These Stars May Be Gone But They'll Never Stop Shining
From the Golden Age of Hollywood to modern blockbusters, certain movie stars' faces have been etched into our collective memory. Their performances have captivated us, brought us to tears, made us laugh, and made a lasting mark on our hearts and minds. While some of them were tragically taken from this earth far too soon, others enjoyed prolific careers spanning six, seven, or even eight decades. Their talent shaped generations and while they're no longer around, their performances will continue to illuminate screens around the world. Here are 20 iconic actors who have tragically passed away.
1. Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger passed away in 2008 at the age of 28 after taking some pills to help manage his stress and insomnia right after completing the role of his life as The Joker in The Dark Knight. He earned a posthumous Academy Award for his performance.
2. Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John passed away in 2022 after a long, public battle with breast cancer. She spoke openly about her journey along the way, advocating for cancer research and allowing others in a similar situation to relate.
Bert Verhoeff for Anefo on Wikimedia
3. Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman shocked fans when he quietly passed away in 2020 after a very private four-year battle with colon cancer. He continued to film several major movies including Black Panther and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom while undergoing treatment, a testament to his strength and stoicism.
4. Maggie Smith
Dame Maggie Smith was a prolific Oscar-winning actress whose career spanned seven decades. She's best known for her role as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. She passed away peacefully at the age of 89 just last year.
5. Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman who took on such iconic roles as Professor Snape in Harry Potter and Hans Gruber in Die Hard passed away in 2016 at the age of 69 from pancreatic cancer. His death came as a complete shock to many as he kept his diagnosis private.
6. Betty White
Betty White's career spanned over eight decades. She was loved by all, not just for performances in such iconic roles as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but for her genuine humor and charisma off-screen. She died just a few weeks before her 100th birthday.
7. Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher will forever be remembered for her iconic performance as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars. She passed away suddenly after a medical emergency during a transatlantic flight in 2016. The cause of death was ruled "undetermined."
Riccardo Ghilardi on Wikimedia
8. Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer was a beloved Canadian actor best known for his performance as Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music. He won an Oscar at the age of 82, making him the oldest actor to win such an award at the time. He died in 2021 at the age of 91.
MiamiFilmFestival on Wikimedia
9. Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy, the beloved actress who played Tai Frasier in the 90s classic Clueless as well as Daisy Randone in Girl, Interrupted, passed away in 2009 at only 32. She had a severe iron deficiency and pneumonia.
10. Richard Harris
Known for his strong screen presence, commanding voice, and off-screen humor, Richard Harris was a highly esteemed Irish actor best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, King Arthur in Camelot, and Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator. He died at 72 from Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002.
City of Boston Archives on Wikimedia
11. Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was an iconic Hollywood actress best known for her collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock in such classics as Rear Window and Dial M for Murder. In 1956, she famously married a Monacan Prince and retired from acting to focus on her princess duties. She died at the age of 52 after a car crash.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on Wikimedia
12. Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood started her career as a child star in such films as Miracle on 34th Street before transitioning to adult roles in films like Gypsy, but she's almost as famous for his mysterious death as for her acting career. She drowned while on a weekend boat trip with her co-star Christopher Walken and her husband Robert Wagner. Suspicions surrounding her then-husband's hand in her death caused investigators to re-open the case in 2011 and again in 2012, but he has retained his innocence.
13. John Candy
John Candy was a Canadian actor best known for his comedic chops in such now-classic films as Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and Uncle Buck. He died at age 43 from a heart attack, shocking many.
14. Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate's death was one of the most famous in Hollywood history because of its gruesome nature. She and four other people were murdered by members of the Manson Family cult who broke into her home in the late 1960s. She was only 26.
15. Judy Garland
Judy Garland was one of the most celebrated American actresses and entertainers of her time, best known for her portrayal of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Her death was caused by an accidental overdose of the sleeping pill barbiturates.
Photographer affiliated with MGM on Wikimedia
16. Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas, passed away in 2022 at the age of 67. He was celebrated for his ability to deliver intense, menacing, but vulnerable performances, and his death was a significant loss to Hollywood.
17. Donald Sutherland
Celebrated Canadian actor Donald Sutherland had an impressive career spanning over 60 years. He was known for his versatility, taking on such roles as Hawkeye Pierce in the MASH film, Mr. X in JFK, and Matthew Bennell in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He died last year at the age of 88.
Festival TV Monte-Carlo on Wikimedia
18. Robin Williams
Robin Williams' death was a huge blow to both the worlds of acting and comedy. He suffered from a devastating neurodegenerative disease called LBD which caused him to take his own life in 2014, shocking the world. Irreplaceable as both an actor and comedian, he'll forever be remembered for such roles as the Genie in Aladdin, John Keating in Dead Poets Society, and Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting.
John Mathew Smith on Wikimedia
19. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the most talented actors of his generation, had one of the most tragic passings at the age of 46. After being clean for 20 years, he relapsed into drugs and almost immediately had a fatal overdose. He was known for his incredible portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote for which he won an Oscar.
20. Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer, known for his masterful portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors, died this year at the age of 65 after a 10-year battle with throat cancer which left him almost unable to speak. He documented his journey in a 2020 memoir titled I'm Your Huckleberry, and the 2021 documentary Val.
