We're Paying Our Respects to the Stars We've Lost in 2021

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star Sally Ann Howes died aged 91 on 21 Dec. Her nephew confirmed the news on Twitter, saying that "I can also confirm the passing of my beloved Aunty #SallyAnnhowes who died peacefully in her sleep yesterday. My brother & I thought Sally Ann might hold on until the #Christmas screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as this would have greatly appealed to her mischievous side."

Trailblazing author, feminist scholar, professor, and critic bell hooks died from an undisclosed illness on 15 Dec. at age 69. A press release shared by bell's niece, Ebony Motley, stated that the author was "surrounded by friends and family when she passed". bell rose to critical acclaim through her writing — which included essays, cultural criticisms, and children's books. Some of her most famous works were books like Ain't I a Woman?, All About Love, and Feminist Theory.

Multihyphenate creative Virgil Abloh died at age 41 in November. LVMH issued a statement on 28 Nov. breaking the news, saying: "LVMH, Louis Vuitton and Off White are devastated to announce the passing of Virgil Abloh, on Sunday, November 28th, of cancer, which he had been battling privately for several years." Another statement posted on Virgil's official Instagram account revealed that he privately battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, for two years before his untimely death.

Several of his friends and peers paid tribute to him in the wake of the news. Virgil leaves behind his wife, Shannon Abloh, and his two children, Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh.

Veteran entertainer, TV presenter, and dancer Lionel Blair died aged 92 on Thursday, 4 Nov. Best known as a team captain on the long-running game show Give Us A Clue, he recently acted in Ricky Gervais's Extras and also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.

Blair's career spanned eight decades, and whilst he began working as an actor at 14, it was his dancing and choreographic skills that he became best known for throughout his long and successful run in showbiz.

Well known for playing the sarcastic coffee shop manager Gunther on Friends, Tyler died on Oct. 24 at his home in Los Angeles following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 59. "The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh 'Friend'), from the hit series Friends, but Michael's loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband," Tyler's rep said in a statement. "If you met him once you made a friend for life."

The actor — who was best known for his role as Stanford Blatch in Sex and the City — died after a short illness in September. He was 57.

The television icon died at age 54 in September. His publicist, Marianna Shafran, confirmed the news in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this insurmountable loss."

Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding died following a battle with breast cancer aged 39 on 5 Sept. Harding's mum shared the news with a message she wrote on her daughter's Instagram account: "It's with deep heartbreak that today I'm sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away. Many of you will know of Sarah's battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved. I know she won't want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that's how she can be remembered instead. - Marie x."

Michael Constantine, who was best known for his role as Windex enthusiast Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, died on 31 Aug. at the age of 94. Nia Vardalos — who played his daughter Toula in the film — paid tribute to her late costar on Sept. 8, writing: "Michael Constantine, the dad of our cast-family, a gift to the written word, and always a friend. Acting with him came with a rush of love and fun. I will treasure this man who brought Gus to life. He gave us so much laughter and deserves a rest now. We love you Michael."

Comedian Sean Lock died on 18 Aug. at the age of 58. "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock," the comedian's agent Off The Kerb Productions confirmed to PA news agency. "He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family. Sean was one of Britain's finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy."

Lock is best known for his work as a team captain on the series 8 Out of 10 Cats, hosted by Jimmy Carr, and also appeared on QI, The Last Leg, Have I Got News for You, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. He also wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom 15 Storeys High and won the award for best live comic at the British Comedy Awards in 2000.

Veteran actor Una Stubbs died aged 84 on 12 Aug. Her most recent role was as Mrs. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes's landlady in the BBC hit drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch. But Stubbs has had a long and illustrious career, finding fame in Cliff Richard's 1963 film Summer Holiday before starring in the hit TV sitcom Till Death Us Do Part. She also went on to appear in shows like Worzel Gummidge, The Worst Witch, and EastEnders.

According to Deadline, the 41-year-old American comedian died on 6 Aug. from an accident. His manager confirmed the news via a statement from Trevor's wife, Aimee Carlson, and family. "We are devastated by the loss of my husband, best friend and the father of our son," the statement read. "He was known as a writer and comedian to millions, and yet to us he was simply the centre of our whole world. We don't know how we'll go on without him, but we're thankful for the memories we do have that will stay with us forever. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you please respect our privacy during this time of grieving."

The Bollywood star, best known for cult classics like Devdas, Naya Daur, and Ganga Jamuna, died on 7 July. He was 98. "With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return," shared Faisal Farooqui on the late actor's Twitter account.

The Parent 'Hood star died at the age of 64 on 6 July. "Suzzanne Douglas a beautiful and talented actress made her transition today. She warmed our hearts on movie screens and television sets all over the world. This beautiful soul was my cousin," family member Angie Tee confirmed on Facebook. "I can remember growing up, there weren't very many black actresses who had starring roles but there was my cousin with the lead role in Tap starring alongside great dancers such as Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. She also performed with Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg in How Stella Got Her Groove Back. The Inkwell, Jason's Lyric and so much more the list goes on. The world will miss your talent but your soul will live on forever Rest in Paradise my beautiful cousin Suzzane you will be missed RIP."

The director, whose projects include The Goonies, Superman, and Lethal Weapon, died on 5 July. He was 91.

Lisa Banes, best known for Gone Girl and Pumpkin, died on 14 June following a hit-and-run accident earlier that month. She was 65. "We are heartsick over Lisa's tragic and senseless passing," Lisa's manager David Williams said in a statement to NBC News. "She was a woman of great spirit, kindness and generosity and dedicated to her work, whether on stage or in front of a camera and even more so to her wife, family and friends. We were blessed to have had her in our lives." David added that she had "suffered a traumatic brain injury and was unable to recover."

Oscar-nominated character actor Ned Beatty died on 13 June aged 83. "Ned passed away from natural causes Sunday morning, surrounded by his family and loved ones," his manager Deborah Miller said via email to CNN. Once called the "busiest actor in Hollywood", Ned is perhaps best known for his roles as Bobby Trippe in 1972's Deliverance, Arthur Jensen in 1976's Network, Lex Luthor's idiot henchman Otis in 1978's Superman and 1980's Superman II, and as the voice of Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear in 2010's Toy Story. 3. The actor retired in 2013.

The actor and father of Blake Lively died of cardiac complications in June. He was 74.

American actor Gavin MacLeod of The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore Show died on 29 May aged 90. Gavin's nephew, Mark See, confirmed his death to The New York Times and said the cause was unknown.

The Irish actor, whose most recent role was as Grandad Joe in the comedy Moone Boy, died aged 77 on 1 May.

Hickey's career spanned 60 years. He was the founding member of Dublin's Focus Theatre, where he appeared in a number of stage productions. His on-camera roles included films like Breakfast on Pluto and Inside I'm Dancing, whilst he was best known for his role at Benjy Riordan on the RTÉ TV series The Riordans, which he played for 16 years. According to the Irish Times, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013.

The actor, who is best remembered for voicing Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid, died at age 74 in May. "Sam and his family have impacted countless Hudson Valley youth always inspiring them to reach higher and dig deeper to become the best version of themselves," the town of Montgomery, New York, announced in a Facebook statement. "On top of his passion for the arts and his love for his family, Sam was most known for walking into a room and simply providing PURE JOY to those he interacted with. He loved to entertain, he loved to make people smile and laugh and he loved to love."

The actress, who was best known for her roles in the Harry Potter franchise and on Peaky Blinders, died in April. Her husband, Damian Lewis, confirmed the sad news with a statement on Twitter. "I'm heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family," he wrote. "She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you." Helen was 52.

Big Brother UK star Nikki Grahame died on 9 April, at the age of 39 due to a long battle with anorexia. After her eating disorder had worsened in lockdown, Grahame's friends started a fundraiser to get her life saving care, but Grahame sadly died before she was able to receive it. Grahame's friends Carly Cunningham and Leon Dee shared the news of her death on the GoFundMe fundraiser page: "It is with great sadness, we have to let you know that our dear friend Nikki passed away in the early hours of Friday 9th April. It breaks our hearts to know that someone who is so precious was taken from us at such a young age. Nikki not only touched the lives of millions of people, but also her friends and family who will miss her immensely. We would like to request privacy at this difficult time, while Nikki's friends and family process the sad news."

Friday Night Dinner star Paul Ritter died on 5 April, at the age of 54. "It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour," his agent said in a statement. "Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill. He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly."

Whilst Ritter is best known for playing Martin Goodman in the Channel 4 comedy, he's no stranger to the small screen. His most recent acting credits include the award-winning TV drama Chernobyl and the 2020 period drama Belgravia. He also appeared in a number of films including the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, Quantum Of Solace, and Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, and on the stage, earning both Olivier and Tony nominations.

Pagett died suddenly of a brain tumour on 3 March aged 75, her daughter Eve Swannell confirmed. Whilst her 30 year career included both films and theatre productions, she is probably best known for her television roles, first as Elizabeth Bellamy the spoilt and rebellious daughter of the upscale Belgravia household in Eaton Square in Upstairs, Downstairs, and then for playing the title character in the BBC's 10-part reproduction of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina in 1977.

The former Coronation Street actor died aged 85 on 28 Feb. According to the BBC, he died peacefully after "a long illness, with family by his side".

Between 1976 and 2006, Briggs played Mike Baldwin in the ITV Soap. He was made an MBE in the New Year's Honours in 2007, the year after his character left the series.

British actor Ronald Pickup, known for his roles in The Crown and Darkest Hour, died at the age of 80 on 24th Feb. "Ronald Pickup passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness surrounded by his wife and family. He will be deeply missed," his agent told the PA.

Motown singer and co-founder of The Supremes Mary Wilson has died at the age of 76. Wilson's publicist Jay Schwartz announced that she died at her home in Henderson, Nevada. Her cause of death was not confirmed.

World War II army veteran Captain Tom died of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on 2 Feb. at the age of 100. The centenarian was widely beloved after raising funds for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 laps around his garden at the age of 99. With the initial goal of raising £1000 in the days leading up to his 100th birthday, his fundraiser went viral and Captain Tom raised over £30 million in charitable donations.

The Tony-winning actor, who was well known for his portrayal of Mark Twain in the Broadway play Mark Twain Tonight!, died on 23 Jan. at age 95.

Businessman and The Only Way Is Essex star died on 21 Jan. at the age of 57. Police were called to his home in Bulphan, Essex where he was pronounced dead at the scene, and according to Sky News, the Essex Police are not treating the death as suspicious. Norcross, who is best known as owner of The Sugar Hut nightclub in Brentwood, is survived by his three children, including fellow TOWIE star Kirk, and three grandchildren.

Longtime TV host and interviewer Larry King died on 23 Jan. at the age of 87. Ora Media shared the news via his official Twitter account, writing, "With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the death of our co-founder, host, and friend Larry King, who passed away this morning at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles."

"For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster. Additionally, while it was his name appearing in the shows' titles, Larry always viewed his interview subjects as the true stars of his programs, and himself as merely an unbiased conduit between the guest and audience. Whether he was interviewing a U.S. president, foreign leader, celebrity, scandal-ridden personage, or an everyman, Larry liked to ask short, direct, and uncomplicated questions. He believed concise questions usually provided the best answers, and he was not wrong in that belief."

The actress, who was well known for her roles in Hammer Horror films, died in January after contracting COVID-19. She was 88.

The lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers died in January at age 78. Marsden's friend Pete Price announced his death on Twitter, writing, "It's with a very heavy heart after speaking to the family that I have to tell you the Legendary Gerry Marsden MBE after a short illness which was an infection in his heart has sadly passed away."

The New York Times bestselling author died on 3 Jan. at the age of 59, due to complications from a long illness.

Following a brief hospitalisation, the That '70s Show actress died at age 65. Her death was previously announced prematurely, but her companion, Lance O'Brien, later confirmed the news on 5 Jan.

On 7 Jan., Police Academy star Marion Ramsay has died at the age of 73. The actor died at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness her management confirmed the the BBC.

The famed magician, best known for the magic act Siegfried & Roy, died from pancreatic cancer on 13 Jan. at his home in Las Vegas. He was 81.

Harry Brant, son of billionaire Peter Brant and supermodel Stephanie Seymour, has died aged 24. According to The New York Times, Harry died from an accidental overdose of prescription medication on 18 Jan. "We will forever be saddened that his life was cut short by this devastating disease," his family said in a statement.

The famed actress, who scored eight Emmy Awards and 22 nominations throughout her career, died of natural causes on 26 Jan. at her home in Encinitas, California. She was 94.