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In Memoriam: A tribute to influential people who died in 2023

All Buzznews

2023-12-22 08:10:09

Friends and numerous films star Matthew Perry died this year. Perry was found at his home. Terrible news for Perry's loved ones and colleagues, but also for his fans, who have all watched him courageously navigate serious addiction issues over the years. The actor had released a book in 2022 titled Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. Matthew Perry was 54 years old.

Sean Martin

Sean Martin, lead singer of The Night Cafe, has died at the age of 26. In a post on Instagram, the surviving members confirmed the death of the young musician and said they were devastated.

Ken Mattingly

Ken Mattingly, the astronaut who helped save the Apollo 13 crew in 1970, has died at the age of 87. Mattingly is survived by his wife Kathleen and his son Thomas III. Ken Mattingly played a key role in bringing home the Apollo 13 crew, astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise. He himself was supposed to be part of the crew, but had to drop out due to a virus at the last minute.

Bob Knight

Bob Knight, a brilliant and fiery coach who won three NCAA titles at Indiana, has died. He was 83 years old.

Aaron Spears

Aaron Spears, Grammy-nominated drummer and collaborator for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and more, has died. His wife Jessica confirmed the news of his death via Instagram. He was 47 years old. Several artists, including Bieber, Gaga and Cyrus, paid tribute to the distinguished drummer and the man he was.

Ivan Bart

Fashion industry icon Ivan Bart has died following a short illness, according to several sources. The former president of IMG Models helped launch the careers of famous models including Gigi and Bella Hadid, Lauren Hutton, Carolyn Murphy and Stephanie Seymour. Ivan Bart was 60 years old.

Cezary Olszewski

Polish dancer Cezary Olszewski has died. The Dancing with the Stars winner was found unconscious in his hotel room in Ostroleka, Poland, according to multiple sources. Cezary Olszewski was 42 years old.

Richard Roundtree

Iconic actor Richard Roundtree has passed away. The Shaft star was widely regarded as the first black action hero. Many actors paid tribute to him, including Samuel L. Jackson and Gabrielle Union. Richard Roundtree was 81.

Mark Howard James

Mark Howard James, known as DJ Mark The 45 King, has died. His agent confirmed the sad news. James collaborated with several important artists, including Jay-Z and Eminem. They each paid him a vibrant tribute upon the announcement of his death. DJ Mark The 45 King was 62.

Dwight Twilley

Singer-songwriter Dwight Twilley has died. The American musician is best known for his power pop hits, including I'm on Fire and Girls. His wife confirmed the news of his death. Dwight Twilley was 72 years old.

Burt Young

Beloved Oscar-nominated actor Burt Young, known for his role as Paulie in the Rocky franchise, among others, has passed away. He was 83 years old.

Suzanne Somers

Actress Suzanne Somers, icon of her generation and star of Three's Company, has died. She was 76.

Piper Laurie

American actress Piper Laurie, nominated three times at the Oscars, died at her home in Los Angeles. She was 91 years old.

Jeff Burr

Horror director Jeff Burr, who directed Texas Chainsaw Massacre III and Pumpkinhead II among many others, has died. He was 60 years old.

Rudolph Isley

Rudolph Isley, founding member of The Isley Brothers, has died. Rudolph created The Isley Brothers with his brothers Ronald, O'Kelly and Vernon. Rudolph Isley was 84 years old.

Michael Chiarello

Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has passed away suddenly. The former Food Network star died of what appears to be a life-threatening allergy, reports TMZ. Michael Chiarello was 61.

Cal Wilson

Comedian and TV star Cal Wilson died following a devastating illness. She was only 53 years old. Many peers paid tribute to him, including Rebel Wilson.

Keith Jefferson

Actor Keith Jefferson, notably seen in Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, has died of cancer at the age of 53. Jefferson announced his diagnosis in August. His colleague Jamie Foxx paid tribute to his long-time friend and said he was devastated.

Dick Butkus

Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, widely considered one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, has died, the Chicago Bears team confirms. Butkus died "peacefully in his sleep" at his home in Malibu, California. He was 80 years old.

Tim Wakefield

Tim Wakefield, the former Boston Red Sox star who helped end the team's long curse and finally win the World Series, has died. He was 57 years old.

Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon, the actor who played Dumbledore in several of the Harry Potter films, has died aged 82, his family has announced.

Nashawn Breedlove

Nashawn Breedlove, rapper and actor, has died. Notably famous for his role as Lotto in 8 Mile alongside Eminem, Breedlove was found dead at his home in New Jersey. He was 46 years old.

David McCallum

British actor David McCallum, known for his roles in NCIS and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., among others, died at the age of 90.

Irish Grinstead

Irish Grinstead, of R&B girl group 702, behind the hit “Where My Girls At”, has died. The news was sadly confirmed by Grinstead's sister and other 702 member, LeMisha Grinstead. Irish Grinstead was 43 years old.

Billy Miller

Three-time Daytime Emmy Awards winner Billy Miller has died. The Young and the Restless, General Hospital and All My Children star was only 43 years old. While confirming the news, a rep cited Miller's depression issues.

Charlie Newling

Former The Bachelorette star Charlie Newling died after his car fell off a cliff just weeks after welcoming his second child. Newling was on the Australian version in 2018. He was only 36 years old.

Charlie Robison

Country star Charlie Robison, ex-husband of Emily Strayer (The Chicks) and judge on the show Nashville Star, has died at 59, his current wife, Kristen Robison, has confirmed. Robison reportedly died of heart (and other) complications. The singer had had several health problems in the past, even having to give up his passion, singing.

Gary Wright

Singer Gary Wright, known for mega-hit Dream Weaver, has died after a long battle with dementia and Parkinson's. He was 80 years old.

Steve Harwell

Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell, behind hit songs All Star and Walking on the Sun, among others, has died following a long series of health problems and incurable liver disease. He had battled an addiction to alcohol for many years. He was 56 years old.

Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett, iconic American singer-songwriter known for his laid-back style of music, has died. He is best known for songs like Margaritaville or Cheeseburger in Paradise. He was 76 years old.

Jack Sonni

Jack Sonni, guitarist for Dire Straits and on stage with the band at Live Aid, has died. He was 68.

Joe the Plumber (Samuel Wurzelbacherstar)

The famous "Joe the Plumber", real name Samuel Wurzelbacherstar, the surprise viral star of the US presidential campaign of 2008, died at 49 years old. His intervention at a Barack Obama campaign stop, questioning his tax proposals and economic opinions, made him an overnight sensation. He then became a strong ally of the Republicans then led by John McCain.

Nancy Frangione

Nancy Frangione, star of 'Another World' and 'All My Children', has died. She was 70.

Terry Funk

Wrestling legend Terry Funk has died at the age of 79, according to his daughter. Mick Foley announced it to the world.

Bob Barker

Legendary host Bob Barker has passed away. The iconic host of The Price Is Right marked generations with his grace and wit. He was 99 years old.

Ray Hildebrand

Musician Ray Hildebrand, of the highly successful 60s duo Paul & Paula, has died aged 82. He and his partner Jill Jackson notably topped the charts with the song 'Hey Paula' in 1963.

Ron Cephas Jones

Ron Cephas Jones, Emmy Award-winning actor best known for his role in NBC's This Is Us, has died. He was 66 years old. He had been struggling with pulmonary issues for a long time.

DJ Casper

DJ Casper, well known for creating the dance hit 'Cha Cha Slide', has died, BBC reports. He was only 58 years old.

William Friedkin

William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist, has died. The screenwriter and director, whose credits include The French Connection, was 87.

Mark Margolis

Emmy-nominated Mark Margolis, who played Mexican cartel boss Hector "Tio" Salamanca in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul", has died. He was 83.

Angus Cloud

Angus Cloud, who played the role of Fezco in the HBO series "Euphoria", died on July 31 at the age of 25.

Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through movies and TV shows, has died at the age of 70.

Bo Goldman

Bo Goldman, who penned the Oscar-winning scripts to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Melvin and Howard has died. He was 90.

Randy Meisner

Eagles founding member Randy Meisner died at the age of 77. He was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the iconic band.

Sinéad O'Connor

Irish music icon Sinéad O'Connor died aged 56 on July 26. The singer made a name for herself around the world with her epic ballad Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990, one of the most influential songs of the decade.

Vince Hill

Vince Hill, the performer of the song Edelweiss that featured on the soundtrack of The Sound of Music, has died aged 89. Over the course of his career, he released no fewer than 25 albums.

Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett, the iconic American jazz and pop singer, musician and voice, has died at the age of 96, reports Variety. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.

Kevin Mitnick

Hacker Kevin Mitnick, once an FBI wanted man, and then convicted felon, who eventually became an author and a virtual security superstar, has died at 59 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Nick Benedict

Nick Benedict, who starred in All My Children and The Young and the Restless, died at 76.

Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin has died at her home at the age of 76. A true star around the world, the actress and singer was the mother of two daughters, including Charlotte Gainsbourg, born of her iconic relationship with Serge Gainsbourg.

Andrea Evans

Actress Andrea Evans, two-time Daytime Emmy nominee and star of hit soap TV shows like One Life To Live, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, has died of cancer. The prolific actress was 66 years old.

George Tickner

Journey's original guitarist and co-founder George Tickner has died. He was 76 years old.

Coco Lee

The excellent American singer, born in Hong Kong, Coco Lee is dead. She was the voice of Mulan for Disney as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's theme song, among others. She was in a coma following a suicide attempt, which ultimately proved successful. Her sisters confirmed the sad news, highlighting Coco's efforts to battle the depression she was suffering from. Coco Lee was only 48 years old.

Alan Arkin

The death of actor Alan Arkin has caused a small commotion in Hollywood, as he was loved by his peers and cinephiles alike. He is survived not only by his loved ones, but also by many of his colleagues, many of whom have paid tribute to him, including Michael Douglas, Billy Crystal, Ralph Macchio and John Cusack.

Julian Sands

A horrifying story for British actor Julian Sands, whose remains were found in California a few months after his disappearance was announced. He was 65 years old.

Treat Williams

Actor Treat Williams has died in a motorcycle accident, several sources report. The prolific star's many projects included Everwood, Deep Rising and Blue Bloods. He was 71 years old. Those close to him said they were shocked by the news of his sudden death.

Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi, billionaire and media mogul, controversial and populist Italian prime minister with numerous scandals, died at the age of 86. He was strongly contested by part of the Italian population and of the international community.

Mike Batayeh

Actor Mike Batayeh, star of Breaking Bad and Marco Polo, died at the age of 52. His death takes his loved ones by surprise. He died in his sleep of a heart attack, but had no history of heart problems, according to his sister, TMZ reports.

Iron Sheik

Legendary wrestler Iron Sheik has died at the age of 81. Fans were still very loyal to him and have been in mourning since the announcement of his death. He left his mark on the WWF (WWE now), notably with his rivalry with Hulk Hogan. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Anna Shay

Anna Shay, star of Netflix's Bling Empire, has died aged 62. Her death comes as a surprise to her loved ones and fans, who are in complete shock.

John Beasley

The star of Rudy, Everwood and many other projects passed away at 79 after a brief illness.

Sergio Calderón

Star of many films, including Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and Men In Black, actor Sergio Calderón has died aged 77.

Gary Kent

Gary Kent died at 89. He was an outstanding actor and stuntman, even inspiring Quentin Tarantino for a key role in his film Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood, ultimately championed by Brad Pitt!

Ray Stevenson

Somewhat to everyone's surprise, the excellent Ray Stevenson died at the age of 58. He had wowed fans in the Thor, Divergent, Star Wars, Rome and Punisher sagas, among others.

Ed Ames

Actor and singer Ed Ames, notably of the Ames Brothers, has died at 95. He starred with Daniel Boone on TV in the '60s.

Gerald Castillo

Actor Gerald Castillo, star of Saved by the Bell and General Hospital, died at his home in Houston. He was 90 years old.

Tina Turner

Music icon Tina Turner has died, many sources report. She was 83.

Andy Rourke

Andy Rourke, bassist for indie legends The Smiths, has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. The news was announced by guitarist Johnny Marr on social media.

Shalie Lipp

Complete shock in the MMA world, as rising star Shalie Lipp suddenly dies in a terrible car accident. She was only 21 years old. Even UFC leader Dana White speaks of her death as a heartbreaking and traumatic event.

Vida Blue

Vida Blue, who won the World Series three years in a row with the Oakland A's, has died. He was 73 years old. He also played for San Francisco and Kansas City.

Pema Tseden

Pema Tseden, Tibetan director known for Jinpa and Balloon, died suddenly in Tibet at the age of 53.

Jack Rebney

Jack Rebney, the "Winnebago Man" who became one of the Internet's first viral personalities, has died aged 93.

Katie Cotton

Apple PR legend Katie Cotton, who worked closely with Steve Jobs, has died aged 57.

Eileen Saki

Eileen Saki, known for her role as Rosie in "M * A * S * H", died in Los Angeles after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 79 years old.

Jacklyn Zeman

General Hospital star Jacklyn Zeman dies at 70. She was an important and beloved figure among fans for many decades.

Tori Bowie

Star athlete and Olympic medalist Tori Bowie has been found dead in Florida. Her family, team, friends and fans are in shock. She was only 32 years old.

Gordon Lightfoot

The iconic Canadian folk musician Gordon Lightfoot passed away at 84 in a hospital located in Toronto.

Patty Raynes

New Yorker Patty Raynes was found dead in her Florida home by her housekeeper. Raynes was a prominent member of Manhattan's elite. She was 70 years old.

Ginnie Newhart

The wife of American comedian Bob Newhart, Ginnie Newhart, died at 82 after a long illness.

Jerry Springer

Iconic host and TV genre pioneer Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79.

Harry Belafonte

The legendary Harry Belafonte has died aged 96. The star marked generations with his voice and undeniable charisma.

Len Goodman

Beloved Dancing With The Stars reality TV judge Len Goodman has died aged 78, just months after announcing his retirement from the show. The news sent shockwaves through fans and loved ones alike.

Elizabeth Hubbard

Elizabeth Hubbard, star of As the World Turns and The Doctors, died at 89.

Lasse Wellander

ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has died aged 70. He was praised by the band and their many fans. He died in his sleep, surrounded by his family.

Michael Lerner

Actor Michael Lerner, here with Robert Emms and Lily Collins, has died at the age of 81. His family announced the sad news. He starred in many films over the span of an impressive career including Godzilla, Elf and Barton Fink.

Paul Cattermole

Paul Cattermole, member of the popular British group S Club 7, died at the age of 46. He was found at his home. His family and friends are devastated.

Care Failure (Caroline Kawa)

Care Failure (Caroline Kawa), singer and guitarist with rock band Die Mannequin, has died aged 36. Her family confirmed that she died of heart failure following an infection. Rock fans in Canada and around the world are in shock and mourn the star.

Lewis Largent

MTV star Lewis Largent has died. The 58-year-old has also been a prolific member of the music industry, notably with Def Jam.

Lance Reddick

It's complete shock for millions of fans around the world as actor Lance Reddick's death has been confirmed by TMZ. Unforgettable figure of projects like Fringe, The Wire, Bosch or the John Wick saga, the star leaves a huge void. Lance Reddick was 60 years old.

Denise Russo

Reality TV star Denise Russo, best known for VH1's The X-Life, was found lifeless in a relative's home. She was only 44 years old. Drug-related items were reportedly found at the scene.

Gary Rossington

Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington has died aged 71. The exact cause has not been revealed, but he had been suffering from heart problems for some years.

Tom Sizemore

Tom Sizemore, star of numerous films including Natural Born Killers and Saving Private Ryan, died at 61 from a brain aneurysm. His family had the difficult task of making the decision to stop keeping him alive artificially.