In 2024, Hollywood lost several prominent individuals who had made an indelible mark on entertainment.
STAGE & SCREEN
David Soul
David Soul was born David Richard Solberg on August 28, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois. He was an American-British actor and singer best known for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the 1970s television series “Starsky & Hutch.” Soul also found musical success with songs like “Don’t Give Up on Us” and “Silver Lady.” Soul died on January 4, 2024, in London at 80 after a long struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer.
Ian Lavender
Ian Lavender, born on February 16, 1946, in Birmingham, England, was a British actor who appeared as Private Frank Pike on the BBC sitcom “Dad’s Army,” from 1968 to 1977. Lavender trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and his career included extensive stage and film work, as well as television roles in “EastEnders” as Derek Harkinson and in “Yes Minister” and “Keeping Up Appearances.” He was the last surviving principal cast member of “Dad’s Army.” Lavender died on February 2, 2024, at 77, after a long illness.
Bernard Hill
Bernard Hill (December 17, 1944 – May 5, 2024) was a British actor whose career spans over 50 years. He came to prominence for his performance as Yosser Hughes in the 1982 BBC drama Boys from the Blackstuff, a role that resonated deeply during a period of economic hardship in the United Kingdom.
Internationally, Hill was best known for his roles as Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 film “Titanic” and King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
He died on May 5, 2024, at 79, with his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel beside him.
His death came as the second series of BBC drama The Responder, in which he starred, also aired.
Hill’s legacy is defined by his versatility and the lasting imprint of his performances across television and film.
Anouk Aimée
Anouk Aimée, whose given name was Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus, was born on April 27, 1932, in Paris. Her career covered more than seven decades and included 70 movies, working with major directors like Federico Fellini in “La Dolce Vita” (1960) and “8½” (1963) and Claude Lelouch in “A Man and a Woman” (1966).
She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and received an Academy Award nomination for the latter role, which made her internationally known. Aimée was known for playing complex, often melancholic roles and earned many accolades, including the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for “A Leap in the Dark” (1980) and an honorary César Award in 2002. On June 18, 2024, she passed away at her home in Paris at 92, leaving behind a rich legacy in cinema.
Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland, a Hollywood veteran known for his work in “M.A.S.H.” and “The Hunger Games,” died on June 20, 2024, at 88, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sutherland was a versatile actor who was very dedicated to his craft and was a respected figure in Hollywood. He demonstrated extraordinary talent in films such as “Klute” and “Ordinary People.” Colleagues and fans remember him for his deep influence on cinema.
Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall, who brought a singular presence to films like “The Shining” and “Nashville,” died on July 11, 2024, at 75. “Robert Altman discovered Duvall,” explained Yu. “Duvall’s career is with the giants of filmmaking. Her performance as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” is iconic. From the outside, though, Duvall’s ability to pivot and focus on her career during difficult times left an indelible mark on cinema.
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty, known for “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” died on July 13, 2024, at 53. She started in the early 1980s with guest spots on “Little House on the Prairie” and “Our House.” Doherty became a household name for playing Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” She later charmed audiences as Prue Halliwell in “Charmed.” In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought it publicly with extraordinary valor. Her fortitude and candor about her health issues inspired many.
Bob Newhart
Legendary comedian and actor Bob Newhart died on July 18, 2024, at 94. Newhart’s career stretched over six decades, launching with his pioneering 1959 comedy album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won two Grammy Awards.
“The Bob Newhart Show,” which aired on CBS from 1961 to 1963, helped make him a household name, as did a second successful CBS sitcom from 1972 to 1978. More recently, Newhart has appeared in movies such as “Elf” and in the role of Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory,” for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award.
Alain Delon
Alain Delon was born on Nov. 8, 1935, in Sceaux, France. A striking presence on screen, he became an international icon and sex symbol in the 1960s and 1970s. Delon worked with Luchino Visconti and Jean-Pierre Melville throughout his career, picking up critical accolades and several awards, including the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. In addition to his notable career, his personal life featured high-profile romances and scandals. Alain Delon died peacefully at home in Douchy, France, on August 18, 2024, at age 88, with his family by his side.
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones, beloved for his soaring, sonorous voice, dies at 93. His performances as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King etched powerful figures in popular culture. His career spanned theater, film, and television, and he received numerous accolades, including multiple Tony Awards and an honorary Academy Award. Jones was an entertainment legend known for his unique speaking style and larger-than-life persona.
Mitzi Gaynor
Mitzi Gaynor, the star of the classic musical “South Pacific,” died at 93 on Wednesday of natural causes. Gaynor was a singer, dancer, and actress whose career spanned eight decades. She won an Emmy Award for her work in them, which included Golden Age musicals and television specials that dazzled audiences. Gaynor has died at the age of 78.
Charles Shyer
Charles Shyer, the filmmaker known for the beloved comedies “Father of the Bride” and “Private Benjamin,” died at 83. Shyer’s career stretched over five decades, and he directed and wrote a number of hit films. His work, often with former wife Nancy Meyers, hugely influenced the comedy genre. Shyer’s storytelling and direction delighted audiences around the world.
Olivia Hussey
Olivia Hussey, who starred as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s screen version of Romeo and Juliet, died at 73. Hussey won international fame and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of Juliet. She made appearances throughout her career in various movies and TV shows, which were striking moments for audiences and critics.
John Ashton
John Ashton, the actor who played Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, has died at 76. Ashton’s action-comedy film role endeared him to audiences. His career covered several decades, with work in film and TV. Fans and colleagues fondly remember his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Maggie Smith, the venerable British actress, died on September 27, 2024, at 89. Her career lasted over 60 years, including roles in over 60 films. Audiences loved her turns as Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” series and the Dowager Countess in “Downton Abbey.” She has also won two Academy Awards, multiple BAFTAs, and many other accolades. Her death signifies the end of an era in the British stage and screen.
Timothy West
Timothy West, born October 20, 1934, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, was a renowned English actor with a career spanning over thirty years in theatre, cinema, and television. He was also known for voicing iconic characters, including the title character in “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” and the lion in “The Wizard of Oz.”
West was married to the actress Prunella Scales for 61 years; the pair charmed viewers with their Channel 4 series, “Great Canal Journeys,” which also documented Scales’ struggle with dementia. On November 12, 2024, at the age of 90, West died peacefully in his sleep, with friends and family at his bedside.
Janey Godley
Janey Godley (1961–2024) was a Scottish comedian, actress, and writer known for her sharp wit and searing humor. Coming from a difficult upbringing in Glasgow, she moved from working behind a bar to stand-up comedy in the mid-1990s, already earning acclaim for her unvarnished takes on personal and societal issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her voiceover parodies of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s briefings went viral, boosting her profile even more.
Godley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021. The cancer, though, returned, and she received palliative care in 2024 despite periods when it was in remission. On November 2, 2024, she died peacefully at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, with her family at her side.
Linda Lavin
Linda Lavin, the beloved actress who spanned four decades of varied entertainment history, died on December 29, 2024, at 87, from complications of newly diagnosed lung cancer. Over decades, Lavin starred onstage and in a beloved TV role in “Alice.” Three weeks before her death, in an interview to promote her recent appearance on Broadway in Lincoln Center Theater’s “The Diary of Anne Frank,” she sounded pleased with the progress of her career, looking back at what she had done on the stage and what she had coming up.
MUSIC
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy, born Jan. 17, 1944, in Paris, was a leading voice of France’s yé-yé pop movement in the early 1960s with her melancholic ballads, most famously the 1962’s “Tous les garçons et les filles.” Her distinctive voice and style captivated international audiences and influenced artists, including Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan.
Apart from music, Hardy also served as a fashion muse for Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne. She took up acting and writing, including writing on astrology. She died on June 11, 2024, at 80, after a long illness with cancer.
Quincy Jones
Icon of the music world Quincy Jones dies aged 91. Jones’s career included trailblazing work as a producer, composer, and arranger. In a career that included groundbreaking work as a producer, composer, and arranger, Jones had his hands in the music of a generation. He worked with iconic artists, including Michael Jackson, on the “Thriller” album, one of the all-time best-selling albums.
Jones turned his talents to the world beyond music; he advocated civil rights and humanitarian causes. His passing marks the end of a titanic talent whose impact reverberated across the decades of modern music. Through this, he became a leading figure in developing and restructuring how the industry worked, earning many awards.
Liam Payne
Liam Payne, a former member of the globally famous boy band One Direction, was found dead at 31. He reportedly died after falling from a hotel balcony. Payne first shot to fame as a member of the sensational group One Direction, which launched their career with smash hits, including their anthem “What Makes You Beautiful.” Following the band’s break, he turned to a solo career, dropping singles that hinted at his growing artistry. His death has shocked and saddened fans and the music establishment.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson, a towering presence in country music and film, died at 88. Known for his award-winning role in 1976’s “A Star Is Born,” Kristofferson’s career spanned songwriting, singing, and acting. He wrote or co-wrote such songs as “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” The legacy of Kristofferson’s impact on music and film is profound.
The legacy of these artists will reverberate through the entertainment world and serve as a reminder of their immeasurable contributions.
