On top of going through another year of Covid-19 and its many variants we also lost some beloved entertainers and artist in 2021. We said goodbye to a lot of legends from Cicely Tyson to Michael K. Williams. Take a look back at the celebrities we have lost in 2021.
Betty White
The legendary actress, comedian, talk show host, passed away at age 99, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Paul Mooney
The legendary comedian, actor, and activist has passed away after suffering a heart attack. He was 79.
Virgil Abloh
Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton designer, Virgil Abloh, passed away after battling a rare, aggressive form of cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma, since 2019. He was 41 years young.
DMX
In April, DMX was hospitalized due to a heart attack. He never regained consciousness and died of multiple organ failure.
Colin Powell
The first Black US secretary of state died from Covid-19 complications on October 18, 2021. He was 84.
Melvin Van Peebles
The influential filmmaker behind the film ‘Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song,’ and more passed away in September at the age 89.
Anthony “AJ” Johnson
Johnson whose credits include ‘I Got The Hook-Up,’ ‘Friday,’ ‘House Party,’ and more passed away at 56 years old.
Michael K. Williams
Williams was found dead of a suspected overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse Monday, Sept. 6. He was 54.
Eric Jerome Dickey
New York Times best-selling novelist passed after battling a longtime illness. He was 59.
Charlie Robinson
The actor, who has over 125 film and TV credits including Set It Off, Night Court, and Buffalo Bill passed away in July from cancer complications. He was 75.
Clarence Williams III
Williams III, who broke new ground as “hippie” Detective Linc Hayes on “The Mod Squad” died in his home after a battle with colon cancer. He was 81.
Gerren Taylor
Ashley Taylor Gerren, who was professionally known as Gerren Taylor, starred on the BET series Baldwin Hills. She died in her sleep in April. No cause was disclosed. However, according to Essence, the reality star battled with lupus and was on dialysis during the time of her death. However, it’s uncertain if Taylor’s condition specifically contributed to her death. She was 30.
Craig “Mums” Grant
Actor and poet, Grant, who is most known for his role in HBO’s prison drama Oz, passed away of natural causes. He was 52.
Cicely Tyson
The legendary actress passed away at 96.
Jovita Moore
The longtime WSB Channel 2 Action News anchor died seven months after disclosing that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. She was 53.
Samuel E. Wright
Samuel E. Wright, the legendary voice of the crab Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid” and Mufasa in Broadway’s “The Lion King,” died at his home in Walden, New York. He was 74.
Suzzanne Douglas
Longtime actress Suzzanne Douglas, known for her roles both on and off-Broadway, died at her home in Martha’s Vineyard after complications from cancer on July 6. She was 64.
Young Dolph
Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., better known as rapper Young Dolph, was shot and killed in Novemeber. He was 36.
Biz Markie
Legendary New York rapper Biz Markie, famous for his hit “Just a Friend,” died in July after a battle with complications from diabetes. He was 57.
Marion Ramsey
“Police Academy” star Marion Ramsey — who famously played Officer Laverne Hooks in the comedy franchise — died at the age of 73.
Dearon “Deezer D” Thompson
Rapper and actor best known for playing nurse Malik McGrath on “ER” died from a heart attack following major heart surgery roughly a decade earlier. He was 55.
Bell Hooks
The beloved poet, author, feminist and professor — passed away in her home after an “extended illness.” She was 69.
Greg “Shock G” Jacobs
Shock G passed from an accidental drug overdose. He was 57.
Rhonda Stubbins White
The Days of Our Lives alum died after battling ovarian cancer. She was 60 years old.
Black Rob
Rapper Black Rob died in April at the age of 51.
Dorothy Steel
The actress, who played the Merchant Tribe Elder in Black Panther and the forthcoming sequel, died in 15. She was 95.
Granville Adams
Adams, who was an American actor best known for his role as Zahir Arif on the HBO television series Oz passed away from cancer at age 58.
Jonshel Alexander
Alexander, who starred in the Oscar-nominated film Beasts of the Southern Wild, died from fatal gunshot wounds in New Orleans. She was 22.
Sarah Dash
The singer and former member of the Labelle passed away in September at the age of 76.
Jacqueline Avant
Jacqueline Avant, the 81-year-old philanthropist and wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during an apparent home invasion in Beverly Hills on Dec. 1.
Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas
The Kool & the Gang co-founder passed away in his sleep. He was 70.
Gregg Leakes
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes’ husband, Gregg Leakes, died of cancer on Sept. 1, 2021. He was 66 years old.