Remember the stars who passed on in 2023
Each year that passes also means saying a mournful goodbye to another wave of pop culture icons, leaders, artists, and sometimes heroes. In 2023, we bid farewell to many prominent figures from all backgrounds and walks of life, from music to philanthropy. Many passed away before their time, and here, we reflect on each one’s legacy.
Whose death shocked you the most? Each one played a formative part in shaping the cultural landscape of some very eventful decades, right to the present day. May they rest in peace. Now, let us revisit those we lost in 2023.
On January 1, at the age of 67, Fred White died. A celebrated songwriter and musician, he was one of the first members of Earth, Wind & Fire.
In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was formed by brothers Verdine and Fred White, along with Fred’s half-brother Maurice White.
Actor Adam Rich passed away on January 7. The former child star was just 54 when he died at his home in Las Angeles. Rich had been acting since 1976 until the end of his life in 2023.
Rich was just eight years old when he landed the part of Nicholas on Eight is Enough. He also appeared on Code Red on ABC and Gun Shy on CBS.
Tony nominee Melinda Dillon was 83 when she died on January 9. She made her Broadway debut in the original production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and went on to play Jillian Guiler in 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Her performance in the latter production earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She is also remembered for playing Mother Parker in 1983’s A Christmas Story. Following her death, Dillon’s co-star Peter Billingsley remembered her as “kind, supportive, cool, thoughtful, giving, and committed,” adding, “I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to call her my on-screen mother.”
English guitarist Jeff Beck, famously known for performing in the Yardbirds, passed away on January 10. Beck was 78 when he died of a bacterial meningitis infection at a hospital near Riverhall. His passing was mourned by the likes of Jimmy Page, who called him “the six stringed Warrior,” and Mick Jagger, who mourned, “With the death of Jeff Beck we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world.”
Beck is still celebrated as the frontman of the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Rolling Stone is among the list of music-related publications that ranks Beck as one of the greatest guitar players of all time and he is often called a “guitarist’s guitarist.”
On January 12, Lisa Marie Presley passed away. She was just 54 when she died of cardiac arrest at her Calabasas, California home.
Lisa Marie was the only child of Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla. She was a mother of four; she shared Riley and Benjamin Keough with Danny Keough and shared twins Harper and Finley with Michael Lockwood. She is predeceased by her son Benjamin and survived by her children and mother.
Actor Al Brown passed away on January 13. Brown was 83 when he died in Las Vegas and news of his death came from a Facebook post, with his daughter Jenny telling TMZ that the actor had been battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Brown served in the Air Force for 29 years before he got into acting. When he did, he became known for playing the fan-favorite Baltimore Police Department Commissioner
Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, Gina Lollobrigida dominated the media as a sex symbol, and on January 16, she died at a clinic in Rome. She was 95 when she passed and was buried at her birthplace, Subiaco, Lazio.
Beyond her work as a model, she achieved the unthinkable and gained access to Fidel Castro for an exclusive interview. She worked as a photojournalist, sold all her jewelry to fund scientific research, and prior to her death became one of the last stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
David Crosby was 81 when he died on January 18. Crosby had several health issues throughout his life, from a battle with type 2 diabetes that saw him lose over 50 pounds, to a highly publicized liver transplant paid for by Phil Collins.
Crosby is credited with helping to establish the folk-rock and psychedelia genres of music and was a key part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. Crosby came to represent the counterculture movement of the ’60s.
Former teen actor Lance Kerwin was 62 when he passed away on January 24. His rise to fame and stardom occurred around his childhood and teen years. Some of his prominent credits include The Loneliest Runner, which is about the troubled early years of Michael Landon, and Salem’s Lot.
An autopsy report showed that Kerwin died after overdosing on multiple drugs, including fentanyl, morphine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.
On January 25, at the age of 75, Cindy Williams died. The actress passed away in Los Angeles following what was reported as a brief illness.
Williams is perhaps best remembered as Shirley Feeney from Happy Days, a role she reprised for Laverne & Shirley. She is also known for her work in 1973’s American Graffiti and The Conversation the following year.
Barrett Strong Jr. passed away on January 28 at the age of 81. He died at his home in La Jolla, San Diego, California, and is survived by his seven children. His wife of 35 years, Sandy White, predeceased him one year prior.
Strong is known for the song “Money (That’s What I Want),” which became the very first hit single for the Motown record label. Working closely with producer Norman Whitfield, Strong also became the force behind “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
Actress Lisa Loring passed away on January 28 when she was 64 years old. She suffered a strong that has been attributed to smoking and hypertension.
Working since the age of six, Loring is known as the original on-screen Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family, a role she maintained from 1964 to 1966.
January 30 marked the passing of Louise Harrison, the oldest sister of Beatlest lead guitarist George Harrison. She passed away at a Florida nursing home at the age of 91. News of her death was confirmed by friends on Facebook.
Louise was responsible for helping the Beatles break into the American music scene and for helping her brother George with his newfound fame during Beatlemania. She was predeceased by George and her son Gordon.
Celebrated songwriter and instrumentalist Burt Bacharach was 94 years old when he passed away on February 8. He died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California. Family surrounded him as he died peacefully.
Over the decades, Bacharach amassed an impressive discography that’s as sprawling as it is beloved and includes hits like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” “Say A Little Prayer,” and “Walk On By,” to name just a very small sampling.
Raquel Welch died on February 15 at the age of 82. The actress and model was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and ultimately died of cardiac arrest at her home in Los Angeles.
Welch took the modeling landscape by storm as a new kind of sex icon. She is responsible for shifting the image of this kind of pop culture icon from the blonde bombshells of Marylin Monroe and Jayne Mansfield to a more exotic, powerful kind of beauty.
Born as Estelle Caro Eggleston, Stella Stevens passed away on February 17 at the age of 84. Stevens died of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, according to a statement from her son, actor-producer-director Roger Stevens, “She had been in hospice for quite some time with Stage 7 Alzheimer’s.”
The ’60s starlet was known for Nutty Professor, The Poseidon Adventure, Girls! Girls! Girls!, and The Silencers.
On February 19, Richard Belzer died. He was 78 years old when he passed. His cause of death is attributed to complications from unspecified circulatory and respiratory conditions. His friend, novelist Bill Scheft, claims his last words were “F— you, motherf—er!”
Perhaps less poised but certainly in the same vein as his on-screen persona, Detective John Munch from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role he retained for 23 years.
Actor Tom Sizemore passed away on March 3. Sizemore was 61 when he suffered a brain aneurysm the month before, leading to his hospitalization. He was in critical condition and his representative issued a statement saying that doctors determined there was “no further hope and have recommended end-of-life decision” to Sizemore’s family.
Beginning his career in ’76, Sizemore went from supporting roles in Born on the Fourth of July and Blue Steel to starring in Saving Private Ryan.
Gary Rossington died on March 5 at the age of 71. The official cause of death has not been revealed, by time of writing. Back in 2015, Rossington had suffered a heart attack and in 2021, he underwent emergency heart surgery.
As a guitarist, Rossington was a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and before his death, he was the longest-surviving founding member. He was initially interested in baseball but completely readjusted his dreams after hearing the Rolling Stones.
Robert Blake, who was sometimes billed as Bobby Blake and Mickey Gubitosi, died on March 9. Blake was 89 when he died of heart disease.
Appearing in some 200 films, Blake was a celebrated Emmy and Golden Globe winner whose biggest credits included In Cold Blood and Baretta, the latter of which saw him in the titular starring role.
Lance Reddick was 60 years old when he died on March 17. Reddick was found dead in his home, originally thought to have died of natural causes. However, his death certificate attributes his passing to ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
Reddick had a sprawling acting career that spanned television, film, and video games. He is known for playing Police Chief Irving in Bosch, Cedric Daniels on The Wire, Charon in the John Wick series, and Phillip Broyles in Fringe. He has also done extensive voice acting and upon his death, Reddick received extensive tributes from game industry insiders.
Comedian Paul O’Grady passed away on March 28. He died “unexpectedly but peacefully” at the age of 67. His cause of death is attributed to sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
O’Grady was also famously known as Lily Savage, his drag persona in the London gay scene. On the small screen, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show, among other television and radio programs. Upon his death, tributes poured in, including one from Queen Consort Camilla. Cheshire, England native O’Grady has been called a national treasure and received extensive praise from LGBT rights activists.
M*A*S*H actor Judy Farrell died on April 2 at the age of 84, owing to complications of a stroke. In addition to acting, Farrell also wrote over a dozen episodes of the soap opera Port Charles.
But perhaps most famously, she played Nurse Able in M*A*S*H for eight episodes in 1976. Her final film credit was 2006’s Long-Term Relationship. Her first gig saw Farrell in an uncredited role in The Andromeda Stain.
Academy Award nominee was 81 when he died on April 8 of complications from brain seizures. Lerner left behind a career spanning six decades, having been in the industry from 1963 to his death.
In that career, Lerner gave a critically-acclaimed performance in Barton Fink. He also appeared in The Warden, Clueless and Elf. News of his passing came from Lerner’s nephew Sam in an Instagram update where he called the actor “the coolest, most confident, talented guy.”
On April 7, guitarist Lasse Wellander passed away. The Swedish guitarist was 70 when he died, following a brief battle with cancer, according to an announcement post on his personal Facebook page.
Wellander, born in the Swedish village of Skrikarhyttan, served as the guitarist for ABBA, first recording with the group’s backing band in ’74. He can be heard on their self-titled album playing several tracks that became enduring hits.
The fashion industry mourned the loss of Mary Quant on April 13. Quant, born in Surrey, England, was 93 when she died peacefully at home.
Quant was an icon of the Swinging ’60s and is one of the fashion designers credited with making the miniskirt mainstream, and in so doing, “freed the female leg,” according to International New York Times fashion director Vanessa Friedman.
Singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte passed away on April 25 at the age of 96. In his entertainment career, Belafonte is known for his recordings of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” “Jamaica Farewell,” and many more. His final film credit was Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, before he died of congestive heart failure at his home in his native New York.
Belafonte became active in the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s, quickly becoming one of the closest confidants of Martin Luther King Jr. himself, while also breaking racial barriers in the entertainment industry.
Dancing powerhouse Len Goodman died on April 22 at the age of 78. Goodman had been receiving hospice care before he died of bone cancer just before his 79th birthday.
In addition to serving as a judge on the British program Strictly Come Dancing, he also featured heavily on Dancing with the Stars from 2005 to 2022.
On April 23, Ginnie Newhart died. She was 82 years old when she passed away and had reportedly been battling a long illness, though details beyond that remain limited by time of writing.
Ginnie was the beloved wife of comedian Bob Newhart, the two tying the knot in January 1963. But she is also credited as a huge supporting force behind Bob’s fame and is the brain behind the series finale of Newhart being a dream sequence tying into The Bob Newhart Show.
Broadcaster Jerry Springer died at the age of 79. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just months before his death on April 27, according to a family spokesperson.
From 1977 to 1978, Springer, a former Cincinnati City Council member, served as the 56th Mayor of Cincinnati. In addition to his divisive talk show, Jerry Springer, which ran from 1991 to 2018, Springer also hosted America’s Got Talent.
Songwriter and instrumentalist Gordon Lightfoot died on May 1. He was 84 years old when he passed away of natural causes, though his death followed years of health troubles.
Lightfoot gained international regard for his musical work that spanned folk, pop, rock, and country. The Ontario native is also still considered the greatest songwriter in Canadian history.
Actress Eileen Saki, born as Minako Borgan, was 79 years old when she died on May 1. Her death is attributed to pancreatic cancer.
Saki was known for her memorable performances on M*A*S*H, partly as a Madam in season 5, but primarily as the final and longest-lasting Rosie.
On May 9, Jacklyn Zeman passed away. She was 70 years old when she died, following a short illness with cancer.
Primarily a TV actress, Zeman was most famous for playing Bobbie Spencer on ABC’s General Hospital. It was a role she maintained for 45 years. As a series regular, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Marlene Clark died on May 18 at the age of 85. Clark died on the same day as her former Slaughter co-star Jim Brown, who himself was 87.
Throughout her acting career, Clark became especially known for the role of Ganja Meda in Ganja & Hess as well as that of Janet Lawson in Sanford and Son. In the latter, she played Lamont’s girlfriend from season five until the show’s conclusion in ’77.
On May 21, Ray Stevenson died at the age of just 58; he passed just four days before his birthday. No official cause of death has, by time of writing, been identified, but he had reportedly been hospitalized not long before.
Stevenson became a prominent figure in the Star Wars franchise, including Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Most recently, he also portrayed Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka.
On May 24, at the age of 83, singer-songwriter Tina Turner died. Turner had faced several grueling health battles throughout her life, from kidney failure to intestinal cancer. Additionally, the trauma of her life with her ex Ike Turner left her with PTSD and ongoing nightmares. After years of illness, Turner ultimately died of natural causes at her home in Switzerland.
Turner has been called the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, building up her solo career as one of the biggest musical comebacks of all time. Turner went on to boast a multi-platinum discography and, at 44, became the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100. With over 100 million record sales worldwide, Turner is still considered one of the best-selling artists of all time.
George Maharis died on May 24. He was 94 years old when he passed and is survived by his brother and sister.
Maharis was a threat on two fronts as a celebrated singer and actor. For the first three seasons of Route 66, he played the role of Buz Murdock. He would also star in The Most Deadly Game and boasted several successful pop albums.
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known more commonly by the ring name the Iron Sheik, died on June 7 at the age of 81. The Iron Sheik ultimately died of cardiac arrest, with hypertension and congestive heart failure as contributing factors.
The Iron Sheik was a definitive part of the then-budding WWE history. Additionally, he often provided a memorable foil to Hulk Hogan. The Iron Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hallmark regular Treat Williams died on June 12, after being tragically involved in a motorcycle accident. He was only 71 when he died. Williams had been driving along Vermont Route 30 when a 2008 Honda Element turned into the line of his motorcycle and Williams was unable to swerve to avoid it. The Honda driver was charged with “grossly negligent operation resulting in death.”
A Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, Satelite Award, and Screen Actors Guild nominee, Williams had an extensive film career that saw him in everything from Once Upon a Time in America (1984) to The Devil’s Own (1997) to Miss Congeniality 2 (2005). On TV, he had recurring roles in Chicago Fire, White Collar, and Blue Bloods. He also appeared in multiple Hallmark programs.
The legendary Alan Arkin was 89 when he passed away on June 29. His death is attributed to health problems; Arkin had an extensive history of similar complications.
A six-time Emmy nominee, Arkin has won a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and Academy Award throughout his career, which kicked off in 1951 and lasted the rest of his life. He secured fame with works like The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Catch-22. He won an Academy Award for his performance in Little Miss Sunshine. He also lent his vocal talents to the character of J. D. Salinger on Netflix’s BoJack Horseman.
On July 21, Tony Bennett died. The “Because of You” crooner was 96 when he died. His passing follows a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, although Bennett continued to sing until the very end, according to his family.
Bennett accumulated over 50 million global record sales to his name and is immortalized by a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. He is the voice behind the beloved “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” In the 21st century, he enjoyed renewed fame through his collaborations with Lady Gaga, which quickly blossomed into a profound friendship.
Sinead O’Connor was only 56 years old when she died on July 26. Her cause of death was not specified, although local police did say her passing was not being treated as suspicious.
O’Connor was celebrated as a transcendent singer, songwriter, and activist. Her album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got is considered one of her biggest triumphs and her 2021 memoir, Remembering, quickly became a bestseller. O’Connor frequently used her platform to shine a spotlight on issues such as child abuse, women’s rights, human rights, racism, and more.
On July 30, actor Paul Reubens passed away. He was 70 when he died of acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Around the time of his death, Reubens, who was responsible for creating and portraying the character of Pee-wee Herman, was also diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer and “myelogenous leukemia.”
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” read a statement by Reubens released after his death. Reubens had been very private about his condition. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
Willaim Friedkin died on August 7 at the age of 87. Beginning his career in the early ’60s, Friedkin became associated with the fresh “New Hollywood” movement that arose a decade later. He is famous for directing the Academy Award-winning The French Connection (1971) and for directing The Exorcist (1973).
Sadly, Friedkin died of heart failure and pneumonia. Following his death, Francis Ford Coppola honored him as “my first friend among the filmmakers of my generation,” and said he would “grieve for the loss of a much-loved companion.”
At the age of 80, Robbie Robertson died on August 9. His passing followed a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
In addition to his time in the ’60s and ’70s as guitarist and songwriter for the Band, Robertson also served as the lead guitarist for Bob Dylan around the same time. As a member of the Band, Robertson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine ranks him as 59th in its ranking of 100 greatest guitarists.
Actress Hersha Parady was 78 years old when she died on August 23. Parady suffered a brain tumor and passed away in Norfolk, Virginia. News of her death came, in part, from the Facebook page of Little House on the Prairie alum Allison Arngrim.
Parady had a small but steady career on TV that ran from 1971 to 1998. Most famously, she played Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. Other credits include The Waltons and Kenan & Kel.
At the age of 99, just months shy of turning 100, Bob Barker passed away. He died at home on August 26 following a years-long secret battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Hypothyroidism, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were listed as secondary causes of death.
Celebrated for his military service and his dedication to causes like animal wellness, Barker was the host of America’s longest-running game show The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007. He also served as host to Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975. His record for game show hosting is beaten only by Wheel of Fortune‘s Pat Sajak.
Music and cultural icon Jimmy Buffett died suddenly on September 1 at the age of 76. Back in May, Buffett had been hospitalized to “address some issues that needed immediate attention.” His death was attributed to Merkel-cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.
Buffett’s website says Buffett had been “surrounded by his family, friends, music, and dogs” when he passed. Throughout his career, Buffett built an empire based on lazy beach days and cemented his legacy with “Margaritaville.”
Actor Billy Miller died on September 15, just two days shy of his 44th birthday. His mother Patricia confirmed in a statement that Miller had died by suicide, after battling bipolar depression for several years.
Miller spent 20 years in the industry and most frequently populated soap operas. Most famously, he played Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless. He also balanced the roles of Jason Morgan and Drew Cain on General Hospital.
Actress Elaine Devry was 93 when she passed away on September 20. From 2005 onward, Devry had lived quietly on a ranch on Oregon, having formally retired back in 1999. She died in Grants Pass, in the same state.
Devry boasted a successful career on the big and small screen, appearing in The Atomic Kid, China Doll (1958) and A Guide for the Married Man (1967), and Perry Mason. She also appeared in I Dream of Jeannie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Dragnet, and 77 Sunset Strip, among others.
On September 25, David McCallum passed away. McCallum had been 90 years old when he died at a hospital in New York City just under a week after his birthday.
McCallum was a star of film and – especially – television. He was especially famous for playing Illya Kuryakin in the James Bond spoof The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as well as Donald “Ducky” Mallard in the JAG spinoff NCIS.
Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away on September 29 at the age of 90. She had been gradually suffering from health problems that forced her to miss several months of work leading up to her death.
Feinstein was the longest-serving woman in the U.S. senator; she was also the longest-serving senator overall of California. Throughout her political career, Feinstein frequently worked across the political aisle on issues such as human rights and women’s suffrage both in the U.S. and abroad. Her death marked the first time an active senator died since John McCain’s passing in 2018.
Actor-turned-painter Burt Young died on October 8 at the age of 83, after a long life riddled with personal struggles that helped influence his later acting. In turn, those acting credits would inspire his artwork.
As an actor, Young was perhaps best known as Paulie Pennino, brother-in-law and best friend to Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series. His performance in the first installment earned Young a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Television star Mark Goddard died on October 10 at the age of 82. His death has been attributed to pulmonary fibrosis. Goddard is survived by his wife Evelyn Pezzulich as well as his children, one of whom was with Pezzulich.
Goddard secured fame in the early ’60s thanks to his role of Sgt. Chris Ballard in The Detective. His acclaim was further cemented when he played Major Don West in CBS’s family sci-fi series Lost in Space, which became his most famous project, although it was one he and his agent had not anticipated rocketing to such fame. He is remembered fondly by his younger co-star Bill Mumy, who considered him like a brother.
Career actress Phyllis Coates was 96 years old when she passed away on October 11. With a career spanning over 50 years, Coates had been at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital when she passed.
In addition to acting, Coates had a background in dance and even studied comedic timing from vaudeville comedian Ken Murray. She also forever has a place in film, television, and comic book history as the first woman to play the reporter Lois Lane, first in 1951’s Superman and the Mole Men, then in season one of Adventures of Superman.
Dark Shadows actress Lara Park died on October 12 at the age of 84. An official cause of death was not immediately released.
With a career spanning over five-and-a-half decades, Parker was perhaps best known for Angelique, a powerful witch tormented by the power of love and hate in the ABC-TV series Dark Shadows. She appeared in several storylines running from June 1966 through April 1971.
Film star Piper Laurie died on October 14 at the age of 91. Her death follows a prolonged period in which Laurie had been feeling significantly unwell.
Working from 1949 to 1965, and then from 1976 to her death, Laurie had a prolific career and was famous for her roles in Carrie, The Hustler, Children of a Lesser God, and more. Her work spans film, television, and stage work.
On October 16, at the age of 76, actress Suzanne Somers passed away just one day before her birthday. Somers had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, which she would battle for two decades. Although Somers’ health had declined in recent months, she had been fully invested in a happy, eventful birthday just before she died.
Somers is remembered for her performance as Chrissy Snow in Three’s Company, a role she retained until she was fired in 1980. She famously conflicted with producers, wanting a higher salary, which she was refused. She went on to become a spokesperson for the Thighmaster exercise equipment.
Film star and model Richard Roundtree died on October 24 at the age of 81. He was at his Los Angeles home when he died of pancreatic cancer. His manager, Patrick McMinn, reported that Roundtree had been surrounded by his family when he passed.
In addition to appearances in Roots, Generations, and Desperate Housewives, Roundtree was particularly famous for playing the character John Shaft in 1971’s Shaft, along with four sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft (2000), and Shaft (2019). Roundtree is credited with paving the way for a wave of African-American leading actors in Hollywood thanks to his performance in the blaxploitation genre.
At the age of 80, actor Richard Moll died on October 26. Moll is survived by his ex-wife as well as their two children.
Starting his career in 1972 and retiring in 2018, Moll acted in several television programs and even voiced a Batman villain in the animated DC shows. But Moll is most especially remembered as the gigantic bailiff in NBC’s Night Court, a roll he retained from 1984 to 1992.
Television star Matthew Perry died suddenly on October 28 at the age of just 54. He had been found unresponsive in his jacuzzi in the late afternoon, and police reports indicate that there had been no drugs found at the scene.
Perry gained international fame for his role as Chandler Bing in the NBC sitcom Friends, appearing in all of its seasons from 1994 to 2004. His work on the show earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Former First Lady Eleanor Rosalynn Carter died on November 19, 2023. An activist, humanitarian, and writer, Rosalynn was the wife of President Jimmy Carter and the two shared a remarkable 77 years of marriage after tying the knot in 1946.
Rosalynn was 96 when she died and she was celebrated at a ceremony in her and Carter’s beloved Plains. During a private ceremony, Rosalynn was laid to rest at her residence. In life, Carter was known
Television writer and puppeteer Marty Krofft predeceased his creative partner and brother Sid on November 25 at the age of 86. Marty had been suffering from kidney failure.
Krofft and his brother were television creators responsible for several iconic programs. Their credits included Land of the Lost, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and H.R. Pufnstuf. Their programs went on to develop an enduring following and are still celebrated for their creative, if sometimes absurd, presentation that made for something uniquely surreal.
Sandra Day O’Connor passed away on December 1. She was 93 when she passed away after suffering from complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. She has been hailed by the current administration as an “American icon” and “bedrock American principle of an independent judiciary.”
O’Connor is remembered as the very first woman on the Supreme Court. For her achievement, she became a source of inspiration for other female warriors, especially the five women who earned a nomination to the court after her.
On December 5, Norman Lear died. He was 101 when he suffered from cardiac arrest, following complications related to heart failure; lear passed away at his Los Angeles home. The Academy honored him with the unique Carol Burnett Award celebrating seven decades of work on television.
As one of the most prolific television producers in sitcom history, Lear was responsible for several beloved titles. Some of his most famous creations include All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Maude, and Good Times.
Actor Andre Braugher died unexpectedly on December 11. Braugher was just 61. His death was attributed to lung cancer; Baugher had smoked but quit in 2010, and was formally diagnosed just a few months before his passing.
As an actor, Braugher was celebrated for his intense delivery, Braugher was known for his performance on Homicide: Life on the Street and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. For his powerful career, which also included Salt, House, and several appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Braugher won two Primetime Emmy Awards and was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
Musician Colin Burgess died on December 16 at the age of 77. News of his passing came from the official social media page of AC/DC.
Burgess had been the original drummer for AC/DC in the early days of its formation. He also played for Masters Apprentices and while with the band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame back in 1998.
On Friday, December 22, Laura Lynch was involved in a fatal car crash that took her life. She was 65 years old when she was fatally injured in a head-on collision; the oncoming car tried to pass another vehicle on an undivided highway near El Paso, Texas.
Lynch was a founding member of the country group the Dixie Chicks, now rechristened the Chicks; it was Lynch who also helped come up with that name. After news of her death was shared by Lynch’s cousin, the band called her a “bright light,” adding that “her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band.”
Tom Smothers died on December 26 at the age of 86. Smothers had announced earlier in 2023 that he’d been diagnosed with stage two lung cancer. He ultimately died of the disease at his home in Santa Rosa, California.
Smothers was one half of the comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, alongside his younger brother Dick Smothers. The two were known for their network comedy and variety shows, The Smothers Brothers Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In addition to helping establish the variety show as a viable format, Tom also played acoustic guitar with John Lennon for “Give Peace a Chance.”
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