As a youngster, he had already shown his proclivity for film-making by creating animations as well as live action short films. Born in Saint Joseph's Hospital in downtown Houston, Texas, Scott Page-Pagter was born on February 13, 1957 in the USA. ", "She was the sweetest person you'd ever meet and had a huge heart," said her longtime rep Mike Pingel. Tyson starred in several of his movies. Leachman began her seven-decade career as a Miss America contestant in 1946 followed by. The thick glasses with fake big nose turned the Humpty character into rap's first comedic icon. Archive Photos/Movie Pix via Getty Images, Stan Moore/Leigh Weiner/Walt Disney Television/Getty, Clarence Willaims III in "The Mod Squad. LaFleur worked extensively in sales as well as in both the saloon and restaurant business prior to deciding at age 31 in 1975 to move from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California in order to pursue a career in film. He died on December 8, 2021 in Inglewood, California, USA. Valle quickly became a go-to filmmaker for stars thanks to projects that found Oscar and Emmy acclaim like "Dallas Buyers Club," which earned Matthew McConaughey a best actor Oscar win and the Emmy-winning HBO limited series "Big Little Lies.". That case would go on and become the basis of the 1996 movie "The People vs. Larry Flynt," starring Woody Harrelson in the lead role. He died on January 16 of natural causes according to California state prison officials inside the San Joaquin General Hospital. ", But his most memorable role came as Captain Von Trapp in the 1965 movie adaptation of "The Sound of Music. Williams' acting was always a standout regardless the size of the role thanks to his deep voice and scar that went across his face. The work of Van Peebles can be found in everything from Spike Lee to Van Peebles' son, Mario Van Peebles ("New Jack City"). "Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," Jeff Witjas, White's longtime agent and friend, told People magazine at the time of her death. He died on April 23, 2021 in Andheri, Mumbai, India. "An original member of Kool & the Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor," read the statement of his passing on the band's official Facebook page. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. Didion died due to complications from Parkinson's disease in her New York City home on December 23. Getty Images Beloved actress Betty White died on New Year's Eve 2021, her rep. We love you.". The song "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" for the 1991 film "Dick Tracy," won him an Academy Award. "The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh 'Friend'), from the hit series 'Friends,' but Michael's loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband," Toni Benson, Tyler's manager, wrote in a statement provided to AP. Most easily identified by his trademark blue wool hat with pompom, Nesmith fashioned a diversified career within music and also in film. Walter died in her sleep at her home in New York City on March 24, according to Bowman. After receiving his MFA in acting from UCLA, he quickly entered the business and grabbed roles in top shows of the 1980s like "China Beach," "Perry Mason," and "Matlock.". Gerry Marsden 24 Gerry Marsden sadly passed away at the beginning. He died on November 17, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Kotto died on March 15 near Manila in the Philippines. The year 2021 took away several celebrities from us. Lionel started as a boy actor with the RSC but there was little money in it., When his father died his agent suggested that they switch to light entertainment where there was more money, For a while he Jan Shutan is best remembered as Lieutenant Mira Romaine, an officer on the starship Enterprise, whose mind is invaded by non-corporeal life forms in Star Trek: The Lights of Zetar (1969). Amanda Edwards/WireImage/Getty We say goodbye to the famous people that touched our lives. Watts died on August 24, no cause was given. The year 2021 saw us bidding goodbye to many celebrities who breathed their last. Art lives on through his work, stories about his life and the relationships he built with everyone he knew.". Known for his physically imposing characters, Kotto was a fixture in movie and TV for decades, including roles on the series "Homicide: Life on the Street" and FBI agent Mosely in the beloved comedy "Midnight Run" opposite Robert De Niro. He died on December 12, 2021 Mimi Cozzens enjoyed a well-rounded career on stage, screen and television in a career that has stretched for more than four decades.She was born Mildred Gloria Cozzens in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Glendale, Queens. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his performance in 2007's "Into the Wild. Simpson trial after his jokes constantly saying that Simpson murdered his ex-wife and her friend finally upset an NBC executive who was friends with Simpson. Clark is known best for playing the brash drummer Freddy "Spazzy McGee" Jones in the 2003 Richard Linklater movie "School of Rock," starring Jack Black. Larry Gelman was born on November 3, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Additionally, we lost . Leakes became a cast member on the popular Bravo reality show 11 years after the two became married and the show documented the couple's divorce in 2011. In a statement on the Gulpilil's passing, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall called the actor a "once-in-a-generation artist who shaped the history of Australian film and Aboriginal representation on screen.". ", She won eight Emmy awards and a Grammy for a spoken word recording of her best-selling autobiography, "If You Ask Me. He was an actor, known for Our Story Our Voice (2007), 24 Peaces and Jock the Hero Dog (2011). In addition to a career on the stage and screen, Tommy was a jazz musician who played the trumpet and David "Dave" Draper was a bodybuilding champion noted for his blond hair and 24 inch. He got his start in TV alongside Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies . [39] Per Kristoffersen, 85, Norwegian footballer ( Fredrikstad, national team ). He died on November 21, 2021 in the USA. He died on October 18, 2021 in Camarillo, California, USA. "He left a legacy larger than his personality and while his absence is a void that can never be filled, his warmth will always be felt. Responsible for crafting one of the most memorable TV characters of all time playing Baltimore gangster Omar Little in HBO's "The Wire," Williams went on to forge a respected career playing complex roles. Williams followed up "The Wire" with delivering another memorable performance playing racketeer Chalky White in another acclaimed HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire. He gave us so much laughter and deserves a rest now. Reuven Bar-Yotam was born on December 15, 1935. The versatile actor was also a mainstay in many films, such as "Little Manhattan," "There's Something About Mary," and "Groundhog Day.". Marilyn McLeod was a composer, known for Soul Plane (2004), Hey Good Looking! Crowned as leading the new breed of modern comedians by Time magazine in 1960, Mort Sahl is the first entertainer ever to appear on its cover. On August 2 Pickett death happened suddenly as he was preparing to shoot a scene for the movie "Treasure Valley," Travis Mills, the movie's director, said on the movie's Facebook page. Dustin did not suffer. In 2021, many celebrities died, including actors, singers and other entertainers. My friend. Weeks before his death he announced he was withdrawing for the band's upcoming US tour. The veteran character actor was known best for playing Bond villain Mr. Big in 1973's James Bond movie "Live and Let Die" and Parker in the sci-fi classic "Alien.". People featured on this list, include actresses, lyricists & songwriters, political leaders and athletes who died in 2021. She was an actress, known for It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He died on December 14, 2021 in Florida, USA. ", She was also known for playing Polly Gray on the series "Peaky Blinders" and roles in movies ranging from 2006's "The Queen" to the James Bond 2012 movie, "Skyfall. Kay Hawtrey was born on November 8, 1926 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Actress Cloris Leachman died on Jan. 27, 2021, at age 94, her manager Juliet Green confirmed to Variety. Larry Gelman Actor | Dreamscape David Lasley's prolific career as a singer/songwriter spans more than 30 years. She died on November 27, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. We say goodbye to . Candy Palmater was born on December 4, 1968 in Point La Nim, New Brunswick, Canada. Then there are the non-franchises that are also memorable: horror classic "The Omen," the Bill Murray-starrer "Scrooged," and the hit Western "Maverick.". He was a director and cinematographer. He was an actor, known for Laverne & Shirley (1976), Dreamgirls (2006) and A League of Their Own (1992). Made for $50,000 from a loan Van Peebles got from Bill Cosby when the studios passed on it, Van Peebles starred, directed, wrote, edited, composed the music, and shot it over 19 days. "We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members, and close friends is respected at this difficult time.". In 2021, Hollywood lost dozens of accomplished performers who've entertained audiences for years: legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, award-winning actress Cicely Tyson, rapper DMX, actress and. The London-born Leicester-bred son of Barbadian parents who came to Britain in the 1950s, actor, writer, poet and storyteller Victor Richards has been perfectly positioned throughout his life to observe and commentate on the trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows of British West Indian culture Henry chose to help aspiring actors improve their craft, instead of continuing with his movie career. Chiba died on August 18 due to pneumonia caused by COVID-19. ", "In her final hours, I sat beside her hospital bed in awe of her accomplishments and her courage, awash in memories of a life that took us from the fog laced hills of the San Francisco Bay Area to the magical streets of New Orleans to the twinkling vistas of Southern California," her son, Christopher, wrote of her passing. Basil Hoffman was an American character actor, known for his work, often in classic films, with distinguished film directors including Peter Bogdanovich, Mario Monicelli, Richard Benjamin, Carl Reiner (twice), Peter Medak (five times) and Alan J. Pakula (twice); Academy Award winners Ethan and Joel Jo-Carroll Dennison was born on December 16, 1923 in Florence, Arizona, USA. Plummer died on February 5, no cause was given. He had bit parts in movies like 1983's "Dr. Detroit" and 1987's "Dragnet." He was a writer and producer, known for Martin (1992), The Show (1996) and Saturday Night Live (1975). Draper dressed as a gladiator and hosted Actress | McGee, a decorated military pilot and Tuskegee Airman, died at 102. "A breaker of records and racial barriers, his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire countless athletes and admirers for generations to come," said former president Jimmy Carter in a statement to the Associated Press, who attended Braves games and called Aaron "a personal hero.". Grodin's son, Nicholas, said his father's cause of death was bone marrow cancer, according to The New York Times. He was an editor, known for G.I. ", He reprised the role in the 2016 sequel and the short-lived TV sitcom "My Big Fat Greek Life. Scottish DJ, musician, and musical producer died at the young age of 34 on January 30. It also launched several sequels. Known as the godfather of Black cinema, if it wasn't for the work of Melvin Van Peebles there would be no "Shaft" or any of the other legendary work from the Blaxploitation movement and beyond. - Photo - See our round-up of celebrities who have sadly died in 2021, from Captain Sir Tom Moore to former TOWIE star Mick Norcross to acclaimed chef Albert Roux Singer Whitney Houston also died in early 2021, as did singer Prince. Rapper DMX (born Earl Simmons) moved a generation thanks to the pain and anguish he put into all his songs. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. She is considered to be one of the most beautiful actresses to have graced the screen during the postwar period. Beatty had a storied acting career that spanned from the early 1970s to the mid 2000s. He was a prominent founding member of both ACT UP and Queer Nation. That hit caused his other movies like "Yakuza Cop" and "The Bullet Train" to find an audience. "Michael Constantine, the dad to our cast-family, a gift to the written word, and always a friend," she wrote. She died on November 6, 2021 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was voted one of the 9 Breakout Talents from the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival for his performance as Luke opposite Zoey Deutch in Flower (2017). He was previously married to Virginia Jo Fields. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Will Ryan began a career in music. He was the third-longest-running Rolling Stones member, behind Jagger and Richards. Eddie Mekka was born on June 14, 1952 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Hello. Fearlessly. Having been the director of photography on movies "Archenemy," "Snowbound," "Darlin,'" "Blindfire" and "The Mad Hatter," she was praised by those who worked with her thanks to a creative eye and dedication to her craft. Then in 2003 Chiba found wide acclaim when he was cast in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" as Hanzo, a sushi owner who is actually master sword maker. There she worked for several years as a studio actress for Columbia Pictures. Tell us what you think about this feature. He had been battling COVID-19 in the hospital for over a week before his death, but on February 13 it was announced that the cause of death was sepsis and two underlying conditions. He died on February 8, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Aside from this iconic role, her face might also be familiar for her many TV commercials. It made him a legend in the comedy world and Macdonald went on to build a career in movies ("Dirty Work," "Billy Madison," and the "Dr. Dolittle" franchise), TV ("Norm" "The Orville"), and dozens of memorable late night show appearances. Hollywood mourned the loss of icons such as Betty White and John Madden in the final days of 2021 and unfortunately, 2022 also. From the original "Superman" in 1978 starring Christopher Reeve to "The Goonies" and the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, Donner's storytelling has touched generations. 2022 also came with celebrity deaths that have fans reeling. Hank Aaron, 87 Hank Aaron. But her work spans decades and also includes starring opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1971 thriller "Play Misty for Me" and voicing a character in the popular 1990s series "Dinosaurs. In memory of the celebrities who have died this year, including Lisa Marie Presley, Timeless actress Annie Wersching and Burt Bacharach By Kelsie Gibson Updated on February 22, 2023 10:14 AM. He was 87 years old. He followed that with working with his brother on his movies. Tylerpassed away on October 24 from prostate cancer. Here is a look back at the famous people we bid farewell to this year, including Norm Macdonald, Michael K. Williams, DMX, and Cloris Leachman. He was an actor and writer, known for Shake Back (2020), J Stone Feat. The South African-born director was known for his work in movies, TV, and theatre. Roy Orbison 2. ", More recently he was nominated in the upcoming Emmys for the 2020 HBO series "Lovecraft Country.". He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and then said in 2019 that he was, at the time, cancer-free. His song "Send In the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music" won song of the year at the Grammys in 1975. Betty White, Michael K. Williams, Norm Macdonald, Cicely Tyson, and DMX died this year. Lists of deaths by year. (2009), Two Cubes Pls (2013) and Ssshhhh Koi Hai (2001). Her character was James Michael Tyler was born in Mississippi. He died on December 8, 2021 in the USA. (2009). Unfulfilled by Hollywood, Vicki Bart the Bear II is an 8.5-foot tall, 1,110-pound Alaskan brown bear whose impact on wildlife has been even bigger than his body or his acting accomplishments. He differed from other comedians, Joanna Cameron (born Patricia Kara Cameron) was an American actress and model, whose relatively brief acting career lasted from 1969 to 1980. He was also Emmy nominated for the comedy series "Newhart. She was previously married to Pedro Plascencia and Carlos Pauln. In Memoriam: Notable people who died in 2021 + Betty White, 99 Beloved comedic actress Betty White's decadeslong career spanned generations. Holbrook died at his home in Beverly Hills on January 23. Two figures central to American culture died December 28: former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and . He also found work as an actor, appeared in everything from "The Twilight Zone" and "Matlock," to William Friedkin's neo-noir "To Live and Die in LA" and two Paul Thomas Anderson movies ("Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"). A boxer in high school, he continued in the service. The son of a signwriter, Bristol-born Robert John ('Bob') Baker studied painting and animation at art college. Val studied acting under the renowned Ralph Carmichael was born on May 27, 1927 in Quincy, Illinois, USA. Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding, comedian Sean Lock, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, musical great Stephen Sondheim and of course Prince Philip are among those who sadly died in 2021. Phil Spector (Dec. 26, 1939-Jan. 17, 2021) (Nick Ut - Pool via Getty Images) Spector was considered a musical genius when it came to producing records, including "You've Lost That Lovin'. She was previously married to Robert Prins. He was a writer and producer, known for Spies Like Us (1985), Nothing But Trouble (1991) and My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988). He was previously married to Juliette. "Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures.". The self-proclaimed "Sex Symbol of Chinatown" was originally born in El Paso, Texas in 1930 and moved to Los Angeles during his early childhood. Character actor Peter Scolari had a successful career on both the stage and screen for decades, but he is best known for starring opposite Tom Hanks in the 1980s TV show "Bosom Buddies.". Here, we honor the celebrities who died in 2021: their legacies, their careers, and their impact. He was previously married to Sigrid Insull and Marycarolyn Linda Elizabeth "MiMi" Hawkins. "We are saddened to confirm of Dustin Diamond's passing on Monday, February 1st, 2021 due to carcinoma," Diamond's representative said in a statement provided to Insider. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Garson was known best for playing talent agent Stanford Blatch, best friend of Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw, in the HBO series "Sex and the City.". The band, which was formed in 1964, had a revolutionary sound which has stood the test of time thanks to iconic songs like "Nights in White Satan" and "Tuesday Afternoon." "To think that she lived for 96 years and I got to be a part of the last 16 brings me great joy," he continued. His most recognizable role was playing Babe Ruth in 1993 classic "The Sandlot. He was previously married to Marvella Price and Evangeline Carmichael. He died on October 27, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The group's mix of funk and jazz arrangements has become one of the popular, influential, and heavily sampled sounds in contemporary music and has been featured in several film soundtracks, including "Saturday Night Fever," "Rocky," and Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction. With a passion of the game unlike any others, Madden was a unique ambassador of the game of football thanks to his exuberant bravado and simple explanations to elements of the game that can be very complex. No cause was given. Slim 400: Savage (2018) and The Life and Death of Vincent Slim 400 Cochran. She was an actress, known for Videodrome (1983), Urban Legend (1998) and Funeral Home (1980). She was previously married to Bob Kellijan and Zach Kleiman. de Klerk was born on March 18, 1936 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The cause of death was not made public. He died on December 4, 2021 in Nashville Jonshel Alexander was born on February 26, 1999 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Edge was the drummer and last original member of the legendary rock band The Moody Blues. Heath Freeman was born on June 23, 1980 in the USA. Before comedy clubs existed, Sahl began performing at the hungry i music club in San Francisco in the early 1950s. He was an actor, known for Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) and Wedding Crashers (2005). God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. I think we can all agree.". And before movies, Donner made his mark in television, having directed the iconic "Twilight Zone" episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," which featured William Shatner convinced a monster is on the wing of the airplane. Mary Grady was born on November 9, 1924 in Petaluma, California, USA. He was previously married to Andi Francis , Marsha Garbowitz and Kathy Izzo. He was previously married to Barbara Jean Kalil . She won an Oscar for her performance as a timid school teacher in 1971's "The Last Picture Show" and her work on television earned her an astounding eight Emmy wins. The renowned broadcaster had been on radio or TV since the 1950s speaking to all types of people, and was regarded as one of the best interviewers ever thanks to his friendly style with his subjects. She was born on September 2, 1940 to Lawrence and Doris Trickett, in Kansas City, Kansas. She died on November 9, 2021 in Scotland, UK. Nesmith died of natural causes on December 10. Over the course of her career, Didion authored novels such as "Run River" (1963) and "Play It As It Lays" (1970) along with essay collections including "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" (1968) and "The White Album" (1979). Nia Vardalos, the writer and star of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," paid tribute to Constantine on Twitter upon hearing of his death. She died on October 26, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Michell died on September 22, his cause of death is unknown. ", Director David Lynch cast him in his 1984 adaptation of "Dune," and later chose him to played Ben in 1986's "Blue Velvet," in which he performs a memorable lip-synch of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams.". Joan Didion was born on December 5, 1934 in Sacramento, California, USA. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Ruth Prins was born on October 20, 1920 in Sioux City, Iowa, USA. At age 11, he moved to Anderson, South Carolina to live with his sister.A Tigers fan, he enrolled at Clemson University and majored Jay Black was born on November 2, 1938 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He died on December 24, 2021 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. "The only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution. A veteran of the stage, television, and movies, McCrory is best known for playing Narcissa Malfoy in the final three "Harry Potter" films. His show, "Sunday in the Park with George," won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for drama. Jean-Marc Valle was a Canadian filmmaker, editor and screenwriter from Montreal. Listened to by millions on his political call-in radio show since the 1980s, Limbaugh was a force in American media thanks to his right-wing views. ", Through the 1980s he showed up on countless TV shows, including "The Incredible Hulk," "Soap," "Webster," "The A-Team," and "Hill Street Blues. Stockwell was a Hollywood lifer. At the age of four, she moved with her parents and older sister Mary-Jo to Edmonds, Washington, where her younger sister Molly was later born. She died on December 9, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico. She was lead singer of a female rock band in NYC in 1970, the Margo Lewis Explosion. Pickett was best known for his roles as Detective David Harper on "General Hospital" and as Frank Scanlon on its spinoff, "Port Charles." He died on November 18, 2021 in Victoria, British Columbia, Actor | But his two most memorable was his debut feature role in the movie "Deliverance" as Bobby, and playing Otis, Lex Luthor's sidekick in 1978's "Superman. He even choreographed the the dancing for the hit 1994 music video "Pure Love" by Crystal Waters. Colin Powell, a former top military officer who rose to become the first Black Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, died on October 18, 2021 at age 84 of complications from COVID . Sondheim's work also found success beyond Broadway. He is presently teaching acting at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He received an outstanding writing Emmy nomination with the rest of the writers of "SNL" in 1980. He also promoted the false theory that former president Barack Obama was not born in the US, something that Donald Trump also subscribed to before he became president. She died on December 25, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The hall of fame player hit his 715th career home run in 1974, breaking the record Babe Ruth held for close to 33 years. "She called me son. Many famous and beloved stars passed away, leaving behind grieving fans and loved ones. Coronji Calhoun was born on November 28, 1990 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She was an actress, known for Wunda Wunda (1953). "He was a great friend humble, caring and friendly man. Recently, he also played Fred Goldman, the father of Ronald Goldman in the FX mini-series, "The People v. O.J. He was previously married to Abbie. At seventeen, she entered show biz as a dancer at the Copacabana and thereafter won several beauty contests, including "Miss American Legion," "Miss Miami Beach", and "Miss Fire Fighter". ", "Words cannot express the sadness we feel," Asner's official Twitter account read following his death. "34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip-hop band and take on the world through it all," wrote Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright in tribute to Shock G on Instagram.