From Carl Weathers to James Earl Jones, 10 Celebrity Deaths That Left Us Heartbroken in 2024

The entertainment industry continues to evolve as the year 2024 ends. New records at the box office and new innovations in the streaming landscape are making sure the industry keeps on growing amid strikes and other challenges.

2024 has also been a breakthrough year for some new faces. However, while these new names give hopes of a promising future, some familiar faces have also left the world, unfortunately. Here are some of them whom we lost in 2024.

Carl Weathers

The former NFL player of the 70s who went on to become the Hollywood star died in his sleep on February 2, 2024, in his Los Angeles residence. Carl Weathers died due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at 76 years of age. 

Although his work has spanned many years, Weathers was loved by many for his role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, and for the younger fans, he was Greef Karga in The Mandalorian series. To honor his contributions to cinema, his Hollywood star on the Walk of Fame was installed posthumously in August 2024.

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill, the man who portrayed Captain Edward Smith in Titanic and King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings, died at the age of 79 years, peacefully with his fiancée, Alison, and son Gabriel beside him on May 5, 2024.

Hill showed variety in genres that saw him take up roles in Boys from the Blackstuff to The Scorpion King. His performance in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King contributed to the movie’s 11 Oscar wins.

Shannen Doherty

Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty died due to breast cancer on July 13, 2024, at 53 years of age. Doherty died peacefully in her sleep, with friends and family present beside her.

Doherty got her breakthrough role in Little House On The Prairie as a young actor and rose to fame as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210. But even after she was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, she kept on fighting and sharing her experiences with the disease with fans.

Donald Sutherland

An actor who worked throughout many generations, Donald Sutherland, died at the age of 88 on June 20, 2024. From appearing as Vernon Pinkley in The Dirty Dozen to President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games, Sutherland’s career has earned him all sorts of accolades, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and an honorary Oscar in 2017.

James Earl Jones

Popular for portraying characters like Darth Vader and Mufasa, the legendary James Earl Jones died at 93 on September 9, 2024. Jones died in his home in Pawling, New York, surrounded by his family.

Besides voice acting, Jones received many awards throughout his acting career, receiving constant nominations for Emmy awards for shows such as Picket Fences and Frasier. His versatility was well depicted in movies like Conan the Barbarian and The Hunt for Red October.

Dame Maggie Smith

One of the UK’s most revered actresses and public figures in general, Dame Maggie Smith of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey fame died on September 27, 2024, at 89. Although the reason for her death is not specified, the actress was earlier diagnosed with breast cancer and Graves’ disease.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite were some of the many movies she featured in throughout her six-decade-long career that saw her bag Oscars twice. Her role as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter defined her identity for a whole generation.

Liam Payne

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne died a tragic death on October 16, 2024, after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Argentina at the age of 31.

Payne went through a lot before his sudden demise. According to People, his former fiancée Maya Henry issued a cease-and-desist order for allegedly trying to contact her without consent. His death has been a case of mystery so far, and investigations are still going on to find the actual reason behind the circumstances that led to his death.

The singer has a son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend Cheryl Cole and was about to get married to his new girlfriend Kate Cassidy (according to The Guardian). Payne’s death was a sudden shock for his fans and the singer will forever be remembered for giving countless memories to Directioners.

Quincy Jones

28-time Grammy winner Quincy Jones was the legendary composer who passed away in November 2024 at the age of 91 at his home in Bel Air. Not only did he shape music for generations, but he also reached out for racial equality in Hollywood through music.

Some of his achievements include working with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles, producing We Are the World, and becoming one of the first Black people to work as a Hollywood executive.

Waymond Lee

Waymond Lee, who is known for his appearance in Comedy Central’s Workaholics, passed away on December 18, 2024, at the age of 72 due to ALS and concluded a career with his recent features in Everything Everywhere All at Once and Veep.

Lee appeared as Waymond Womano in Workaholics for 44 episodes of the show, and his silent but impactful role made a name for himself in modern comedy. Apart from this, Lee has made a name in the business with his several credited and uncredited roles over the years.

Art Evans

Film and TV actor Art Evans passed away at 82 on December 21, 2024. Evans appeared in more than 120 films over a half-century with roles in movies like Die Hard 2 and Fright Night.

Having started with Frank Silvera’s Theater of Being, Evans used it as a groundwork for his further acting career in films like John Carpenter’s Christine and other TV shows. The audience will remember him most for his part in Die Hard 2 with Bruce Willis as an air traffic controller.

Such losses make us recall how the world of entertainment leaves a drastic impact through such iconic artists who have contributed to the cultural landscape. They may be no longer around, but they are still influencing hopeful generations through their works and legacy.