As we traverse the corridors of time, the entertainment industry, like any other facet of life, experiences both triumphs and tribulations.
The year 2023, while marked by numerous achievements and milestones, has also seen the departure of some of the brightest stars that graced our screens, stages, and hearts.
In this poignant journey, we pay our respects and bid farewell to the celebrities who left an indelible mark on our lives but, alas, are no longer with us.
Lisa Marley Presley, Jim Brown, Raquel Welch, Matthew Perry, Andre Braugher, Norman Lear, and Bob Barker Tina Turner, David Crosby, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett, Sinad O’Connor, and Robbie Robertson are among the celebrities who have died.
Here is a list of some famous people who died in 2023:
Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (aka, Gangsta Boo), 43
The Memphis rapper and former member of Three 6 Mafia was a popular female figure during the 1990s “Dirty South” rap era. She went solo after recording albums with Three 6 Mafia until the early 2000s. Her 1998 album “Enquiring Minds” included the hit single “Where Dem Dollas At. “Boo also collaborated with Eminem, Gucci Mane, Run the Jewels, OutKast, Lil Wayne, Blood Orange, Latto, and others on songs. On January 1, Boo’s body was discovered at her Memphis home. There was no official cause of death given.
Melinda Dillon, 83
Dillon played the motherly figure in some of the most well-known films of all time.She co-stars with Richard Dreyfuss in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” as a mother who can’t stop her son from being abducted by aliens.Then, in 1983’s “A Christmas Story,” she plays a mother attempting to raise two boys.Dillon’s gentle features and soft voice made you feel emotions even in the silliest of films, such as her role as the mother of a family who takes in Bigfoot in the 1987 comedy “Harry and the Hendersons.”Dillon received a Tony Award nomination in 1963 for her role as Honey in the play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” She received a nomination for best supporting actress twice: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and the 1981 drama “Absence of Malice.”Dillon died January 9. No cause was given.
Jeff Beck, 78
The Yardbirds’ beloved English guitarist spent decades honing his craft, influenced by everything from blues to hard rock. He is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time. Because of his work with The Yardbirds in the 1960s and his later solo work, he was respected by musicians and fans all over the world. Beck received six Grammy Awards for best rock instrumental performance and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a member of The Yardbirds and once as a solo artist. He died on January 10th, after contracting bacterial meningitis.
David Crosby, 81
This influential singer-songwriter was the driving force behind two of the 1960s’ biggest bands, The Byrds and Crosby and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.In early 1965, the Byrds’ first single, a harmony version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” reached No. 1 on the US singles chart. With its pop/folk influences, the band would become America’s answer to The Beatles.As a member of CSNY, his 1970 album “Dj Vu” debuted at No. 1 and went on to sell 7 million copies. “4-Way Street,” a two-LP live set drawn from their subsequent US tour, was released the following year and went quadruple platinum. But Crosby was also one of rock’s bad boys, serving a nine-month sentence in a Texas state prison for drug use. Crosby died on January 18, no cause was given.
Cindy Williams, 75
Williams was one half of TV comedy royalty, playing Shirley opposite Penny Marshall’s Laverne in the late 1970s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley. “Williams also appeared in a number of memorable films. She played the love interest of Ron Howard in George Lucas’ classic 1973 film “American Graffiti.” She also played Gene Hackman’s obsession in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 drama “The Conversation. “But Williams will be remembered most for her comedic abilities, which she shared with Marshall, who died in 2018, to form an iconic duo in television history. Williams died on January 25, with no cause of death given.
Lisa Loring, 64
Loring was the first actor to play Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family,” the youngest member of the sitcom’s fictional Addams family, which aired for two seasons between 1964 and 1966. She went on to be the model for the character played generations later by Christina Ricci and, most recently, Jenna Ortega on the Netflix series “Wednesday. “Following her appearance on Wednesday, Loring starred in the sitcom “The Pruitts of Southampton” alongside Phyllis Diller. She also appeared in “As the World Turns,” as Cricket Montgomery. Other films in which she has appeared include “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Barnaby Jones. “Loring passed away on January 28 as a result of complications from a stroke caused by high blood pressure.
Annie Wersching, 45
Wersching was most recently seen as the Borg Queen in the second season of “Picard” and as serial killer Rosalind Dyer in “The Rookie. “She’s also known for her roles in “Bosh,” “Timeless,” and “24,” where she played F.B.I. agent Renee Walker opposite Kiefer Sutherland. Wersching passed away on January 29th. According to The New York Times, the cause was cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2020.
Burt Bacharach, 94
Bacharach, a six-time Grammy winner and three-time Oscar winner, created some of the most memorable pop songs of all time.The composer and pianist was behind “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” as well as “Best That You Can Do,” the theme from “Arthur.” Both of these songs went on to become chart-topping singles.The duo, along with lyricist Hal David, are regarded as one of the greatest songwriting teams of all time. They had hits with Dionne Warwick, such as “Walk on By” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.”Marty Robbins’ “The Story of My Life” and Perry Como’s “Magic Moments” are two other hits. Bacharach died of natural causes on February 8th.
Raquel Welch, 82
Raquel Welch was more than a sex symbol with her striking looks and strong-willed characters on the big screen; she was a force to be reckoned with.It all started with a small part with only a few lines. She rose to fame after appearing in the 1966 sci-fi film “One Million Years B.C.,” as the poster of her in a furry bikini from the film became a huge best-seller.This led to other roles over the years, including “Bedazzled,” “Bandolero!” and “100 Rifles.”She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1973 for her performance in “The Three Musketeers.”Her career would span more than 50 years on the big and small screens, as well as becoming a fashion trend-setter over the decades. Welch passed away in February 15 following a “brief illness,” according to her manager.
Richard Belzer, 78
Richard Belzer has been associated with TV police procedurals since the early 1990s.His sarcastic charm as detective John Munch made him a fixture on shows like “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order” for years. But he was so good as Munch that Belzer’s character appeared on other shows on other networks, which is unheard of. Munch appeared on 11 different television shows, which has never happened to a fictional character in television history. They include shows such as “Homicide,” “Law & Order,” “The X-Files,” “The Beat,” “Law & Order: Trial By Jury,” “Arrested Development,” “The Wire,” “30 Rock,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” as well as “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. “Belzer was a stand-up comedian before taking on the role of Munch. He was the warm-up act in the early days of “Saturday Night Live.” And if you look closely enough, you’ll see Belzer playing the MC at the Miami club in “Scarface” before the dramatic shootout happens.Belzer died on February 19 at his home in the south of France after “an illness.”
Tom Sizemore, 61
Tom Sizemore made an indelible impression on us in the 1990s with gritty, often twisted performances.From his early roles in “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Point Break,” “Passenger 57,” and “True Romance,” to his peak roles in “Natural Born Killers,” “Heat,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Black Hawk Down,” Sizemore could be charming in one scene and unleash his madness in the next, and that talent made him a major fixture in the decade’s biggest movies.Unfortunately, the actor had a dark troubling side that hampered his career. Because of his drug addiction, he was no longer getting the kinds of roles that he deserved by the 2000s. Tabloids and reality TV shows chronicled his struggles that ranged from jail time for domestic violence on his former girlfriend “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss to multiple arrests for drug possession. Sizemore died on March 3 following a brain aneurysm on February 18.
Robert Blake, 89
Blake spent the majority of his life in front of the camera. He was a member of the iconic shorts series “Little Rascals,” starring as Mickey, as a child actor. His character first appeared in the shorts near the end of the show’s run in the 1940s. He later played Little Beaver in the Western film franchise “Red Ryder,” based on the popular comic strip. By the 1950s, he had appeared on numerous TV shows as a guest. Then, in 1967, he made his adult acting debut as murderer Perry Smith in the acclaimed adaptation of Truman Capote’s true crime novel. According to the Associated Press, Blake died on March 9 from heart disease.
Ray Stevenson, 58
The Irish actor was best known for his portrayals of larger-than-life characters. Stevenson portrayed one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table in Antoine Fuqua’s 2004 film “King Arthur.” A few years later, he landed the lead role of Frank Castle in Marvel’s “Punisher: War Zone. “He also appeared in the “Thor” and “Divergent” film franchises. He was most recently seen as the villain Governor Scott Buxton in the global box office hit “RRR,” and he will next be seen as a Jedi who turns bad in the upcoming “Star Wars” series on Disney+, “Ahsoka.”Stevenson died on May 21, with no cause of death given.
Tina Turner, 83
Tina Turner, known as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” was a musical force for decades thanks to her powerful singing and boundless energy on stage.Turner was truly a legend in the entertainment world, from her start with ex-husband Ike Turner in the 1950s to her historic comeback in the 1980s that made her one of the world’s biggest performers, to her starring in films (“Tommy,” “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”) and a hit movie made about her (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”).Turner is one of the best-selling artists of all time, has 12 Grammys, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is the first black artist and first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her hits will be beloved forever: “Private Dancer,” “Better Be Good to Me,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with it,” and, yes, she even did a James Bond song with “GoldenEye.”Turner died on May 24, no cause was given.
Harry Belafonte, 96
Belafonte, a beloved singer, songwriter, actor, and activist, was adored by millions for a variety of reasons. He fought for civil rights alongside his late friends Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sidney Poitier, winning Emmy, Tony, and Grammy awards. After gaining fame in 1954 as Joe in “Carmen Jones,” for which he received an Oscar nomination, he went on to carve out a career as both an actor and a musician. His 1956 album “Calypso” sold millions of copies. In the decades since, he has appeared in films such as “Buck and the Preacher” (1972) and “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974). And as part of his activism, he did everything from march with MLK to speak out against South African apartheid. Belafonte passed away on April 25th. Congestive heart failure was the cause of death.
Paul Cattermole, 46
Cattermole was a member of the English pop band S Club 7.The group is best known for its debut single “Bring It All Back,” released in 1999, as well as “Reach” and “Don’t Stop Movin’.”It was announced earlier this year that all seven original members would reunite for a UK reunion tour. It would have been the first time they’d all been on stage together since 2015.According to a statement from Cattermole’s family, Cattermole was discovered dead at his home on April 6. The cause of death has not been determined.
Michael Lerner, 81
Throughout the decades, the veteran character actor was known for his booming voice and tough-as-nails roles. Highlights include his role as a studio executive in the Coen brothers’ 1991 film “Barton Fink,” for which he received an Oscar nomination, as legendary gambler Arnold Rothstein in 1988’s “Eight Men Out,” and as a ruthless gangster opposite Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor the following year in “Harlem Nights.”Lerner died on April 8, with no cause of death given.
Len Goodman, 78
Len Goodman was the show’s north star for 30 seasons of “Dancing with the Stars.”As head judge of the popular dance competition, the one-time champion ballroom dancer added legitimacy to the judges’ table with his tough but fair critiques of the novice stars attempting to dance alongside professionals.In addition to “DWTS,” Goodman served as a judge on “Strictly Come Dancing,” the UK version of the show, from 2004 to 2016.He was the head judge on “DWTS” for over 15 years and 30 seasons.Goodman died of bone cancer on April 22.
Jerry Springer, 79
Jerry Springer will be remembered as one of the most divisive talk show hosts of all time.He was a fixture on daytime TV in the late 1990s thanks to his show, “Jerry Springer,” which featured people who didn’t like each other — sometimes for domestic reasons, sometimes for friends at odds — leading to physical altercations right on stage.He began his career in politics as the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978, but by the 1990s, he had moved to entertainment with the launch of the show “Jerry Springer” in 1991 (it ran for 27 seasons). By the time the decade was over the show was a sensation and was even beating “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the ratings thanks to it taboo topics, outlandish guests, and the audience’s love for Springer, as they would often chant during the show: “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”Springer died on April 27 peacefully in his home in suburban Chicago.
Gordon Lightfoot, 84
Lightfoot’s music, topped by his baritone voice, made him one of the most gifted songwriters of his era, and he was one of the main voices of the folk pop scene in the 1960s and 1970s.The Canadian-born singer had a string of hits, including “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Carefree Highway,” and “Rainy Day People. “It led to him being adored by Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson, and his songs being certified gold and platinum. Lightfoot died on May 1 with no cause given.
Jim Brown, 87
Jim Brown had many lives: he was a football legend, a movie star, and a social activist.He did it all with the focus and drive that made him a legend.Despite only playing in the NFL for nine seasons, Brown is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. But during that time, he set records as a running back, was named MVP three times, and won the NFL championship with the Cleveland Browns in 1964.Following his shocking retirement, he went on to star in over 30 films, including “The Dirty Dozen,” “Three The Hard Way,” “He Got Game,” and “Any Given Sunday.”Brown was also an outspoken advocate for equality throughout his life. Brown died of natural causes on May 18.
Andy Rourke, 59
Andy Rourke, the bassist for the seminal British rock band The Smiths, is a legend thanks to the music they created in the 1980s.His work can be heard in hit songs by The Smiths such as “This Charming Man” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.”After the band disbanded in 1987, Rourke worked on former bandmate Morrissey’s solo tracks such as “Piccadilly Palare,” “Interesting Drug,” and “November Spawned a Monster.”According to Variety, Rourke died on May 19 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
The Iron Sheik, 81
Hulk Hogan would not exist if the Iron Sheikh did not exist.Professional wrestling became a global sensation not only because of Hulk Hogan’s popularity, but also because his nemesis was so reviled. The Iron Sheikh was his name.Sheikh (real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) became one of the World Wrestling Federation’s biggest bad guys, or heels, in the 1980s with his “down with America” talk. He even held the world championship.All of this set the stage for Sheikh and Hogan’s confrontation in Madison Square Garden in 1984. When Hogan won the belt, professional wrestling was never the same again. Sheik would later team with fellow heel Nikolai Volkoff to make a formidable tag team. Long after his wrestling days were done, Sheik found fame once more thanks to Twitter. With his foul-mouthed tweets about everything from politics to pop culture, he became a sensation and was introduced by a generation that never saw him wrestle. Sheik died on June 7. No cause was given.
Treat Williams, 71
Williams (no relation to Cindy Williams) has been a fixture in films and television since his breakthrough role in 1979 as George Berger in the big screen adaptation of the hit musical “Hair. “Following that, he appeared in Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America,” Sidney Lumet’s “Prince of the City,” and a blink-and-you-missed-it role in “Empire Strikes Back. “He is best known for his role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the early 2000s WB series “Everwood. “Williams always brought the highest skill to the role, whether on the big or small screen, which is what made him dependable for years and years. Williams died on June 12 in a motorbike accident in Vermont.
Julian Sands, 65
Sands’ work as an acclaimed actor spanned the stage and screen over a 40-year career.Following his success on the stage in England in the early 1980s, he landed the lead male role opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the 1985 Oscar-winning James Ivory film “A Room with a View. “This propelled him into Hollywood, where he appeared in the 1989 horror fantasy “Warlock” and its sequel. He also appeared in the 1990 horror comedy “Arachnophobia,” David Cronenberg’s adaptation of William Burroughs’ novel “Naked Lunch” in 1991, and the 1995 film “Leaving Las Vegas,” which earned Nicolas Cage an Academy Award nomination. Sands had recurring roles on TV shows such as “24,” “Medici,” “Smallville,” “Dexter,” “Gotham,” and “Elementary.” “Sands, who was an avid hiker, was reported missing on January 13 after setting out to hike in southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains. His remains were found on June 25 in wilderness near Mount Baldy. An investigation confirmed on June 27 that it was Sands. No cause of death was given.
Burt Young, 83
Burt Young spent the majority of his early career in minor roles in critically acclaimed films such as 1974’s “Chinatown” and “The Gambler,” but his life changed when he was cast as the down-and-out yet lovable brother-in-law in 1976’s “Rocky. “Young received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role as Rocky Balboa’s best friend, and he appeared in all of the sequels, frequently providing comic relief to the franchise. Young also appeared in the 1984 film “Once Upon a Time in America” and the 1986 film “Back to School. “He died on October 8, with no cause given.
Suzanne Somers, 76
Suzanne Somers is an iconic actress and infomercial queen best known for her role as Chrissy Snow in the hit 1970s TV series “Three’s Company” alongside John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt, and for being the face of the popular exercise machine the Thighmaster in the 1990s.She was, however, ahead of her time in attempting to use her celebrity and the popularity of the TV show she was on to gain equal pay, which resulted in a dramatic shift in her career. Nearing the end of the fifth season of “Three’s Company,” Somers bargained with the show’s network, ABC, for a restructured contract in which she wanted more pay and a percentage of the show’s profit, all of which would be comparable to what Ritte was getting for the show. A deal was made Somers was iced out from the show, getting limited screen time and shooting her scenes by herself and never seeing her cast. Her contract was not renewed for season six. Somers never landed a TV or movie role as big as Chrissy Snow after that, but over the decades she kept celebrity status thanks to infomercials and authoring books. She died on October 15 due to a recurrence of breast cancer.
Aaron Spears, 47
Spears was a drummer who collaborated with Ariana Grande and Usher.He was nominated for a Grammy in 2004 for his work on Usher’s album “Confessions.”Lil Wayne, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Chaka Khan, Adam Lambert, Mary Mary, The Backstreet Boys, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears are among his touring and producing credits.Spears died on October 30th, with no cause given.
Suzanne Shepherd, 89
Suzanne Shepherd is best known for her role as the overly concerned mother to Lorraine Bracco’s Karen character in Martin Scorsese’s classic “Goodfellas.”She played the principal in John Candy’s 1989 comedy “Uncle Buck,” and she also had memorable roles in 1988’s “Mystic Pizza” and 2000’s “Requiem for a Dream.”Shepherd also appeared in 20 episodes of “The Sopranos” as Carmela Soprano, Edie Falco’s character.Shepherd died on November 17th of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Joss Ackland, 95
Ackland has dozens of film and television credits, but he’ll be remembered most for his work in the late 1980s and early 1990s.In 1989, he played the villain Aryan Rudd in “Lethal Weapon 2.” He then portrayed the Soviet Union Ambassador in 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” and the lovable skateboarder Hans in 1992’s “The Mighty Ducks.” In 1996, he returned for the sequel.The final film credit for the British-born character actor was the 2014 biopic “Decline of an Empire,” which was based on Catherine of Alexandria. Ackland died on November 19, with no cause of death given.
Tom Smothers, 86
Tom Smothers, one half of the famous comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, launched the counterculture voice on television in the late 1960s.”The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which premiered on CBS in 1967, was a surprise hit because it leaned into pop culture references, booked young rock acts, and did comedy bits about the Vietnam War and politics. It quickly became the voice of young people who opposed the war and what was happening in the White House. And Tom, the older brother, rose to prominence in the counterculture scene as a result of his liberal views. He even played acoustic guitar on John Lennon’s 1969 anti-war song “Give Peace a Chance. “Smothers died on December 26th as a result of cancer.
