As the year comes to an end, we look forward to a new year of memories and laugher but it is also time to reflect and remember the ones who are no longer with us.
While we may not have known them personally, these celebrities have touched our lives, sharing in both happy and challenging times.
This year, we have said goodbye to many famous faces who left a lasting impact through their contributions to acting, film, music, sport, entertainment, and television, shaping memories for generations.
Here, we honour some of the individuals we lost this year, from the legendary Dame Maggie Smith to the tragic Liam Payne.
January
David Soul
The actor, renowned for his iconic role as Sergeant Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson in the hit TV show Starsky & Hutch, passed away on January 4 at the age of 80. The show was a massive international success, airing from 1975 to 1979.
Glynis Johns
The British actress passed away on January 4 at the age of 100.
She was best known for her role as Winifred Banks in Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins and for playing the title character in Miranda. In 1973, she became the first performer to sing Send In The Clowns in the Broadway production of A Little Night Music.
Derek Draper
Derek was a former political advisor who later became a clinical psychologist and married to TV presenter Kate Garraway. After contracting COVID in March 2020, he was placed in an induced coma and faced numerous health challenges, including a heart attack shortly before Christmas 2023.
On January 5, Kate announced he his passing, at the age of 56.
Annie Nightingale
Annie became BBC Radio 1’s first female presenter in 1970 and remained with the station until her passing on January 11 at the age of 83. She was known for the Sunday night Request Show and hosting the BBC 2 TV series The Old Grey Whistle Test in the punk era.
February
Jonnie Irwin
The presenter of A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country died on February 2, aged 50. He announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020.
Ian Lavender
Lavender was the last surviving member of the main cast of the BBC sitcom Dad’s Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977, playing “stupid boy” Private Pike. He also appeared in EastEnders, Yes Minister and the 1970s TV version of The Glums and the film Carry On Behind.
He died on February 2 aged 77.
Michael Jayston
Best known for playing Raquel’s father in Only Fools and Horses, Jayston had a long career that included a leading role in the 1971 film Nicholas & Alexandra, as well as appearances in Doctor Who (as The Valeyard), Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Heartbeat.
He died on February 5, aged 88.
John Savident
The British actor was best known for his role as butcher Fred Elliott in Coronation Street between 1994 and 2006. Savident also appeared in the films A Clockwork Orange and Ghandi.
He died on February 21, aged 86.
Dave Myers
One half of the Hairy Bikers along with his friend Si King, David died on February 28, aged 66, after being diagnosed with cancer in 2022. The presenter from Barrow-in-Furness also appeared on the BBC celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Together, Myers and King presented a number of television cookery series for the BBC.
March
Tony Green
Anthony John Green was an English sports commentator and TV presenter, best known as the scorer and later co-host of Bullseye from 1982 to 1995, and again in 2006 and 2007.
He was also the commentator for the annual BDO World Darts Championships from 1978 to 2016. He died on March 4, aged 85.
George Gilbey
Beloved Gogglebox star George Gilbey passed away on March 27 after falling through a plastic skylight while working in Essex.
The 40-year-old from Clacton was best known for appearing on the Channel 4 series, where participants watch and comment on TV shows from the previous week, alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who passed away at the age of 71 in 2021.
April
OJ Simpson
Orenthal James Simpson, aka “The Juice,” was an NFL player and actor, known for films like The Naked Gun series and The Towering Inferno.
He was controversially acquitted of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson died on April 10 at the age of 76.
May
Steve Albini
Albini was a member of bands like Big Black and Shellac, while also building a successful career as a producer and engineer, working with artists such as Nirvana, Pixies, and PJ Harvey.
The musician died of a heart attack on May 7, aged 61.
Charlie Colin
The bassist of the San Franciscan band Train, best known for their 2001 hit Drops Of Jupiter, was found on May 17 after falling in the shower. He was 57.
David Wilkie
The Scottish athlete was the only person to have held British, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic swimming titles simultaneously. He died on May 22, aged 70.
June
Rob Burrow
The English professional rugby league star died on June 2 aged 41. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 and was awarded a CBE with fellow player Kevin Sinfield for their work in raising awareness of the disease.
Colin Gibb
The Black Lace singer Colin Gibb, best known for novelty hit Agadoo, died on June 2. Gibb, who was born in Leeds, first found fame in 1979 when the group competed in the Eurovision Song Contest with their song Mary Ann.
They also enjoyed a novelty hit with Do The Conga in 1989.
Nicholas Ball
The Leamington Spa-born actor was best known for starring in the 1970s detective show Hazell, as well as appearing in Footballers’ Wives and EastEnders. He passed away on June 4 at the age of 78.
July
Roberta Taylor
The Essex-born actor was best known for her roles as Irene Raymond in EastEnders and inspector Gina Gold in The Bill. She died on July 6 aged 76. Her last major TV series appearance came on the private investigator’s comedy Shakespeare & Hathaway.
Shelley Duvall
The star of The Shining, the Robin Williams version of Popeye and Nashville, died on July 11 2024, aged 75.
Bob Newhart
The beloved US comedian, who starred in his own hit sitcom between 1972 and 1978 and starred as Papa Elf in the Will Ferrell festive hit Elf, died aged 94 on July 18.
He also appeared on The Big Bang as Professor Proton.
August
Craig Shakespeare
Craig Robert Shakespeare was an English professional footballer and coach.
He started his playing career at Walsall, making over 350 appearances, before having a brief stint with Sheffield Wednesday. He also played over 100 matches for both West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town. Shakespeare passed away on August 1 at the age of 60.
John Aprea
The actor played the young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II and the father of John Stamos’ character on Full House. He died at the age of 83 on August 5.
Fatman Scoop
Hip hop star Isaac Freeman III (Fatman Scoop) was best known in the UK for his 2003 Number 1 Be Faithful and his collaboration with Missy Elliott, Lose Control. He died on August 30 aged 56.
September
Brian Trueman
The Lancashire-born actor was best known for his work with animators Cosgrove-Hall, where he wrote scripts for Chorlton & The Wheelies, Jamie & The Magic Torch, Danger Mouse, and Count Duckula, often providing voices and narration.
He also hosted the BBC kids’ cinema quiz Screen Test from 1979 to 1983. He passed away on September 1 at the age of 92.
James Earl Jones
The actor who voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King died at age 93 on September 9. Jones was a pioneer for people of colour in the industry. One of his last appearances on TV was on the comedy show The Big Bang Theory.
Geoffrey Hinsliff
Best known for playing Don Brennan in Coronation Street, the Leeds-born actor also appeared in Holby City, Doctor Who and Heartbeat over the years. He died on September 15 aged 86.
David Graham
The British actor died on September 20 aged 99. He was best known as a voice actor, bringing life to the part of Parker in Thunderbirds and Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig. He was also one of the original voices of The Daleks in Doctor Who.
Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith passed away on September 28 at the age of 89 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
Widely regarded as one of the finest British stage and screen actors of her generation, her award-winning roles included a free-thinking Scottish schoolteacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, a Hogwarts professor in Harry Potter, and the sharp-tongued dowager countess in Downton Abbey.
Kris Kristofferson
The country singer and actor died at age 88 on September 28 in Maui, Hawaii. Kristofferson won a Golden Globe for his role in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.
October
Cissy Houston
A former actress and singer with The Sweet Inspirations died on October 7, aged 91. She was the mother of superstar Whitney Houston.
Alex Salmond
The politician and First Minister of Scotland between 2007 and 2014 died of a heart attack on October 12, aged 69.
Liam Payne
The One Direction star tragically passed away on October 16 at the age of 31 after he fatally fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, as an autopsy revealed that he suffered internal and external bleeding as a result of the fall.
He became famous in 2010, at just 16-years old, when he blew the X-Factor judges away with his Bublé-esque vocals with an incredible cover of ‘Cry Me A River’. He was then put in a group with Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles. The group won the show but then split up in 2015 after revealing they had ‘grown sick of each other’ and wanted to ‘focus on their own solo careers’.
Phil Lesh
Phil was the founding member and bassist for the Grateful Dead died on October 25 at the age of 84. he was considered one of the most influential bassists in modern rock history.
November
Janey Godley
The Scottish comedian and activist died from ovarian cancer on November 2 at the age of 63. Janey was a Scottish stand-up comedian, actress, writer and political activist.
She began her stand-up career in 1994, and won various awards for her comedy in the 2000s.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she made a series of voice over clips of politicians, such as Nicola Sturgeon and other well known personalities, keeping us all laughing during hard times.
Quincy Jones
The Grammy-winning composer, producer, and arranger died from pancreatic cancer on November 3 at the age of 91.
Jones produced Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Off the Wall, and Bad, as well as Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” and “You Don’t Own Me”.
He also composed soundtracks for In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, and The Italian Job.
Tony Todd
The actor died on November 6 at the age of 69 after a long, undisclosed illness. Todd was best known for his roles in Candyman (1992), Platoon (1986), The Crow, Final Destination, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
Timothy West
The Bradford-born actor was married to Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales, with whom he co-presented the series Great Canal Journeys, and was the father of Samuel West.
With a career spanning 70 years, he was best known for his roles as Stan Carter in EastEnders, Bradley Harcacre in the 1980s comedy “soap” Brass, and in the infamous Royal Jelly episode of Tales of the Unexpected. He passed away on November 12, 2024, at the age of 90.
Shel Talmy
The record producer died on November 13 at the age of 87. Talmy was responsible for classic tracks like The Who’s “My Generation”, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, and The Easybeats’ “Friday On My Mind”.
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December
Duncan Norvelle
Duncan Norvelle, the comedian best known for his “Chase me” catchphrase, made appearances on TV shows like Woganand The Bob Monkhouse Show during his career. He sadly passed away on December 12 at the age of 66.
Tom Voyce
The English rugby player with 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in 2013, tragically passed away after going missing in Northumberland during Storm Darragh on December 7 at the age of 43.
Princess Birgitta of Sweden
The second eldest child of Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and a descendant of Queen Victoria, passed away on December 4 at the age of 87.
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