The end of the year can be such a bittersweet time. On one hand, the days are long, dark, and cold. It can feel a little melancholy when the sun sets at 4:45 p.m. and all we want to do is stay home and be cozy. On the other hand, it is also a festive time of year for many families, when we get to spend extra time with the people we love. This time of year is also a time for reflection, including thinking of the people we lost in 2023.
Taking some time to remember some of the celebrities who died in 2023 is bittersweet. We're grateful to these folks for their talent, creativity, and the ways they entertained us during their time on Earth. But we're also sad to lose some of our favorites, especially those who died suddenly or way too young. As we get to the end of the year, we're taking a moment to say thank you and goodbye to some of the celebs we'll miss the most as we move into 2024.
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Matthew Perry
The death of the funniest friend at only 54 years old was probably the most shocking celebrity death of 2023. Perry, who was found dead in his hot tub, had been open about his past struggles with sobriety and his happiness to have been in recovery. His cause of death has not yet been determined as some lab results are still pending.
Richard Roundtree
Was there ever a movie character with more cool (and a better theme song) than the iconic Shaft? Richard Roundtree, who rose to fame in 1970s films such as Shaft, died in October 2023 from pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old at the time of his death.
Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers, Three's Company actress and entrepreneur (remember the Thigh Master? She sold over 10 million of those!) lived with breast cancer for more than 23 years before she died one day before her 77th birthday in October 2023.
Michael Gambon
Although Irish actor Michael Gambon had a long and distinguished career, he'll likely always be best known for playing Dumbledore in the third through eighth Harry Potter films. He died of pneumonia in September 2023 at the age of 82.
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett made a whole life and career out of everyone's desire to be on an island vacation. The singer, who had been privately fighting a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer for four years, died in September 2023 at the age of 76.
Bob Barker
There was nothing quite like being home sick from elementary school, sipping ginger ale and watching Bob Barker on the Price is Right. The television game show host and animal advocate lived to be almost 100 years old before he died in August 2023.
Ron Cephas Jones
His character William's death on the television show This is Us was completely devastating. We were saddened to learn in August 2023 that television, Broadway, and film actor Ron Cephas Jones had died from a pulmonary issue at only 66 years old.
Angus Cloud
Angus Cloud, who starred in the gritty TV drama Euphoria, was only 25 years old when he died in July 2023. Tragically, the last few weeks of the actor's life were filled with sadness as he died of an accidental drug overdose only a week after attending his own father's funeral.
Paul Reubens
Although he had other acting roles, there is no doubt that the iconic (and delightfully weird) Pee-Wee Herman is the role that Paul Reubens will always be remembered for. Reubens, who'd privately been fighting cancer for six years prior to his death, was 70 years old when he died in July 2023.
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor was only 56 years old when she was found dead in her London home in July 2023. Her cause of death has not been released, though the talented singer was known to have had several medical issues and had spoken openly about her struggles with mental health. She was preceded in death by her 17-year-old son Shane, who died by suicide in 2022.
Tony Bennett
Singer Tony Bennett had a long and storied career. He won 20 Grammy Awards as well as two Emmys and sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He died in July 2023 at the age of 96 following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
Lisa Marie Presley
One of the first celebrity deaths of 2023 was the unexpected passing of 54-year-old Lisa Marie Presley. Presley, the only child of the late and great Elvis Presley, suffered a cardiac arrest at home January 12 and died in the hospital later that day. It is thought the cardiac arrest was related to a recent surgery and small bowel obstruction.
Alan Arkin
Alan Arkin had been acting for more than seven decades by the time of his death in June 2023 at the age of 89. Arkin won almost every award an actor can win, including an Oscar, a Tony, and a Golden Globe. He was remembered by actress Anne Hathaway as "a gem of a person, and I am so lucky to have gotten to work with him on Get Smart. He was kind, soulful, supportive, a pro’s pro, generous, genuine, wise, inquisitive, and a fantastic example of how to be an artist."
Treat Williams
Another unexpected celebrity death in 2023 was the tragic loss of actor Treat Williams in June. Williams, who was 71 at the time, was killed while riding his motorcycle. The other driver involved has since been charged with (but pleaded not guilty to) grossly negligent vehicle operation resulting in death. The case against the driver could go to trial in 2024.
Norman Lear
At 101 years old at the time of his death, Norman Lear was the oldest celebrity who died in 2023. He died in December 2023 after one of the longest and most productive television careers ever. He wrote, produced, created, or developed more than 100 shows in his lifetime including iconic series such as All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner will always be one of the best comeback stories of all time. From humble roots and an abusive relationship to finding freedom, a major career, and happiness in love in her later years, the singer packed a lot into her 83 years of life.
Jerry Springer
Although he started his career in politics, including a short stint as mayor of Cincinnati, Jerry Springer will no doubt be remembered for radically changing the face of daytime talk shows. His outrageous Jerry Springer Show saw everything from brawls to paternity battles to every kind of cheating scandal and kept people glued to the TV for years! He died in April 2023 at the age of 79.
