In Memoriam: Remembering the classic stars we lost in 2024

This year we had to say goodbye to child stars, music titans, classic comedians, and more.

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As we reach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect upon the beloved familiar faces that passed away in 2024.

Over the past 12 months, we have had to say goodbye to sitcom legends, music icons, classic comedians, and more. Their work and how they touched lives will continue to live on.

Here are some of the losses that hit the entertainment industry in 2024.

R.I.P. Bob Newhart, considered one of the greatest comedians in history

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He had the first comedy album to hit #1 on the Billboard charts and is responsible for what some consider the best series ending in TV history.

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R.I.P. Teri Garr, legendary actress whose credits include Star Trek and Young Frankenstein

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She appeared in Tootsie, Mr. Mom, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more. After a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, she became an ambassador and advocate.

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R.I.P. Shelley Duvall, frequent Altman collaborator, known for The Shining and Popeye

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The actress sang with Robin Williams, ran from Jack Nicholson, and produced her own children's TV series. She was 75 years old.

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R.I.P. Carl Weathers, ''In the Heat of the Night'' and ''Rocky'' actor

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Weathers played as a football linebacker before becoming an actor and director.

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R.I.P. David Soul, ''Starsky and Hutch'' star and ''Don't Give Up on Us'' singer

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The actor and singer topped the charts and became a pop culture phenomenon in the 70s. He was 80 years old.

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R.I.P. Joyce Randolph, Trixie from The Honeymooners and last surviving member of the classic foursome

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The last core member of the classic comedy was discovered by Gleason after being cast in a commercial.

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R.I.P. John Amos, star of Good Times, Roots and The Mary Tyler Moore Show

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The legendary actor from Good Times and Roots passed away at the age of 84.

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R.I.P. Tom Smothers, one half of musical comedy duo the Smothers Brothers

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Along with his brother Dick, the pair famously went up against the television censors.

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R.I.P. Quincy Jones, titan of American music

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He created theme songs for classic TV and film and worked with everyone from Sinatra to Michael Jackson. He was 91 years old.

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R.I.P. Lynne Marta, ''Love, American Style'' regular and ''Footloose'' actor

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In the Seventies, she starred in a pilot TV movie from Gene Roddenberry meant to be the next Star Trek.

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R.I.P. Anne Whitfield, ''White Christmas'' actress and ''Perry Mason'' familiar face

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After Perry Mason defended her twice, the actress went back to college and worked in the Department of Ecology. She was 85.

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R.I.P. Steve Lawrence, classic crooner and Carol Burnett Show regular

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Often performing with his wife, Eydie Gormé, Lawrence had a decades-long career that included nightclubs, TV appearances, and movie roles.

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R.I.P. Ron Harper, actor in TV's ''Planet of the Apes'' and ''Land of the Lost''

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His career spanned Broadway, sci-fi classics, and soap operas. The actor was 91.

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R.I.P. Barbara Baldavin, Star Trek actress and casting director

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She played a bride-to-be on Star Trek and Officer Malloy's date on Adam-12. Baldavin was 85 years old.

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R.I.P Roger Corman, the king of cult films, who gave many future stars their start

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The self-declared "Orson Welles of the Z movie" produced hundreds of films and gave an early-career hand to legends like William Shatner, Ron Howard, and Martin Scorsese. Corman was 98.

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R.I.P. Elizabeth MacRae, Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. and Gunsmoke actor

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She played love interests to Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, and Ken Curtis. She was 88 years old.

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R.I.P. Al Schultz, longtime Hollywood makeup artist and Vicki Lawrence's husband

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He made up everyone from Archie Bunker to Cher, and fell in love with Vicki Lawrence on the set of The Carol Burnett Show. Schultz was 82.

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R.I.P. Benji Gregory, child star who portrayed Brian Tanner on ALF

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After leaving the acting business, he served in the U.S. Navy. He was 46 years old.

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R.I.P. Peter Marshall, original host of ''The Hollywood Squares''

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He almost turned down the job that earned him four Daytime Emmys. The entertainer and host was 98 years old.

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R.I.P. Phil Donahue, pioneer of TV talk and husband of Marlo Thomas

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He changed the future of TV talk shows, and met his wife when she first appeared on his show.

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R.I.P. James Darren, teen pop singer and Dr. Tony Newman on The Time Tunnel

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The actor became trapped in time during his role on The Time Tunnel. He was 88.

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R.I.P. David Graham, longtime voice actor from ''Thunderbirds'', ''Supercar'', ''Doctor Who'' and more

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The voice behind Thunderbirds, Fireball XL5, and Peppa Pig will be dearly missed. He was 99 years old.

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56 Comments

Runeshaper 1 hour ago
R.I.P. to all of these GREATS. They are and will be missed :-(
JJ614 2 hours ago
I'm shocked how many of those I didn't know had passed. Tommy Smothers. Phil Donahue. I bet people who actually live in caves knew so I'm without excuse.
bru 8 hours ago
To name everyone who had died this year in any media would take many pages & time. Even the TCM movie deaths take twenty minutes to fill with a 2-second shot for each, which doesn't include TV or Broadway roles or accompanying side persons. In television, we are now coming toward the end of the excellent sitcom actors who blessed us with their acting, fine writers who knew just what to say through the political jargon back then and showed audiences topics that gave a conversation which began as, "Did you see (name show) and I can't believe they were talking about (situation/topic-flushing toilets; death of a spouse, racism, abortion, women's rights, gay, poor, rich plus more back then). The viewers did talk to each other and made their own decisions. There was a unique conversation about topics few people had the guts to start. Sitcoms (60s-90s) from Andy Griffith to MASH to Cheers to all of Norman Leers family of shows made us laugh but mostly made us look at ourselves in the mirror.
musicman37 18 hours ago
They left out SO MANY great stars who left us in 2024. Their editorial practices leave LOTS to be desired.
MadMadMadWorld 19 hours ago
The final well-known actress who died in 2024, but unlisted in the article as it was on Dec. 29, was Linda Lavin, 87. She played "Alice" in the tv series for 9 seasons (1976-85), from a fast-spreading lung cancer. Her series is repeated on AntennaTV (Antennatv.tv) Tu-Sa 1am, and 1:30am CT; 2 episodes. Wikipedia now shows a gorgeous pic of her from 1965, when she was in the off-Broadway play, "Wet Paint," at 27.

With 202 episodes of "Alice" in 9 seasons, it was the longest-running U.S. television sitcom to feature a woman in the starring role until it was surpassed by Roseanne in 1996. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lavin R.I.P.
Linda Lavin, 87 (Oct. 15, 1937 Portland, ME - Dec. 29, 2024 Los Angeles, CA).
George58 21 hours ago
You didn't list him but the one that really hurt for me was the passing of Eric Carmen on March 11th. I am a huge fan of the Raspberries ("Go All The Way", "I Wanna Be With You", "Let's Pretend" etc) & solo Eric, ("All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again", "Almost Paradise", "Hungry Eye". etc) A huge loss for the music world. R.I.P. Eric.
bmoore4026 22 hours ago
Not a TV or movie star or celebrity of any sort, but another big loss was my mother. You'll be forever missed, mom.
Jacki bmoore4026 7 hours ago
I'm so very sorry. My deepest sympathies to you.🙏
Irish bmoore4026 1 hour ago
So sorry for your loss.
manderson175 23 hours ago
I was not aware that Earl Holliman had passed. I will always remember him starring in the first episode of the Original "Twilight Zone" in 1959 (Where is Everybody?)
musicman37 manderson175 18 hours ago
Didn't know Earl Holliman was survived by his widower. Had no idea the man was LGBTQIA+.
VernCaldwell 1 day ago
You missed quite a few but the one I will always remember is Richard Sherman. He along with his brother Robert wrote songs that will be around for many more generations.

Your life and songs with us were "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
DerekPeters 1 day ago
Also left out Dabney Coleman, who’s extensive credits are too many to list but he did appear in two Columbo episodes, one on each side of the law.
JJ614 DerekPeters 2 hours ago
His last playing dad to John Dutton on Yellowstone. To me, the one I most relate him to is 9 to 5, when Dolly Parton's character threatened, "I'll turn you from a rooster to a hen!" My family even remembered that quote at our Thanksgiving table!
GeorgeVieto 1 day ago
I will miss some of the lost celebrities who entertained me through their work on television and movies like Carl Weathers, Bob Newhart, Linda Lavin and James Darren.
CarolKelley 1 day ago
Earl Holliman, who was in many films and TV shows died at the age of 96. You may remember him best as Sgt. Crowley from Police Woman.
I should have added that he is also on this afternoon's episode of Gunsmoke.
I was just going to mention him. He passed away in November. I did not see a story here about him. Also including films Forbidden Planet, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Rain Maker, Giant, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and many others. The 1st Twilight Zone Episode and a slew of TV series including Police Woman. Passed away at 96 on November 25th 2024.
Shepvn CarolKelley 24 hours ago
I watched it too! Lol
Tresix CarolKelley 4 hours ago
Was he the last surviving cast member of "Forbidden Planet"?
LmerFudd 1 day ago
A revival of Hollywood Squares is about to air, dunno who will be center square that Paul Lynde filled so memorably.
DerekPeters LmerFudd 1 day ago
Drew Barrymore
cperrynaples DerekPeters 23 hours ago
Yes, and she's also the executive producer!
Metalhead2025 1 day ago
Alice was one of my favorite TV shows of all time. Linda Lavin could act sing and dance. Polly Holiday is the last original cast member left. RIP Linda
hootrs23 Metalhead2025 23 hours ago
liked linda as an actress but not as a singer as she and others thought of her. i cringe at the theme song of ''alice''.
applyandprosper 1 day ago
I guess they forgot about OJ Simpson, who was an actor. But given the circumstances, I expected he wouldn't be mentioned.
Well maybe because actor was his third credit! Football is what made him famous, but honestly we know what we'll remember him for...LOL!
reynolds1415 1 day ago
I really miss Bob Newhart and I wasn't aware of Tom Smothers leaving us.
Irish 1 day ago
It's always sad to say goodbye to those who gave so much to viewers all over the world. The comedy, drama, and "horror" they left us with, will live on through MeTv and other venues. As Bob Hope would say...."thanks for the memories." Rest in peace.
JJ614 Irish 2 hours ago
Now I understand how my parents felt as their fave actors/singers passed, one by one.
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