George Michael
The world is still in shock following the death of the incredibly talented singer songwriter on Christmas Day – which will forever have extra poignancy as he gifted the world with one of the best-loved festive songs of modern times, Last Christmas. George was just 53 years old when he passed away from suspected heart failure.
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher
Christmas time was cruel this year, as the world also said goodbye to two Hollywood legends. Carrie Fisher died from cardiac arrest, just days after being taken ill on a plane back to LA from London, at the age of just 60. Barely 24 hours later, she was joined by her 84-year-old mother, who suffered a massive stroke. Their incredible bond was unbreakable by death.
Rick Parfitt
Festive tragedy began in the celebrity world on Christmas Eve this year, when it was announced that Rick Parfitt had died. The Status Quo guitarist passed away following complications arising from a fall, in a hospital in Spain. He was 60 years old.
Gene Wilder
A star loved across generations thanks to his portrayal of Willa Wonka in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Gene died on August 29 – at the age of 83 – from complications of Alzheimer’s, which he had been privately battling for three years.
Caroline Aherne
The British comedy heroine – who wrote and starred in BBC classics The Royle Family and The Mrs Merton Show – lost her battle with cancer this year. The national treasure was just 53, when she quietly slipped away at her home in Timperley, north west England, in July.
Prince
Aged just 57 when he died, the talented musician and singer-songwriter was denied the chance to gift the world with what would surely have been more amazing material. There was much speculation following his death on April 21 of what caused it, but it is now official that he died from the effects of overdosing on painkiller Fentanyl.
David Bowie
The world lost one of its greatest musicians – and style icons – On January 10. The Ashes to Ashes singer died at the age of 69 – two days after his birthday and the release of final album Blackstar – in New York. He had been privately battling liver cancer for 18 months.
Victoria Wood
The British comedian was adored by her fans, both male and female. A talented musician as well as writer and funny woman, the 62-year-old received an OBE in 1997 and a CBE the following year. The Lancashire lass left behind an incredible legacy – for female artists and northerners with big dreams – when she passed away, from cancer, on April 20.
David Gest
The US music producer, who was once married to Liza Minnelli and counted Michael Jackson as a best friend, died seemingly out of the blue, in a London hotel. His death at the age of 62, on April 10, was described as having no suspicious circumstances by police and remains unexplained.
Alan Rickman
The English actor with the mellifluous voice died on January 14 aged 69, following a shortish battle with cancer which he had chosen to keep private. He is sorely missed by movie fans of all ages, thanks to an incredibly varied career – he starred in intelligent indie movie Truly, Madly, Deeply, American action smash Die Hard and the Harry Potter films.
Ronnie Corbett
The diminutive comedian and actor held a massive space in the hearts of millions of Brits, who grew up watching him in shows such as Sorry, Open All Hours and The Two Ronnies – the latter being alongside his comedy partner Ronnie Barker. He died, aged 85, on March 31 and had been suffering from the degenerative motor neurone disease.
Paul Daniels
The British magician was a massive star in the 1980s, thrilling 10s of millions of TV viewers with his accomplished tricks and chirpy catchphrase, “You’ll like this… not a lot…”. On February 20 he suffered a fall and, following examination in the hospital afterwards, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. He died less than a month after this, at the age of 77, on March 17.
Alexis Arquette
Born Robert, Alexis was a trasgender actress and sibling to film stars Patricia, David, Rosanna and Richmond. The Wedding Singer star died on September 11, aged 47, surrounded by family, to the sounds of David Bowie.
Sir Terry Wogan
Sir Terry Wogan was a TV and radio institution in the UK for half a century, delighting viewers and listeners with his twinkly eyes and honeyed Irish tones, respectively. He was granted UK citizenship in 2005, followed by a knighthood. The TV legend passed away on January 31.
Tony Warren
The man responsible for creating TV’s longest-running soap, Manchester-based Coronation Street, lost his life on March 1 at the age of 79. He was openly gay when homosexuality was still illegal and suffered much prejudice during his early years in television.
Denise Robertson
A national treasure in her native UK, Denise was resident Agony Aunt on daytime TV show This Morning for almost 30 years. She died on March 31, aged 83, after it was revealed to the public that she was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Kristian Ealey
The Liverpool-born actor and musician passed away suddenly at the age of just 38 on May 3, after going to bed with a pain in his arm. He made history in his earlier career as the first British character in a soap – Brookside – to move into another – Hollyoaks.
Doris Roberts
The American actress passed away, aged 90, on April 17. She will probably be best remembered for her most recent role as the mum in hugely popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
Howard Marks
Dubbed Mr Nice, the Welshman was an international drug smuggler, who spent seven years in prison for his high-profile crimes. Following his release from jail he wrote a best-selling autobiography – Mr Nice – and went on to gain further notoriety campaigning for a change in drugs legislation. He died on April 10, aged 70.
Muhammad Ali
The greatest boxer the world has ever seen left this life on June 3, at the age of 74. He had suffered from Parkinson’s but, for several days ahead of his death, The Greatest had been suffering respiratory complications. As well as an incredible sportsman in his day, Ali was also something of a philosopher, with his quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” oft repeated.
Charmian Carr
The Hollywood actress died on September 18, at the age of 73, from complications of a rare form of dementia. Best known as Liesl from The Sound of Music, her rendition of Sixteen Going On Seventeen will live on forever.