THE year 2023 was punctuated by a seemingly endless list of celebrities who passed away.
And while some stars lived long, happy lives, others – such as singer Sinead O’Connor and Friends star Matthew Perry – died prematurely in tragic circumstances.
THE half-brother of EARTH, Wind And Fire founder Maurice became the band’s drummer when he was 19, playing with them from 1974 to 1984.
Born in Chicago, he formed a band at 15 with soul legend Donny Hathaway.
With David Sullivan, Gold ran the tabloid Sport newspaper and an adult magazine firm.
He was the chairman of Birmingham City FC from 1993-2009 before he and Sullivan bought a 50 per cent controlling stake in West Ham.
FEMINIST AUTHOR who wrote 31 novels in a 55-year career.
Her 1983 book The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil was turned into a racy BBC TV drama.
She married three times and had four children. Died in a Northampton care home.
THE Italian striker played for Juventus and Chelsea in the ’80s and ’90s.
As a player and player-manager at Stamford Bridge he won the FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup-Winners’ Cup.
He died from pancreatic cancer.
GUITAR legend who led the Jeff Beck Group and played with The Yardbirds. Released his first solo single, Hi Ho Silver Lining, in 1967 and went on to win six Grammy awards.
Beck’s work spanned rock, jazz and blues. He died from bacterial meningitis.
THE only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
The singer-songwriter’s four ex-husbands included Michael Jackson and actor Nicolas Cage.
Lisa Marie, who also carried out charitable work through the Presley Foundation, released three solo albums.
She died from long-term complications as a result of weight-loss surgery.
THE actor’s death was confirmed five months after he went missing on a hiking trip in mountains near LA.
Born in Yorkshire, his breakthrough role was in 1985’s A Room With A View.
ITALIAN sex symbol who played opposite movie greats including Humphrey Bogart, Sir Alec Guinness and Errol Flynn.
She interviewed Fidel Castro as a photojournalist.
INDUCTED into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for his work with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills And Nash.
The singer-songwriter is believed to have died from complications as a result of Covid.
BEST known for her early films Ice Cold In Alex and Woman In A Dressing Gown, the “Grand Dame of British Cinema” was also in EastEnders.
She died at a care home for actors in London.
A ROCK And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee who was the lead vocalist on The Drifters’ Sweets For My Sweet and When My Little Girl is Smiling.
Died of liver cancer in Maryland, US.
GHANAIAN footballer who played for his national side, Newcastle, Everton, Bournemouth and Chelsea.
Was part of a Turkish team when he died in the Turkey-Syria earthquake.
US songwriter’s classic melodies include Walk On By and Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.
He married four times, including to the actress Angie Dickinson and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager.
RANKED third in Playboy’s “100 Sexiest Stars Of The Twentieth Century”, the US actress’s fur bikini in One Million Years B.C. made her an instant pin-up – even though she had only three lines in the 1966 movie.
She died of complications from Alzheimer’s.
WORLD Of Sport host on ITV for 17 years.
He was the understudy to Eamonn Andrews on its predecessor Wide World Of Sport and, prior to that, head purser on ocean liner the Queen Mary.
FAMOUS for his statistics and sheepskin coat, Motty covered ten European Championships, ten World Cups and 29 FA Cup finals during his 47 years as a football commentator with the BBC.
John’s big breakthrough came in 1972 when he called Ronnie Radford’s goal for Hereford United that helped knock Newcastle out of the FA Cup.
KNIGHTED after serving 11 years as Tory PM Margaret Thatcher’s press secretary.
He also worked in the same role for Lord Carrington, Tony Benn and Barbara Castle.
FIRST woman to be House of Commons Speaker.
The former Labour MP started out as a dancer and took up paragliding in her 60s. She did not marry or have children.
PULP bassist also produced albums for other artists.
Married fashion journalist Katie Grand in 2009 and died three months after he was taken into hospital with undisclosed illness.
US movie star was in Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down and Pearl Harbor.
His film career went downhill due to drug addiction and a series of scandals. Died from a brain aneurism.
THE Israeli Fiddler On The Roof star played Tevye the milkman on stage more than 3,500 times.
He also starred in the movie of the musical. Complications from Alzheimer’s claimed his life.
BORN Margaret Anne Lake and of Romani descent, Meg’s Sun column helped her become Britain’s most famous astrologer.
She had a slot on BBC TV’s National Lottery draw show from 1994-2000 and her phone horoscopes broke BT records.
Meg, who lived in Notting Hill, West London, with her seven cats, owned and bred racehorses. She died from the flu.
THE Fosbury Flop is a backward roll that won the high-jump pioneer a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico – and the move altered the sport for ever.
The US athlete died from lymphoma.
ENTREPRENEUR worth £470million who grew her dad David’s Ann Summers firm into 136 sex shops and was awarded a CBE.
Succumbed to breast cancer a few weeks after her father died.
THE Lily Savage comic hosted ITV’s For The Love Of Dogs and Battersea Dogs Home named its veterinary hospital after him.
The Merseysider lived in Kent with his husband, former ballet dancer Andre Portasio. Died after a cardiac arrest.
AS CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer he was the brains behind the economic reforms of Tory PM Margaret Thatcher.
The dad of TV cook Nigella, Lord Lawson died from bronchopneumonia.
FASHION pioneer, one of the designers who took credit for the mini skirt and hot pants.
A key part of the Swinging Sixties, and known for her Vidal Sassoon haircut, she grew her business from a boutique in Chelsea’s King’s Road and turned it into a worldwide brand.
TRAGIC S Club 7 singer who died of heart failure after the reunited group announced a tour.
Sold Brit award after bankruptcy and dated band member Hannah Spearritt for five years.
HELP for Heroes, which he founded with wife Emma in 2007, has raised £300million and helped 27,000 wounded veterans.
Royal Green Jackets vet got CBE and died of pancreatic cancer.
FORMER welder was Strictly Come Dancing judge for 12 years and was also on the panel of the US version, Dancing With The Stars.
Len ran a dance school in Kent and died from bone cancer.
AUSSIE comedian famed for his outrageous alter ego Dame Edna Everage, as well as boozy slob Sir Les Patterson.
Lived in London during the 1960s where friends included fellow comedians Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Spike Milligan and became a huge hit on TV.
Died from complications after hip surgery.
DURING 1956 the singer, actor and civil rights activist’s third album Calypso became the first million-seller by a single artist.
Died at his home in Manhattan from congestive heart failure.
THE US TV host’s talk show – which would regularly feature explosive rows and punch-ups during its 27-year run – was later turned into an award-winning British musical.
The former mayor of Cincinnati died from pancreatic cancer.
WITH a five-octave vocal range, the singer-songwriter’s hit singles included Rock-a-Doodle-Doo and The Shoop Shoop Song.
She also provided backing vocals for David Bowie and others. Died at home in Waltham Abbey, Essex.
KNIGHTED just four weeks before he succumbed to oesophageal cancer at his home in Florida.
The British literary giant and son of acclaimed novelist Kingsley was best-known for London Fields, Money and Time’s Arrow.
JOINED Manchester band The Smiths after their first gig in 1982, having gone to school with guitarist Johnny Marr.
The bassist played on Morrissey’s early solo songs and with Sinead O’Connor. Died of pancreatic cancer in New York.
PLAYED Dr Evadne Hinge in drag act Hinge And Bracket from 1974 until the death of his comedy parter Patrick Fyffe – aka Dame Hilda Brackett – in 2002.
Scots-born George ran a guest house in France with husband Louie Perone.
SINGER-songwriter known as the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll was as fiery on stage as she was in real life.
She rose to fame in the 1960s in husband-and-wife duo Ike and Tina Turner, releasing such classics as River Deep – Mountain High and Proud Mary, then disbanding in 1976 and divorcing in 1978.
Tina then had a long solo career, with more than 100million record sales, but didn’t have a No1 until 1984’s What’s Love Got To Do With It.
In 2013 she became a Swiss citizen. She died there from natural causes.
IN 1993, the former presenter of TV’s One Man And His Dog co-founded the Countryside Restoration Trust.
He was a farmer, political activist and conservationist as well as a and friend of King Charles. Died from pancreatic cancer.
ROBBER who spent a decade on the run in Spain following a £6million heist in East London in 1983.
Served three years in a British jail.
Was married for 21 years to actress Barbara Windsor.
Died from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
SEX scandals, tax fraud and corruption allegations marred the life of the former Italian PM, who died from leukaemia.
The billionaire media mogul once owned AC Milan and is said to have made 2,500 court appearances over 20 years.
CHELSEA midfielder who clocked up 592 appearances for the club after making his debut at 17 in 1963.
Won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Managed the side for three years. Died from a heart condition.
WON the 1973-74 First Division title with Leeds and later the 1983 FA Cup with Manchester United after joining the Old Trafford side for half a million pounds.
Played 30 times for Scotland. Died after suffering throat cancer and dementia.
ACTRESS and politician who won two Oscars, three Emmys and a Tony.
Among her great films, in a stage and screen career which began in 1957, were Women In Love, A Touch Of Class, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Mary, Queen Of Scots.
A high-profile backbencher who served as a Labour MP for 23 years until 2015. She died after a brief illness.
MANAGED Scotland from 1993 to 2001, helping them qualify for Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.
He later managed Preston North End, Motherwell and also Aberdeen.
Played for Rangers, Dundee and Falkirk. Died after a short illness.
THE South London-born actor played Sir Arnold Robinson in the BBC satire Yes, Minister.
He landed another political role as a Tory MP in ITV sitcom The New Statesman opposite Rik Mayall.
Was also in Z Cars and Brideshead Revisited.
APPEARED nude in 1966 thriller Blow-Up and had a 12-year relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, which was notable for their sexually explicit duet Je t’aime.
London-born Jane, who died in Paris, had been suffering from cancer.
Labour MP who represented Cynon Valley for 35 years and became the oldest woman to sit in the House of Commons before standing down in 2019.
The Welsh-born former BBC journalist previously served as an MEP.
THE US crooner, best known for his song I Left My Heart In San Francisco, sold more than 50million records worldwide and won 20 Grammy Awards.
In 2011 he recorded duets with a number of greats, among them Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse.
It is believed their version of Body And Soul was the last recording she made before her death.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
FAMED for Sound Of Music hit Edelweiss, which was in the charts for 17 weeks.
He recorded 25 studio albums and soundtracks, wrote plays and hosted TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s.
Died at home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.
PRESENTED BBC One’s News At Six for 15 years.
Born in Sri Lanka, he won numerous awards, including a Bafta for his coverage of the Kosovo conflict.
In 2008 he was made an OBE for services to journalism. Died from bowel cancer.
MIdfielder who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic.
Died in America, where he had been working as a coach, within hours of the passing of his former Hillsborough manager Trevor Francis.
BECAME Britain’s first £1million footballer when he joined Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City in 1979.
European Cup winner, successful manager and England player with 52 caps. Died in his Marbella home of heart attack.
SINGER, songwriter and activist from Dublin who topped the charts in 1990 with her version of Prince’s haunting ballad Nothing Compares 2 U.
Two years later she sparked world outrage by tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live TV in the US as a protest against child abuse in the Catholic church.
It was 20 years before the church apologised to victims.
Never comfortable with fame, O’Connor said her pariah status “put her back on track”.
She later drew attention to human rights, racism, organised religion and women’s rights, and converted to Islam.
Her death came 18 months after her 17-year-old son Shane died while on suicide watch.
She was found dead at her South London home.
LEGENDARY interviewer’s BBC talk show ran from 1971 to 1982 and 1998 to 2007.
By his own reckoning, he had quizzed 2,000 celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Fred Astaire, Orson Welles, Sir Alec Guinness, Sir Paul McCartney, George Michael, Madonna, John Cleese and Mel Gibson.
The journalist and author took over Desert Island Discs in 1986 following the death of Roy Plomley, creator of the Radio 4 show.
A lifelong Yorkshire cricket and Barnsley football club fan, Parky was made a CBE in 2000 and knighted eight years later.
His last TV appearance was on BBC Breakfast in November 2022.
BOUGHT and then sold Harrods and Fulham FC.
The Egyptian businessman admitted paying MPs to ask questions in the Commons.
Princess Diana was dating his son Dodi when the pair died in their 1997 Paris car crash.
THE impressionist made his debut on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1964.
His take on then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson was one of the highlights of his act.
Beat alcoholism and was once one of the UK’s biggest stars.
PLAYED mum Nellie Boswell in the hit 1980s sitcom Bread.
Also had roles in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em and Last Of The Summer Wine.
Died from complications of dementia five weeks after the death of composer husband Carl Davis.
FOLK singer and songwriter who sold 50million records globally but was best known for his 1969 hit Durham Town.
Born in Nairobi to English parents, he spent years living in Ireland, then France, where he died in hospital near Toulouse.
THE Glasgow-born actor, who died in New York, was best-known as secret agent Illya Kuryakin in the TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
He also appeared in Colditz, Sapphire & Steel and classic war movie The Great Escape.
THE four-time Bafta winner had starring roles in Harry Potter, Gosford Park and TV drama The Singing Detective.
The Irish-born actor died with wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside in Essex after a bout of pneumonia.
Manchester City striker who helped the team rack up domestic and European honours in the late 1960s. Had an on-field scrap with Leeds United’s Norman Hunter after he left City to join Derby County. Died from lung cancer.
THE singer founded R&B group The Isley Brothers with siblings Ronald, O’Kelly and Vernon (who died in a cycling accident at 13).
Had hits such as Harvest For The World and Shout, which Lulu covered. Died of a heart attack.
ENGLAND and Manchester United legend was a true great of the game.
One of the Busby Babes who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster in which 23 people perished, he was later to play a vital role in England’s 1966 World Cup success alongside his brother Jack.
During a glittering 17-year career at Old Trafford Sir Bobby won three league titles, a European Cup, scoring twice in a 4-1 win against Benfica at Wembley, and the FA Cup.
He played 106 matches for England and scored 49 goals.
In later years he became a much-loved elder statesman of the game.
He was diagnosed with dementia in 2020. Following a fall at his care home, Sir Bobby was taken to hospital, where he died five days later.
FORMER associate of the Kray twins wrote eight books and played gangsters in a number of low-budget films.
He was found dead in bed at his home in Plumstead, South London, where he is believed to have shot himself.
EVERTON chairman was an actor age 12 and played Gordon Clegg in Coronation Street.
As a theatre impresario his hits included Evita, Blood Brothers and Jesus Christ Superstar.
He was also a film producer. Died from liver cancer.
SHOT to fame playing Detective John Shaft, a PI in the Harlem neighbourhood, in the 1971 movie Shaft.
Reprised the role in a number of sequels and a TV series.
Died at his home in Los Angeles following pancreatic cancer.
PLAYED the wisecracking Chandler Bing in the long-running hit sitcom Friends.
His one-liners and put- downs as the New York friends hung out in Central Perk cafe shot him and his co-stars to fame and fortune.
Matthew, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow appeared in all 236 episodes of the show and were each earning more than $1million per episode when it ended in 2004.
He was also the only one of the cast who wrote scripts for the show.
Matthew frequently spoke about his own addictions to alcohol and drugs, as well as depression, and campaigned for more rehab facilities in the US.
He was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles.
His death was later ruled an accident from the “acute effects” of the tranquilliser ketamine.
COMMANDER of the historic Apollo 8 flight launched in December 1968 on the first mission to orbit the Moon.
Its success paved the way for the initial lunar landing the following year. Borman died after suffering a stroke.
ACTOR who played Chris Harrington in Channel 5’s Aussie soap Home And Away.
A reality TV star in his native Australia, he was also a singer, songwriter, dancer and presenter.
Died of brain cancer with partner Tahnee by his side.
AUTHOR, critic and poet whose Booker-winning 1990 novel Possession became a 2002 film.
Dame Antonia Duffy, who wrote under her former married name, reportedly had a frosty relationship with her sister, novelist Margaret Drabble.
KOOL & The Gang drummer and co-founder who co-wrote a string of hits including their signature tune Celebration, Ladies’ Night and Jungle Boogie.
Died from lung cancer in a Los Angeles hospital.
VETERAN British actor best known for roles in White Mischief and Lethal Weapon 2.
He made more than 130 film, TV and radio appearances over almost 70 years. Died peacefully at his home in Clovelly, Devon.
FORMER First Lady whose husband, 39th US President Jimmy Carter, is now the oldest living ex-President at 99. She was an advocate for many causes, including mental health research. Died with dementia.
MULTI-talented TV and radio presenter and actress who was also a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, model, writer and novelist.
Married Ultravox singer Midge Ure in 1985, divorcing four years later. Died from brain cancer.
WIDELY respected football coach led England to the Euro ’96 semi-finals before losing on penalties to Germany.
Dubbed El Tel during his stint as the boss at Barcelona, Terry also managed Spurs to FA Cup glory in 1991.
As a player he represented England at every level from schoolboy to the senior team. Died after a long illness.
AT 17 years, the longest-serving cast member of Channel 4 soap Brookside, as cheeky rogue Jimmy Corkhill.
The Liverpool-born actor, who appeared in the final episode in 2003, famously found Trevor Jordache’s body under a patio.
DIPLOMAT who won the Nobel Peace Prize and shaped world affairs but divided opinion.
He came to the US in 1938, fleeing Nazi persecution, rising to serve as US Secretary of State and US National Security Advisor.
He played a key role in ending America’s involvement in Vietnam and ending the Yom Kippur War in Israel.
Kissinger served under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and is said to have advised almost every US president since then.
CHANCELLOR in Gordon Brown’s Labour Government from 2007 to 2010, steering the UK through the 2008 banking crisis.
Cabinet member for 13 years and Edinburgh MP for 28. Died of cancer two days after his birthday.
FAMED for his alcohol and drug excesses as much as for his music, the Pogues lead vocalist co-wrote Christmas mega-hit Fairytale Of New York.
Other notable songs he performed with the band, which he helped found in 1982, were Dirty Old Town and The Irish Rover.
Many of his songs were heavily influenced by Irish nationalism.
Fired from the Pogues in 1992 before reuniting with them in 2001.
Died in hospital in Dublin from pneumonia.
SCOTS actress who played Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
From 2013 to 2019, she was Madge in Still Open All Hours and also appeared in Coronation Street, The Bill, Poirot, Dr Who and Casualty.
FORMER MEP and minister, married for 56 years to ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock.
Awarded a life peerage so she could join the government, becoming Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017.
MOODY Blues co-founder and lead singer, leading to a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Later played guitar with Sir Paul McCartney in Wings and wrote Mull Of Kintyre with him. Denny died in Florida from lung disease.
POET and activist, left school in Birmingham at 13 unable to read or write. Wrote An Ode To Muhammad Ali after the boxer’s death and was Jeremiah in TV’s Peaky Blinders.
Refused an OBE in 2003. Died after diagnosed with a brain tumour.
SEVENTIES movie heartthrob starred in Love Story and Paper Moon.
He had a tumultuous on-off relationship with the actress Farrah Fawcett, who died in 2009.
O’Neal had survived leukaemia and prostate cancer. Died of heart failure.
ACTRESS shot to fame opposite Laurence Olivier in 1960 movie The Entertainer.
She also starred in Sixties films Saturday Night And Sunday Morning with Albert Finney, and in Alfie with Michael Caine.
Died of natural causes.
THE longest-serving cast member from Emmerdale, he spent 29 years playing Zak Dingle in the ITV soap with his trademark flat cap, wellies and wax jacket.
Previously diagnosed with a heart condition, he died surrounded by family.
ANTIQUES Roadshow favourite who joined the BBC TV show in 1979 and remained on it for 30 years.
Began his lifelong “love affair” with pottery after finding broken plates in his garden. Died in a care home in Malvern, Worcs.
FORMER EU president who created the single market and the euro.
In 1990 Margaret Thatcher was a vociferous critic of his plans for a federal Europe – prompting The Sun’s classic headline Up Yours Delors. He died in his sleep.
ONE of the stars of Parasite, the 2020 South Korean film that was the first non-English language movie to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
The actor, who was being investigation for alleged illegal drug use, was found dead in a car.
