Singers Sinead O’Connor and Tony Bennett and actors Lance Reddick and Raquel Welch are among the celebrities who have died in 2023.
Topline
From daytime television star Billy Miller to musicians Steve Harwell and Sinead O’Connor, the following celebrities are among the biggest stars who have died this year.Key Facts
Listed below, by date, are celebrities who have died in 2023, leaving behind storied legacies in the film, television and music industries.
Colin Burgess (december 16)
Colin Burgess, the original drummer of the rock band AC/DC, died at age 77 on Saturday, the band said in a Facebook post. Burgess, an Australia native, was recruited in 1973 to help form AC/DC alongside Malcolm Young, his brother Angus, Dave Evans and Larry Kriedt. Burgess was fired from the band the following year, after its members accused him of being drunk on stage—a claim Burgess did not deny, arguing someone had spiked his drink. Burgess played on the band’s debut single, “Can I Sit Next To You, Girl,” and made later appearances with AC/DC when Bon Scott became its lead singer. Before AC/DC, Burgess was a member of The Masters Apprentices, an Australian group that was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998. Burgess later formed the hard rock band His Majesty and also performed with Dead Singers, before performing with his brother Denny with The Burgess Brothers Band and Burgess Burgess.Andre Braugher (december 11)
Andre Braugher, an actor best known for his acclaimed work on television, died at age 61 on Monday following a months-long battle with lung cancer. A graduate of Stanford University and the Juilliard School, Braugher made his film debut in 1989, starring in a supporting role in “Glory” alongside Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. He then began a decades-long run on television, beginning with his role in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” which ran from 1993 to 1999. For his role as a police detective, Braugher was nominated twice for an Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series, winning in 1998. He starred in several series throughout the 2000s, including “Gideon’s Crossing” (2000-2001), “Hack” (2002-2004) and the miniseries “Thief” (2006), for which he won his second Emmy Award. He received two further Emmy nominations for “Men of a Certain Age” and four further nods for his comedic turn in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-2021). His final film role was in the 2022 movie “She Said,” based on the New York Times’ expose of Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual abuse against women in Hollywood. NBC, the network on which “Homicide” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” aired, mourned Braugher in a statement, calling him “the actor that others in the profession would always aspire to be” and he will “continue to inspire future generations.” Braugher’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” costar Terry Crews honored Braugher in a post on Instagram: “I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship,” Crews stated.Ryan O’neal (december 8)
Ryan O’Neal, an actor best known for his television and film roles in the 1960s and 1970s, died Friday at age 82. An amateur boxer before starting an acting career, O’Neal rose to fame with his role as Rodney Harrington on the drama series “Peyton Place,” which aired from 1964 to 1969. O’Neal then became a leading man in film, earning an Oscar nomination for his role in the box office hit “Love Story” (1970). Three years later, O’Neal starred in “Paper Moon,” earning a Golden Globe nomination and starring alongside his daughter, Tatum O’Neal, who won an Oscar for her role—making her the youngest competitive winner of an acting Oscar. He also had leading roles in other 1970s films, like Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon,” Richard Attenborough’s “A Bridge Too Far” and a role opposite Barbra Streisand in “What’s Up, Doc?” Though his career began to fluctuate in the 1980s, O’Neal continued to act, including a regular role on the crime series “Bones” from 2006 to 2017. O’Neal was also known for his personal life, including his decades-long relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett. They had split for years after Fawcett caught him in bed with another woman. He also had rocky relationships with his children, including an infamous altercation with his son Griffin in which Ryan O’Neal was arrested for shooting a gun into a stair banister as a warning shot, claiming self defense because his son allegedly approached him with a fireplace poker. Tatum O’Neal said she felt “great sorrow” about her father’s death in a statement to People magazine. “He meant the world to me. I loved him very much and know he loved me too. I’ll miss him forever and I feel very lucky that we ended on such good terms.”Norman Lear (december 5)
Television icon Norman Lear, known for creating and producing some of the biggest shows of the 1970s, died Tuesday at age 101. Lear’s sitcom “All in the Family,” which ran from 1971 to 1979, was the most popular show of its era and was considered groundbreaking for its portrayal of social issues, such as racism, homosexuality, feminism and the Vietnam War. Lear took inspiration partially from British sitcom “Till Death Do Us Part,” and from his own family—some insults Lear said his father would wield against his own family, such as telling his wife to “stifle it” or calling his son the “laziest white kid I ever seen,” made their way onto the show. “All in the Family” inspired Lear to create a spinoff series, “Maude,” which inspired another spinoff, “Good Times.” Lear also created popular sitcoms “Sanford and Son,” “One Day at a Time” and “The Jeffersons,” which ended its ten-year run in 1985 as the longest-running series with a predominantly Black cast (a record that’s since been broken by “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”). Lear won six Primetime Emmy Awards for his television work: “All in the Family” won him three consecutive awards for Outstanding Comedy Series between 1971 and 1973, as well as one for Outstanding New Comedy Series in 1971. He won his final two Emmys in 2019 and 2020 for live television specials about “All in the Family,” “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons.” Before his television dominance, Lear was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay for “Divorce American Style” (1967), and he wrote and directed “Cold Turkey” (1971) starring Dick Van Dyke. Lear received the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award for lifetime achievement in television in 2021, and he was awarded at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017. Lear, known for his left-wing politics, boycotted the traditional White House reception following the Kennedy Center Honors over his opposition to then-President Donald Trump. In 1981, he founded the progressive advocacy organization People for the American Way. Lear’s family honored him in a statement: “Norman lived a life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts.”Sandra Day O’connor (december 1)
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice, died at age 93 of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the court announced in a statement. O’Connor was appointed to the court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until her retirement in 2006. A moderate conservative, O’Connor was often considered the center of the court’s ideological spectrum, and she was the swing vote in a number of major decisions. O’Connor was considered the deciding vote in a 2003 case that upheld affirmative action in college admissions, and she routinely upheld the Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion, in one instance stating overturning Roe would deal “profound and unnecessary damage to the court’s legitimacy, and to the nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” But she also dealt conservative opinions: She sided with the majority for the 2000 Bush v. Gore case that halted a recount in Florida (though she later suggested the court should have stayed out of the election), voted to uphold a Georgia law that criminalized sodomy and frequently advocated for states’ rights. The court has shifted to the political right in the years following O’Connor’s retirement—her successor, Samuel Alito, is more conservative—in some cases causing O’Connor’s rulings to be, as she said in 2009, “dismantled.” When asked how that made her feel, O’Connor responded: “What would you feel? I’d be a little bit disappointed.” In the court’s announcement of her death, Chief Justice John Roberts praised O’Connor, stating she “blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.” Politicians from both parties posted tributes for O’Connor on social media. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said O’Connor was often the “key vote in defending the rights of Americans—in protecting clean air, in protecting women’s rights, in protecting against discrimination, in protecting voting rights.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) hailed O’Connor as a “towering figure in the history of American law,” stating she “led with brilliance and conviction.”Shane Macgowan (november 30)
Legendary Irish singer-songwriter Shane MacGowan died at age 65, his wife Victoria Mary Clarke announced in an Instagram post. MacGowan was best known as the lead singer of The Pogues, a Celtic punk band founded in London in 1982. The Pogues achieved mainstream success with their unique blend of punk rock and traditional Irish folk songs and instruments. One of their most enduring hits is 1987’s “Fairytale of New York,” a Christmas song MacGowan co-wrote and sang as a duet with Kirsty MacColl. MacGowan’s cause of death has not been announced, but he had been in poor health for years after a long battle with drug and alcohol addiction. He was diagnosed with viral encephalitis, a potentially deadly brain inflammation, in December 2022. Tributes for the legendary punk lyricist came from across Irish and British society, showcasing the artist’s wide reach and appeal. Irish President Michael Higgins called MacGowan “one of music’s greatest lyricists,” and praised his contributions to Irish music and culture at large. “His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways,” the president said. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also praised the singer in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “His songs beautifully captured the Irish experience, especially the experience of being Irish abroad.”Henry Kissinger (november 29)
Henry Kissinger, the divisive former secretary of state who served under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, died Nov. 29 at age 100. Kissinger wielded major influence over American foreign policy for decades and is credited with helping negotiate the end of the Vietnam War. For his efforts in Vietnam, Kissinger was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize alongside North Vietnamese diplomat Le Duc Tho. The decision to award the prize was met with controversy: Tho declined to share the prize, stating “peace has not yet really been established in South Vietnam,” and two members of the Nobel Prize Committee resigned in protest. Kissinger’s handling of Vietnam was met with plenty of critics, who accused him and Nixon of needlessly prolonging the bloody war that killed more than 58,000 Americans. His authorization of bombings of Cambodia in 1969 and 1970, which he hoped would eliminate pro-Communist forces, led critics to brand him as a “war criminal” and argue his actions helped Cambodia fall into the hands of the Khmer Rouge regime, which killed more than 1.7 million Cambodians, then a quarter of the country’s population. Kissinger was also known for opening up U.S. relations with China, paving the way for Nixon’s historic visit to the country—Kissinger himself has reportedly visited China more than 100 times, including after his tenure. Kissinger also employed a “détente” approach to Soviet relations, easing tensions during the Cold War, and engaged in “shuttle diplomacy” to improve relations between Israel and Arab nations. His approach to foreign policy was considered “realpolitik”—an approach based on pragmatism rather than moral values—which was a divisive strategy that critics considered immoral. Kissinger’s death was met with tributes from world leaders. China mourned Kissinger’s death, with state media calling him “China’s old friend” and China’s Foreign Ministry calling him “a pioneer and architect of China-US relations.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Kissinger’s understanding of international relations was “unparalleled.” German chancellor Olaf Scholz called him a “great diplomat,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin considered Kissinger a “wise and talented statesman.” But Chile’s Ambassador to the United States, Juan Gabriel Valdes, posted on X that Kissinger’s brilliance “never managed to conceal his profound moral misery.” Documents have shown Kissinger supported a coup in Chile that ushered in a right-wing dictatorship. American politicians—many Republicans—paid tribute to Kissinger, including former President George W. Bush, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called him “a titan among America’s most consequential statesmen.”Rosalynn Carter (november 19)
Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady and wife of former President Jimmy Carter, died Sunday at age 96, days after entering hospice care. Carter was known as a politically active first lady who frequently advised her husband and advocated for causes including mental health reform. She served as the first lady of Georgia from 1971 to 1975 when her husband served as governor, and first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981. As first lady, Carter sat in on cabinet meetings, lobbied on behalf of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 and served as an honorary member of the President’s Commission on Mental Health. She is credited by historians as redefining and formalizing the role of the first lady, becoming the first to formally claim office space for herself and her staff, which succeeding first ladies have done. She took a two-week diplomatic trip to several Latin American countries in 1977, which the New York Times considered a “personal and diplomatic success that goes far beyond the modest expectations of both her foreign policy tutors at the State Department and her hosts.” Her active role as first lady led TIME Magazine to call her the “second most powerful person in the United States” in 1979. After the Carter presidency, Jimmy and Rosalynn maintained an active lifestyle, founding the Carter Center, a human rights nonprofit, and working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes. In their later years, the Carters have both dealt with health issues. Carter’s family announced in May the former first lady was living with dementia. Jimmy Carter, who at age 99 is the longest living former president, entered hospice care in February, several years after beating brain cancer and enduring other health scares. In a statement following his wife’s death, the former president said: “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” Jimmy Carter had previously stated living into his 90s was difficult, but the secret to keep going was to “marry the best spouse.”Bob Knight (november 1)
Bob Knight, the iconic basketball coach whose decades-long career made him one of the most successful NCAA coaches of all time, died November 1 at age 83, his family announced in a statement posted to his website Wednesday night. Knight, nicknamed “The General,” was known for both his successful coaching style and his temper, which earned him many devoted fans and critics. He became the youngest coach at a Division I school in 1965 when he began coaching the Army Black Knights, where he remained until 1971, when he famously began coaching the Indiana Hoosiers for three decades. While at Indiana, he coached the team to win a record 661 games and three NCAA titles. In 1976, he won his first NCAA title after Indiana went undefeated the entire season, a feat no team has accomplished since. Knight also coached the United States men’s basketball team at the 1984 Olympics, leading them to a gold medal victory. Knight remained at Indiana until he was fired in 2000, after a student alleged Knight grabbed him by the arm and cursed at him after the student called him by his last name. Indiana had adopted a zero-tolerance policy for Knight after a pattern of behavioral issues, including an allegation made by a student, which was captured on video, that Knight had choked him during a practice. Though Knight said he didn’t choke the player, the university suspended him for three games and fined him $30,000. Knight also threw a chair across the court during a 1985 game against Purdue and was charged with striking a police officer before a practice session in Puerto Rico in 1979. After his termination from Indiana, Knight coached the Texas Tech Raiders until his retirement in 2008. He finished his career with a then-record 902 NCAA Division I game victories and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. The current record-holder for Division I game wins is Mike Krzyzewski, a former player Knight coached at Army. “We lost one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball today,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “This is a tremendous loss for our sport and our family is deeply saddened.” Knight’s family did not specify a cause of death, though Knight was hospitalized with an unspecified illness for several days in April.Matthew Perry (october 28)
Best known for his performance as Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends, actor Matthew Perry died at his Los Angeles residence on October 28. He was found unresponsive in his hot tub. Perry’s role in Friends, one of the most-watched shows of all time, from 1994 to 2004, garnered a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and in 2021, he was nominated again for his role as executive producer in Friends: The Reunion. The final episode of Friends was the most watched television episode of the 2000s. Perry and his Friends co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc, reunited in 2021 for Friends: The Reunion, an HBO Max special that marked his final onscreen appearance. Perry also appeared in shows including Ally McBeal, The Good Wife and The West Wing, earning two Emmy nominations for the latter. Perry was also known for being outspoken about addiction, which he struggled with while starring on Friends. He discussed his addiction and recovery in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, released in 2022. He reportedly started drinking at 14 and has said he spent at least $7 million on efforts to get sober. Perry has said his “paramount thing is that he wants to help people,” stating: “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it.” Tributes to Perry flooded social media following his death. Former classmate and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Perry’s death was “shocking and saddening,” stating: “I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them.” Other celebrities and former co-stars including Selma Blair and Gwyneth Paltrow paid tribute to Perry on Instagram. Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright said in a joint statement they are “shocked and deeply, deeply saddened” by Perry’s death, stating they will “always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment.” The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is investigating Perry’s cause of death, which it currently lists as “deferred.”Richard Roundtree (october 24)
Actor Richard Roundtree died Tuesday at age 81 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Roundtree was best known for his portrayal of private eye John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, leading him to be known as the first Black action hero. Shaft was a hit upon release, grossing $12 million on a $500,000 budget, and it was selected in 2000 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
