In Memoriam 2024

Another year flies by and far too many beloved celebrities passed away. Here are a few for us to remember: 

January

• Derek Draper: The author and former political adviser, died aged 56 from extreme complications from Covid since contracting the disease in March 2020. Probably most famous for being TV presenter Kate Garroway’s husband. 
• David Soul: Soul is best known for his role as one half of the ’70’s buddy cop duo “Starsky & Hutch.” Soul would later reprise his role alongside partner Paul Michael Glaser in the 2004 big-screen remake starring Owen Wilson as Hutch and Ben Stiller as Starsky. Outside of acting, Soul was also a chart-topping singer who reached #1 on the Billboard charts with “Don’t Give Up on Us” and “Silver Lady.” He was 80.
• Glynis Johns: British actress Glynis Johns has appeared in over 60 films in a career spanning eight decades. Her most notable role came as Mrs. Banks opposite Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in “Mary Poppins.” Her TV roles included appearances on “Cheers,” “Murder She Wrote” and “The Love Boat.” Johns died at her home of natural causes. She was 100.
• Franz Beckenbauer: German and World Cup football legend Franz Beckenbauer was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. A talented defender, he won an array of trophies and honours across his glittering career, including a World Cup with West Germany as both a player and a manager, and two Ballon d’Or awards. He died aged 78.
• Annie Nightingale: Nightingale was Radio 1s first female DJ. She first appeared as a panelist on the BBC’s Jukebox Jury before joining the station as a mainstay seven years later. She was awarded an MBE in 2002, a CBE in 2020. 

February

• Carl Weathers: After playing for the Oakland Raiders for two seasons, Carl Weathers retired from pro football in 1974 to pursue acting. His breakout role came in 1976, when he played Apollo Creed in the movie “Rocky.” He would reprise that role in three “Rocky” sequels. He also starred in the movie “Predator”and the hit streaming series “The Mandalorian.” He died at the age of 76.
• Jonnie Irwin: The presenter of A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country died on 2nd February, aged 50. He announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020.
• Ian Lavender: Lavender was the last surviving member of the main cast of the BBC sitcom Dad’s Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977, playing “stupid boy” Private Pike. He also appeared in EastEnders, Yes Minister and the 1970s TV version of The Glums and the film Carry On Behind. He died on 2nd February 2024, aged 77.
• Steve Wright: He hosted shows for the BBC for over 40 years and hosted his popular show Steve Wright in the Afternoon from 1981-2022. He died at the age of 69 and the BBC’s director of music was among those paying tribute, saying: “He loved radio, and he loved the BBC, but most of all… he loved his audience.”
• Robin Windsor: The Ipswich-born Latin and ballroom dancer and Strictly Come Dancing professional died on 19th February 2024, aged 44.
• John Savident: Savident arrived on the famous cobbles in 1994 and was quickly established as a fan favourite, known for playing the booming-voiced butcher Fred Elliott. Fred’s disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals, provided many of the character’s most memorable storylines on the soap. He also had a secret son, Ashley, played by Steven Arnold, and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together. He died aged 86. 

March

• Dave Myers: Myers met his on-screen cooking partner Si King on the set of an ITV drama back in 1995. The pair then starred together on TV in 2004, on The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook in 2004. Over almost 30 years, the two became British TV cooking favourites and published more than 25 books.
• Tony Green: The popular darts commentator became known to a wider audience by co-hosting the TV quiz show Bullseye with the late Jim Bowen. He died on 4th March 2024, aged 85.
• Louis Gossett Jr.: Gossett Jr. is best known for his role in the 1982 film, “An Officer and a Gentleman,” a role that earned him a Golden Globe and a best supporting actor Oscar. He was the first African American actor to win in the category. He was 87.

April

• Peter Higgs: Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs died this year, age 94. His pioneering theory led to the discovery of the Higgs boson particle. This particle, also known as the “God particle”, explains why matter has mass and holds the universe together.
• O. J. Simpson: The former American football great who was accused of and ultimately acquitted of the brutal 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend. He had a second career as an actor, appearing in the Naked Gun series, The Towering Inferno, Capricorn One and many other movies and TV shows. He was 76. 
• Terry Carter: 

May

• Bernard Hill: Hill, famed for his role as King Theoden in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic, died earlier this year at age 79. He also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys From The Blackstuff.
• Dabney Coleman: Perhaps best known for his role as the boss in the movie “9 to 5,” Dabney Coleman also had supporting roles in the hit movies “Tootsie” and “You’ve Got Mail.” He appeared in TV shows such as “The Fugitive,” “Bonanza,” and, more recently, “Broadway Empire,” for which he won two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was 92. 
• David Wilkie: The Scottish athlete was the only person to have held British, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic swimming titles simultaneously. He died on 22nd May 2024, aged 70.
• Morgan Spurlock: The American documentary maker, who was best known for his 2004 fast food film Super Size Me, died on 23rd May 2024, aged 53.

June

• Rob Burrow: Former Rugby League player, campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of motor neurone disease (MND) following his own diagnosis of the illness. He played for Leeds Rhinos throughout his entire league career, and played internationally for England and Great Britain. He was celebrated for his bravery in living with his illness and was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List before dying at age 41.
• Michael Mosley: TV Doctor Michael Mosley died earlier this year age 67 after going missing on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Michael was known for his commitment to medical journalism and for the documentary Infested! Living With Parasites on BBC Four, he lived with tapeworms in his gut for six weeks. 
• Jeannette Charles: The Queen’s most famous lookalike, who enjoyed a long career in film and television thanks to their uncanny resemblance. Alongside chat shows, corporate events, fete openings and other appearances, she appeared in Motörhead’s music video promoting their version of the Sex Pistols song God Save the Queen in 2000. She died at the age of 96. 
• Donald Sutherland: Sutherland’s big break came when he starred in the 1970 movie comedy “M*A*S*H.” Other films included the 1978 remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the Oscar-winning 1980 drama “Ordinary People.” He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2017. More recently, he appeared in “The Hunger Games” film series. Sutherland died at the age of 88.

July

• Shelley Duvall: Was an actress best known for her performance in The Shining alongside Jack Nicholson. She also starred in Popeye with Robin Williams, and Jane Campion’s Portrait of a Lady. Duvall was a regular figure of director Robert Altman, having appeared in seven of the director’s films, she was 75. 
• Ruth Westheimer: Known as Dr. Ruth, was hired for a weekly 15-minute radio show called “Sexually Speaking,” in 1980. The show became so successful that it was expanded to an hour and became the most popular radio show in NY by 1983. That same year, her book, “Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex,” was published. She went on to publish more than 40 books. She died aged 96.
• Shannen Doherty: Actress Shannen Doherty, best-known for her roles on TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed” series and movies like “Heathers,” “Mallrats,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Doherty lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53.
• Richard Simmons: Simmons was a fitness personality who, after going through his own weight-loss journey, wanted to motivate others. He opened a gym in Los Angeles in 1974 and released popular workout videos, such as “Sweatin’ To The Oldies.” He appeared on the soap opera “General Hospital,” and starred in his own TV series, “The Richard Simmons Show”. He died at the age of 76.
• Ray Reardon: The Welsh six-time World Snooker Championship winner died on 19th July 2024, aged 91. 

August

• John Anderson: “Contenders, ready! Gladiators, ready!” For those who grew up in the 1990s, Anderson’s was one of the most familiar voices of Saturday night TV. He was best known as the umpire in the original ITV series of Gladiators, which aired between 1992 and 2000, and the revamped Sky series in 2008. But the Scottish sports coach also trained more than 100 Olympians and was inducted into the Coaching Hall of Fame in 2002. He died at the age of 92
• Graham Thorpe: The Surrey cricketer, who represented England in 100 Test matches and 82 One Day Internationals sadly took his own life on 4th August 2024. He was 55.
• Gena Rowlands: Actress Gena Rowlands made her TV debut in 1954. After years of working in television, she started making movies, most notably, “Woman Under The Influence“, and “Gloria”. More recently, she appeared in the 2004 hit movie “The Notebook” as well as TV shows such as “Monk” and “NCIS.” She died aged 96.
• Alain Delon: The French actor and star of films such as The Leopard, The Yellow Rolls Royce and Girl On A Motorcycle died on 18th August 2024, aged 88. 
• Phil Donahue: Famed TV talk show host Phil Donahue was known for “The Phil Donahue Show,” which aired for nearly 30 years. He died aged 88. 
• Dewi “Pws” Morris: Best known for his leading role in the 1978 rugby comedy film Grand Slam, Morris died in August, aged 76.

September

• Sven-Göran Eriksson: The football manager was the England team’s first foreign manager and he coached football icons such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard back in 2001. During his tenure, the England team beat Germany 5-1 in 2001, reached the quarter-finals in 2004 and again for the World Cup in 2006. He died of cancer aged 76.
• James Earl Jones: Jones’s signature deep, rumbling voice gave life to iconic movie characters, such as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s The Lion King. He also starred in classics such as Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America and The Hunt for Red October. He also achieved EGOT status, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. He died at age 93 surrounded by family and Mark Hamill, who played his son Luke Skywalker, paid tribute to the actor saying: “RIP dad.”
• Clive Everton: Was known to millions worldwide as the calm, authoritative voice of televised snooker, but of even greater importance was his work as a campaigning journalist for better governance of the game. He died aged 87.
• Dame Maggie Smith: Maggie Smith performed in theatre, movies and television during her over 60-year career. Having appeared in more than 50 films, Smith is known for her roles in the “Harry Potter” films and “Downton Abbey.” In addition to winning two Academy Awards, Smith earned five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes. In 1990, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was 89.

October

• Kris Kristofferson: Kris Kristofferson was more than just a country music icon and formidable actor, he was also a Rhodes scholar, Army veteran and Golden Gloves boxer. However, he’s most known for his roles in “Blade”, “Convoy” and “A Star is Born,” which won him a Golden Globe. He was 88.
• John Amos: Actor John Amos starred in the hit TV show “Good Times,” that aired from 1974 to 1976, and in the iconic 1977 miniseries “Roots.” His movie credits include  “Coming To America,” and “Die Hard 2.” He died at the age of 84.
• Alex Salmond: Salmond led the Scottish National Party between 1990 and 2000, befoe serving again from 2004-2014. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement and went on to form his own party. At the time of his death at 69, he had been the leader of the nationalist Alba Party since 2021.
• Liam Payne: Payne rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. The band released five albums and won numerous awards. Payne died Oct. 16 after falling from his hotel room in Buenos Aires. He was 31. 
• Geoff Capes: The British Olympic shot putter and strongman died aged 75. Capes set the record for the longest shot put by a British man with a distance of 21.68m in 1980. 

November

• Janey Godley: The Scottish comedian found viral fame with her dubbed imitations of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s COVID-19 news briefings during the pandemic. She also appeared on shows including Have I Got News For You, the Scottish soap opera River City, and crime drama Traces. She died of cancer aged 63. 
• Quincy Jones: Music legend Quincy Jones died on November 3 at age 91. He was a 28-time Grammy winner, working with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and many more. 
• Tony Todd: The Washington-born actor was best known for the title role in the 1992 horror film Candyman and 1986’s Platoon. He also appeared in the remake of Night of The Living Dead, The Crow, Final Destination and the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. He died on 6th November, aged 69.
• Timothy West: West was a star of stage and screen and was known for his roles in soaps Coronation Street and Eastenders. He was married to Prunella Scales who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers. He died peacefully aged 90 “after a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage”. 
• John Prescott, Baron Prescott: Prescott was the longest-serving deputy prime minister in British history, serving in Neil Kinnock’s shadow cabinet before becoming Tony Blair’s deputy. He was a former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman, who served as MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years. He died at the age of 86 and former prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute saying John was: “One of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics.”

December

• Barbara Taylor Bradford: The author of best-selling novels including A Woman of Substance, died at the age of 91. Published in 1979, A Woman of Substance sold 30 million copies and spawned seven sequels and a TV adaptation, which is still the most-watched programme in Channel 4’s history.
• Terry Griffiths: The Welsh snooker player, who won the world championship in 1979, died from complications from dementia aged 77. In 2007 was made an OBE for his services to the sport.
• Jimmy Carter: Former President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work to end conflict and advance human rights. Born to a peanut farmer in Georgia, he faced a daunting era of rising energy costs, inflation, and world crises during his White House years. He died aged 100 and was often called “the best former president in history.”