Celebrities We’ve Lost This Year: Remembering Celebs Who Died In 2019
- March 25, 2019 |Last updated on 05/31/2019
Every year brings high and lows. While there have been a good dose of happy, inspiring news to come out of 2019, we’ve also had to say goodbye to some beloved celebrities.
From “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Riverdale” star Luke Perry’s death at the young age of 52 to the death of the legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, fans around the world have mourned alongside the families of these famous faces.
Here’s a look at some of the celebrities who’ve left us this year.
Doris Day
Hollywood icon Doris Day passed away at the age of 97 on May 13, 2019. Day was one of the biggest movie stars of the 1950s and ’60s, starring in films like “Calamity Jane,” “The Pajama Game,” and “Pillow Talk.” She was survived by a grandson named Ryan.
Peggy Lipton
Best known for her roles on TV’s “The Mod Squad” and “Twin Peaks,” actress Peggy Lipton died at the age of 72 on May 11, 2019, from colon cancer. She was married to music producer Quincy Jones from 1974 to 1990 and their two daughters, actress Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones, were with her in her final moments. “We feel so lucky for every moment we spent with her,” they said in a statement to the LA Times.
Tim Conway
Actor and comedian Tim Conway, who made TV audiences laugh with his role on “The Carol Burnett Show,” died on May 14, 2019, after battling a longterm illness. “I’m heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being,” said his former co-star Carol Burnett to CNN. In more recent years, Conway won an Emmy for his guest appearance on “30 Rock.”
Max Azria
On May 6, fashion designer Max Azria succumbed to lung cancer and passed away at a hospital in Houston, Texas. The 70-year-old was the founder of the fashion label BCBGMAXAZRIA and was also the one-time owner of French fashion label Herve Leger. He is survived by his wife and six children.
John Singleton
At the age of 51, director John Singleton died in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke. Singleton became the youngest person ever nominated for a “Best Director” Oscar for his movie “Boyz N The Hood” in 1992. His other films included “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Baby Boy.”
Scott Walker
British singer-songwriter Scott Walker died on Mar. 25. The experimental musician got his start as a member of the 1960s group “The Walker Brothers,” and his later work inspired the likes of musicians such as David Bowie, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and more.
Carol Channing
On Jan. 15, 2019, beloved Broadway star Carol Channing passed away at the age of 97 at her home in Rancho Mirage, California. The cause of death was listed as natural causes. Channing starred on Broadway in “Hello Dolly!” and “Gentleman Prefer Blondes,” as well as in films like 1967’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” for which she was nominated for an Oscar.
Kevin Barnett
Kevin Barnett’s death on Jan. 22, 2019 was a shock to his fans, as the comedian was only 32 years old. The cause of death was ruled to be a hemorrhage caused by pancreatitis. Most recently, Barnett had co-created the Fox comedy series “Rel.”
Kaye Ballard
Actress Kaye Ballard was best known for starring on the 1960s NBC sitcom, “The Mothers-In-Law.” She was also a singer and comedian and appeared on Broadway in shows like “The Golden Apple” and “Molly.” She died on Jan. 21 at the age of 93 at her home in California.
Daryl Dragon (Aka The Captain)
On Jan. 2, 2019, musician Daryl Dragon passed away from renal failure in Prescott, Arizona. He was 76. Along with his ex-wife Toni Tenille, Dragon was one half of the 1970s musical duo, The Captain & Tennille. Some of their hits included songs like “The Way I Want to Touch You” and “Do That to Me One More Time.”
Gene Okerlund
Legendary WWE announcer Gene Okerlund died on Jan. 2, 2019 at the age of 76 after sustaining injuries from a fall. He was known to wrestling fans as “Mean Gene,” an ironic nickname given to him by Jesse Ventura because of his friendly demeanor. Over the course of his career, he also made some appearances inside the ring.
Bob Einstein
Best known for his role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Bob Einstein died on Jan. 2, 2019, from leukemia. The 76-year-old actor and writer is survived by his younger brother, Albert Brooks. He also played the father of Matt Damon’s character in the 2007 film “Ocean’s Eleven.”
John Coughlin
On Jan. 18, 2019, figure skating champion John Coughlin took his own life. Days before his death, Coughlin had been suspended from the sport amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The 33-year-old skater was a two-time U.S. national pairs champion.
Pegi Young
Singer Pegi Young died of cancer on Jan. 1, 2019. She was married to fellow musician Neil Young for 36 years before the two divorced in 2014. Young was also a philanthropist who founded a school for children with speech disabilities.
Kristoff St. John
“Young and the Restless” actor Kristoff St. John passed away at his Los Angeles home on February 3, 2019, at age 52. The L.A. County coroner’s office determined that St. John’s cause of death was heart disease that was exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. St. John was preceded in death by his son, Julian St. John, who died in 2014.
James Ingram
At the age of 66, R&B singer James Ingram succumbed to brain cancer on January 29, 2019. One of his most famous songs was the Grammy-winning duet with Linda Ronstadt, “Somewhere Out There,” for the 1986 animated film, “An American Tail.” He also received Oscar nominations for theme songs for the movies “Beethoven’s 2nd” and “Junior.”
Peter Tork
At the age of 77, musician Peter Tork passed away on February 21, 2019 from complications from cancer. Tork will be remembered as the bassist of the Monkees, one of the most popular bands of the 1960s that got its start as an imaginary Beatles-like band on the NBC sitcom, “The Monkees.” While the band broke up in the ’70s, Tork reunited with the Monkees for a world tour in 2011.
Karl Lagerfeld
Legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died on February 19, 2019 at the age of 85, after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. The German-born designer was best known as the creative director of Chanel, a position he held from 1983 until his death. Lagerfeld reportedly left his fortune to his cat, Choupette.
Albert Finney
British actor Albert Finney, a five-time Oscar nominee, died on February 7, 2019. The 82-year-old was battling a chest infection at the time of his death. Finney starred in a wide range of films during his life from “Tom Jones” to “Erin Brockovich” and “Skyfall.”
Brody Stevens
Forty-eight-year-old comedian Brody Stevens died of an apparent suicide on February 22, 2019. Stevens was known for his standup performances as well as parts in movies like “The Hangover,” “The Hangover 2,” and “The Due Date.” He reportedly struggled with mental health issues.
Lee Radziwill
Lee Radziwill, a princess, socialite, and the sister of Jacqueline Kennedy, died of natural causes on February 15, 2019 in New York. Radziwill had two children with her late husband Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł: daughter Anna Christina Radziwill and son Anthony Radziwiłł, who preceded his mother in death. During her lifetime, Radziwill had a brief career as an interior designer and an even briefer career as an actress.
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson was a former professional baseball player and the first black manager in the MLB. On February 7th, 2019, Robinson died at the age of 83 at his home in Los Angeles. Among his many accomplishments, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
George Mendonsa
George Mendonsa, the sailor who appeared in the iconic 1945 Times Square photo, died on February 17, 2019. He was 95. The photo, which was dubbed “The Kiss,” came to symbolize the end of World War II.
Julie Adams
Actress Julie Adams, who starred in the classic 1954 film “The Creature From the Black Lagoon,” passed away on February 3, 2019. The 92-year-old had a storied career in Hollywood, starring in over 50 movies. Adams is survived by two sons, Steve and Michael Danton, and four grandchildren.
Janice Freeman
Singer Janice Freeman, a contestant on Season 13 of “The Voice,” passed away on March 3, 2019, after a blood clot traveled to her heart while she was sick with pneumonia. Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Hudson, both coaches during Freeman’s season, posted tributes on Instagram after learning about her death. Freeman was 33 years old.
Lisa Sheridan
Actress Lisa Sheridan, 44, died at home on Feb. 25, 2019. Her cause of death was not immediately known. She will be remembered for her roles on shows like “Halt and Catch Fire” and “Invasion.” “Obviously, we were all blindsided with this devastating loss. Lisa was deeply loved. We are heartbroken,” said Sheridan’s manager Mitch Clem to Deadline.
Katherine Helmond
TV actress Katherine Helmond died on Feb. 23, 2019 from Alzheimer’s complications. She was 89 years old. She was best known for her role as Judith Light’s mother on “Who’s The Boss,” as well as for her work on the TV series “Soap.”
Beverley Owen
Famous for being the original Marilyn on “The Munsters,” actress Beverley Owen was reported to have died at the age of 81 on Feb. 21, 2019. She had been battling ovarian cancer since 2017. Owen left the series after just 13 episodes in order to get married.
Luke Perry
Luke Perry, “90210” and “Riverdale” star, died March 4, five days after suffering a massive stroke. Celebrities took to social media to mourn the loss of the longtime actor, best known as ’90s heartthrob Dylan McKay on “90210,” who was also a father of two.
Clark Gable III
Clark Gable III, the grandson of “Gone with the Wind” actor Clark Gable, died at the age of 30. Gable hosted the reality show “Cheaters.” The cause of his death was not immediately reported. He leaves behind a daughter named Shore.
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Julius Campbell
2000’s “Remember The Titans” was a film about a football coach’s attempt to racially integrate an Alexandria, Virginia, high school football team in the early 1970s. Julius Campbell, one of the real-life players (he was portrayed by Wood Harris in the film) passed away at the age of 65. Alexandria City Public Schools honored his legacy on Twitter.
This week we remember one of our @TCWTitans, Julius Campbell. Read on about his legacy of unity, and share with us your memories of him: https://t.co/TnhJ01vBGZ #RememberTheTitans #TitanPride pic.twitter.com/w757O94Fcr
— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) January 28, 2019
Nipsey Hussle
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle died on March 31, 2019, after being shot outside of his clothing store in Los Angeles. Hussle was a beloved advocate of his South Los Angeles neighborhood, and a procession on the way to his funeral drew thousands of spectators. A 29-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the rapper’s death.
Georgia Engel
Best known for her roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Shows,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “Hot in Cleveland,” 70-year-old actress Georgia Engel died on April 12, 2019. The cause of her death was not immediately known. In addition to her Emmy-nominated TV career, Engel also appeared on Broadway, including, most recently, in “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Dick Dale
Dubbed the “King of Surf Guitar,” musician Dick Dale died at the age of 81 on March 16, 2019, after battling several health conditions and declining health. He and his band The Del-Tones are best remembered for their 1963 musical hit, “Misirlou.” The tune became the theme song for the movie “Pulp Fiction” and was sampled in 2006 by the Black Eyed Peas.
Hal Blaine
Legendary drummer Hal Blaine passed away from natural causes on March 11, 2019. He was 90. As a studio drummer, Blaine recorded songs with artists like Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Barbra Streisand, The Beach Boys, and the Carpenters. He was described by the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson as “the greatest drummer ever.”
Denise DuBarry
Former “CHiPs” and “Black Sheep Squadron” actress Denie DuBarry passed away at the age of 63 on March 23, 2019. She reportedly died of a rare fungal infection. The actress-turned-businesswoman is survived by her husband and four children.
Ken Kercheval
Actor Ken Kercheval was best known for his role on the soap opera “Dallas,” where he played J.R. Ewing’s rival, Cliff Barnes. He died at age 83 on April 21, 2019. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kercheval and Larry Hagman (who played J.R. Ewing) were the only two actors to remain on the show during its original run from 1978-1991.