As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to honor the lives and legacies of the celebrities who left an indelible mark on the world before their passing. From trailblazing pioneers and legendary entertainers to voices that shaped entire generations, their contributions will live on through their art, impact, and the memories they leave behind. Let’s celebrate their achievements and reflect on the moments they shared with us.
Bill Cobbs | 90
Bill Cobbs, a veteran actor known for his roles in Night at the Museum, New Jack City, and more passed away on June 25, 2024, at the age of 90.
Erica Ash | 45
Erica Ash, actress and comedian known for her work on Mad TV and Survivor’s Remorse, passed away at the age of 46 after a battle with breast cancer.
Carl Weathers | 76
The actor, best known for his roles in Rocky and Predator, died on February 2 at the age of 76.
Quincy Jones | 91
The legendary producer and composer, known for his contributions to music, film, and television, died on November 3 at the age of 91.
Art Evans | 82 Years Old
Art Evans, a versatile actor whose career spanned over five decades with memorable roles in Die Hard 2 and A Soldier’s Story, has died at the age of 82. Evans’ passing was confirmed by his representative, who shared that the actor died on saturday, december 21, from complications related to diabetes.
Toni Vaz | 101
Toni Vaz, a pioneering stunt woman and founder of the NAACP Image Award died on October 4, 2024, at the age of 101.
Tony Todd | 69
Veteran actor Tony Todd, known for his iconic role as the haunting villain in Candyman and for his diverse career spanning more than 240 film and television credits, passed away on November 6 at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 69. His representatives confirmed his death but did not disclose a cause.
Louis Gossett Jr. | 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the trailblazing actor known for breaking barriers as the first Black man to win both an Academy Award and an Emmy Award for acting, has passed away at the age of 87.
Chance Perdomo | 27
The ‘Gen V’ and ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ actor died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 29.
Les McCann | 88
Renowned jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann passed away at the age of 88 on September 23rd.
James Earl Jones | 93
The legendary stage and screen actor, who has starred in iconic films such as Coming to America, The Lion King, and lent his voice as Darth Vader in the Star Wars series passed away on September 9.
John Amos | 84
The legendary actor passed away in August, the news was shared on October 1st via his son K.C.
Ken Page | 70
Broadway star and voice actor Ken Page, widely recognized for his iconic role as Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, has passed away at the age of 70.
Wally Amos | 88
Wallace Amos Jr., founder of Famous Amos cookies among other cookie brands and host of Learn to Read, passed away on August 13 at 88.
Willie Mays | 93
Baseball legend Willie Mays, known as “The Say Hey Kid,” passed away this year at the age of 93.
Ron Simons | 63
The four-time Tony Award-winning producer, known for works such as Thoughts of a Colored Man and For Colored Girls, died on June 12 at 63.
Renauld White | 80
Renauld White, a pioneering figure in the modeling world and an actor on the soap opera “Guiding Light,” has passed away in July at the age of 80.
Dominique Brown | 34
Dominique Brown, a Disney theme park enthusiast and influencer, passed away at 34 on December 5 after an allergic reaction at a holiday food event hosted by BoxLunch.
Alfa Anderson | 78
Anderson, a vocalist known for her work with 1970s disco band Chic, died in December. She was 78.
Pat Colbert | 77
Pat Colbert, best known for her role as Dora Mae in Dallas, passed away on June 23 at her home in Compton at the age of 77 after suffering three strokes over the last decade.
Rickey Henderson | 65
Hall of Fame baseball player Rickey Henderson, known for his base-stealing prowess, passed away on Dec 20th at the age of 65.
Chita Rivera | 91
Broadway legend Chita Rivera, renowned for her performances in West Side Story and Chicago, passed away January 30th at the age of 91.
Winsome Sinclair | 58
Winsome Sinclair, the casting director who helped bring in actors for Waiting to Exhale, Amistad, Precious, The Best Man and a dozen of Spike Lee films passed away on August 14th after a long battle with colon cancer.
Hinton Battle
Hinton Battle, the Tony-winning performer who originated the role of The Scarecrow in Broadway’s The Wiz, died on January 30 at 67 after a lengthy illness.
Obi Ndefo | 51
The Dawson’s Creek actor passed away in late August at the age of 51.
Fatman Scoop | 53
The legendary rapper and hype man passed away on August 30th after collapsing during a concert.
Betty A. Bridges | 83
Betty A. Bridges, actress known for her role in A Night at the Roxbury, ER, and more as well as the mother of actor Todd Bridges, passed away on August 27 at the age of 83.
Adan Canto | 42
Adan Canto, who starred in The Cleaning Lady, Designated Survivor, and X-Men: Days of Future Past, died from appendiceal cancer on January 8, 2024 at the age of 42:
Maurice Williams | 86
Maurice Williams, lead singer of the Zodiacs, known for the hit song “Stay,” passed away this year at the age of 86.
Evelyn Thomas | 70
Evelyn Thomas, the powerhouse vocalist who helped define the hi-NRG dance music scene of the 1980s with her international hit “High Energy,” has died at the age of 70.
KeKe Jabbar | 42
Keke Jabbar, star of OWN‘s Love & Marriage: Huntsville, died in July at the age of 42, of carbon monoxide poisoning
Frankie Beverly | 77
The lead singer of Maze passed away on September 10 at the age of 77.
Dikembe Mutombo | 58
The Former NBA player, known as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time and hall of famer passed away September 30th after a battle with brain cancer.
Bo$$ | 54
Bo$$, the first female rapper to sign with Def Jam and known for her 1993 album Born Gangstaz, has died at 54.
Tito Jackson
Original member of the Jackson 5, Tito Jackson passed away on September 15th of a suspected heart attack.
Terry Carter | 95
Terry Carter, celebrated for his groundbreaking roles on screen and his impactful work behind the scenes, passed away on April 23rd at the age of 95. Known for his roles as Sergeant Joe Broadhurst on “McCloud” and detective Colonel Tigh on the original “Battlestar Galactica,” Carter’s legacy extends far beyond his acting credits.
Rico Wade | 52
Rico Wade, a member of Organized Noize and key architect of Atlanta hip-hop, died on April 13th at 52 years old.
OJ Simpson
O.J. Simpson, the football star and actor acquitted in a high-profile murder trial but later found liable in a civil case, died on August 10 at 76.
Mister Cee | 57
Hip hop icon, Legendary DJ and radio personality, who was Big Daddy Kane’s first DJ and helped break The Notorious B.I.G., died on April 10
Anthony “Baby Gap” Walker
Anthony Walker, known as “Baby Gap” from The Gap Band and a talented dancer and choreographer, died on March 4 at 60.
Michael “Virgil” Jones
Michael Jones, known as “Virgil” in the WWF and “Vincent” in WCW, died Wednesday at 61.
Henry Fambrough
Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of The Spinners, known for hits like “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” and “The Rubberband Man,” died peacefully of natural causes at his northern Virginia home on February 7. He was 85.
Marlena Shaw | 84
Marlena Shaw, best known for her 1969 hit “California Soul,” died on Friday Jan. 19 at the age of 84
David Harris | 75
David Harris, best known for his role as Cochise in Walter Hill’s 1979 thriller The Warriors, died on October 25 at his New York City home after battling cancer. He was 75.
Rudy May | 80
Rudy May, a left-handed pitcher who led the American League in earned run average in 1980 during his 16-year MLB career, died on October 19 at 80
Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir | 88
Fakir, the last surviving member of the Four Tops passed away on July 22, he was 88.
Lou Donaldson | 98
Lou Donaldson, a legendary alto saxophonist and pillar of the jazz scene, died on November 9 at 98
Dexter Scott King | 62
Dexter Scott King, son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died at 62 on January 22nd after battling prostate cancer, The King Center announced.
Ka | 52
NYC rapper passed away at the age of 52 on October 12th.