The Stars We Said Goodbye To In 2021

If you were asked to picture a TV interviewer, chances are you’d think of Larry King. The man started out on the airwaves around 63 years ago and put out as many as 50,000 interviews on the radio and on screen. His best moments are too numerous to list here — but, really, who can forget when Marlon Brando booped his nose? King died on January 23, succumbing to sepsis. He was 87 years old.

The Sound of Music lost its captain on February 5, 2021. Christopher Plummer was 91 years old and died at home next to his wife, Elaine Taylor. Famously, Plummer disliked his most iconic film upon its initial release — but he did eventually come around to its charms. He even made friends with co-star Julie Andrews, who described the star as “a consummate actor” and “a cherished friend.”

Cicely Tyson died at the age of 96 on January 28, 2021. She was remembered in obituaries as a highly decorated actor who worked hard to pioneer more substantial roles for people of color. Tyson even rejected working in movies for four years because she didn’t agree with the Blaxploitation movement. So when Tyson did appear on screen, you knew she meant business.

Kids of the ’80s and ’90s will forever remember Dustin Diamond as Screech from Saved by the Bell. The actor played the inimitable character for the original show’s four-year run and returned as him repeatedly throughout the 1990s. Diamond struggled privately after the show’s end, but he was still fondly remembered by his co-stars. He passed away from lung cancer on February 2, aged 44.

It would be easier to list the achievements Stephen Sondheim didn’t earn during his incredible career in musical theater. The esteemed composer had one Oscar, eight Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize, and nine Tony Awards to his name. And that’s not to mention the sheer number of iconic songs and musicals that he authored. He passed away, aged 91, on November 27.

Anne Rice carved a niche in publishing novels about undead beings — starting with 1976’s Interview with the Vampire. Yet while Rice’s incredible fiction will continue to thrive for many years to come, the best-selling author succumbed to health problems following a stroke. She died in her own house on December 11 at the age of 80.

You probably know James Michael Tyler as Gunther, the beloved barista, from Friends. As Jennifer Aniston said in her tribute to Tyler, the show simply “would not have been the same” if he hadn’t been in it. Tyler had been told he had prostate cancer in 2018, and he fought it until he passed away, at 59, on October 24.

The world knew William Garson Paszamant as Willie Garson — whose most famous appearance was as Standford Blatch in Sex and the City. The prolific actor notched up plenty of other credits, though, popping up in some 170 shows and films during his long career. He died on September 21 at the age of 57. The cause was given as pancreatic cancer.

On September 16 the world lost a star from Hollywood’s golden age of musicals. Jane Powell will be forever remembered as Milly in the 1954 classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. And even though she stopped making movies at 29 years of age, she still lit up the stage and small screen with her delightful voice. Powell was 92 when she passed.

Seth Rogan said the world will mourn a “comedy giant” after Norm Macdonald passed away on September 14. Likewise, director Edgar Wright thanked the late star for “all the laughs” he’d provided during his hilarious career. Macdonald was just 61 when cancer took his life. He was best remembered for his stint on Saturday Night Live in the ’90s.

Michael K. Williams was propelled into the limelight thanks to his dazzling portrayal of Omar in The Wire. The actor also fought his personal demons to sparkle in acclaimed shows such as Broadwalk Empire and Lovecraft Country. Creator of The Wire, David Simon, rightly called him “a rare talent.” Sadly, though, 54-year-old Williams was found dead on September 6 after suffering an accidental overdose.

Long-time viewers of the Today show were no doubt left heartbroken at the news of Willard Scott’s passing. The lovable host had given Today’s audience the weather for more than 30 years, livening up broadcasts with his memorable birthday announcements. He passed away among family on September 4, at the age of 87. Fun fact: Scott was actually the original Ronald McDonald. 

People will be able to tell your age depending on which role it was that made you fall in love with Ed Asner. Was it the character of Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and, later, Lou Grant? Or was the curmudgeonly Carl from Up? Whichever one it was, you’ll know that Asner was a highly decorated actor beloved by all generations. He passed on August 29, aged 91.

Sherlock showed the entire world what Brits had known for decades: Una Stubbs was amazing. The actress had been a fixture of British TV since she first showed up in the 1963 Cliff Richard vehicle, Summer Holiday. But international audiences got their taste of Stubbs’ unique talent in the wildly successful Sherlock. She died on August 12 at the age of 84.

It’s possible that audiences will always remember Ned Beatty for that upsetting scene in Deliverance. Yet the actor obviously had a sparkling career, filled with head-turning character roles in adored movies such as Superman, Network, and All the President’s Men. Younger generations might even know him as the voice of Lotso in Toy Story 3. The acclaimed actor died on June 13, aged 83. 

Charles Grodin once defined himself as “low key but high strung.” That could also serve as shorthand for his most well-remembered characters. The actor certainly brought these unique qualities to Midnight Run in 1988 and the Beethoven films in the early ’90s. Grodin passed away on May 18 as a result of bone marrow cancer.

Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis passed away on May 1 after suffering through months of being unwell. She was 89 years old and leaves behind two sons and a daughter. Fortunately for her fans, she also left a wealth of great work for us to enjoy for years to come. Who could forget her turns in Moonstruck and Steel Magnolias?

At the age of only 57, Romy Walthall died when her heart unexpectedly stopped beating on May 19. And while audiences hadn’t seen her on screen since 2011, the retired actress had been teaching the craft in Los Angeles. She will naturally leave a hole in the lives of her loved ones. Her daughter said Walthall “possessed the kind of magic that you truly just don’t see.”

Britt Ekland summed it up best in her tribute to Tanya Roberts. “Once a Bond Girl always a Bond Girl!” she tweeted. Roberts had memorably been Bond’s lover in A View to a Kill, of course. Audiences may also remember her for her six-year run in sitcom That ’70s Show. The 65-year-old died after a urinary tract infection ended up impacting other parts of her body.

Fans of The Rifleman will know Johnny Crawford all too well. He starred as son Mark McCain from 1958 to 1963 and even earned himself an Emmy nod at the age of 13. The successful young actor was also one of the original Mouseketeers! He died on April 29, at 75 years old, after catching coronavirus and pneumonia.

Bonnie Tyler, Céline Dion, and Meat Loaf owe some of their biggest hits to composer Jim Steinman. In fact, Meat Loaf’s whole Bat Out of Hell oeuvre is down in large part to Steinman’s skills behind the scenes. When Steinman succumbed to kidney failure at the age of 73 on April 19, the world of music became a little bit less bright. 

Peaky Blinders is loved all over the world, and this is due in no small part to Helen McCrory. So fans were no doubt in mourning when this British star of stage and screen passed away from cancer on April 16. Her Peaky co-star Cillian Murphy called her “a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being.”

Earl Simmons literally made a name for himself in the rap world as DMX. During his iconic career, he dropped bangers such as “Party Up (Up in Here)” and teamed up with hip hop royalty such as Jay-Z. He had a troubled private life, but he did also father and love 15 kids. He died aged 50 on April 9, less than a week after having a heart attack.

Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name, you’ll certainly recognize the music. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”? “Sympathy for the Devil”? That’s right: Charlie Watts was the incredible drummer who helped propel the Rolling Stones into superstardom. He was 80 years old when he died on August 24 after weeks of declining health. The likes of Paul McCarney, Elton John, and Ringo Starr all had kind words to say about the star.

Robert Downey Sr. could be more famous these days for fathering his Iron Man actor son — but he made other important contributions to pop culture, too. Take the director’s 1969 satire Putney Swope. That movie was ushered into the National Film Registry in 2016. Robert Downey Jr. praised his dad as a “true maverick” after the 85-year-old passed away following an extended struggle with Parkinson’s disease. 

How can one man be responsible for so many classic movies? The Omen, Superman, The Goonies, Lethal Weapon… It seems director Richard Donner was a hit-making machine! In fact, Donner’s movies earned just shy of $2 billion at the global box office. Not bad, eh? He died on July 5, from heart failure, at 91 years of age.

If you’re of a certain generation, you’ll know Gavin MacLeod from his remarkable TV run in the 1970s. The actor starred in The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1977 and then immediately started a ten-year stint in The Love Boat. He slipped off the radar after this, but he’d no doubt deserved to by then! MacLeod died at the age of 90 on May 29.

Scream queen Barbara Shelley lost her life to the coronavirus on January 4. The actor will always be remembered for her starring roles in the beloved Hammer Horror films of the 1950s and ’60s. Shelley was described as “the technicolor queen of Hammer” by her agent, Thomas Bowington. And he added that she was capable of being “quietly evil” alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

George Segal’s career was quite something. The actor scored an Oscar nomination for the 1966 movie Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and then two Golden Globe nods for sitcom Just Shoot Me! Plus, right up until his death he was still plugging away on The Goldbergs. Segal died on March 23 after bypass surgery didn’t go as smoothly as experts had hoped. He was 87 years old.

You can’t talk about Larry Flynt’s career in polite circles, but there was more to the man than his publishing empire. In fact, he was a staunch defender of the First Amendment and sometimes even found himself in court fighting for what he believed in. He died at the age of 78 on February 10 from heart failure.

Cloris Leachman packed a lot of work into her 70-year career. Some will remember her fondly for her Emmy-winning turn in The Mary Tyler Moore Show – or perhaps her Academy Award-winning role in The Last Picture Show. And ’00s kids will know her as Grandma Ida in Malcolm in the Middle — a role that also earned her Emmys! She died on January 27, aged 94, of a stroke.

On January 23 the entertainment industry lost one of its great on-screen people of power. Hal Holbrook was a natural in these roles — perhaps most memorably in All the President’s Men — during his storied career. His incredible voice helped, but he also had a certain air about him as well. Who else but the 95-year-old could have performed as Mark Twain well over 2,000 times?

You don’t get the nickname “Hammerin’ Hank” for nothing! Hank Aaron was a baseball Hall of Famer who set the sporting world alight during his incredible career. He broke the records for runs batted in, total bases, extra-base hits, and — most importantly — most home runs. Aaron was even the home-run king for around 33 years. The national treasure died on January 22 at 86 years old.

Western audiences might have only been introduced to Sonny Chiba in the Kill Bill movies or in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. But the legendary martial artist is known all over the world for his Japanese fight flicks and stunning action choreography. After all, he appeared in a massive 210 movies and TV shows! Chiba passed away from coronavirus complications on August 19.

On July 28 ZZ Top members Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons announced that bassist Dusty Hill had passed away. The pair praised Hill’s “steadfast presence,” his “good nature,” and his “enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top.’” The 72-year-old Hill had, of course, given us that inimitable ZZ Top sound for more than half a century. “You will be missed greatly, amigo,” Gibbons and Beard signed off.

The world was stunned when news broke of Halyna Hutchins’ shocking death. The cinematographer’s life was tragically cut short after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun while filming a movie called Rust. Hutchins was just 42 years old at the time — October 21 — and left behind a husband, a son, and the possibility of a long and promising career.

You might not know the name, but you’ll definitely know the face. Yaphet Kotto’s iconic roles in Alien and Live and Let Die, not to mention his long run in TV’s Homicide: Life of the Streets, ensure that the actor will live long in our memories. After the 81-year-old died on March 15, his wife called him “a good man, a good father, a good husband, and a decent human being.”

The Monkees came together for a TV series from 1966 to 1968 — and for a short time even out-sold The Beatles. But when 78-year-old Michael Nesmith passed away on December 10, Micky Dolenz became the only living member of the band. Dolenz said the Nesmith’s death left him “heartbroken” but “grateful that [they] could spend the last couple of months together doing what [they] loved best — singing, laughing, and doing shtick.”

TV fans will forever know Dean Stockwell as the holographic Al from Quantum Leap. It was easily the actor’s most famous role, even earning him a Golden Globe in 1990. Yet Stockwell had a long career, from child star to character actor for the likes of Robert Altman and David Lynch. The actor passed on November 7. He was 85 years old.

Art LaFleur battled Atypical Parkinson’s disease for ten years before passing away on November 17. The reports after his death focused on his role as Babe Ruth in The Sandlot, but there was a lot more to the man than that one role. His widow, Shelly, revealed that 78-year-old LaFleur was “larger than life” behind the scenes, too, and that he “meant the world” to his family.

Beloved Emmy-winning actor Betty White was just 18 days shy of turning 100 years old when she died on December 31. But despite not being able to celebrate that three-digit birthday, White still left us with a lifetime of happy memories. She’ll be most remembered for her roles in The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show as everybody’s favorite horny grandma. Since the pandemic began back in 2020, it’s felt for many that the world has stood still. Hence why we’re still mourning for the stars we lost in that year, too. Here they are in case you need a reminder...

Little Richard really was one of a kind. The rock ’n’ roll pioneer was publicly noted as an influence on future icons such as Elton John, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Flamboyant and exuberant, the singer had a string of hits in the 1950s – including “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Tutti Frutti.” Unfortunately, though, the 87-year-old legend died at his home in Tennessee over complications brought on by bone cancer.

Fred Willard’s death was first announced on social media in May by actress Jamie Lee Curtis – the wife of Willard’s long-time creative partner Christopher Guest. Of the Modern Family and Best In Show star, Curtis wrote, “How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard’s gifts.” His daughter, Hope, tweeted, “He kept moving, working, and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much!”

Jerry Stiller was a comedy giant and best known as the eccentric-yet-loveable Arthur Spooner in The King of Queens and Frank Costanza in Seinfeld. The 92-year-old’s death was announced by his son, Ben, on Twitter. The actor, who appeared alongside his father in the Zoolander franchise, wrote, “He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed.”

“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman, aged 94,” read a statement given to The Guardian. “She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family.” Blackman was fondly remembered for her trailblazing roles as Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV series The Avengers.

Glee star Naya Rivera lost her life in a tragic accident in July after a boat trip with her son went horribly wrong. Police later ruled Rivera’s death as an accidental drowning. Fortunately, the star’s young son was found alive in their rented pontoon boat. The child told authorities that his mother had saved him by pushing his body into the boat before she fell beneath the waves.

During an illustrious career over five decades, Brian Dennehy won six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and two Tonys. He’s perhaps best known to film fans for his role as the over-zealous sheriff going up against Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo in First Blood. The 81-year-old died from a cardiac arrest brought on by sepsis.

Spartacus star Kirk Douglas – a man synonymous with the Golden Age of Hollywood – lived to the ripe old age of 103. When he passed in February, his leading actor son, Michael, released a poignant statement. He said, “Kirk’s life was well-lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet.”

English actress Diana Rigg played Tracy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – the only Bond girl to actually marry the dashing superspy. She was also an icon in her homeland for her role as Emma Peel in The Avengers and as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones. Rigg sadly died in September from cancer, which she had been diagnosed with earlier in March.

In March, 81-year-old country music icon Kenny Rogers died in hospice care surrounded by his family. The husky-voiced legend sold 120 million records globally and saw 24 of his songs hit the top of the U.S. charts. The musician’s publicist said in a statement, “Kenny Rogers left an indelible mark on the history of American music. His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world.”

In February, Monty Python members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Sir Michael Palin attended a humanist funeral ceremony in London for Terry Jones. The celebrated actor and director had helmed many of the comedy outfit’s most beloved sketches. Jones died in January at the age of 77 from frontotemporal dementia – a condition he’d been diagnosed with five years earlier.

Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen died of a stroke in October 2020. Over the course of 40 years, Van Halen – the band he formed with his brother, Alex, and singer David Lee Roth – recorded 12 albums. They also had many hit singles, including “Hot For Teacher” and “Jump.” And Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello expressed some warm words for him at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that year. He said, “Eddie Van Halen was the Mozart of our generation.”

Rocky Johnson was the 75-year-old father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and one half of the first-ever black duo to win the WWE tag team championships. He died in January. His son posted a video on Instagram explaining that his father had experienced a heart attack brought on by deep vein thrombosis. A bittersweet Rock joked, “I can also hear him now, ‘Make sure you put me over in the speech, say good stuff about me.’”

In 2020 the world lost one of the best drummers of all time. Neil Peart – who was part of Canadian prog-rockers Rush for 45 years – died of brain cancer in January. In an official statement posted on the band’s Twitter account, Peart was described as a friend and soul brother. He will be remembered by his photographer wife, Carrie, and daughter Olivia.

Country music star K.T. Oslin passed in December. The “80’s Ladies” singer had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015 and died only a week after contracting coronavirus. She is celebrated for her history-making career thanks to being the first-ever woman to win the CMA Award for Song of the Year.

In December, at the age of 89, John le Carré died from pneumonia – and the world lost arguably the greatest spy novelist of all time. The British writer – who Stephen King referred to as “a literary giant and a humanitarian spirit” – wrote the classic novels The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. His agent, Jonny Geller, told the BBC that le Carré “defined the Cold War era and fearlessly spoke truth to power.”

Argentina went into a state of mourning after Diego Maradona died of a heart attack in November at the age of 60. Enormous crowds gathered to say their goodbyes when the soccer star’s coffin was displayed for the public at the country’s presidential palace. Many cried, prayed and blew kisses to their departed hero – a man they loved for his incredible talents and, equally, for his flaws.

“The world and our family have lost a vibrant, amazing talent and beautiful soul.” These words were part of an emotional statement issued by Broadway icon Ann Reinking’s family after the Tony Award winner passed in December. It continued, “She was visiting our brother in Washington state when she went to sleep and never woke up. We will miss her more than we can say. Heaven has the best choreographer available now.”

Quick-witted Canadian television host Alex Trebek fronted Jeopardy! for more than 8,200 episodes across three decades. He was a TV institution, and the world was deeply saddened when the 80-year-old died in November from stage-four pancreatic cancer. Though some comfort was taken by the fact that he passed peacefully at home with family and friends by his side.

In the ’90s, Kelly Preston starred in hit films such as For Love of the Game and Jerry Maguire. She married Hollywood leading man John Travolta in 1991, and the couple had three children together. Then, shockingly, the 57-year-old died in July from breast cancer. A devastated Travolta posted on Instagram, “[Preston’s] love and life will always be remembered.”

Known for his intimidating presence in movies such as Friday and The Dark Knight, Tommy “Tiny” Lister was a unique presence in Hollywood. He even took Zeus – his character from No Holds Barred – into the WWE wrestling ring to face down Hulk Hogan. The 62-year-old died in December from what was officially listed as “natural causes.” But Lister’s manager confirmed that Lister had displayed coronavirus symptoms in the week before his passing.

In October The Blacklist and Twin Peaks star Clark Middleton lost his life to the West Nile virus at the age of 63. The character actor had lived with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis from the age of four years old. In a statement, his wife, Elissa, paid tribute to him by saying, “[Middleton] was a beautiful soul who spent a lifetime defying limits and advocating for people with disabilities.”

Conchata Ferrell played irascible housekeeper Berta in 12 seasons of the massively successful sitcom Two and a Half Men. Oh, and she also collected two Emmy nominations in the process. She died in October at 77 after cardiac arrest complications – leaving her castmates devastated. Long-time co-star Charlie Sheen posted on Twitter that Ferrell was “an absolute sweetheart, a consummate pro [and] a genuine friend.” He called it “a shocking and painful loss.”

In December, the pro-wrestling community was dealt a terrible blow when Jon Huber – known as Luke Harper in WWE and Brodie Lee in other promotions – died unexpectedly. The 41-year-old passed from an unspecified lung issue. Many people in the wrestling business paid him widespread tributes. His wife, Amanda, posted on Instagram, “He was my best friend, my husband, and the greatest father you would ever meet.”

Michael Lonsdale played Bond villain Hugo Drax in 1979’s Moonraker. It was the role that defined the Anglo-French actor for many film fans. But over the course of an extensive career, he also appeared in Munich, Ronin and The Day of the Jackal – among more than 200 credits. His agent, Olivier Loiseau, revealed the 89-year-old died in September in Paris at home.

Chi Chi DeVayne – a star of RuPaul’s Drag Race whose real name was Zavion Davenport – tragically died in August at only 34. She had been in hospital in July with kidney failure and high blood pressure. She was then released – only to be readmitted a month later suffering from pneumonia. RuPaul said in a statement, “I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”

At the age of 88, legendary TV host Regis Philbin died in July from a myocardial infarction brought on by coronary artery disease. He had previously undergone triple bypass surgery in 2007. His loved ones released a beautiful statement, saying, “[Philbin’s] family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him – for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about...”

In September, Jackie Stallone died in her sleep at the age of 98. The sad news was announced by her son Frank, who posted on Instagram, “It was hard not to like her, she was a very eccentric and flamboyant person.” Her other son – Hollywood icon Sylvester – wrote on the platform, “A mother who has always believed and encouraged her sons. She was the number one fan of Sly and Frank. She will be remembered forever for her charisma and love.”

Ennio Morricone – the man who created the score for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – left us in July at the age of 91. A man whose work will forever be synonymous with Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood’s Spaghetti Westerns, the genius composer also scored films such as The Untouchables and The Hateful Eight. Fittingly, in his birth city of Rome, Italy, he was known to the locals as “maestro.”

Director Joel Schumacher died in June following a cancer diagnosis the previous year. He helmed the 1980s classics St. Elmo’s Fire and The Lost Boys, hit legal thrillers A Time to Kill and The Client, and he ventured into the superhero arena with Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. Schumacher will also be remembered as an openly gay director who forged a path in Hollywood that others have since followed.

Adam Schlesinger was a founding member of pop-rock outfit Fountains of Wayne, who had a major hit in 2003 with the hilarious “Stacy’s Mom.” In more recent years, he had transitioned into writing songs for The CW’s popular show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and won an Emmy in the process. The 52-year-old died in April from coronavirus complications – leaving behind his partner, Alexis, and daughters Claire and Sadie.

Roy Horn – one half of iconic magic act Siegfried and Roy – died in May after contracting coronavirus. His on-stage partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, performed alongside him for an astonishing 40 years in Las Vegas. He said in a statement, “Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend. From the moment we met, I knew [Horn] and I, together, would change the world.”

Jurassic World star Irrfan Khan lost his life in April at the age of 53. In 2018 he had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor. A week before his death, Khan was taken to an intensive care unit in his native India with a colon infection. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Irrfan Khan’s demise is a loss to the world of cinema and theater.”

With iconic songs such as “Lean On Me” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” to his name, Bill Withers left an indelible impression on the world of R&B. The singer passed in April at the age of 81 from heart complications. His family’s statement read, “With his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other.” It added, “In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones.”

Esteemed British character actor Ian Holm played Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises. He also starred in seminal films such as Alien and Chariots of Fire. At the age of 88, Holm died of an illness connected to the Parkinson’s disease he’d had for several years.

“He lived each day as if it were his last,” said Kedakai Lipton of her husband, James – the beautifully articulate host of Inside the Actor’s Studio. “His work was his passion, [he] loved what he did and all the people he worked with.” The 93-year-old died from bladder cancer in March but left behind an archive of fascinating episodes in which he’d interviewed more than 300 actors about their craft.

Dame Vera Lynn became deeply entrenched in the psyche of Britain during World War II. Her songs – including “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs of Dover” – helped boost the morale of soldiers. She passed in June at the incredible age of 103 with her family and friends by her side. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson poignantly wrote on Twitter, “Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come.”

Swedish actor Max von Sydow enjoyed an astounding career that spanned seven decades. From The Exorcist and The Seventh Seal, all the way to Game of Thrones, he was known to many generations. Sydow passed in March at the age of 90. Director Martin Scorsese – who worked with von Sydow on Shutter Island – told The Guardian, “[von Sydow was] a consummate actor, with a pride in his art and a dedication to his craft that I’ve encountered in very few people in my life.”

Scottish acting legend Sir Sean Connery died in October at 90. His son, Jason, announced that he passed peacefully in his sleep at his home in the Bahamas. He added, “A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.” Connery was the first James Bond and starred in hit films such as Highlander, The Untouchables and The Rock.

In January, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash alongside seven other members of Gianna’s basketball team and their parents. Understandably, this tragedy shocked the world. In December, Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, posted a Christmas photo on Instagram with her other daughters, Bianka, Capri and Natalia. The moving caption read, “Always together, never apart, together forever in our hearts.”

The death of 43-year-old Chadwick Boseman in August hit fans hard. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Da 5 Bloods star died of colon cancer. This came as a total shock as his condition had been kept from the public. His family’s statement read, “A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all.” The message went on, “It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”