Skip to main contentSkip to footer

In memoriam: Famous faces we lost in 2019

albert finney 1
Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
Share this:
albert finney

Albert Finney

Five-times Oscar nominee and two-time BAFTA winner Albert sadly passed away aged 82 in February after a short illness. His family released a statement which read: "Albert Finney, aged 82, passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side. The family request privacy at this sad time." Albert was best known for his roles as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, Winston Churchill in The Gathering Storm and also played Daddy Warbucks in the popular musical film, Annie.

dianne oxberry lego movie

Dianne Oxberry

Journalist Dianne Oxberry passed away aged 51 on 10 January at the Christie Hospital in Manchester earlier in January. Her husband, Ian Hindle, said he was launching a charity in her memory following her "very short battle" with cancer. "The tragic impact was felt not only by her family and friends, but also by the wider public, whose lives she touched across more than 20 years' TV and radio presenting," he said.

keeping up appearances

Clive Swift

The actor, who was best known for his role as long-suffering Richard Bucket in hit sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, died aged 82 in February. The beloved star's agent confirmed that he died "peacefully at home" surrounded by his family. Clive is most famous for starring in the hugely popular BBC show Keeping Up Appearances opposite comedy legend Patricia Routledge who played his on-screen wife.

The hilarious duo played their parts on all 40 of the show's episodes for five years.

jeremy hardy

Jeremy Hardy

The comedian passed away at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer. The sad news was confirmed by his publicist, Amanda Emery, in February 2019. "Friends and family of comedian Jeremy Hardy are immensely sad to announce that Jeremy died of cancer, early on Friday 1st February. He was with his wife and daughter as he died," the statement read. "He retained to the end the principles that guided his life; trying to make the world more humane, and to be wonderfully funny.

Ms Emery added: "He will be enormously missed by so many, who were inspired by him and who laughed with him. A fitting memorial will take place, details to be announced soon." Jeremy, who was a regular on the Radio 4 panel, found fame in the comedy circuit in the 1980s.

carol channing© Photo: Getty Images

Carol Channing

The Broadway star sadly died 15 January aged 97. Her publicist released a statement confirming the sad news, writing: "It is with extreme heartache, that I have to announce the passing of an original Industry Pioneer, Legend and Icon - Miss Carol Channing. I admired her before I met her, and have loved her since the day she stepped... or fell rather... into my life. It is so very hard to see the final curtain lower on a woman who has been a daily part of my life for more than a third of it."

dick miller

Dick Miller

The legendary Hollywood actor, who had a career spanning six decades with appearances in over 150 films, passed away aged 90 in January. He was perhaps best known for his role as Murray Futterman in Gremlins. In a statement, his family said: "His sense of humour and the unique way he looked at the world won him many lifelong friends and worldwide fans."

jo andres

Jo Andres

Hollywood star Steve Buscemi's wife passed away from encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in January. She was 65 and was surrounded by her friends and family in New York when she died. Jo was a filmmaker and choreographer, and is survived by the couple's 28-year-old son, Lucian.

windsor davies

Windsor Davies

Actor Windsor Davies, who was best known for his roles in It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Never the Twain passed away on 17 January aged 88 and four months after his wife, Eluned Lynne Evans. The couple are survived by five children. His former co-star, Melvyn Hayes, paid tribute, saying: "I considered him my best friend, even though we hadn't been in contact for many years. To work with him was a pleasure, a sheer delight because he was so generous in his work."