Time marches on, and each year more people pass away from this world. That’s a sad fact of life, and death comes for celebrities, too. Here’s a list of some of the stars who have passed away so far in 2024.
Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons (July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) came to national fame in the 80s due to a newfound interest in aerobics. Simmons’ line of motivation classes and campy fitness videos were a hit with the over-the-top ethos of the 80s, making his fitness videos a staple of the decade. He disppeared from the public eye around 2014, leading to much speculation into the final years of his life. Simmons, for his own part, always maintained that he was living the life he wanted and simply no longer wanted to be in the media.
Dr. Ruth
Dr. Ruth Westheimer (June 4, 1928 – July 12, 2024), often mononymously known as just Dr. Ruth, was well-known for her talk show and her work as a sex therapist. She was born in Germany in the late 20s and eventually trained as a sniper with the IDF, fighting in the Israeli War of Independence. As a therapist, she grew to national fame due to her 80s radio show, Sexually Speaking, and her TV series, The Dr. Ruth Show.
Shannon Doherty
Shannen Maria Doherty (April 12, 1971 – July 13, 2024) was well-known for many TV roles, including as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills 90210 and Prue Halliwell in Charmed. She passed away at only 53 after a nearly decade-long battle with breast cancer. She was known as a “90s Hollywood Bad Girl” early in her career and was the subject of numerous tabloid articles and rumors.
Benji Gregory
American actor and voice artist Benji Gregory (May 26, 1978 – June 13, 2024) played Brian Tanner on the beloved NBC sitcom ALF. However, following the 80s, he had few acting credits and served in the Navy in the early 2000s. The circumstances of his passing are still mysterious—he and his service dog were found dead in a car outside a bank in Peoria, Arizona. He may have died from heatstroke.
OJ Simpson
What’s left to say about OJ Simpson (July 9, 1947 – April 10, 2024)? Once renowned as one of the greatest running backs in the NFL, all conversations about him now circle back to his arrest and trial for the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. Did he do it? He was acquitted of his charges, but questions still linger even following his passing in April.
Donald Sutherland
The well-known father of actor Keifer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland (July 17, 1935-June 20, 2024) was known for his immense range and unusual charisma. He could play heroes and villains with equal ability and showed up everywhere from the film MASH to The Hunger Games.
Willie Mays
One of baseball’s greatest players, Willie Mays (May 6, 1931-June 18, 2024), got his major league start with the New York Giants in 1950. He famously hit .274 with 20 homers in his first season with the Giants, landing a Rookie of the Year Award and making himself a household name for New York sports fans.
Bernard Hill
British actor Bernard Hill (December 17, 1944-May 5, 2024) was known for playing authority figures in huge films. He was the captain of the Titanic in James Cameron’s film of the same name, and he played King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Dickey Betts
Songwriter Dickey Betts (December 12, 1943–April 18, 2024) is perhaps best known as a co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he both sang and played guitar. His songs, like “Ramblin’ Man,” “Blue Sky,” and “Straight from the Heart” helped The Allman Brothers earn serious radio play in the early 1970s.
Alexey Navalny
Russian politician Alexey Navalny (June 4, 1976-February 16, 2024) opposed the regime of Vladimir Putin and died under mysterious circumstances. He was poisoned by the Russian government in 2020 but survived and was the central subject of the documentary film Navalny.
Toby Keith
Say what you will regarding Toby Keith’s (July 8, 1961-February 5, 2024) politics, he was a beloved songwriter who sold 40 million records and ran his own label. He had big songs in the 90s, including “I Love This Bar” and “As Good As I Once Was,” and grew to massive fame in the US with his 9/11 response track, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
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Carl Weathers
Legendary actor Carl Weathers (January 14, 1948-February 2, 2024) became a superstar after appearing in Rocky along with Sylvester Stallone. He went on to have a major role in Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. More recently, he portrayed Greef Karga in The Mandalorian and directed episodes of the series.
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Shelley Duvall
Beloved character actor Shelley Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) is perhaps best known for her heart-stopping performance in The Shining. Her huge, expressive eyes and thin build made her a natural fit for horror. Duvall also famously starred as Olive Oyl in Popeye alongside Robin Williams. She was a very private person, but details of her personal life and health issues became a focus for media outlets in the final years of her life. She passed away in her sleep at home due to complications from diabetes on July 11, 2024.
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