Graeme's sound and personality [are] present in everything we did together and thankfully that will live on," the band's current lead singer and guitarist, Justin Hayward, wrote on the band's website. ", Mekka is best known for playing the lovable Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa on "Laverne & Shirley. Ken Kragen was born on November 24, 1936 in Berkeley, California, USA. He died on December 14, 2021 in Florida, USA. Over the decades she won the National Book Award, the American Academy of Arts & Letters Gold Medal in Criticism and Belles Letters, the National Medal of Arts and Humanities, and the PEN Center USA's Lifetime Achievement Award. Later in the month the cause of death was ruled to be an accidental drug overdose. Indigenous Australian actor David Gulpilil found fame in the late 1970s "new wave" of Aussie filmmaking and then built an impressive on-screen career. With nearly 40 novels published, Rice will go down as one of the most popular gothic writers of all time. Themsie Times was born in 1951 in Gqeberha [formerly Port Elizabeth], South Africa. Then in 1988 the "John Madden Football" video game was born and has now become such a phenomenon it's simply known as just "Madden. Candy Palmater was born on December 4, 1968 in Point La Nim, New Brunswick, Canada. She started with ads William Lucking was born on June 17, 1941 in Vicksburg, Michigan, USA. "Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures.". From the original "Superman" in 1978 starring Christopher Reeve to "The Goonies" and the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, Donner's storytelling has touched generations. The versatile actress was known best for her comedic work, especially on TV ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Malcolm and the Middle") and in Mel Brooks movies ("High Anxiety," and the memorable Frau Blcher in "Young Frankenstein"). He was an actor, known for AWA All-Star Wrestling (1972), WWF Championship Wrestling (1972) and WWF on MSG Network (1973). She is considered to be one of the most beautiful actresses to have graced the screen during the postwar period. He was an actor and stuntman in various films, including Shaft (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), and Ganja & Hess (1973). She died on November 27, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Mick Rock was born on November 21, 1948 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. "His message of triumph over struggle, his search for the light out of darkness, his pursuit of truth and grace brought us closer to our own humanity DMX was nothing less than a giant. The South African-born director was known for his work in movies, TV, and theatre. David Lasley's prolific career as a singer/songwriter spans more than 30 years. No cause was given. She was previously married to Bobby Rogers. This Grammy-nominated producer died due to a sudden accident in Athens, Greece. He was an actor, known for Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) and Wedding Crashers (2005). Roy Orbison 2. In Memoriam: Notable people who died in 2021 - ABC News He died on February 8, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, USA. ZZ Top had a number of hits starting in the early 70s, including "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs.". ", But his most memorable role came as Captain Von Trapp in the 1965 movie adaptation of "The Sound of Music. She was previously married to Joe Maphis. Mary Grady was born on November 9, 1924 in Petaluma, California, USA. His cause of death has not been made public. White died on December 31 at her home in Los Angeles due tocomplications of a stroke she had six days prior. Williams' memorable roles include playing Prince's abusive father in "Purple Rain," Mr. Simms in 1995's "Tales from the Hood," and playing the memorable Sampson Simpson in the 1998 cult hit "Half Baked," written by and starring Dave Chappelle. Grodin's son, Nicholas, said his father's cause of death was bone marrow cancer, according to The New York Times. After retiring he became a commentator on NFL telecasts where we found him in our homes for decades every Thanksgiving and Super Bowl. No cause of death was given. "I'm heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family," her husband, actor Damian Lewis tweeted following her death. Of Irish and English extraction, she was one of two daughters born to Amit Mistry was born in 1974 in India. The hall of fame Major League Baseball manager is known best for leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series championships. She died in November 2021 in the USA. "We will forever be connected to that 'Blues Shuffle in C.' You will be missed greatly, amigo.". Celebrities who died in 2021 Jason Guerrasio Updated Betty White. Fearlessly. Focus on Sport/Getty Alec Monteath was born in 1941 in Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, UK. He died in November 2021 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was a composer and actor, known for The Blob (1958), The Box (2009) and 4D Man (1959). He was previously married to Elizabeth Dole and Phyllis Eloise Holden. She was an actress, known for Videodrome (1983), Urban Legend (1998) and Funeral Home (1980). Lionel and his sister Joyce's father, a barber encouraged their interest in dancing and theatre. Leachman began her seven-decade career as a Miss America contestant in 1946 followed by. Phil Spector (Dec. 26, 1939-Jan. 17, 2021) (Nick Ut - Pool via Getty Images) Spector was considered a musical genius when it came to producing records, including "You've Lost That Lovin'. He was an actor and writer, known for Shake Back (2020), J Stone Feat. He was previously married to Juanita Wair Jackson. Simpson: American Crime Story.". The group's mix of funk and jazz arrangements has become one of the popular, influential, and heavily sampled sounds in contemporary music and has been featured in several film soundtracks, including "Saturday Night Fever," "Rocky," and Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction. In a statement on the Gulpilil's passing, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall called the actor a "once-in-a-generation artist who shaped the history of Australian film and Aboriginal representation on screen.". He's best known for directing 1999's "Notting Hill." She died on December 25, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He resides there with his wife Susan and his children. He was an actor, known for Never Say Never Again (1983), The Descent: Part 2 (2009) and Willow (1988). Sadly, these famous people who died in 2021 will remain in our memories. She was an actress, known for Videodrome (1983), Urban Legend (1998) and Funeral Home (1980). She was previously married to Pedro Plascencia and Carlos Pauln. He played Brother Cavil in the early 2000s revival of "Battlestar Galactica. Known best as the lovable Central Perk barista Gunther on the hit show "Friends," James Michael Tyler's obsessive behavior over Rachael (Jennifer Aniston) brought laughs to millions. Celebrities who died in 2021: Captain Tom Moore, Larry King, Mick On New Year's Day of 2021, singer and actor George Gerdes died after suffering a brain aneurysm and on New Year's Eve, Golden Girls star Betty White passed away at age 99. On it, King spoke to the most prominent figures of the time, including celebrities and presidents. Known as the godfather of Black cinema, if it wasn't for the work of Melvin Van Peebles there would be no "Shaft" or any of the other legendary work from the Blaxploitation movement and beyond. He died on November 21, 2021 in the USA. "He was a great friend humble, caring and friendly man. She was an actress, known for It's a Wonderful Life (1946). She was lead singer of a female rock band in NYC in 1970, the Margo Lewis Explosion. Mario Van Peebles described his father's legacy and the final moments of his life in this Instagram post. "34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip-hop band and take on the world through it all," wrote Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright in tribute to Shock G on Instagram. He had bit parts in movies like 1983's "Dr. Detroit" and 1987's "Dragnet." In 1952, he won the European Heavyweight title for the U.S. Army. Known in the music world as a producer who worked alongside everyone from the Beatles to the Ronettes, Spector was known later in life for being convicted of murder. ", according to his longtime producing partner Lori Jo Hoekstra, complications of a stroke she had six days prior. He died on December 24, 2021 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. Covid-19's second wave also took away several known faces. Aaron would end his career with 755 home runs (a record that would hold until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007). Made for $50,000 from a loan Van Peebles got from Bill Cosby when the studios passed on it, Van Peebles starred, directed, wrote, edited, composed the music, and shot it over 19 days. She died on December 9, 2021 in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. People featured on this list, include actresses, lyricists & songwriters, political leaders and athletes who died in 2021. The smart and talented actress and playwright Linda Carlson was born in Minnesota of Swedish ancestry. Song like "I'm a Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," and "Daydream Beliver" made Nesmith and the group the first big American boy band. Joe Siracusa was born on February 3, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies "Norman, can't believe you have been gone a year. Having been the director of photography on movies "Archenemy," "Snowbound," "Darlin,'" "Blindfire" and "The Mad Hatter," she was praised by those who worked with her thanks to a creative eye and dedication to her craft. He was previously married to Cathy Worthington. He was previously married to Pati and Sheila Rock. A master at deadpan humor, Charles Grodin became a comedy fixture in the 1980s and 1990s for roles in "The Great Muppet Caper," "Midnight Run," and "Beethoven. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Will Ryan began a career in music. He died on November 27 at his home in Newhall, California, according to his brother Warren Mekjian. Tell us what you think about this feature. The renowned broadcaster had been on radio or TV since the 1950s speaking to all types of people, and was regarded as one of the best interviewers ever thanks to his friendly style with his subjects. DMX died on April 9, a week after having a heart attack at his home in New York. Hill died at his home in Houston, Texas, on July 28. Born in Saint Joseph's Hospital in downtown Houston, Texas, Scott Page-Pagter was born on February 13, 1957 in the USA. ", More recently he was nominated in the upcoming Emmys for the 2020 HBO series "Lovecraft Country.". Asner died on August 29, no cause was given. Celebrities who died in 2021. In 1978, while walking out of a Georgia courtroom fighting an obscenity charge, he and his lawyer were shot by a gunman. David Fox was an acclaimed Canadian actor. He was a writer and producer, known for Spies Like Us (1985), Nothing But Trouble (1991) and My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988).