In memoriam: Stars who have died in 2024 so far

Elf star Bob Newhart died at the age of 94 on July 18, 2024.

Jerry Digney, Bob's publicist, confirmed the sad news, revealing he had passed "a series of short illnesses".

Bob lunched his career as a standup comic in the late 1950s, and his routine was captured on vinyl in 1960, leading him to win an Album of the Year award at the Grammys.

In the 1970s he starred in The Bob Newhart Show, an American sitcom that ran for six years; Bob played a psychologist whose interactions with his wife, friends, patients, and colleagues lead to humorous situations.

He also appeared alongside Will Ferrell in Elf, Legally Blonde 2, and TV shows The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off series, Young Sheldon.

Bob won an Emmy for his work as Professor Proton on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

Fitness guru Richard Simmons was found dead at this home on Saturday July 13 by his housekeeper who called 911. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richard was born in New Orleans in 1948, and moved to LA in the 1970s where he rose to fame with a series of celebrity-friendly gyms and fitness tapes that made him a household name

He has been keeping fans up-to-date in recent years on his Facebook page including thanking fans a day before his death for the "many messages about my birthday in my life".

"So many of you have sent me birthday wishes on my Facebook and other platforms. I really appreciate that. I don’t know when your birthday is but I wish you a happy and healthy birthday," he continued.

In March, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.

"Mirror mirror on the wall, what's that blemish which is so small?" he mused in a post on the social media site. "There was this strange looking bump under my right eye. I had a tube of neosporin which I would put on [in] the morning and the evening….it was still there. It was time to call my dermatologist."

After a visit to the dermatologist, and getting skin cells scraped to test, he continued: "He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer. I asked him what kind of cancer and he said Basal Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed."

Joe Bonsall, one of the founding members of the country and gospel vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, passed away at the age of 76 on July 9 due to complications from ALS.

The country musician quietly battled the neurological disorder for four years before announcing his retirement from touring with the group in January, months before his passing.

The statement announcing his death read: "He leaves behind his precious wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke, two great grandsons, Chance and Grey, and a sister, Nancy. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph S. Bonsall Sr. and Lillie Bonsall."

Donald Sutherland, who starred in some of the most iconic films of the 20th century like Don't Look Now and Klute, died aged 88. Modern audiences may remember him for his role as President Snow in the Hunger Games franchise.

His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, broke the news on social media: "With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film." 

"Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived."

Roberta Taylor, known and loved for her roles in EastEnders and The Bill, died on July 6. Her agent, Roxanne Vacaa, confirmed her passing. 

Following the news, EastEnders released a tribute to the actress, who was 76. It read: "Roberta made an impact with audiences from the first moment she arrived in Albert Square with her performance as the formidable Irene Raymond. 

"Roberta will always be remembered fondly by everyone that worked with her and our love and thoughts go to her family and friends."

Born in West Ham on 26 February 1948, Roberta made her way onto the acting scene with appearances in Inspector Morse (1987), The Witches (1990) and Silent Witness (1997) before landing the role of Irene Raymond in EastEnders, whom she portrayed from 1997 to 2000. 

After leaving the British soap, Roberta was cast as Inspector Gina Gold in The Bill. Starring in the police procedural from 2002 to 2008, she continued to be a mainstay on our screens with roles in Viceroy's House (2017), Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (2018-22) and Luther (2019). 

Roberta is survived by her husband, fellow actor Peter Guinness, her son Elliott, a granddaughter Ellis and stepbrothers Bill and Lionel. 

Three-time NBA Hall of Famer, an All-Star every year of his career Jerry West died aged 86. His silhouette serves as the iconic logo for the NBA.

The LA Clippers released a statement announcing his passing on June 12, stating he died of natural causes with his wife Karen by his side. He is survived by his wife, and their five children.

Founding member of the band Train, Charlie Colin, was found dead aged 58.

Several outlets have reported that the bassist slipped and fell in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium.

The rest of the band reacted to his death on social media, posting: "When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him. He was THE sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do." 

"His unique bass playing and beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart."

They added: "I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels."

General Hospital star Johnny Wactor passed away aged 37, after he was shot and killed by armed thieves attempting to steal his car. 

Co-stars spoke out in shock of his loss, with co-star Kirsten Storms, best known for the role of Maxie, stating: "Johnny was one of those rare real individuals that you almost never come across. I was fortunate enough to have some really good conversations with him where we discussed things I don’t typically open up about."

"For some reason, we talked about the deep stuff. He was a safe space for those conversations and, in turn, he would talk about his life."

Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning 1997 movie Titanic, died aged 79. As well as his role in the iconic James Cameron movie, Bernard was well-known for his role as King Theoden in Lord of the Rings. ​​​​ 

Co-star Orlando Bloom said of his passing: "You will be missed, never broken, always a king."

Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker responsible for the award-winning documentary series, Super Size Me, died aged 53 years old.

His family announced his passing on May 24 in a statement that confirmed he "passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends" from cancer complications.

His brother Craig Spurlock shared: "It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him."

O.J. Simpson, the former football star later better known for his infamous car chase and subsequent trial for the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown, died aged 76 on April 10th.

A statement on behalf of his family announced his passing on social media: "On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren."

"During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."

Chance was an American and British actor known for starring in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina as well as Gen V, as the After film series. 

The 27-year-old star, who also received a BAFTA nomination in 2018 for the BBC drama Killed by My Debt, died in a motorcycle accident on 29 March. It is believed that he had been travelling to Toronto to begin filming the second season of Gen V. 

Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a Supporting Actor Oscar, passed away at the age of 87 in March. 

The New York-born actor won the Academy Award for his portrayal of Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer And A Gentleman in 1982.

His family released a statement confirming his death. 

"It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning," it read.

"We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family's privacy during this difficult time."

Cecilia Gentili, star of FX's award winning show Pose, died aged 52 years old on February 6. 

Not only known for her acting, Cecilia was a notable activist within the trans community who dedicated her life to raising awareness for HIV/AIDS, and equity for sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community. 

A statement on the actress' Instagram announced: "Our beloved Cecilia Gentili passed away this morning to continue watching over us in spirit.

"Please be gentle with each other and love one another with ferocity. We will be sharing more updates about services and what is to come in the following days."

Kenneth Mitchell, best known for his turns in Captain Marvel and Star Trek: Discovery, passed away at the age of 49 on February 24.

The Canadian actor had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, since 2019, which had impacted his ability to work in recent years as well.

His family released a statement announcing his passing, and he is survived by his wife Susan May Pratt (also an actor) and their two children, Lilah and Kallum.

Sex and The City and Days of Our Lives actor Eddie Driscoll passed away aged 60 in December 2023. 

The star was known for his roles in The Last Ship, as well as one-episode appearances in This Is Us, Mad Men, and Desperate Housewives. 

The sad news was announced in February by Eddie's friend, Jimmy Palumbo, who said the actor had died from a saddle pulmonary embolism after months of fighting stomach cancer.

Adan Canto, who was most recently known for starring in the FOX show The Cleaning Lady, passed away at the age of 42 after a private battle with appendiceal cancer on January 9, according to Variety.

The Mexican actor's first big role was in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past, playing Sunspot, and he followed that up with performances in the FOX drama The Following and the ABC series Blood & Oil. He also starred in the Netflix hits Narcos and Designated Survivor.

"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Adan Canto. A wonderful actor and dear friend, we were honored to have him as part of the Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment families since his U.S. debut in 'The Following' more than a decade ago," Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment said in a joint statement.

He is survived by his wife since 2017 Stephanie Ann and their two children, Roman Alder, three, and Eve Josephine, one.

Country music star Toby Keith died aged 62 on February 5 following a battle with stomach cancer. 

A statement on his Instagram and website read: "Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time."

He died after his cancer diagnosis in 2022, which he had described as "a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you're up and down, up and down."

He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Tricia Lucus, and their three children; Shelley Covel Rowland, singer Krystal Keith, and son Stelen. He also had four grandchildren.

Days of Our Lives star Bill Hayes died aged 98, with his death confirmed in a statement on January 12.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved Bill Hayes. One of the longest-running characters on Days of our Lives, Bill originated the role of 'Doug Williams' in 1970 and portrayed him continuously throughout his life," a rep for the television series told People.

"He and his wife, Susan Seaforth-Hayes, remained the foundation of the Williams-Horton family spanning more than 50 years," the rep added. 

Hayes met his wife on the set of the soap opera in 1970. They soon became a real-life couple and wed in October 1974, two years before their on-screen alter-egos tied the knot.

In 2018, Hayes was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards for his decades-long portrayal of Doug Williams on the soap opera. 

Seinfeld actor Peter Crombie died aged 71 on January 10 following a short illness. His ex-wife, Nadine Kijner, announced his death on Instagram as she shared her "shock and extreme sadness" over his passing.

She penned alongside photos from their wedding day: "It is with shock and extreme sadness that I share my ex-husband died this morning. Thank you for so many wonderful memories and being such a good man. 

"Fly free into the Un-boundless source of light, Peter. May you be greeted with love by your parents, and Oliver. So, so many people loved you because you were a kind, giving, caring and creative soul."

Crombie also starred in films including Natural Born Killers, Born on the Fourth of July, and TV shows House of Frankenstein, Law & Order, and Walker, Texas Ranger.

British actress Glynis Johns, known for her portrayal of Winifred Banks in the iconic 1964 Disney musical Mary Poppins, passed away at the age of 100 on January 4. Her manager of 25 years, Mitch Clem, shared news of her passing in a statement, calling it a "somber day for Hollywood". 

"Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives," he said. 

"Today is a somber day for Hollywood. Not only do we mourn the passing of our dear Glynis, but we mourn the end of the golden age of Hollywood."

Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul, who played Detective Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson in the classic 1970s crime-solving series, passed away aged 80 on January 4 surrounded by his loving family.

His wife, Helen Snell, confirmed his death on January 5, saying in a statement: "David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family."

She added: "He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched."

The Baby-Sitters Club actor Christian Oliver – who also appeared in The Good German, Speed Racer, and Valkyrie – was tragically killed in a plane crash aged just 51 alongside his two young daughters, Madita, 12, and Annika, 10, on January 4.

The trio and the pilot, Robert Sachs, were all pronounced dead after "the single-engine plane they were traveling in experienced engine trouble and fell into the ocean". The incident occurred off the island of Bequia as the family was traveling from J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm to St. Lucia.

Oliver's wife, Jessica Klepser, released a statement the following day, expressing her "deep sadness" as she paid tribute to her late husband and their daughters.