Which Celebrities Died in 2024?

From veteran film actors to fixtures of the music industry, we have lost a variety of famous faces in 2024.

In 2023, we lost the likes of Lisa Marie Presley, Matthew Perry and Tina Turner. This year, the world bid farewell to celebrities like Shelley Duvall and Kris Kristofferson, while more recent celebrity deaths have featured people like Liam Payne and Quincy Jones.

Here, Newsweek pays homage to the stars who died in 2024 and the legacies they left behind.

Liam Payne

The world was shocked to find out Liam Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony at Casa Sur Hotel, located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, on October 16. He was 31 years old.

Following an investigation, a friend of the late singer, a Buenos Aires hotel employee and an alleged drug dealer were charged with the abandonment of a person followed by death.

Payne rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, who finished third on The X Factor in 2010 but quickly signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco Music.

The band quickly took over the world, with their breakout song “What Makes You Beautiful,” as well as “Night Changes,” “Story of My Life” and “Drag Me Down” all having over 1 billion Spotify streams. Despite the group going on hiatus in 2016, One Direction has over 42 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

After the band split, Payne pursued a solo career and saw success with songs like “Bedroom Floor,” “Get Low,” and “Strip That Down,” the latter of which has over 1 billion Spotify streams.

Quincy Jones

The legendary music producer whose influence spanned decades and genres, died on November 3 at the age of 91. His publicist confirmed that Jones died at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, surrounded by family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” Jones’ family said in a heartfelt statement. “While this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he lived, knowing there will never be another like him.”

Jones will be remembered for his various achievements, including his groundbreaking work on Michael Jackson’s historic albums Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad as well as his award-winning film and television scores. He also received various accolades during his lifetime, including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy award and a Tony Award.

Maggie Smith

The acclaimed British actor Dame Maggie Smith died on September 27 at the age of 89.

Smith, celebrated as one of the preeminent actresses of her era, leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning more than six decades in film, television, and theater. She won an Oscar for her performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and captured the hearts of a new generation as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter film franchise

The actor is survived by her two sons from her marriage to actor Robert Stephens—Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens—who are also both actors. She also had several grandchildren.

Smith’s second husband, playwright Beverley Cross, whom she married in 1975, died in 1998. She did not remarry after his death.

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland died on June 20 following a long illness. He was 88 years old.

“With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” his son Kiefer Sutherland posted on X (formerly Twitter) along with a photo of him as a child with his father.

“I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

Born in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1935, Donald Sutherland first worked as a radio DJ and trained as an engineer before turning to acting.

He was the recipient of an honorary Oscar in 2017 for his lifetime of contributions to cinema, having enjoyed a career with appearances across nearly 200 different shows and movies. He was known for his roles in the Hunger Games film franchise, M*A*S*H and The Dirty Dozen.

Shelley Duvall

The two-time Emmy nominee died in her Texas home on July 11 at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking performances. According to Dan Gilroy, who has been her life partner since 1989, she died in her sleep of complications from diabetes.

“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” the musician told The Hollywood Reporter on the morning of her death.

The beloved actor’s career was marked by her collaborations with some of the most innovative directors of her time, including Robert Altman and the controversial Stanley Kubrick. Her role as Wendy Torrance in The Shining remains a high watermark of film acting, remembered for both the psychological depth she brought to the character and the grueling process it took to capture it on camera.

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty died on July 13 after her much-documented battle with cancer. She was 53.

The iconic actor was best known for her iconic role as Brenda Walsh in the teen 1990s drama Beverly Hills 90210, was also one of the leads in Charmed and captivated audiences with her dynamic performances and strong screen presence.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” according to a statement from her publicist Leslie Sloane, cited by People magazine.

The actor had been first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a mastectomy. In 2020, she said her diagnosis was then terminal, calling it “a bitter pill to swallow” in a Good Morning America interview.

Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons died on July 13, a day after his birthday, after being found unresponsive in his home.

According to the official report released on August 29, the beloved fitness guru suffered “sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries” from a fall at ground level, with “arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease” noted as a contributing factor.

The report, obtained by E! News, detailed an unfortunate incident where Simmons experienced dizziness and fell on July 11. He was discovered the next morning and remained bedridden throughout the afternoon. Tragically, he was found unresponsive on the floor the following day, July 13, and was pronounced dead at his residence.

Rachael Lillis

The original voice of Misty and Jessie from the beloved animated television series Pokémon, Rachael Lillis died on August 10.

The news of her death was announced on X by her co-star Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash and his mother Delia in the English-language dub of the Pokémon anime for its first eight seasons.

“We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful roles she played. She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills. #RachaelLillis,” Taylor wrote online.

Taylor shared a statement alongside her post, which read: “It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news of Rachael Lillis passing on Saturday evening, 10 August, 2024.

“Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing. She will be forever remembered for the many animated roles she played, with her iconic performances as Pokémon’s Misty and Jessie being the most beloved.”

She continued: “Rachael was so thankful for all of the generous love and support that was given to her as she battled with cancer. It truly made a positive difference. Her family also wishes to thank you as they take this time to grieve privately. A memorial is being planned for a future date. With love, Veronica.”

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones died at his home in Dutchess County, New York, on the morning of September 9, representatives for Jones confirmed to Deadline that day.

The actor—known and beloved by generations as the voices of Star Wars‘ Darth Vader and The Lion King‘s Mufasa, among countless other star turns across stage and screen—was 93 years old.

Jones’ acting career spanned decades and earned the Mississippi native numerous accolades, including an honorary Academy Award, two Emmys, three Tony Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award) and a Grammy Award—the combination of which adds up to the extremely rare and highly coveted EGOT status.

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, the prolific country music icon and Hollywood actor, died aged 88. According to a family spokesperson, he died peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by his loved ones.

Kristofferson’s family announced his death on Instagram on September 29, writing: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

The Rhodes scholar-turned-country superstar left an indelible mark on American culture. Starting in the late 1960s, Kristofferson penned classics like “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” and the iconic “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Not content with music success alone, Kristofferson embarked on an acting career, starring in critically acclaimed films such as Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and alongside Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born. His versatility allowed him to tackle roles ranging from Westerns to superhero films like Blade.

Chuck Woolery

TV personality Chuck Woolery died at home in Texas with his wife Kristen Barnes at his side on November 23. He is survived by his children Melissa, Michael and Sean. Two of his children, Katherine and Chad, preceded him in death.

Woolery was best known for being a TV host for shows like Wheel of Fortune, Love Connection, Scrabble, Greed and Lingo.

He was also a musician, whose portfolio included several advertising jingles, country music releases, and a Top 40 hit in 1968 as part of the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde. In his later years, he became known for his conservative podcast with Mark Young, the Blunt Force Truth Podcast.

Gena Rowlands

Legendary actor Gena Rowlands, who played the senior version of Alzheimer’s-afflicted Allie Hamilton in The Notebook, died on August 14 after battling the same disease. The Oscar-nominated actor was at her home in Indian Wells.

Rowlands’ son Nick Cassavetes, who directed The Notebook, previously revealed Rowlands’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“I got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she’s had Alzheimer’s,” he told the publication.

“She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy—we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.”

Frank Fritz

Antique hunter and former American Pickers star Frank Fritz died from complications of a stroke while in hospice care on September 30. He was 60 years old.

Fritz’s last appearance on the program was in March 2020 as he took a break to recover from back surgery. When American Pickers returned in January 2021, Fritz was not on the show. His former co-star, Mike Wolfe, later released a statement to say Fritz would not be returning to the series.

Fritz’s health took a significant hit in 2022 after he had a stroke that left him needing a wheelchair. He had also had Crohn’s disease—a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract—for several decades.