The new year is just days away, but boy has 2021 been a long and difficult one. We've continued to face unprecedented hurdles as a global community and have endured hardships and overcome challenges that many of us had no idea we could handle until we did it. There's certainly a lot to reflect on before we move into 2022 — including the many celebrities we sadly lost this year. So we're going to take a moment to pay tribute to some of them.
Here, we're honoring athletes, politicians, and stars of music, TV, and movies who died in 2021. Some were shocking losses of lives ended far too soon, while others were peaceful deaths of old age. Regardless, these celebrities all deserve to be applauded for their contributions to the arts and culture while they were with us.
They made us laugh, cry, dance, cheer, and maybe even give a little side-eye at times, but we'll always have a reason to remember them fondly when we're reminded of the work they did to entertain, encourage, inspire, and support people. Here are 20 of the celebrities we lost in 2021.
Dustin Diamond
Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond succumbed to lung cancer at just 44 years old on February 1. He began cancer treatment sometime in January, but his condition progressed quickly. He died with his girlfriend by his side and was reportedly not in any pain at the time.
Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, lived a long and full life until he passed away on April 9. He was 99 years old at the time, and his health had been declining for weeks. "Thank you for your service. You will be greatly missed," Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrote in a tribute on Instagram, posting several photos of the duke, who was Harry's paternal grandfather.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Larry King
Legendary TV journalist Larry King died on January 23 of sepsis related to respiratory failure and end-stage renal disease. "Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster," his media company wrote on Instagram after his death.
DMX
The hip-hop world was left reeling on April 9 when it was announced that DMX had died at the age of 50. Months later, it was confirmed that the embattled rapper had died from a heart attack and lack of blood circulation to his brain due to a cocaine overdose.
Cloris Leachman
Golden Girls actress Cloris Leachman died in her sleep on January 27 at a rich 94 years old. An autopsy later revealed that she had had a stroke and that the COVID-19 virus was also a contributing factor. The Academy Award winner was widely mourned by her many fans across the world.
Norm Macdonald
Beloved comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Norm Macdonald died on September 14 after battling cancer for nearly a decade. He was 61 at the time of his death. "Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that 'a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.' He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly," his producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told Deadline.
Stephen Sondheim
Broadway icon and composer Stephen Sondheim died suddenly on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. He was 91 years old. Responsible for such popular shows as West Side Story, Gypsy, and Sweeney Todd, Stephen inspired many in the industry and was memorialized fittingly after his passing.
James Michael Tyler
Shortly after the Friends 25th reunion special, James Michael Tyler — who famously played the Central Perk barista Gunther on the beloved sitcom — succumbed to prostate cancer at the age of 59. "Michael's loved ones knew him as an actor, a musician, a cancer-awareness advocate, and a loving husband. Michael loved live music and cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once, you made a friend for life," his manager paid tribute to him in a statement.
Michael K. Williams
Like DMX, beloved New York actor Michael K. Williams lost his life to a drug overdose. The Wire star died on September 6 in his Brooklyn apartment. He was 54 years old at the time. He had previously been open about his struggles with drug addiction.
Vicente Fernández
Mexican musician Vicente Fernández was an icon in the Latino community. He died in Guadalajara, Mexico, on December 12 at the age of 81. He had been in the hospital since August, but his cause of death was not made public. "Perhaps because he was such a macho man, he could cry. And that made him all the more iconic and legendary," Billboard magazine's Leila Cobo said of Vicente.
Demaryius Thomas
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas died at just 33 years old on December 9. His body was found in his home in Roswell, Georgia, and it was later reported that he had been dealing with lingering health issues from a 2019 car crash. "He had been suffering from seizures for over a year, and we believe he had a seizure when he was showering," his cousin LaTonya Bonseigneur said.
Art LaFleur
Prolific Hollywood actor Art LaFleur, who appeared in movies including The Sandlot and Field of Dreams, died on November 17 at the age of 78. He had lived with atypical Parkinson's disease for a decade. "He left a legacy larger than his personality, and while his absence is a void that can never be filled, his warmth will always be felt. Art lives on through his work, stories about his life, and the relationships he built with everyone he knew," his wife Shelley said.
Peter Scolari
Actor Peter Scolari, who appeared in a number of TV shows and movies including Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (the series), That Thing You Do, Girls, and Gotham, died on October 22 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 66 at the time of his death.
Granville Adams
Granville Adams, who famously played the character Zahir Arif on the hit show Oz, died on October 10. He was 58 at the time, and had been diagnosed with cancer. "Gran spent his last days surrounded by his loved ones, family, and close friends. His wife, Christina, was by his side the entire time and was alone with him when he passed," a friend wrote on Instagram.
Anthony 'A.J.' Johnson
Stand-up comedian Anthony "A.J." Johnson, who was best known for his roles in the films Friday and House Party, died on September 6. His cause of death was not disclosed, but TMZ reported (via NPR) that he "was found lifeless in a store earlier this month in Los Angeles and rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead."
Helen McCrory
English actress Helen McCrory, who is best known in the US for her roles in the Netflix series Peaky Blinders and for portraying Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 52 on April 16. "She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you," tweeted her husband, Homeland star Damian Lewis.
Ed Asner
From The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Elf, Ed Asner was a mainstay in Hollywood for decades. He died in his home on August 29 at the age of 91. At the time, his publicist confirmed that he died of natural causes, but did not elaborate on what those causes were specifically.
Biz Markie
Legendary rapper and DJ Biz Markie died on July 16 at the age of 57. The "Just a Friend" rapper's official cause of death was complications due to Type 2 diabetes. His health had reportedly been declining for more than a year. "Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members, and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes, and frequent banter," his rep told TMZ.
Suzzanne Douglas
NAACP Award-winning actress Suzzanne Douglas, who enjoyed a long-running career in television and appeared in several films including Jason's Lyric and The Inkwell, died on July 6. She was 64 years old, and was reportedly battling pancreatic cancer at the time of her death.
Olympia Dukakis
Beloved actress Olympia Dukakis, who starred in classic films such as Steel Magnolias and Mr. Holland's Opus, died on May 1 at home in New York City. She was 89. A specific cause of death was not revealed, but her brother confirmed that her health had been declining for some time.
