We've lost quite a few notable celebrities in the last year for various reasons, whether it be failing health or tragic accidents. Some deaths were due to the inevitability of age, while others were sad mishaps that could have been avoided altogether.
These celebrities have left quite a mark on our culture as a whole. Musicians, singers, comedians, actors, sports players, etc. So, why not remember who we've lost so that we can remember them for what they've given us? From Kobe Bryant the All-star NBA player to Norm Macdonald the legendary stand-up comedian, let us look back on their careers and their accomplishments, and pay tribute to their passing.
#1 Betty White
Everyone is familiar with Betty White. With a nearly 90-year entertainment career, picking her most memorable parts would be too difficult and time-consuming. She lives to be 99 years old, dying just a few weeks before her 100th birthday on December 31, 2021.
#2 Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation's Hall of Fame for his contributions as an announcer. With his loud, booming voice, he's famed for introducing many of the best wrestlers. He did, however, have a major stroke in 2018 and has been in poor condition ever since. He passed away in April 2020.
#3 Sam Lloyd
Sam Lloyd died on April 30, 2020, of lung cancer. The stand-up comedian was most recognized for his roles in Scrubs and Seinfeld. Zach Braff, in particular, sung his praises in a Tweet following his accolades, noting of his wit and how much he treasured the time they spent together.
#4 Little Richard
Little Richard, the "wild man" of early rock 'n' roll, died in May 2020 at the age of 87. He'd been battling bone cancer for a while. His music will not be forgotten, with songs like "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally."
#5 Jerry Stiller
Ben Stiller's father passed away in May 2020. "He was a fantastic dad and grandfather, and the most loving spouse to Anne for almost 62 years," Ben wrote on social media. He'll be sorely missed. Dad, I adore you." He will be recognized for his most memorable roles.
#6 Fred Willard
Fred Willard, a comic legend with a significant body of work, died in May 2020 of natural causes. He did, however, leave an indelible mark on the comedy genre and on Hollywood as a whole.
#7 Mary Pat Gleason
Mary Pat Gleason died in June 2020, at the age of 70. With performances on Saved by the Bell, Sex and the City, and Desperate Housewives, her looks and charisma became famous. Of course, that's not all she's done; she's also been in a number of films.
#8 Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner died in 2020, at the age of 98. For more than six decades, he worked in the entertainment industry as a comedy writer, director, and actor. He was the recipient of nine Emmys, a Grammy, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
#9 Kelly Preston
Kelly Preston had battled cancer for two years before she was unable to continue. She died on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57. She was most known as John Travolta's wife and for her roles in Jerry Maguire, For Love of the Game, and What a Girl Wants.
#10 Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera, best known for her appearances in Glee and Step Up, died in a horrific accident near Lake Piru. She and her kid had gone swimming, and while her son returned to their boat, Rivera did not. Her body takes five days to recuperate. She was only 33 years old.
#11 Grant Imahara
In the third season of Mythbusters, Grant Imahara had established himself as a mainstay. He rose to fame quickly, but his life was cut short far too soon. He died of a brain aneurysm in July 2020.
#12 Ray Liotta
This was a recent loss, making it all the more heartbreaking. Ray Liotta died at the age of 67, which is a relatively early age. He has left his imprint on human society through films such as Goodfellas and Field of Dreams.
#13 Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin's family issued the following statement after his death in 2020: "We thank his friends and admirers for their wonderful support over his 60-year career..." 60 years in the entertainment industry, including work as a talk and game show presenter, actor, and singer.
#14 John Witherspoon
He began his Hollywood career in 1965 and has appeared in more television shows than you can count. He's also appeared in a number of music videos for hip-hop and rap artists. Regrettably, he died in October of 2019.
#15 Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello was a fantastic actor of Italian heritage. Known for his roles in various films, including Harlem Nights and The Godfather Part II, his most critically acclaimed performance was as Sal Frangione in Do the Right Thing. This role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He passed away in December of 2019.
#16 Ashley Massaro
Ashley Massaro's portfolio of work was fairly diverse. She was a WWE professional wrestler, radio personality, TV host, glamour model, and Survivor: China candidate. Her wrestling career, though, is what she is best known for. She passed away in May of 2019.
#17 Beth Chapman
In June of 2019, the wife of reality TV star Duane "Dog" Chapman died of cancer. She was most known for her roles in the television shows Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog and Beth: On the Hunt, and Dog's Most Wanted. They were married since 2006.
#18 Stefanie Sherk
Stephanie Sherk, a Canadian native, relocated to the United States to advance her career as a model, producer, and actress. She has appeared in a number of television shows, including CSI: Cyber and #Hashtag: The Series. She also contributed to Valentine's Day, Big Date, and Crash Landing. In April 2019, she died at the age of 43.
#19 Chuy Bravo
Chuy Bravo was a Mexican-American actor best known for playing Chelsea Handler's sidekick on her talk show Chelsea Lately. Although acting was his primary emphasis, he also established the Bravo Academy in Los Angeles to help Latino talent work in the entertainment industry. He died in December of 2019 at the age of 63.
#20 Norm Macdonald
Norm Macdonald was famous for his deadpan sense of humour and comedic flair. He made his mark on comedy by appearing on Saturday Night Live and hosting his own show. However, he died in 2021 at the age of 62.
#21 Neil Peart
In 1983, Neil Peart was the youngest person honored into the Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame. He was not only Rush's drummer, but also its lyricist. He was also a published novelist, having written several memoirs based on the topics of his lyrics. Peart died of glioblastoma at the age of 67, after suffering from the disease for more than three years.
#22 Rip Torn
Rip Torn had a more than 60-year comedy career as both an actor and a voice actor. Patch O'Houlihan in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Zed in the Men in Black franchise are two of his roles. Torn died at the age of 88 following a long battle with Alzheimer's.
#23 Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried was one of the most famous media voices. That is most likely why he was such a successful comic and voice actor. Unfortunately, he died in 2022 at the age of 67.
#24 Rocky Johnson
Rocky's son Dwayne has since eclipsed him in popularity, but we must not forget what the original Johnson accomplished. He was a well-known wrestler who won multiple titles with the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1983, he and his partner, Tony Atlas, won the World Tag Team Championship. They became the first black World Wrestling Entertainment champions. He ignored certain symptoms in January 2020, believing he had the flu. As a result, he died from a pulmonary embolism.
#25 Cameron Boyce
While adults may have had less exposure to him, Cameron Boyce was a well-known Disney Channel mainstay, including parts on Jessie, Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 20 due to complications from his epilepsy.
#26 Bob Saget
Bob Saget died in 2022 at the young age of 66. Saget, a comedian and talk show presenter, will be remembered for his part on Full House and its sequel, Fuller House.
#27 Juice WRLD
Jarad Anthony Higgins, better known by his stage moniker Juice WRLD, was a Chicago-based rapper and performer. His Spotify tunes helped him land deals with Grade A Productions and Interscope Productions. He died after taking numerous unknown drugs on a flight from Van Nuys to Chicago.
#28 Robert Forster
Despite appearing in various films throughout his Hollywood career, he is most known for his appearances in Reflections in a Golden Eye and Medium Cool. He even received a Saturn Award for Best Guest Actor for his role as Granite Slate in Breaking Bad. Forster died of brain cancer in October 2019, surrounded by his family.
#29 Kobe Bryant
On the court, Kobe Bryant was known as "Black Mamba." He was one of the best basketball players of all time. His skill, leadership, and competitive nature led to five NBA championships, 18 All-Star selections, and being named NBA Finals MVP twice during his 20-year career with the Lakers. After retiring, he won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2017 for Dear Basketball. However, when traveling with his daughter, Gianna, in early 2020, their helicopter crashed, and none of them survived.