 ‘after a very short illness’.
He was best known for playing replicant Batty in the seminal sci-fi film Blade Runner, with Hauer writing much of the script for his memorable final speech.
Hauer went on to star in The Hitcher and The Legend of the Holy Drinker, as well as a string of Guinness ads.
Jimmy Patton
Jimmy Patton, the brother of the Chuckle Brothers Paul and Barry, died on 25 July aged 87.
His death came a year after Barry Chuckle’s death from bone cancer.
Patton was the older brother of Barry and Paul, and appeared in the show ChuckleVision frequently during its run from 1987 to 2009.
Jimmy married Chuckle Brother fan Amy Phillips in 2017, who was 59 years younger than him, after the pair met on Facebook.
AUGUST
Ian Gibbons
The Kinks’ Ian Gibbons passed away on 1 August at the age of 67, due to bladder cancer.
The musician and keyboardist was in the iconic band from 1979 to 1996.
The performer was a late addition to the iconic British group, whose songs Waterloo Sunset, You Really Got Me and Sunny Afternoon are still played regularly on TV and radio to this day.
Toni Morrison
Pulitzer Prize winning author and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison passed away aged 88 on 5 August, from complications from pneumonia.
The writer’s first published work came in 1970 with The Bluest Eye, followed by Sula (1973), Solong of Solomon (1977) and Tar Baby (1981).
However, it was Beloved, the story of a former African-American slave who has fled to Ohio, which cemented Morrison’s status as one of fiction’s most acclaimed writers.
Morrison received the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in 1988, while Oprah Winfrey produced and starred in a film, also starring Danny Glover, based on the book.
Beloved was followed by Jazz (1992) and Paradise (1997), which form a loose trilogy. Love (2003), A Mercy (2008) and Home (2012) preceded Morrison’s final work God Help The Child in 2015.
Dango Nguyen
The Walking Dead star Nguyen died on 12 August at the age of 48, after battling cancer.
The former firefighter served the Athens-Clark County Fire Department for almost 20 years before he decided to pursue acting.
Nguyen played a guard tasked with protecting The Governor of Woodbury (David Morrisey) from Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and co in The Walking Dead in 2013.
As well as the zombie drama, he also starred in The Game, The Originals and MacGyver and Lodge 49 among other projects.
Anna Quayle
Grange Hill and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star Anna Quayle died aged 86 on 16 August after battling Lewy body dementia, which she was diagnosed with in 2012.
Her death was not announced until two months later.
Quayle was best known for playing Mrs Monroe on Grange Hill, starring as the teacher in 85 episodes from 1990 until 1994, as well as Baroness Bomburst in the children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968.
She also had a role opposite John Lennon in A Hard Day’s Night.
Peter Fonda
Actor Peter Fonda died on 16 August aged 79, after battling lung cancer.
The star – who was the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda and father of Bridget Fonda – was best known for his role in Easy Rider, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
He won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in Ulee’s Gold.
SEPTEMBER
Leah Bracknell
In October, it was confirmed that former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell had died in September at the age of 55.
The actress passed away three years after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
The actress was originally diagnosed in October 2016 and revealed her lung cancer diagnosis on her fundraising page for her to undergo treatment overseas, due to a lack of options available on the NHS; she received enough donations to get cutting edge treatment in Germany, but in August, the treatment had stopped working.
Bracknell was best known for playing Zoe Tate on Emmerdale.
LaShawn Daniels
Songwriter LaShawn Daniels, also known as Big Shiz, passed away aged 41 on 4 September.
He was killed in a fatal car crash.
Daniels was the main behind the Grammy winning hit for Destiny’s Child, Say My Name, and worked with Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez, Brandy and the Spice Girls.
The US star had released his debut solo album last year, The Big Shiz Project, that was inspired by his love for gospel music.
Kylie Rae Harris
Country singer Kylie was killed in a three car crash on 4 September at the age of 30.
A police investigation revealed that Harris was drunk behind the wheel – three times the legal limit – and was driving at high speed when she collided with two other cars.
A 16-year-old girl, Maria Elena Cruz, was also killed in the crash.
The singer, who was from Dallas, Texas, released her first EP in 2013 titled Taking It Back and also released a self-titled album earlier this year.
Chris March
Fashion designer Chris March passed away on 5 September at the age of 56.
March entered a long-term care facility after a fall in June, for which he was placed in a medically induced coma for two months. He had lost use of both legs and his right arm.
In September, he suffered a heart attack in the care facility.
March was best known for competing on the fourth season of Project Runway, and went on to design for Madonna, Prince and Beyonce.
John Wesley
Fresh Prince of Bel Air star Wesley died aged 72 on 7 September.
The actor, who played Dr Hoover on the sitcom, passed away following complications from multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
His other film and television work – amounting to over 100 credits – included roles in Fraiser, The Jeffersons and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Eddie Money
Take Me Home Tonight singer Eddie Money died aged 70 on 13 September.
The rocker had revealed in August that he was battling stage four esophageal cancer.
Money was best known for his songs Take Me Home Tonight, Two Tickets To Paradise and Baby Hold On.
Prior to his cancer diagnosis, Money had been planning a new studio album that would have been his 12th.
Ric Ocasek
The Cars frontman Ocasek died from cardiovascular disease on 15 September. He was 75 years old.
The musician was found dead in his Manhattan apartment.
His death came two years after he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cars, best known for songs including Drive, Let’s Go and You Might Think.
Ocasek was also a record producer for bands including Weezer and Nada Surf.
Sid Haig
Horror actor Sid died on 21 September at the age of 80.
He was hospitalised earlier that month after a fall at his home, and went on to contract a lung infection after vomiting in his sleep. Haig died from OPD, Aspergillus pneumonia, a small bowel obstruction, and cardiopulmonary arrest.
The star was best known for his work with Rob Zombie, starring as Captain Spaulding in House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects and 3 From Hell – often called one of the icons of horror.
Haig also appeared in Foxy Brown, Kill Bill: Volume 2 and Halloween.
Carl Ruiz
Celebrity chef Carl passed away in his sleep from a suspected heart attack on 21 September. He was 44 years old.
Ruiz appeared alongside fellow celebrity chef Guy Fieri in Food Network shows such as Guy’s Grocery Games and Guy’s Ranch Kitchen.
Fieri tweeted: ‘Over the years, I’ve met a lot of great people but a friend like Carl is one in a hundred million. Carl ’The Cuban’ Ruiz will forever live on in my heart and in those of all who loved him.’
OCTOBER
Peter Sissons
On 1 October, newsreader Sissons passsed away aged 77.
The TV star had been battling leukaemia.
Sissons was the host of BBC’s Question Time between 1989 and 1993, and presented the Nine O’Clock News and Ten O’Clock News between 1993 and 2003, before his retirement in 2009.
He had also worked for ITN, providing news bulletins on ITV and Channel 4.
Kim Shattuck
The Muffs frontwoman Kim died on 2 October at the age of 56, following a two year battle with motor neurone disease.
In the late 1980s she was a member of hard rock group The Pandoras before she launched The Muffs in 1991 with her bandmate Melanie Vammen.
The band were most famous for their tracks Lucky Guy and Sad Tomorrow, and a cover of Kim Wilde’s Kids in America which was part of the Clueless soundtrack in 1995.
Shattuck also played with Pixies, replacing Kim Deal on their autumn tour in 2013.
Ginger Baker
Cream drummer Ginger died on 6 October after falling ill. He was 80.
In 2013, Baker said he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from years of heavy smoking, and he underwent open heart surgery three years later.
The musician found fame in the 1960s alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in the band Cream.
The act only performed together for three years, due to Baker’s volatile relationship with Bruce, but they remain one of the most influential bands of all time.
Their songs include I Feel Free, Strange Brew and Sunshine Of Your Love.
Robert Forster
Actor Robert Forster passed away on 11 October at the age of 78, after battling brain cancer.
The star was best known for playing Max Cherry in Jackie Brown, Scott Thorson in The Descendants and Arthur Petrelli in the series Heroes.
He also played Ed Galbraith in Breaking Bad, and starred in the Netflix movie El Camino, which was released on the same day as his death.
Forster had a lengthy CV, starring in films including Olympus Has Fallen, Lucky Number Slevin, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Mulholland Drive, as well as the TV series Twin Peaks: The Return, CSI: NY and Magnum: PI.
Sulli
K-pop star Sulli was found dead at her home in Seongnam on 14 October. She was 25 years old.
It is suspected that the former f(x) star took her own life.
Sulli, real name Choi Jin-ri, was a member of girlband f(x) until 2015, after she left the previous year as she struggled to deal with online abuse.
Just four months ago, Sulli made her solo debut with Goblin, Sailor Moon and Dorothy on the single album Goblin, and had a special stage at SM Town Theatre in Seoul on 29 June.
Sulli was also a successful actress, receiving critical acclaim for her role as Goo Jae-Hee in To The Beautiful You.
John Witherspoon
Actor Witherspoon died on 29 October at the age of 77, after suffering a heart attack.
He was best known for playing Willie Jones, the dad of Ice Cube’s Craig, in the Friday franchise, a role he reprised in Next Friday, Friday After Next and was due to play once again in Last Friday.
John was also the voice of Gramps in animated show The Boondocks from 2005-2014, which is currently being revived for HBO to be released next year.
NOVEMBER
Gay Byrne
Legendary Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne passed away on 4 November at the age of 85.
He had been ill for some time, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016.
Byrne, affectionately referred to as Uncle Gaybo, was the first host of RTE’s The Late Late Show – the second longest running talk show in the world – taking up the mantle in 1962 and presenting it for 37 years.
The Dublin-born star also presented The Gay Byrne Hour on RTE Radio 1 from 1973 until 1998.
Clive James
Broadcaster Clive James died on 24 November, at the age of 80.
The Australian author and critic was diagnosed with leukaemia, kidney failure and lung disease in 2010 and over the years wrote and updated his own obituary.
His death came just one month after he finished his final book, due to be published next year.
James found fame on television as the host of Clive James On Television, Saturday Night Clive and The Clive James Show and he fronted the BBC’s Review Of The Year programmes in the late 1980s, as part of the channel’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.
Goo Hara
K-pop star Goo Hara was found dead aged 28 on 24 November.
It is believed the former Kara member died by suicide.
Months before her death, Goo Hara apologises for causing fans concern after she allegedly attempted to take her own life.
She had been embroiled in a legal battle with her ex, Choi Jong Num, who allegedly threatened to release sex tapes of the star and was found guilty of assault.
Gary Rhodes
Celebrity chef Gary passed away in Dubai on 26 November at the age of 59.
His cause of death was confirmed as a subdural hematoma, which is usually caused by a head injury, and causes blood to collect between the skull and the surface of the brain.
Rhodes was best known for his time fronting MasterChef, MasterChef USA and Hell’s Kitchen, while he also hosted his own series Rhodes Around Britain.
The father-of-two – known for his trademark gelled spiky hair – appeared on the ITV show Saturday Cooks and the UKTV Food series Local Food Hero.
Godfrey Gao
Taiwanese-Canadian model and actor Godfrey died aged 35 on 27 November, after suffering cardiac arrest.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones star had been filming the Chinese reality show Chase Me when he fell and lost consciousness.
The on-set paramedics attempted resuscitation and Gao was taken to hospital, but he was pronounced dead.
Before his shock death, Gao was seen struggling to run and an audience member heard him say: ‘I can’t keep going.’
Chase Me has since been cancelled due to health and safety concerns.
DECEMBER
Shelley Morrison
Will & Grace actress Shelley died on 1 December at the age of 83.
She suffered heart failure following a brief illness.
Morrison was best known for playing Karen’s maid Rosario on Will & Grace, but also had roles in General Hospital, The Flying Nin and the Matthew Perry comedy Fools Rush In.
Cha In Ha
Korean actor Cha In Ha died on 3 December at the age of 27.
His cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Cha In Ha debuted in 2017 in the film You, Deep Inside Of Me, and in the same year he joined the five-member Fantagio acting group SUPRISE U alongside Kim Yun Seo, Yoon Jeong Hyuk, Eun Hae Seong and Ji Geon Woo.
The rookie actor starred in dramas including Temperature of Love and The Banker, while he had a role in the new MBC drama Love With Flaws.
Ron Leibman
Actor Leibman died at the age of 82 on 6 December. He had been battling pneumonia.
The star was widely known for playing Dr Leonard Green, Rachel’s father in Friends, and provided the voice of Ron Cadillac on Archer.
On the stage, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor for his role as Roy Cohn in Angels In America, and won an Emmy for playing Martin ‘Kaz’ Kazinsky in Kaz.
Leibman was married to Arrested Development actress Jessica Walter from 1983 until his death.
Caroll Spinney
On 8 December, Sesame Street legend Spinney died aged 85.
He had been living with the neurological movement disorder dystonia for several years.
Spinney was the puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar The Grouch on the beloved kids’ show Sesame Street, and worked on the show friom its inaugural season in 1969 until his retirement in late 2018.
Juice Wrld
Rapper Juice Wrld died aged 21 on 8 December.
The Lucid Dreams star had suffered a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport after a flight, and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital days after his 21st birthday.
Juice, real name Jarad Higgins, ose to prominence in 2018 with his hit song Lucid Dreams, which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
His song All Girls Are The Same was remixed by Lil Uzi Vert and drew the attention of Interscope Records, who then signed him to a multi-million dollar contract.
In a statement, his family confirmed he was battling prescription drug addiction, amid reports he took a number of unknown pills on his private jet.
They said: ‘We loved Jarad with all of our hearts and cannot believe our time with him has been cut short. As he often addressed in his music and to his fans, Jarad battled with prescription drug dependency.
‘Addiction knows no boundaries and its impact goes way beyond the person fighting it. Jarad was a son, brother, grandson, friend and so much more to so many people who wanted more than anything to see him defeat addiction.’
Rene Auberjonois
Actor Rene Auberjonois died on 8 December at the age of 79, following a battle with lung cancer.
Auberjonois had played shapeshifter and head of security for the Deep Space Nine Station, Odo, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for five years and became a fan favourite.
His career onscreen spans over six decades, with other roles including Clayton Endicott III in 80s sitcom Benson.
Boasting a long list of film credits, Rene had also starred in the likes of Starsky and Hutch, Frasier, M.A.S.H, Batman Forever, Charlie’s Angels and he voice Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid.
Marie Fredricksson
Roxette singer Marie died aged 61 on 9 December after a 17 year long battle with cancer.
In 2002, Marie complained of feeling unwell while jogging with her husband, and later collapsed and suffered a seizure. The Joyride singer was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was told she had a 25% chance of survival.
Fredriksson had surgery to remove the tumour, as well as completing months of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The tumour left Fredriksson blind in one eye and with limited hearing, while she was unable to speak for months after her treatment.
Marie was best known for forming the duo Roxette alongside Per Gessle in 1986.
The pair had huge success in the 80s and 90s, and will be best known for their song It Must Have Been Love, which featured on the Pretty Woman soundtrack.
Roxette also had major success with Joyride, Listen To Your Heart, Fading Like A Flower and The Look.
Nicky Henson
Stage and screen star Nicky Henson died aged 74 on 15 December, following an 18-year battle with cancer.
Henson was best known for playing Mr Johnson in The Psychiatrist episode of Fawlty Towers.
He also known for roles in Downton Abbey and EastEnders, in which he played Jack Edwards briefly in 2006 and starred alongside Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell).
Tony Britton
Actor Tony Britton died on 22 December at the age of 95.
His daughter Fern Britton confirmed the news, tweeting: ‘Our father, Tony Britton, died early this morning.
‘Great actor, director and charmer. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.’
After going into a career in the spotlight after serving in World War II, Tony appeared in famed films Operation Amsterdam, Sunday Bloody Sunday and The Day of the Jackal.
He was also known for starring in BBC sitcom, Don’t Wait Up with Nigel Havers and Dinah Sheridan, as well as …And Mother Makes Five and Robin’s Nest.
Allee Willis
Songwriter Allee Willis passed away on 24 December at the age of 72, after going into cardiac arrest.
The award-winning songwriter wrote The Rembrandts’ I’ll Be There For You, which was chosen as the theme song for Friends.
She also penned the classic Earth, Wind and Fire track Boogie Wonderland and worked on their popular hit September, and wrote What Have I Done To Deserve This, performed by Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield.
Andrew Dunbar
Game Of Thrones extra Andrew Dunbar died suddenly on Christmas Eve.
The actor, in his 30s, passed away at his home in Belfast on 24 December.
He was best known for playing Alfie Allen’s body double for the character Theon Greyjoy on Game Of Thrones.
Melanie Panayiotou
George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou died aged 55 on Christmas Day – the same day her brother died in 2016.
The hairdresser was found at her home in Hampstead by her sister Yioda on 25 December.
Her cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Melanie was extremely close to her brother, and the Faith singer left the bulk of his will to her and Yioda following his shock passing three years ago.
Kushal Punjabi
Indian TV star Punjabi died on 26 December at the age of 37.
The actor died by suicide, with police finding a note at his home, where he took his own life.
Kushal was a star across TV shows, reality TV and movies, having starred in films including Lakshya, Kaal, Salaam-e-Ishq and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal.
He appeared on reality series including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Fear Factor, and won the 2011 series of Zor Ka Jhakta, the Indian version of Wipeout; while his TV roles included Love Marriage, Hum Tum and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.
Jerry Herman
Composer Herman died on 26 December due to pulmonary complications.
He was 88 years old.
Jerry won two Grammys and two Tony Awards, and wrote the LGBT anthem I Am What I Am.
Herman was best known for creating the music and lyrics to classic musicals including Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles.
Sue Lyon
Actress Sue Lyon died on 26 December at the age of 73.
It is believed she had been suffering from ill health ‘for some time’.
Lyon was best known for starring as the titular Dolores ‘Lolita’ Haze in Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 film Lolita.
Sue also starred in films including Evil Knievel, Tony Rome and The Night of the Iguana.
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