As we bid farewell to 2023, we reflect on the loss of some remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. Among those who have departed this year are icons like Tina Turner, whose powerful voice and stage presence made her a music legend.
READ: Rest in Peace: Celebs We Lost in 2021
The acting realm mourns the loss of talented performers Ron Cephas Jones and Andre Braugher. Both seasoned actors with a distinguished career and left behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations. These individuals not only entertained us but also played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Hollywood.
As we pay our respects and remember the impact they had on our lives, let’s honor their contributions to the arts and celebrate the enduring spirit of their work. May their legacies continue to inspire and resonate with generations to come.
Maurice Hines | 80
The legendary Broadway tap dancer, choreographer, and actor, known for his iconic performances alongside his late brother Gregory Hines in The Cotton Club, has passed away at the age of 80. He passed of natural causes on Friday at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey
Mbongeni Nbgema | 68
Renowned South African playwright, producer, and composer Mbongeni Ngema has tragically passed away at the age of 68. He was involved in a head-on car collision while returning from a funeral in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. Ngema, best known for creating the iconic musical ‘Sarafina!,’ was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the accident.
Lance Reddick | 60
Lance Reddick, an actor who starred in The Wire, John Wick, and Bosch, died from heart disease at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles on March 17, 2023 at the age of 60. The death certificate lists ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease as causes of death.
Tina Turner | 83
The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, died on May 24, 2023 at the age of 83 after a long illness. Her family announced her death in a statement on CNN, saying “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock & Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland”.
Marlene Clark | 82
Marlene Clark, an actress known for her roles in Sanford and Son and Ganja & Hess, died at the age of 85 on May 18, 2023 at her home in Los Angeles.
Ellen Holly | 92
Ellen Holly, whose role in the soap opera “One Life to Live” made her the first Black actor to play a lead role in a daytime TV show, died Wednesday in New York. She was 92.
Norman Lear | 101
Norman Lear — legendary Emmy-winning writer, producer and TV creator of All in the Family, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Good Times, and numerous hit sitcoms — died on Dec. 5. He was 101.
Jim Brown | 87
NFL legend, Hall of Famer, civil rights activist, and actor died of natural causes on May 18, 2023 at the age of 87 at his home in Los Angeles with his wife, Monique, by his side.
Tori Bowie | 32
American track and field star Tori Bowie died from complications of childbirth on May 2, 2023 at the age of 32. The report also estimated that Bowie was eight months pregnant and in labor when she died.
Andre Braugher
Emmy-winning actor Andre Braugher died from lung cancer on December 11, 2023 at the age of 61. Braugher had been diagnosed with lung cancer a few months before his death.
Braugher is known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street and Captain Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is also a two-time Emmy Award winner and has starred in several series, including Men of a Certain Age and Glory
Angus Cloud | 25
Euphoria actor Angus Cloud died from an accidental overdose. The star, who played Fez in the hit HBO series, died July 31st. He was 25.
Richard Roundtree |
Richard Arnold Roundtree died on October 24, 2023 at the age of 81 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Roundtree’s career spanned more than five decades and he is best known for his role as private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and four of its sequels. As well as the mini-series Roots, the 1997 films Steel and George of the Jungle, and most recently Family Reunion on Netflix.
Tony Bennett | 96
The music legend, who had been quietly living with Alzheimer’s disease since 2016, died at age 96 in July.
Ron Cephas Jones | 66
Ron Cephas Jones, an Emmy-winning actor and veteran stage performer, died on August 19, 2023 at the age of 66. A representative for Jones’s manager, Dan Spilo, told The Associated Press that Jones died from “a longstanding pulmonary issue”. Jones has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had a double-lung transplant in 2020.
Alan Arkin | 89
American actor Alan Arkin died at his home in San Marcos, California on June 29, 2023 at the age of 89. His death was attributed to heart problems, of which he had a history.
Mike Williams | 36
Retired NFL wide receiver Mike Williams died after from dental-related sepsis on Sep 12th. He was 36.
Elise Finch | 51
Elise Finch, a longtime and Emmy-winning meteorologist for CBS New York affiliate WCBS-TV, died on July 16 at age 51.
Jacky Oh | 32
Former star of Wild ‘N Out Jacky Oh, whose real name is Jacklyn Smith, died from complications after plastic surgery on May 31, 2023 at the age of 33. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled her death “accidental” four months later.
Jerry Springer | 79
Jerry Springer, the British-born American television host and politician, died on April 27, 2023 at the age of 79 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Evanston, Illinois. A family spokesperson said that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months before his death.
Richard Belzer | 78
Comedian and author known for starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Richard Belzer died on February 19, 2023 at the age of 78 from complications of circulatory and respiratory conditions. His friend, novelist Bill Scheft, said Belzer’s last words were “Fuck you, motherfucker!” .
Ryan O’Neal | 82
Oscar-nominated actor Ryan O’Neal died at the age of 82 on December 8, 2023 at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. The cause of death is congestive heart failure, with cardiomyopathy as a contributing factor.
Suzanne Somers | 77
Suzanne Somers, best known for her roles on Three’s Company and Step by Step, died on Oct. 15, 2023. She would have been 77 on Oct. 16.
Jim Hines | 76
Jim Hines, the Olympic champion and first man to run the 100-meter race in under 10 seconds, died on June 3, 2023 in Hayward, California at the age of 76.
Barrett Strong | 81
Barrett Strong, a Motown founding artist and songwriter, died at his home in San Diego, California on January 28, 2023 at the age of 81.
Gangsta Boo | 43
Gangsta Boo, whose real name was Lol Chantrelle Mitchell of the hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, was found dead on January 1, 2023, at the age of 43, on the front porch of her mother’s home in Memphis, Tennessee. On June 15, 2023, the cause of death was revealed as an accidental overdose.
Bob Barker | 99
Barker was the host of The Price Is Right for nearly four decades, winning 19 Emmys during his career died on August 26, 2023 at the age of 99 at his Los Angeles home. The death certificate lists the cause of death as Alzheimer’s disease, with contributing factors including hypertension, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia.
Harry Belafonte | 96
Belafonte was a legendary singer, actor, producer, and activist who died from congestive heart failure at his home in Manhattan on April 25, 2023 at the age of 96.
Sinead O’Connor | 56
Sinéad O’Connor, the Irish singer whose legacy with hits like “Nothing Compares 2 U” was complicated by her outspoken dedication to various social issues and a series of mental health struggles, died on July 26th at age 56.
Fred White | 67
Fred White, the drummer for the band Earth, Wind & Fire, died on January 1, 2023 at the age of 67.
Paul Reubens | 70
Paul Reubens’ cause of death has been revealed a little more than month after the actor died at age 70 on July 30. Reubens, who was best known for playing the beloved children’s character Pee-wee Herman, died due to acute myelogenous leukemia,
C.J. Harris | 31
Curtis “C.J.” Harris, a former contestant on American Idol, died on January 15, 2023 at the age of 31 from a heart attack at a hospital in Jasper, Alabama. Harris finished sixth on season 13 of American Idol in 2014.
Lisa Marie Presley | 54
Death. On January 12, 2023, at around 10:30 a.m., Presley suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, California. Her heart was restarted after CPR was administered en route to West Hills Hospital in Los Angeles, but she died later that day at the age of 54.