In Memoriam: Celebrities and royals who died in 2021

September 14, 2021

It's always sad and tough to say goodbye to the stars.
<p>We've lost many talented people in 2021 so far, from screen legends to rock 'n' roll innovators.
<p><strong>Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see the celebs and royals who have passed in 2021 so far.</strong>
<p>Photos: © Getty Images

Norm Macdonald

The Canadian comedian, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live as the anchor of its Weekend Update segment, his film and writing work and for hosting his own sitcom, has died at age 61.

The Quebec City-born funnyman passed away Sept. 14 after a long battle with cancer, his family said.

"He was most proud of his comedy," his partner Lori Jo Hoekstra told Deadline in a statement. "He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that 'a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.' He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly."

"No one could break you like Norm Macdonald," Jon Stewart tweeted as he heard the news. "Hilarious and unique."

"My dear friend Norm Macdonald passed after a brave... battle," Jim Carrey tweeted. "He was one of our most precious gems. An honest and courageous comedy genius. I love him."

Norm got his start doing stand-up comedy in Ottawa, and branched out into other cities when he appeared at the Just For Laughs festival in 1986. His big break came when he was hired to write for Roseanne in 1992, and that led to him landing his most well-known role on Saturday Night Live the next year. Current Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost has frequently cited Norm as a comedic influence.

After leaving SNL in 1998, Norm worked on the Bob Saget-directed film Dirty Work and also voiced Lucky the Dog in all three of Eddie Murphy's Dr. Doolittle adaptations. He also worked on his own sitcom, The Norm Show, for three seasons beginning in 1999.

His later career saw him move more into guest appearances on shows such as Family Guy and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

We're sending our thoughts to his family and friends.

Photo: © Getty Images

<h2>Michael K. Williams</h2>
<p>The 54-year-old, best known for his work on <I>The Wire</I>, was found dead at home in Brooklyn on Sept. 6. There was an outpouring of grief at the time of his death due to his incredible acting talent, which had landed him another Emmy nomination for his work on <I>Lovecraft Country</I>.
<p>In addition to his work on the above two shows, he was also known for his screen work in films such as <I>12 Years a Slave</I>.
<p>Photo: © Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Ed Asner

The film and screen legend passed away at age 91 on Aug. 29, his family said.
Ed was primarily known for his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for which he won five Emmys. His role was so beloved he landed a spinoff role in a series named after his character. He went on to win two more Emmys during his career.
In his time as a film actor before his television success, Ed was known for acting alongside John Wayne. He's perhaps best known by younger audiences for his work in Up, in which he voiced Carl Frederiksen, and the show Cobra Kai, where he played Sid Weinberg.
Upon his passing, he was remembered by the likes of George Takei, Mark Hamill, Josh Gad, Katie Couric and other stars, who not only praised his acting ability, but also his philanthropy. Ed was well known for supporting causes such as health care, aid to Holocaust survivors, literacy and autism awareness.
Photo: © Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

Charlie Watts

The longtime drummer for The Rolling Stones passed away Aug. 24 with his family by his side, his publicist revealed.
"Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also, as a member of The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest drummers of his generation," Bernard said, noting the family asked for privacy.
Some of the biggest names in music history were quick to pay tribute to the rhythm man, who had been behind the kit for the Stones for nearly 60 years.
"A very sad day," Elton John tweeted. "Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company."
"He was a lovely guy, and I knew he was ill, but I didn't know he was this ill," Paul McCartney said in a video. "He was a rock and a fantastic drummer."
"God bless Charlie Watts," Ringo Starr tweeted. "We're going to miss you man. Peace and love to the family."
"AWFUL NEWS," KISS guitarist Paul Stanley tweeted. "One of the true timeless icons and the backbone of the Stones. Hard to fathom the loss. So very sad."
Earlier in August, Charlie pulled out of The Rolling Stones' U.S. tour that had been slated to kick off on Sept. 26, saying he needed to recover from a medical procedure. Some reports said it had been heart surgery, but that was never confirmed. In 2004, he was treated for throat cancer and recovered.
We're sending our condolences to the band and his family.
Photo: © Getty Images

Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh passed away at age 99 on April 9.
Philip, who married the Queen in 1947 and with whom he had four children, had spent time in hospital to have surgery for a heart issue in March. He had spent most of his latter years in and out of hospital, but maintained his trademark wit to the end.
Philip faithfully stood by Her Majesty's side for 73 years of marriage and throughout her entire time on the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. He conducted engagements in an official royal role right up until 2017, when he officially retired from public life.
In addition to being the father of Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, Philip was a grandfather to eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. With the birth of Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's daughter in June, the late consort became the great-grandfather of 11.
Photo: © Getty Images

Beverly Cleary

The beloved children's author, known for work such as the Ramona Quimby series and Ralph S. Mouse, passed away at age 104 on March 26.
"We are saddened by the passing of Beverly Cleary, one of the most beloved children's authors of all time," Suzanne Murphy, the president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said in a statement. "Looking back, she'd often say, 'I've had a lucky life,' and generations of children count themselves lucky, too.
"Her timeless books are an affirmation of her everlasting connection to the pleasures, challenges and triumphs that are part of every childhood."
Celebrities were quick to react to news of Beverly's death, with many saying her books had encouraged their love of reading from early ages.'
"This makes my heart hurt," Sarah Polley, who starred in a PBS adaptation of the Ramona books, tweeted. "She made so many little disobedient girls feel like we had a treasured place in the world."
"Rest well, Beverly Cleary," Viola Davis tweeted when she heard the news. "You made my childhood fun."
"Beverly Cleary was a literary treasure whose lively characters brought so much joy to the world," Reese Witherspoon added. "I have the fondest memories reading the Ramona series. May she Rest In Peace."
"Sit here for the present. Jumping through the hole in the house. Brick Factory. Squeezing out all the toothpaste. The (not) hardboiled egg. Nosmo King. The pile of jiggly chicken skins. Picky-picky," Little Fires Everywhere author Celeste Ng tweeted, referencing many of Beverly's plays on words and funny events in her novels. "Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for these and so much more."
Born in Ohio in 1916, Beverly grew up in the country before moving to Portland, Ore. with her family as a child. She initially didn't like reading, but became a children's librarian after graduating with an arts degree in 1938 and a library science degree three years later. It wasn't until she was in her thirties that she began writing children's books and left her librarian job to do that for a living.
Henry Huggins, her first book, was based on her childhood, and it was Beezus and Ramona that turned her into a household name in 1955. From there, she went on to win many awards, including the National Medal of Arts. She's shown at left receiving that award in 2003.
Photo: © TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images

Jessica Walter

The beloved star, best known to younger audiences for playing the outrageous Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, passed away at age 80 on March 25.
"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom, Jessica," the actress' daughter, Brooke Bowman, said in a statement. "A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off."
Jessica's Arrested Development co-stars and fellow thespians also praised her when they first learned of her death.
"She was a force, and her talent and timing were unmatched," Tony Hale, who played Buster on the show, tweeted.
Born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family, Jessica's father worked in the NBC Symphony Orchestra and NYC Ballet Orchestra, meaning she was exposed to the arts from an early age. She attended New York's High school of Performing Arts before moving into Broadway in the 1960s. She won the Clarence Derwent Award for her role in Peter Ustinov's Photo Finish in 1963 before landing a TV role on Love of Life.
In 1966, she married former Broadway stage manager Ross Bowman, with whom she had Brooke in 1972. The couple divorced in 1978, and Jessica later married Tony Award winner Ron Leibman, who passed away in 2019.
Jessica achieved critical acclaim for her work in the film Play Misty for Me, receiving a Golden Globe Award nomination.
It was with Arrested Development that she finally cemented her star status, enthralling viewers with her hilarious one-liners such as "I mean, it's one banana, Michael. What could it cost? Ten dollars?" and "I don't understand the question... and I won't respond to it."
Photo: © Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Christopher Plummer

The beloved Canadian star, best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, died at age 91 on Feb. 5.
The Toronto-born actor passed at his home in Connecticut, reports say. Actress Elaine Taylor, his wife of more than 50 years, was reportedly by his side at the time.
"Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great old fashioned manners, self-deprecating humour and the music of words," his manager Lou Pitt said in a statement.
"He was a National Treasure who deeply relished his Canadian roots. Through his art and humanity, he touched all of our hearts and his legendary life will endure for all generations to come. He will forever be with us."
In an interview with The Canadian Press after the news broke, Elaine said her husband had sadly passed away after suffering a fall a few weeks ago.
"It's so sad, but he had a great life," she said. "He hit his head against my car and he was taken to the hospital. They repaired the leaks and he came home, but it was a really horrible accident."
"He fought the good fight," she continued. "But eventually I think he thought... 'Exit stage right.'"
Photo: © Getty Images

Dustin Diamond

The star, who was best known for his portrayal of the loveable nerd Samuel "Screech" Powers on Saved by the Bell, has died of cancer at age 44.
Dustin was diagnosed with stage four small cell lung carcinoma, which his spokesperson Roger Paul described as a "brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer," just three weeks ago.
"In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution," Roger said in a statement. "Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.
"Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh," Roger's statement continued. "Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored. We are thankful he trusted us enough to share his genuine, authentic self with our team."
Dustin had his share of struggles, filing for bankruptcy in 2001. He was also arrested in connection with a bar altercation and spent time in prison.
"We want the public to understand that he was not intentionally malevolent," Roger said in his statement. "[Dustin] – much like the rest of those who act out and behave poorly – had undergone a great deal of turmoil and heartache. His actions, though rebukeable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process that pain properly."
Born in San Jose in 1977, Dustin started acting from a young age, and landed his best-known role in Good Morning, Miss Bliss, the predecessor to Saved by the Bell. He was with the show itself through its entire time on television, along with its sequels Saved by the Bell: The New Class and Saved by the Bell: The College Years.
Following his time playing Screech, Dustin appeared on reality shows such as The Weakest Link and toured as a stand-up comic. He married Jennifer Misner, his longtime girlfriend, in 2009. The two divorced in 2013.
Photo: © Noah Vasquez/Getty Images

Cicely Tyson

Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson died at the age of 96.

The sad news was announced on Jan. 28 by her manager, Larry Thompson.

Cicely had just published her memoir, Just As I Am, the week of her passing and the book was referenced in the news of her death. The statement read:

"With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon.

"Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life.

"Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on the top of the tree."

The accomplished star started her career as a model after being discovered by Ebony magazine. She began acting in the 1950s. With her part in East Side/West Side, she became the first Black American to star in a TV drama.

The actress worked across stage, film and television and picked up Emmys for her performance in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman in 1974.

In 2013, at the age of 88, she received a Tony Award for her performance in The Trip to Bountiful. At the time, the octogenarian was the oldest person to ever win a Tony.

Cicely was known for portraying several historical figures from the Civil Rights movement, including Coretta Scott King and Harriet Tubman, and had said she wanted to use her career to advance racial justice in the United States.

Rest in peace.

Cloris Leachman

The legendary The Mary Tyler Moore Show star passed away at the age of 94 of natural causes.
Her manager, Juliet Green, released the following statement:
"It's been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time.
"There was no one like Cloris.
"With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh 'till the tears ran down your face.
"You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic."
Cloris had a career that spanned over seven decades. She was most recognized for her role as landlady Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its later spin-off, Phyllis.
The American actress's film credits included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Last Picture Show (1971), Young Frankenstein (1974) and The Croods (2013).
The accomplished actress had the most Emmy Awards of any TV performer with a total of 22 nominations, eight awards and one honour for when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
She continued working long into her life and was introduced to younger generations thanks to her award-winning role as Ida on Malcolm and the Middle and as Barbara June "Maw Maw" Thompson on Raising Hope.
Rest in peace.
Photo: © Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Larry King

The legendary broadcaster passed away at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Ora Media, his company, shared the news in a statement on Jan. 23.
The announcement read, "For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster.
"Additionally, while it was his name appearing in the shows' titles, Larry always viewed his interview subjects as the true stars of his programs, and himself as merely an unbiased conduit between the guest and audience."
Larry had been hospitalized with COVID-19 in late December 2020, but had been moved out of intensive care and had been breathing on his own.
His death was later revealed to be the cause of sepsis, according to his family.
He will be missed.
Photo: © SGranitz/WireImage

<h2>Siegfried Fischbacher</h2>
<p>The illusionist, who was one half of <strong>Siegfried & Roy</strong>, died of cancer at age 81 at home on Jan. 13.
<p>Earlier in the month, the showman revealed he had terminal pancreatic cancer.
<p>Siegfried's passing comes after his longtime stage partner, <strong>Roy Horn</strong>, died of <strong><a href="/tags/0/covid-19">COVID-19</a></strong> complications in May 2020.
<p>The duo were one of the most famous acts in Las Vegas thanks to their use of big cats in their acts. After performing on cruise lines and in European clubs, they moved to performing in Las Vegas in the 1960s, where they continued to do so until the early 2000s.
<p>Rest in peace.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images