Saying goodbye is never easy to do, and 2017 has made us do it a lot. So many notable and highly regarded celebrities passed away this year, leaving family, friends and fans behind to mourn their loss even as we celebrate and thank them for the impact and beauty they made while they were here.
Some of those celebrities include Rose Marie, David Cassidy, Chester Bennington, Tom Petty, Mary Tyler Moore, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lewis — but luckily, their legacies will continue to live on in the music, the movies, the TV shows and the classic magazines they gifted to the world. These stars may be gone, but they’ll never be forgotten.
So, before we officially close the chapter on 2017 and ring in a new year, scroll or click through our slideshow to see, remember and honor all the celebrities who have died this year.
Originally published January 2017. Updated November 2017.
Rose Marie
The 94-year-old Dick Van Dyke Show star was found dead in her California home on Dec. 28.
Della Reese
The legendary soul singer and star of Touched By an Angelpassed away in late November at age 86.
Malcolm Young
The AC/DC co-founder, guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer passed away at age 64 in late November.
Brad Bufanda
Sadly, VeronicaMars actor Brad Bufanda passed away in early November from death by suicide.
Fats Domino
Fats Domino, one of the biggest musicians from the early-rock & roll era, passed away in October at age 89.
Tom Petty
The legendary frontman for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers died on Oct. 2 after going into full cardiac arrest.
Hugh Hefner
People confirmed Hefner peacefully passed away from natural causes at The Playboy Mansion on Sept. 27.
Frank Vincent
The Sopranos actor passed away in a New Jersey hospital after complications during open heart surgery on Sept. 13.
Richard Anderson
The Six Million Dollar Man actor died in his Beverly Hills home at 91 years old on Thurs. Aug. 31.
Jay Thomas
Star of Murphy Brown and Cheers Jay Thomas died on Aug. 24 of cancer. He was 69-years-old.
Charles Manson
The notorious cult leader and the man charged as responsible for the 1969 murder of actor Sharon Tate died at age 83.
Jerry Lewis
Comedian & filmmaker Jerry Lewis died August 20 in his Las Vegas home. He was 91-years-old.
Glen Campbell
Country singer Glen Campbell passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 8 in a Nashville facility for Alzheimer’s patients, according to TMZ.
Shelley Berman
The Boston Legal and Curb Your Enthusiasm actor died at 92 years old from Alzheimer’s Disease complications on Friday, Sept. 1.
Sam Shepard
Pulitzer-winner playwright and actor Sam Shepard passed away in July at age 73 at his home in Kentucky.
Jeanne Moreau
French actor Jeanne Moreau, whose career spanned more than 60 years, passed away at age 89 in July.
Barbara Sinatra
Widow of singer and actor Frank Sinatra, Barbara passed away in late July at age 90.
John Heard
The Home Alone and Sopranos actor passed away in late July at age 71.
Chester Bennington
The Linkin Park frontman sadly passed away at 41 following a suicide by hanging.
Martin Landau
Legendary film icon Martin Landau died at 89, reportedly from “unexpected complications.”
George A. Romero
Romero, legendary director of horror films like Night of the Living Dead, died in July at 77.
Nelsan Ellis
Ellis was best known as the boundary-breaking Lafayette on HBO’s True Blood. He died unexpectedly in July at age 39.
Joan Lee
Joan Lee, wife of 69 years to Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, passed away in July.
Michael Bond
Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, died in his home at age 91 after a short illness, his publisher confirmed.
Michael Nyqvist
Nyqvist, who starred in John Wick and Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, died in late June after a yearlong battle with lung cancer.
Prodigy
The rapper Prodigy, part of the rap group Mobb Deep, passed away at age 42.
Glenne Headly
Headly was filming Hulu’s Future Man when she died in June. No cause of death was immediately reported.
Molly Peters
Former Bond girl Molly Peters died in late May at age 75. The cause of her death was undetermined at the time.
Robert Michael Morris
Morris, star of The Comeback, died in late May at age 77.
Lisa Spoonauer
The actor, best known as Caitlin Bree in 1994 cult classic Clerks, died of natural causes at age 44.
Roger Moore
Best known for his role as James Bond for the better part of 12 years, actor Roger Moore died at 89 in May.
Chris Cornell
Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell passed away suddenly at age 52.
Powers Boothe
The well-known character actor, whose most beloved roles include Tombstone & Deadwood, passed away at age 68.
Peter Hansen
The Emmy-nominated General Hospital alum died at his home April 9. He was 95.
Linda Hopkins
Broadway legend Linda Hopkins died at 92. Her death was confirmed by her great-niece.
Charlie Murphy
Comedian, actor and Eddie Murphy’s brother Charlie Murphy died at 57 of leukemia.
Darlene Cates
Cates, who played the mother on What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, died in her sleep March 26. She was 69.
Christine Kaufmann
Austria’s first Golden Globe winner died in late March after a battle with leukemia.
Li Li-hua
Chinese actor Li Li-hua, who famously starred in China Doll, died on March 19 at the age of 92.
Chuck Berry
Legendary guitarist and musical pioneer Chuck Berry died March 18 at age 90 at his home.
Lawrence Montaigne
Lawrence Montaigne, known for his appearances as a Vulcan on the original Star Trek, died March 17 at age 86.
Buddy Greco
“Lady Is a Tramp” singer Buddy Greco died on Jan. 10. The cause of his death is unknown. He was 90.
Roger Smith
Smith’s wife, Ann-Margret, confirmed he died Sunday, June 4 after fighting a terminal illness.
Butch Trucks
The Allman Brothers Band co-founder died on Jan. 24 at 69 years old. The cause of his death is unknown.
Lee O’Denat
Founder of WorldStarHipHop Lee O’Denat died of heart disease on Jan. 23 in San Diego. He was 43.
Tony Rosato
SNL alum Tony Rosato died at his home on Jan. 10. He was 62.
Mary Tyler Moore
TV icon Mary Tyler Moore died on Jan. 25 after suffering from a variety of health problems. She was 80.
Dick Gautier
Get Smart actor Dick Gautier died on Jan. 13 after a long illness. He was 85.
William Peter Blatty
The Exorcist author died of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, on Jan. 12. He was 89.
Miguel Ferrer
NCIS: Los Angeles star Miguel Ferrer died of throat cancer on Jan. 19. He was 61.
Mike Connors
Connors, who starred on Mannix from 1967 to 1975, died on Jan. 27, a week after being diagnosed with leukemia.
Frank Pellegrino
Sopranos actor Frank Pellegrino died on Jan. 31 at age 72 from lung cancer.
Richard Hatch
Battlestar Galactica star Hatch died Feb. 7 from pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
Robert Osborne
The TCM host and film historian died on March 6 at age 84.
Bill Paxton
The beloved veteran actor from films like Twister and Titanicdied at age 61 from surgery complications.
Neil Fingleton
The Game of Thrones actor died of heart failure at age 36.
John Hurt
The English actor, known for films like Alien and The Elephant Man, died at age 77.
Om Puri
The Bollywood legend passed away in January at age 66.
Francine York
The Doll Squad actor died at age 80 on Jan. 6.
Joni Sledge
Half of the musical group Sister Sledge passed away in January.
Christopher Boykin
Boykin, best known as one half of MTV’s Rob & Big, died suddenly at age 45.
Chuck Barris
The host of hit ’70s TV show The Gong Show passed away at age 87.
Don Rickles
Legendary and beloved stand-up comedian Don Rickles passed away at age 90.
Erin Moran
The Happy Days actor died at age 56 after she was found unresponsive in her home.
Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the Lambs director passed away in April at age 73.
Michael Parks
The character actor was best known for his roles in Kill Bill, Tusk and Twin Peaks.
Tim Pigott Smith
The venerated English actor of stage and screen was best known to Americans for his role in V for Vendetta.
Roger Ailes
Ailes, former CEO of Fox News, passed away at age 77 less than a year after he was ousted from the network.
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