Betty White and other stars who died in 2021

On the last day of 2021, Betty White, comedy icon and star of 'The Golden Girls', had passed away. She was 99 years old and very close to her 100th birthday (January 17). A special, taped for her birthday, will be broadcast posthumously.

Several other internationally renowned stars have passed away in 2021. One of them is internationally respected Canadian director, Jean-Marc Vallée. He triumphed with 'C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)' and crossed over to Hollywood with a splash, directing 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013), which includes one of Matthew McConaughey's most fabulous performances. Among his most recent titles, you can count the very successful series, 'Big Little Lies'. He died suddenly, at the age of 58, at his home outside Quebec.

A priest who devoted himself to the peaceful resistance against apartheid. He was an absolute icon of anti-racism who, along with Mandela, became a globally respected name.

Joan left this world a few hours before Christmas Eve. She was am influential journalist and writer of works such as 'The Year of Magical Thinking', a classic personal account on the question of grief and loss. She was 87 years old.

British actress Sally Ann Howes died at the age of 91. For the general public she was best known as Van Dyke's partner in the children's classic 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. But her career was mostly spent on stage. She achieved great success in musicals such as 'My Fair Lady' and 'Brigadoon'.

53-year-old Il Divo member Carlos Marín passed away at the end of the year. The singer spent the last days of his life in an induced coma at Manchester Royal Hospital. Despite being vaccinated, Coronavirus took his life in the middle of the legendary group's concert tour.

28 year old rapper Darrell Caldwell, AKA Drakeo the Ruler died after being stabbed during the Once Upon a Time in LA festival. He was dubbed by the Los Angeles Times as "the most original West Coast stylist in decades" and he was due to perform that evening alongside an impressive lineup including 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.

A story of true love. The original Smokie bass player passed away just four weeks after his wife, Shirley. Smoke, an English rock band from Bradford had international success, perhaps best known for their hit "Living Next Door to Alice", which peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. He passed away from a short illness.

The Mexican actress who sadly made the news for her tragic, brutal death this year. She starred in a number of soap operas and also had a music group. According to Mexican media, several hired assassins killed her while she was waiting in her car for her 11-year-old son to come out of a sports training session in Cuernavaca. Tania Mendoza was 35 years old.

This successful Belgian kickboxer did not live past the age of 40. Dubbed 'The Undertaker' and 'The Strongest Man in Belgium,' Sinistra took home several national, European and world titles. The athlete 'did not believe' Covid-19 to be a serious threat, the Belgian news outlet VRT reports, and had been vaccinated. He passed away of serious lung problems which several media linked to a Covid-19 infection.

Born Gloria Jean Watkins, bell hooks became the much-loved author of works such as “Feminism is for Everybody.” She centred her work around the lives and experiences of Black women. Her feminist theory recognises that social classifications such as race, gender, sexual identity and class are interconnected, and that ignoring this creates oppression towards women. For many, bell hooks helped women, improved our understanding of intersectionality that we have today, and put Black feminism on the map.

The novelist who changed the horror genre forever. Rice was the creator of 'Interview with the Vampire' and the person responsible for giving these beings a gothic, melancholic and existential aura. She sadly died of a stroke at 80 years old.

The famous Serbian gamer was 21 years old when she was found dead in her home in Belgrade. For five years, as she herself had commented on her content, she had suffered daily harassment from many haters and online trolls. It was her mother who broke the cruel news.

A shock for 'Days of Our Lives' fans. Rhonda Stubbins White, who played Lady Vi on the series, died at 60 years old. The actress, who boasts an impressive acting career spanning more than 30 years, had been battling ovarian cancer for some time, until it finally took her life on 6th December.

Republican Party veteran and presidential candidate against Bill Clinton in 1996: Bob Dole was a legend in American politics. He fought in Italy during World War II, represented Kansas in Congress, and tried a few times to become president in the 1980s and 1990s. Dole died of lung cancer at the age of 98.

Born in 2002, this Austrian motocrosser is one of the youngest deceased celebrities in the list. He won both the European and World Championships in the 85cc class in 2016, earning him the reputation of a promising racer. In 2020, he broke his shoulder in a motorcycle accident and was out of the running for months. In December 2021, an avalanche surprised Hofer in the mountains of his native Austria, killing him at the age of 19.

The designer who combined streetwear with luxury and changed last decade's fashion has left this world at the age of 41. He was a victim of cancer, which he kept secret for two years. In that time, he never stopped creating, working and leaving a legacy to inspire new generations.

Musical theatre legend, Stephen Sondheim, hours after he had celebrated Thanksgiving with his friends, passed away at 91 years old. The genius was an inspiration for all in the world of musical theatre and beyond, creating outstanding pieces from the lyrics in 'West Side Story' to the incredibly unique scores for 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Into the Woods'. People turned up in their hundreds in London to honour the musical mogul with a minutes applause.

The young Serbian role-play gamer was 23 years old and had a promising future in the industry, but coronavirus ended his life unexpectedly.

He was 28 years old and his death is a mystery. Neither his family nor his agent have given details of the death of the actor who gave an extraordinary performance in 'Flower' (2017) and who, little by little, was making a name for himself in Hollywood.

The well-known best-selling author of 'The Physician' trilogy and other bestselling novels, died in his home, surrounded by his family, aged 95.

2021 sees the tragic loss of another rapper. This time in cold blood outside a biscuit shop in Memphis, when he had gone to spend Thanksgiving with his family and his aunt who is battling cancer. He was 36 years old.

The actor was 41 years old and tragically died in his sleep at his home in Austin, Texas. Heath Freeman became world famous after playing Howard Epps, one of the most memorable villains of the series 'Bones', in 2005. He had just finished filming a western with Gina Carano.

This South African writer, known for such books as 'When the Lion Feeds,' died in Cape Town at the age of 88. His novels were mainly set in colonial and post-colonial southern Africa and published in many languages.

Dean Stockwell, Hollywood's great supporting actor, is gone. He made countless hit films but also shone in artistic productions, such as 'Blue Velvet' by David Lynch and 'Paris-Texas' by Win Wenders. He was 85 years old.

The founder of the British band UB40 died aged 64. A statement said he died "after a short illness". His name was Terence Wilson but he was known as Astro, giving his voice to songs such as 'Red Red Wine' and 'Falling In Love With You'. He was due to go on tour next year with band member Ali Campbell, who has been left 'devastated'.

He rose to fame for his role as Gunther in 'Friends'. For those that recognise the face but not the name, he was the waiter at Central Perk. He died sadly of prostate cancer at the age of 59.

He was 66 when leukaemia brought an end to his life in October after a two-year battle with the disease. He became famous working alongside Tom Hanks in 'Bosom Buddies' as Henry Desmond. Over his career he received three Emmy Award nominations and won a Primetime Emmy for his role as Tad Horvath in the series 'Girls'.

One of the most publicised losses of the year. A blank gun turned out to have real bullets in it. Alec Baldwin, on the set of the western 'Rust', fired the gun and one of the bullets hit Halyna Hutchins in the chest. At 42, she was one of the most promising female cinematographers.

The former US Secretary of State died at the age of 84 due to complications from Covid-19. The US politician suffered from multiple myeloma - a type of blood cancer - and Parkinson's disease. He was world-renowned for his role during the Iraq war and was the first African-American Secretary of State.

A British hairstylist and make-up artist, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for his hairstyling expertise on the series 'Bridgerton' and was nominated for Best Make-up and Hairstyling at the 2018 Oscars for the film 'Mary, Queen of Scots'. Pilcher was another victim of Covid-19. The illness took his life within weeks of receiving the Emmy.

Roger Hunt was a legendary striker for Liverpool who starred on the 1966 national squad that won the World Cup. Hunt remains Liverpool's record league goalscorer with 244 goals. Hunt died in his home after a long battle with illness.

Known for being the co-founder, songwriter, bassist and sometimes vocalist of the legendary rock band Status Quo. The musician died at the age of 72 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

This actor is loved by all for his role as Stanford Blatch in the series 'Sex and the City'. He was a vital role in countless series and several films, but in the last years of his life he had to retire due to his worsening health. He suffered from pancreatic cancer, which ended his life at the age of 57.

Jane Powell, whose real name was Suzanne Lorraine Burce, was a singer, dancer and actress and became famous for her portrayal of Tess Morgan in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.' She was a star of the golden age musical and passed away at the age of 92.

He was the creator of the revolutionary ZX Spectrum, the home microcomputer that triumphed in the 1980s. The optimised, compact design delighted thousands of computer and video game fans. After a long illness, the British engineer died at the age of 81.

Canadian actor and comedian, MacDonald will forever be remembered in the history of American television after his five seasons on 'Saturday Night Live' including his stint as host for three years of 'Weekend Update'. Alongside that, he worked in many other places with humour at his core. Nine years after being diagnosed with leukaemia, he passed away at the young age of 61.

Anyone who is a fan of the 'Police Academy' saga will remember the lieutenant, commander and captain Mauser, who appeared in the second and third instalments. The New Yorker passed away at the age of 84.

The legendary Omar Little from the series, 'The Wire' was found dead in his flat in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. According to an autopsy, his death was caused by an overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin, which brought a tragic end to his life at the age of 54.

Jean Paul was a film and theatre actor who was considered one of the leading figures of the French cultural movement 'Nouvelle Vague' after his role in Jean-Luc Godard's film 'Bout de souffle'. He was voted best actor at the 1989 César Awards, but turned it down. He later won the Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in Venice. He died at the age of 88.

One of the hardest losses for many in 2021. Sarah Harding was a much-loved member of the legendary band 'Girls Aloud' and she lost her life after breast cancer took over. She was 39 years old.

A well-known recent Bollywood actor who became one of the top ten most searched celebrities on Google in India in 2019. On 2 September 2021, he died suddenly of a heart attack at Cooper Hospital in Mumbai.

Behind the cameras, this man was an important Greek composer and intellectual who was also noted for his political activism. He composed dozens of songs that set the best modern Greek poetry to music and founded the Little Symphony Orchestra of Athens. Theodorakis is probably best known for penning the score to the classic, Zorba the Greek. He died of an acute myocardial infarction at the age of 96.

A professional NFL football player who played for the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, but died at the very young age of 47 in a car accident in Columbia, South Carolina.

Winner of five Golden Globes and seven Emmy Awards, Asner was president of the Screen Actors Guild and his career was notable for his role as Lou Grant in the film 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and for voicing the "cranky old man" in Pixar's 'Up.' He died at the age of 91 in Los Angeles.

The Rolling Stones' legendary drummer. He and his bandmates - Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - formed the longest-lasting musical partnership in rock history. In Watts' case, from 1963 until he died in August at the age of 80 in London. It was reported that the cause of death was probably from difficulties related to a long-standing cancer he had many years ago.

Brian Travers was a founding member, saxophonist, and songwriter for UB40. His bandmates said they were "devastated" by the news that he had finally lost a long battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 62. He will be remembered for the hits, 'I Think It's Going to Rain Today', 'One in Ten' and covers of 'Red Red Wine' and 'I Got You Babe.'

Don Everly was the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers, after Phil Everly, his brother, died in 2014 of lung disease at the age of 74. In the case of Don, who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, the cause was never confirmed.

Sean Lock was an English comedian and actor, most famously known for the British TV show '8 Out of 10 Cats.' He was an incredibly popular name in the world of comedy and, as The Guardian described, he was 'celebrated for his carefully crafted surreal content and imaginative observational wit.' He died at the age of 58, after being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

Well known to all lovers of the beautiful game as the 'Torpedo' Müller, he passed away at the age of 75 after years away from the cameras since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2008. The German goalscorer is the Bundesliga's all-time leading scorer and a Bayern Munich legend as well as a superstar of the German national football team.

A well-respected actor who'd served more than 30 years in Hollywood, died in the middle of filming the western 'Treasure Valley.' He was sat astride a horse, just before filming began, when his life tragically ended. He was 60 years old and, although the cause is not officially known, everything pointed to a heart attack.

The Dominican singer, very popular in the Caribbean countries in the sixties, seventies and eighties, was a merengue legend. To add to his lifetime achievements, he also became the mayor of Santo Domingo. He died at the age of 81 of a myocardial infarction.

One of the mythical 'beards' who formed the legendary band ZZ Top along with Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons, Hill was the bassist and vocalist of the rock group. He had been suffering from health problems since 2000 when he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. In July 2021, the band played their first gigs without Hill in over fifty years due to his health problems and he finally passed away that same month at the age of 72 in Houston.

Co-founder of the American metal band Slipknot, this musician and songwriter was the drummer for the band. He died at a very young age, just 46, in his sleep. The causes are unknown, although it was common knowledge that the artist suffered from acute transverse myelitis - an inflammation of the spinal cord.

A rapper, DJ, beatboxer, record producer, comedian, actor and participant in several American reality shows, Biz Markie was especially known for humorous tracks, such as his 1989 single 'Just a Friend.' He was labelled the 'Clown Prince' of hip-hop. He died of diabetes complications at the age of 57.

Robert Downey Senior was an actor and film director. Beyond being Robert Downey Jr.'s father, his career is respectful in itself, with cult films under his direction such as 'Putney Swope' (1969). He died at the age of 85 after years of suffering from Parkinson's disease.

His name is remembered for being a Formula 1 driver from 1972 to 1982. But he later became a politician in his home country, Argentina. He became a national senator from 1995 to 1999 and was elected for a second term as Governor until 2003. For the rest of his political life, during three terms, he returned to the Senate, where he remained until his death at the age of 79.

One of Hollywood's most legendary directors and producers, boasting esteemed works such as 'The Omen' (1976), 'Superman' (1978) and the 'Lethal Weapon' saga (1987-1998). He died at the age of 91 of undisclosed causes.

Regarded as the 'architect' of the Iraq war under George W. Bush and one of the most powerful defence secretaries in US history, Rumsfeld died of bone marrow cancer at the age of 88.

Johnny Solinger became famous when he replaced Sebastian Bach as the lead singer in the heavy metal band Skid Row. But he sadly died at the age of 55 from liver failure, the band announced. "We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. Godspeed Singo.
Say hello to Scrappy for us." the band wrote in a message on Instagram.

The well-known McAfee anti-virus founder, John McAfee, took his own life at the age of 75 in prison in Barcelona. He had been arrested at Barcelona's El Prat airport in October 2020 and was awaiting extradition to the United States for tax evasion.

Actress Joanne Linville is well known to many for her role in 'Star Trek - The Twilight Zone.' She had made her debut in 'Copper Canyon' and, from that moment on, had been involved in well-known productions in both film and television. Linville died on 20 June 2021, aged 93.

The actress Lisa Banes, who we saw in films such as 'Cocktail' (1978) and 'Gone Girl' (2014), was tragically killed in a hit-and-run in Manhattan. The performer worked in other films such as 'A Cure for Wellness' (2016) and had small roles in series such as 'Desperate Housewives', 'Six Feet Under' and 'Boston Legal.'

Actor Ned Beatty worked in more than a hundred films, including 'Deliverance' (1972) and 'Superman' (1978), which made him a very popular actor. He became an indispensable supporting actor and was nominated for an Oscar for 'Network' (1976), as well as other awards: two Emmy Awards, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and a Golden Globe. He died at the age of 83.

He played Freddy 'Spazzy McGee' Jones in the famous film 'School of Rock' alongside Jack Black. He never acted again but did have a career as a musician in various Chicago bands. He died unexpectedly after being hit by a car while riding his bike, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

We all know him as the voice to Sebastian the Crab in Disney classic 'The Little Mermaid.' He received the Academy Award for best Original song when he sang the iconic 'Under the Sea.' He also played Kron the Iguanodon in the 2000 Disney live-action film 'Dinosaur' and had a very successful theatre career. He passed away aged 74 on May 24.

Paul Mooney, the famous American comedian who appeared in shows such as 'Chappelle's Show' and 'Saturday Night Live,' as well as movies like 'Bamboozled,' died at the age of 79 of a heart attack. His daughter, Spring Mooney, confirmed the news on Twitter in a message in which she said that her "best friend" had died. Mooney was given the nickname, 'The Godfather of Comedy' and during his career scripted 29 films and appeared in 21 others, working with stars such as Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.

Charles Grodin shot to fame when he played the father of the family in the two instalments of 'Beethoven' (1992-1993). Before that he had already achieved recognition for the film 'The Heartbreak Kid' (1972), but his career goes far beyond that. His roles revolved around comedy, with standout performances in 'Heaven Can Wait' (1978), 'Midnight Run' (1988) and 'The Ex' (2006). He died at his home in Connecticut at the age of 86, after years of suffering from bone marrow cancer.

Colton Brennan was an American football player who played college quarterback for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. He was selected by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He died at the age of 37, a victim of his addictions, despite spending a long time in a rehabilitation centre.

The former NASCAR driver, who competed in 288 races over 14 years, died at the age 42 for reasons unstated. Since 2016, his health problems had forced him to call off more than one of his races. During his years as a driver, McClure suffered at least two concussions which, in the long term, caused persistent headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light, bouts of depression and memory problems. Not to mention that, in 2019, he was treated for kidney failure in both kidneys.

The Greek-born American actress had an important acting career that saw her successful in film, television and theatre. Her big breakthrough came in 1987 when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the film 'Moonstruck.' She starred in other successful films such as 'Look Who's Talking' and 'Mr Holland's Opus.' She left the world at the age of 89 for reasons never specified.

Michael Collins was Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's companion on the mission that saw the first-ever moon landing. It was he who remained in orbit in the command module while his crewmates walked on the moon on 20 July 1969, earning him the nickname "the loneliest man in history." Collins died at the age of 90 after a long battle with cancer.

This US Democratic politician ran for president in 1984 against Ronald Reagan, but he promised to raise taxes and that didn't go down too well at the polls. Years earlier he had served as Vice President during the turbulent Jimmy Carter administration from 1977 to 1981. He died at the age of 93.

Cancer took the beloved English actress Helen McCrory who will remain forever at the young age of 52. Her face was well known to all TV fans for playing the role of Polly Gray in the British series 'Peaky Blinders.' Before that, her career was illustrious in both film and television, including roles such as Cherie Blair in 'The Queen' (2006) and Narcissa Malfoy - Draco's mother - in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' (2009).

He was the man behind the largest Ponzi scheme in history, involving $64.8 billion - the largest fraud ever carried out by a single person. It led Madoff to be sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009, and there he died of natural causes in 2021 at the age of 82.

The actor, who specialises in playing Italian mobsters, played Tony's father in the series 'The Sopranos' and also played his gangster roles in films such as 'The Wannabe' (2015) and 'Witness to the Mob' (1998). Among his most recent roles was that of the murdered Fred Goldman in the first season of 'American Crime Story' about O.J. Simpson. Siravo died at the age of 66 from colon cancer.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. He died just two months short of his 100th birthday and was noted throughout his life for being an old-school aristocrat, devoted consort and 'dentopedologist'. The Duke had a reputation for being indiscreet, imprudent and allegedly a womaniser, but he was also a loving, kind and very affectionate man with his family. ("Dentopedology is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it. I've been practicing it for years." ― Prince Philip.)

He was a Hip-Hop great. DMX was key figure of this musical style in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s. He died at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack a week previously, which left him in hospital fighting for his life. DMX was the first artist to have his first five albums top the Billboard charts in the US.

Much praised after his last role as Anatoli Diátlov, the Soviet engineer in the HBO series 'Chernobyl', Paul Ritter was a British film, theatre and TV actor. He had started his filmography relatively recently - after his appearance in the TV series 'Instinct' in 2007 - but many have been able to enjoy him in films such as 'Quantum of Solace' (2006), 'Nowhere Boy' (2009) and 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' (2009). He died at the age of 54 from a brain tumour.

The veteran New York actress will always be remembered for her role as the Bluth family matriarch in the sitcom 'Arrested Development.' Her breakthrough role was in Clint Eastwood's 'Play Misty for Me' (1971), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture drama. She voiced Fran Sinclair in the series 'Dinosaurs' and Malory Archer, Sterling's mother and head of the spy agency in the series 'Archer.' She died in her sleep at her home in New York at the age of 80.

He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1967 for 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'. A year before that, he won a Golden Globe as Newcomer of the Year for 'The New Interns'. Since 2013 he lived one of his best professional moments as Albert Solomon, or 'Pops', in 'The Goldbergs'. He died at the age of 87 after heart surgery.

Jahmil French was known for his role as Dave Turner in the Canadian series 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' and, despite being very young, he had already appeared in other productions such as the Netflix series 'Soundtrack,' 'Let's Get Physical,' and the film 'Boost' (2016). He was 28 years old when he died of undisclosed causes.

The legendary Dominican-born musician and composer co-founded 'Fania All Stars,' known as the 'Motown' of salsa, a record label that made the music and dance style a worldwide sensation. He died in New Jersey at the age of 85 after being rushed to hospital suffering from symptoms associated with pneumonia.

Larry Flynt was the founder of the magazine Hustler. His career spanned more than 50 years and was plagued by controversy, including numerous lawsuits and an assassination attempt that left him in a wheelchair. His life was even made into a film, 'The People vs. Larry Flynt' (1996), directed by Milos Forman. He died at the age of 78 at his home in Los Angeles after suffering from heart failure.

Chick Corea has gone down in history as one of the greatest presences in modern jazz. Thanks to his exceptional work on the piano, he has an incredible 23 Grammy Awards to his name. Corea, a pioneer of the electric keyboard and an immense acoustic piano performer, had a prolific career. He died at his home in Tampa Bay, Florida, at the age of 79, a victim of cancer.

Mary Wilson was one of the co-founders and vocalists of female group 'The Supremes' along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard. The girls had the most number 1 hits after The Beatles. In recent years, the singer had become an activist for musicians' rights. She died at the age of 76. Only a few days before her death, she posted a video on her YouTube channel announcing that she was working on the release of a new solo album, including the unreleased Red Hot album she recorded in the 1970s with Gus Dudgeon.

The former St. Louis boxer shocked the world by defeating the legendary Mohamed Ali in a world heavyweight title fight in 1978. Spinks, who had suffered from prostate cancer and other tumours for five years, died alongside his wife Brenda Glur Spinks, aged 67.

Plummer, who has an extensive filmography, rose to fame for his leading role in the 1965 musical 'The Sound of Music,' in which he played Captain Georg Ludwig von Trapp. After many films and several nominations, in 2012 he was awarded the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film 'Beginners.'

The inspirational Capatain Sir Tom Moore raised almost 133m for NHS charities by walking laps in his garden. He died from Coronavirus at the age of 100. He had served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War, and later became an instructor in armoured warfare. He was an inspiration to many.

The legendary Screech from the series 'Saved by the Bell' died at the age of 44, the victim of cancer. He had been admitted to a Florida hospital at the beginning of January and fought against the disease until his death in February. He was a well-known face on American television, as well as in series and celebrity reality shows.

The Scottish singer and DJ Sophie Xeon, better known artistically as Sophie, died suddenly at the age of 34. The artist had collaborated with names such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Charli XCX and launched her solo career in 2018. She died after falling from a balcony in Greece while trying to take a photo of the moon.

Hilton Valentine was the guitarist for the English band The Animals. A successful band in which he shared fame with Eric Burdon, Alan Price, bassist Chas Chandler and drummer John Steel. He is well known in the music world for the iconic opening riff of the English rock band's arrangement of 'The House of the Rising Sun,' one of the most memorable arpeggios in rock history. He died at the age of 77.

Cicely Tyson was a pioneering actress for African Americans. Her filmography includes some of the most famous films and series with black female protagonists such as 'Sounder' (1972), 'Roots' (1977), 'The Marva Collins Story' (1981), 'The Women of Brewster Place' (1989) and 'The Help' (2011). She stood out in 'Fried Green Tomatoes' (1991) and on television we have seen her in recent years in 'How to Get Away with Murder', 'House of Cards' and 'Cherish the Day.' She won an honorary Oscar in 2018, has three Primetime Emmys and a Tony. Cicely Tyson died at the age of 96.

An eight-time Emmy winner for her work on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and other television shows. In fact, in 2006, she became the actress with the most Emmys in history alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Leachman also won an Academy Award for 'The Last Picture Show.' The actress, known for her roles mainly in the comedy genre, passed away at the age of 94.

Hal Holbrook has gone down in history as one of the best known faces in the world of cinema. He particularly stood out for his role as Deep Throat in the film 'All the President's Men' (1976) and, more recently, the world saw him in series such as 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Hawaii 5.0.' After an exceptional career spanning sixty years, giving him an Oscar and Tony nominations as well as winning five Emmy Awards, he passed away at his Beverly Hills home at the age of 95.

The legendary US broadcaster achieved worldwide fame for interviewing all kinds of political leaders and celebrities. Larry King conducted some 50,000 interviews in a six-decade career that included 25 years as host of the popular CNN talk show 'Larry King Live.' He died at the age of 87 from Covid-19.

Harry Brant was known as the son of iconic former model Stephanie Seymour and entrepreneur Peter Brant. He was one of the new faces of the generation Z of New York's elite and rose to fame in 2015 when he and his brother Peter launched a unisex cosmetics line for MAC, which quickly became a bestseller. He died at the age of 24 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, as communicated by his family.

One of the most influential figures in the world of pop music, Spector was the producer responsible for turning 1960s' soul groups into a factory of world-famous songs. He generated a recognizable "wall of sound." However, Spector went down in history as a sinister character who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. He died of natural causes at the age of 81 after being diagnosed with Covid-19 a few weeks before his death.

An American gambling magnate, he was one of the world's leading figures in the business. He also had one of the biggest fortunes in the world. He was listed by Forbes of having a wealth of US$33.5 billion - as recorded a few months before his death - and ranked him as the 28th richest person on the planet. He was the owner of the Las Vegas Sands company and, in addition to the North American city, he had casinos in Macau (China) and Singapore. He died at the age of 87 of lymphoma in Malibu.

The American actress rose to fame in 1985 playing Roger Moore's Bond Girl, geologist Stacey Sutton in 'A View to A Kill.' She started out as a model and ended up as an actress, appearing in a range of other films such as 'The Beastmaster' (1982) and, most notably on television, with roles in series such as 'Charlie's Angels,' 'That 70s Show' and 'Eve.' After fainting in December 2020 while walking her dogs, she was hospitalised and finally died in January at the age of 65.

The iconic chef and icon of English cuisine, Albert Roux, died at the age of 85. Roux was born in France in 1935, but at the age of 18 he moved to the UK to become, along with his brother Michel, the forerunner of the culinary revolution and haute cuisine in the British Isles. He did so through his restaurant Le Gavroche in London which earned him three Michelin stars.