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Take a look at the bold-faced names we’ve lost in 2023 so far…
Musician Lasse Wellander — the longtime guitarist for Swedish music stars ABBA — died on April 7 after a short battle with cancer. “It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep. Lasse recently fell ill in what turned out to be spread cancer and early on Good Friday he passed away, surrounded by his loved ones,” a statement posted on the guitarist’s Facebook page in Swedish two days later read. “You were an amazing musician and humble as few, but above all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. Kind, safe, caring and loving … and so much more, that cannot be described in words. A hub in our lives, and it’s unbelievable that we now have to live on without you.”
ABBA also shared a statement mourning Lasse — who started playing with them in the ’70s — writing, “Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense,” the band’s members said. “We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the ABBA story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.”
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On April 9, “The Goldbergs” actor Sam Lerner announced that his uncle, Oscar-nominated actor Michael Lerner — who was best known for his performances in “Barton Fink,” “Elf” and “Godzilla” — was dead at 81. “We lost a legend last night,” Sam captioned, in part, a series of photos of the late actor on Instagram. “It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me. His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special.”
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Less than two months after the 1990s and 2000s pop group S Club 7 announced they were reuniting for a tour to mark 25 years since their formation, one of its members died: Paul Cattermole was found deceased in his home in Dorset, England, U.K. media reports confirmed. He was 46. His “Never Had a Dream Come True” bandmates issued a statement mourning the singer, writing, “We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.” The BBC reported that the group further shared that “while the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances.”
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Lance Reddick was found dead in his home in the Los Angeles area on March 17. The American actor — who starred in the “John Wick” franchise and had lengthy stints on “The Wire,” “Fringe” and “Bosch” — was 60. He was in the midst of an international press tour for “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which hit theaters on March 24, and had television appearances scheduled for that week. It’s unclear why he wasn’t on hand during the film’s New York City premiere on March 15. (He took to Instagram to share a video of himself at home with his dogs.) Law enforcement sources told TMZ that his cause of death wasn’t immediately clear, though it appeared he died of natural causes.
On April 6, TMZ reported that Lance’s death certificate confirmed his immediate cause of death was ischemic heart disease as well as atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
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Brian “Brizz” Gillis — a co-founder and one of the original members of the ’90s boy band LFO — is dead at 47, bandmate Brad Fischetti announced on Instagram on March 30. Variety confirmed that Brian passed away on March 29; a cause of death was not publicly shared. Brad is now the only surviving member of the group that came to fame with the hit 1999 song “Summer Girls.” LFO singer Rich Cronin died in 2010 at 36 following a leukemia battle and singer Devin Lima, who replaced Brian in the late ’90s, died in 2018 at 41 from adrenal cancer.
“The first two chapters of the LFO story lost a main character yesterday,” Brad wrote, in part, in a lengthy message on Instagram. “Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis passed away. I don’t have details and it wouldn’t be my place to share them if I did. I am really struggling to process this tragic loss. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it; the LFO Story is a tragedy. If you know what I’ve been doing, you know I’m trying to bring light into the darkness. Trying find redemption in pain and suffering. Trying to honor the legacy.” He concluded with this message: “I know that soon or maybe already, Brizz will be greeted by Rich and Devin. And I hope that together, they will make some sweet sounds. I would really like that. Rest east bro. Rest easy.”
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Robert Blake — the actor famed for his work in projects like the movie “In Cold Blood” and TV’s “Baretta” — died from heart disease at 89 on March 9 at his home in Los Angeles. In his later years, Robert became infamous for being tried for the 2001 murder of wife Bonny Lee Bakley. He was acquitted of murder in his criminal trial but found liable for wrongful death in a civil trial.
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Oscar- and Tony-nominated “Fiddler on the Roof” star Chaim Topol — who also notably starred in the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” and the sci-fi movie “Flash Gordon” — died in Tel Aviv on March 9 at 87 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog confirmed the sad news, describing Chaim as a “gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence and especially entered deep into our hearts.” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further acknowledged Chaim’s death, saying his “contribution to Israeli culture will continue to exist for generations.”
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Gary Rossington — the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd — died on March 5 at 71. The guitarist and songwriter survived the 1977 plane crash that killed four members of the band and played with the “Sweet Home Alabama” group until this year. “It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist Gary Rossington, today,” the band wrote on their Facebook page. “Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does.”
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On March 3 — nearly two weeks after Tom Sizemore suffered a brain aneurysm that left him in a coma — the lauded but troubled actor “passed away peacefully in his sleep” at a hospital in the Los Angeles area. He was 61. “His brother Paul and [his 17-year-old twin sons] Jayden and Jagger were at his side,” his manager said in a statement released to multiple media outlets. In late February, TMZ reported that Tom’s family had been warned that the end was near. They reportedly coordinated with doctors to lay out an end-of-life plan for the actor, who scored a Golden Globe nomination for his work in “Witness Protection” in 2000. He also appeared in “Saving Private Ryan,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Heat.” The troubled star — who had stints on the reality shows “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” and “Sober House” — struggled with addiction issues for years.
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Jansen Panettiere — the younger brother of “Heroes” and “Nashville” actress Hayden Panettiere — is dead at 28. The actor, who appeared in projects including “Even Stevens,” “Major Crimes,” “Tiger Cruise,” “Racing Stripes” and “The Walking Dead,” passed away on Feb. 19 in New York. Citing a police report, TMZ reported that when Jansen missed a meeting, a friend went to his apartment and called 911 after finding the actor sitting upright in a chair, unresponsive.
On Feb. 27, Jansen’s family publicly shared his cause of death in a statement to ABC News, writing, “Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
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Six-time Emmy nominee Barbara Bosson — who was best known for her work as Fay Furillo on the hits ’80s police drama “Hill Street Blues” — died in Los Angeles on Feb. 18. She was 83. Son Jesse Bochco — one of her two children with famed writer-producer Steven Bochco, her late former husband, confirmed the news, writing on Instagram of his mother, “More spirit and zest than you could shake a stick at. When she loved you, you felt it without a doubt. If she didn’t, you may well have also known that too. Forever in our hearts. I love you Mama.”
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Actor, comedian and author Richard Belzer — who was best known for his work on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Homicide: Life On the Street” — died on Feb. 19 at his home in Bozouls in southwest France, his longtime friend, writer Bill Scheft, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. “He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘F*** you, motherf*****,'” Bill said. Richard was 78.
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Former child actor Austin Majors — who scored his breakout role playing Theo Sipowicz, the son of Detective Andy Sipowicz on ABC’s “NYPD Blue” beginning in 1999 — is dead at 27. TMZ reported that the actor (real name: Austin Setmajer-Raglin) — who also appeared on shows including “ER,” “NCIS,” “According to Jim,” “Desperate Housewives” and “How I Met Your Mother” — passed on away on Feb. 11 while staying at a homeless housing facility in Los Angeles. Medical examiner’s office records indicate Austin’s death is being investigated, CNN reported. A source with knowledge of the circumstances of Austin’s death told TMZ foul play is not suspected and that it’s believed the onetime child star might have ingested a fatal amount of fentanyl; toxicology results are pending.
Austin’s grieving family issued a statement calling the Young Artist Award winner “a loving, artistic, brilliant and kind human being,” adding that Austin “took great joy and pride in his acting career. He was an active Eagle Scout and graduated salutatorian in high school. He went on to graduate from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with a passion of directing and music producing.” His family continued, “Austin’s younger sister, Kali, says her fondest memories with Austin were growing up on set with him, volunteering at events with Kids With a Cause and backpacking together. Austin was the kind of son, brother, grandson and nephew that made us proud and we will miss him deeply forever.”
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Raquel Welch — the bombshell beauty who became a pin-up after wearing a fur bikini in 1966’s camp classic “One Million Years B.C.” andlater won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in 1973’s “The Three Musketeers” — died at 82 on Feb. 15. The actress “passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness,” manager Steve Sauer told People magazine, adding, “Her career spanned over 50 years starring in over 30 films and 50 television series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in more recent years, was involved in a very successful line of wigs. Raquel leaves behind her two children, son Damon Welch and her daughter Tahnee Welch.”
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Burt Bacharach — the eight-time Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, movie soundtrack maestro and sometime singer — died at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8. He was 94. The Broadway composer and three-time Oscar winner gave the world dozens of hit songs including “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” and many, many more. He was married four times during his long life including, notably, to actress Angie Dickinson and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager.
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Charles Kimbrough — who starred as anchorman Jim Dial on the hit sitcom “Murphy Brown” — died at 86 on Jan. 11. His son, John Kimbrough, shared the news with The New York Times on Feb. 5. The actor’s talent agency confirmed he died in a Culver City, California, hospital of natural causes. Charles returned to the role that made him a star — and for which he scored an Emmy nomination in 1990 — for three episodes of the 2018 “Murphy Brown” reboot. He also appeared in “The Wedding Planner,” voiced one of the gargoyles in Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” cartoon and earned raves for his work on Broadway — he scored a Tony nomination for his work in Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” and later starred in the original Broadway production of Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George.” He was married to “Company” co-star and “Alice” actress Beth Howland from 2002 until her death in 2015.
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Charlie Thomas — a member of The Drifters for more than 60 years — is dead at 85, his friend, fellow musician Peter Lemongello Jr., confirmed on Instagram on Jan. 31. Charlie, who featured on The Drifters’ hits including “This Magic Moment,” “Up on the Roof,” “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “On Broadway,” among others, passed away at 85 from complications of liver cancer. “I am completely devastated and shattered after losing my best friend of so many years, Charlie Thomas, the last original recording member of The Legendary Drifters,” Peter wrote on Instagram. “Charlie was with the group longer and on more hit records than any other member in history. His accomplishments were recognized when he was 1 of just 7 members of The Drifters to be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. I have so many fond memories that we have spent together through much of my life growing up, that I will cherish forever.”
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“A Christmas Story,” “Harry and the Hendersons” and “Magnolia” actress Melinda Dillon — a Broadway star in her early 20s who earned a Tony Award nod for her work in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — died on Jan. 9 at 83. The news of her death emerged nearly a month later. Melinda suffered a mental breakdown in her 20s, The New York Times reported, and returned to acting in her late 30s, earning two Oscar nominations for her work in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Absence of Malice.”
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Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne died on Feb. 3. “The House of Paco Rabanne wishes to honor our visionary designer and founder who passed away today at the age of 88,” his label announced on Instagram. “Among the most seminal fashion figures of the 20th century, his legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration. We are grateful to Monsieur Rabanne for establishing our avant-garde heritage and defining a future of limitless possibilities.” The designer, who was born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, was known for his Space Age aesthetic, with Jane Fonda notably wearing his work in her 1968 film “Barbarella.”
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Cindy Williams — who starred as Shirley Feeney on the beloved late ’70s and early ’80s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” — died at her home in Los Angeles on Jan. 25 following a brief illness, her two children told the Associated Press in a statement. She was 75. “The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed. Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved,” Zak and Emily Hudson said. (Their father, singer Bill Hudson of the Hudson Brothers, fathered actors Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson with first wife Goldie Hawn before marrying Cindy in 1982. They divorced in 2000.) Cindy also appeared in George Lucas’s 1973 classic “American Graffiti.”
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Lisa Loring — the original Wednesday Addams actress, who starred on the sitcom “The Addams Family” in the 1960s — is dead at 64. She “passed away on [Jan. 28] surrounded by her family,” agent Chris Carbaugh told CNN, adding that Lisa “brought to life one of the most iconic characters in Hollywood history that is still celebrated today” and “loved sharing her memories and meeting all her fans across the world.” Lisa’s friend Laurie Jacobson shared more details on Facebook, telling friends and fans that the former child star had “suffered a massive stroke brought on by smoking and high blood pressure” and “had been on life support for 3 days” when her family “made the difficult decision to remove it.” Added Laurie, “She is embedded in the tapestry that is pop culture and in our hearts always as Wednesday Addams. Beautiful, kind, a loving mother, Lisa’s legacy in the world of entertainment is huge. And the legacy for her family and friends — a wealth of humor, affection and love will long play in our memories. RIP, Lisa.”
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On Jan. 29, actress Annie Wersching — who’s best known for her work on “24,” “Bosch,” “Timeless” and “Star Trek: Picard” — died of cancer after being diagnosed in 2020, Deadline reported. The mother of three was 45. “There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today,” grieving husband Stephen Full told Deadline of Annie, who also did motion capture and voice work in the classic PlayStation video game “The Last of Us.” “But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. ‘Go find it. It’s everywhere.’ And find it we shall.” He continued, “As I drove our boys, the true loves of her life, down the winding driveway and street, she would yell BYE! until we were out of earshot and into the world. I can still hear it ringing. Bye, my Buddie. ‘I love you, little family…'”
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Musician and songwriter Tom Verlaine — who fronted Television, one of the most influential bands to come out of the punk scene centered around New York City’s CBGD club, died in NYC on Jan. 28 “after a brief illness,” Jesse Paris Smith — the daughter of musician Patti Smith, Tom’s former love interest and occasional collaborator — confirmed to The New York Times. The guitarist was 73.
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Lance Kerwin — who’s best known for his starring roles in 1970s projects like “James at 16” and “Salem’s Lot” — died on Jan. 24, his daughter Savanah announced on Facebook. He was 62. “We appreciate all the kind words, memories, and prayers that have been shared,” she wrote in part, adding that her dad “loved each and every one of you.”
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Male model Jeremy Ruehlemann — who posed and walked for designers and brands including Christian Siriano, John Varvatos, Superdry, Perry Ellis and more and appeared in publications like GQ and Playhouse Magazine — passed away on Jan. 21 from an accidental drug overdose, father Achim Ruehlemann told DailyMail.com. “There was no desire to end his life, this was accidental,” he said, adding that Jeremy had struggled with a Percocet addiction for years and had previously been to rehab. “Obviously, he had some issues with drug addiction, but he was very happy. He loved life. He was very vibrant, a wonderful soul and a very giving guy,” his father added.
Fashion designer Christian mourned his friend on Instagram, writing alongside photos of Jeremy, “To lose a friend who was such a beautiful soul is just really hard. This is for Jeremy, the most beautiful man that gave so much love to everyone he met no matter what. He was one of my muses and he always will be. He inspired me and I will love him forever. I’m sending all my love to his family and friends who lost someone so special. I know we will meet again one day but right now I just want to hug him. Rest well J we all love you so much! Send love to his family today please.”
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On Jan. 19, Variety confirmed that music legend David Crosby — who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, with both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (which was later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) — was dead at 81. “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django,” his wife said in a statement. “Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”
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On Jan. 16, Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano announced the death of screen legend Gina Lollobrigida, who passed away at 95 at her home in Rome. Her grandnephew, Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, also tweeted news of her death, calling the bombshell “one of the brightest stars of Italian cinematography and culture.” A former painter and sculptor, Gina became a beauty queen and model before trying acting, shooting to fame in Europe before American audiences fell for her charms in movies like “Beat the Devil” co-starring Humphrey Bogart, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” alongside Anthony Quinn and “Solomon and Sheba” opposite Yul Brynner. She later embarked on a new career as a photojournalist and filmmaker herself.
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The late Elvis Presley’s only child, daughter Lisa Marie Presley, died on Jan. 12, 2023, after suffering cardiac arrest. According to TMZ, she was found unresponsive in her Calabasas, California, home by a housekeeper. Ex-husband Danny Keough performed CPR until paramedics arrived and regained a pulse before transporting her to a local hospital, where she was placed in a coma before ultimately passing away. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, confirmed the news to People magazine in a statement, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us. She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.” Lisa Marie passed away just two days after attending the Golden Globes (seen here) to celebrate the nominations of the Baz Luhrmann film based on her father’s life, “Elvis.”
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Influential British musician Jeff Beck — who was widely considered one of the best guitarists of all time — died of bacterial meningitis at a hospital near his home in Surrey, England, on Jan. 10, his family announced in a statement. He was 78. Jeff won eight Grammys during his long career, which began in the ’60s, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — once as a member of the band the Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a solo artist in 2009.
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Tatjana Patitz — one of the top supermodels of the ’80s and ’90s — died at 56 on Jan. 11, Vogue announced. Her agent confirmed to CNN that the German Estonian beauty, who famously appeared in pop star George Michael’s iconic “Freedom! ’90” music video alongside fashion peers Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, died after a battle with breast cancer. Anna Wintour, the chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, mourned the model, remembering her as “always the European symbol of chic … She was far less visible than her peers — more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable — and that had its own appeal.”
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Constantine II — the last king of Greece who took the throne in 1964 and ruled until the monarchy was abolished in 1973 — died on Jan. 10 at 82 of a stroke at Hygeia Hospital in Athens, reports confirmed. The royal — an Olympic gold medal winner in sailing who lived in exile for decades — was the nephew of Britain’s late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the godfather of Britain’s Prince William.
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Adam Rich — the former child star who’s best known as Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son on the his ’70s and ’80s ABC show “Eight Is Enough” — died at 54 on Jan. 7, family members confirmed to TMZ. A law enforcement source told the webloid that Adam was found lifeless but that foul play is not suspected. Adam also appeared on shows including “Code Red,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “CHiPs,” “Silver Spoons” and more. One of his last performances was in David Spade’s 2003 comedic movie “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”
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Character actor Earl Boen — who was perhaps best known for his work as Dr. Peter Silberman in the “Terminator” franchise — died in Hawaii on Jan. 5, a family member confirmed to TMZ. Earl, who also acted in movies like “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” and “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” — was 81.
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Walter Cunningham — the last surviving astronaut from the 1968 Apollo 7 mission — died at 90 on Jan. 3 in Houston, NASA confirmed. Apollo 7 was the first manned flight of the Apollo program. It marked a return to human spaceflight following the fire that killed three Apollo 1 astronauts in 1967.
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On New Year’s Day, Fred White — the drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire — passed away, brother and bandmate Verdine White announced. Fred — a Rock and roll Hall of Fame member who played on eight Earth, Wind & Fire albums — was 67. “He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels! Child protégé, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old! He was brother number 4 in the family lineup,” Verdine wrote on Instagram, adding, “But more than that at home and beyond he was the wonderful bro that was always entertaining and delightfully mischievous! And we could always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more light hearted! He will live in our hearts forever, rest in power beloved Freddie!! We thank you all for your love, blessings and support at this time. Soar high baby bro, we love you to the shining [stars] and back!”
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Action sports legend Ken Block — the founder of DC Shoes and Hoonigan Racing — died in a snowmobile accident near his Park City, Utah, home on Jan. 2. The five-time X Games medal winner, who was also a popular social media personality, was 55. According to the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, Ken was making his way up a steep slope when his snowmobile fell back on top of him. “Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and a husband,” his racing company said in a statement. “He will be incredibly missed.”
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