Remembering the celebrities we lost in 2024
As the year draws to a close it's a good time for reflection and to think about some of the people who won't be around any more.
Each year another bunch of famous faces we've known all our lives sadly shuffle off their mortal coil to join the choir invisible and 2024 is no different in that regard.
From famous athletes to actors to the guy whose name you seen on all of those lorries, this year has seen a number of celebrities pass away and become history.
Franz Beckenbauer
The German football legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, died at the age of 78 on 9 January.
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Nicknamed 'Der Kaiser', he won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974 as a player and then led his country to the trophy again as a manager in 1990.
Carl Weathers
Best known for his portrayal of boxing champion Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, the actor Carl Weathers died in his sleep at the age of 76 in February.
He had most recently appeared in the Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian, a performance which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Before he took up acting he had been a professional American Football player.
Dave Myers
The beloved co-host of The Hairy Bikers died at the age of 66 in February after being diagnosed with cancer.
The sad news was announced by his co-star Si King, and prompted the launching of 'Dave Day' as a procession of bikers thousands strong journeyed to Myers' hometown of Barrow-in-Furness.
A column of bikers around 16 miles long rode their way up to celebrate Dave, with their efforts thanked by Si and Dave's widow Lili.
Morgan Spurlock
Known best as a documentary filmmaker who put his body through its paces for the Oscar nominated Supersize Me, Spurlock died aged 53 in May after a cancer diagnosis.
His brother Craig said: "It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan.
"Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him."
Ian Gelder
Likely best known to audiences for his part in Game of Thrones, Gelder enjoyed a lengthy career on stage and screen before dying from complications with bile duct cancer in May this year.
His partner Ben Daniels said that Ian had dealt with the 'dreadful illness with such bravery'.
Bernard Hill
Lord of the Rings legend Bernard Hill, who also appeared in Titanic, Boys from the Blackstuff, Wolf Hall and many other projects died at the age of 79 this year.
He was described as 'one of the greats' for the glittering acting career he enjoyed, and he appeared posthumously in the second season of BBC drama The Responder.
His Lord of the Rings co-star Sean Astin said: "We love him. He was intrepid, he was funny, he was gruff, he was irascible, he was beautiful."
Rob Burrow
The former Leeds Rhinos and England rugby player had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019 at the age of 37, and spent the rest of his life raising awareness and funds to support the people affected by it.
Last year he was carried across the finish line at the Leeds Marathon by former teammate Kevin Sinfield, and his family participated in many efforts to support those affected with MND, with Rob receiving an MBE for his efforts in 2022, and he was later awarded a CBE.
Sadly, in June Leeds Rhinos announced that Rob had died at the age of 41.
Donald Sutherland
He enjoyed a hugely successful career in acting, with more modern audiences likely to recognise him from The Hunger Games, as he spent seven decades in showbusiness.
The Canadian actor appeared in over 190 films in TV shows in that time, and died of an illness at the age of 88.
His son Kiefer posted a heartfelt message to his late father on X, formerly Twitter.
It read: "With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. 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."
Dr Michael Mosley
A regular fixture on TV in the UK, Mosley was last seen alive on the Greek island of Symi having gone for a walk.
His body was sadly found a few days later, with officials confirming that it was the 67-year-old.
Dr Clare Bailey, his wife, said: "I don't know quite where to begin with this. It's devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband.
"We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together."
Shelley Duvall
The Shining star Shelley Duvall died in her sleep from complications with diabetes in her Texas home in July, her partner Dan Gilroy announced.
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” he said in a tribute to her memory.
In 1977 she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for the drama 3 Women.
Bob Newhart
Elf star and comedian Bob Newhart passed away at the ripe old age of 94, his publicist announced in July.
Newhart had also appeared in The Big Bang Theory as Professor Proton, though before he got into performing he started out with a career as an accountant.
He said: "Somehow there’s a connection between numbers and music and comedy. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s there.
“I know it’s a case of 2 and 2 equals 5 in terms of a comedian. You take this fact and you take that fact and then you come up with this ludicrous fact.”
Sven Goran-Eriksson
The former England manager died after being diagnosed with cancer, with a statement saying he passed away at his home surrounded by his family.
The 76-year-old led England to three quarter-final finishes in international tournaments between 2001 and 2006.
Earlier this year the football manager said he'd been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
In the documentary Sven he left a parting message, saying: "I had a good life, yes. I think we all are scared of the day when it's finished, when we die.
"But the life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it, of what it is. Hopefully at the end, people will say, 'Yeah, he was a good man'. But everyone will not say that.
"I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don't be sorry. Smile. Thank you for everything - coaches, players, the crowd.
"It's been fantastic. Take care of yourself, and take care of your life, and live it. Bye."
James Earl Jones
The iconic voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa passed away this year at the age of 93.
In his carer James Earl Jones also starred in the likes of Field of Dreams, Coming to America, and Conan the Barbarian.
He was one of the few performers in the world to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, the coveted 'EGOT'.
Maggie Smith
Legendary actor Dame Maggie Smith died at the age of 89 with her sons saying she passed away peacefully in hospital on 27 September.
Known for her roles in the Harry Potter films along with the likes of Downton Abbey and Sister Act, she was one of the brightest lights in British acting.
Daniel Radcliffe once said that it was Dame Maggie who got him the job as the titular character in the Harry Potter movies.
Liam Payne
The former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead after a fall in his hotel in Argentina.
Dead at 31, Payne's death prompted a huge outpouring of tributes from his fans and plenty of messages from his former bandmates and people who knew him from the music industry.
Eddie Stobart
Perhaps not as famous as some of the other entries on this list, but drive down any motorway in the UK and you'll have seen his name.
The founder of the haulage firm died at the age of 95 in December with his name being known to all sorts of Brits.
Janey Godley
The Scottish comedian who once put up an 'unwelcome' sign for Donald Trump on a golf course died last month.
The 63-year-old had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021 and though she was declared cancer free in 2022 she later shared the sad news that it had returned.
A statement from her management said: "Her family were with her. The love and support from all her friends and fans during this cancer journey brought her enormous joy.
“It has also been a huge comfort to us, her family and close friends, thank you.”
Topics: Celebrity
Joe Harker