Paul O’Grady, Paul Cattermole, Lisa Marie Presley, Len Goodman and Matthew Perry were among the many famous faces we lost in 2023.
From iconic actors to renowned musicians, join us as we honour the memory of the beloved celebrities who died in 2023 and celebrate their contributions to the entertainment industry.
Here is the full list of celebrities we’ve said goodbye to this year.
Ken Block
Rally driver Ken Block died in a snowmobile accident aged just 55. When his death was announced on January 3, his “dear friend” Lewis Hamilton paid tribute, saying: “He was such an amazing person, always lived life to the fullest…He will be truly missed.” The star, who also appeared on Top Gear, was also remembered in a tribute from his 16-year-old daughter Lia. “Yesterday I didn’t just lose my father, I lost my best friend,” Lia wrote in the moving tribute. “He was truly my whole world and the only person I ever looked up to. No matter what I did he was always there to support me.”
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Alan Rankine
Musician and producer Alan Rankine who co-founded Scottish pop band, The Associates, died aged 64. His death was announced on January 3 by his sons Callum and Hamish. They said their father died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family. In a statement posted to social media, Callum wrote: “It’s with great sadness that my brother, Hamish, and I announce the passing of our father, Alan Rankine. He died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family. He was a beautiful, kind and loving man who will be sorely missed.”
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Lisa Marie Presley
Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, who is the daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, sadly died at the age of 54 following a suspected cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, California. The news of her death came just two days after she appeared at the Golden Globes to support Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, which celebrates the life of her late father. The star faced more than her fair share of tragedy during her life, including the loss of her 27-year-old son Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide back in 2020. She is survived by her mother Priscilla, her eldest daughter Riley, 33, and fourteen-year-old twins Finley and Harper.
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Jeff Beck
Renowned guitarist, Jeff Beck, who pushed the boundaries of the instrument, died from bacterial meningitis aged 78. The news of his death was announced on social media on January 10 after his family issued a statement sharing their “profound sadness”. Tributes poured in for the pioneering musician from Johnny Depp, Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood just to name a few. Jeff married his wife Sandra in 2005 the couple lived in East Sussex, until his death.
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Len Goodman
Famed Strictly Come Dancing legend, Len Goodman, died “peacefully” in a hospice aged 78 after a short battle with bone cancer. The news of his death was confirmed on April 24 after the Strictly judge died on Saturday evening (April 22). His passing comes just months after the much-loved judge stepped down from his role on the US show Dancing With The Stars. Len said he was retiring to spend more time with his wife Sue, and his grandchildren, Alice, seven, and Jack, four.
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Alan Arkin
Alan Arkin, who won an Oscar for his role in the 2006 dark comedy Little Miss Sunshine, died at the age of 89. His death was announced on June 30 by his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony. They said in a statement: “Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man. A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed.”
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Anne Hart
Anne Hart, who was married to Ronnie Corbett for 50 years, died aged 90. The West End star’s death was announced by her family on November 6. She died “peacefully” at her home in Scotland while “surrounded” by her loved ones.
Her younger daughter, actress Sophie Corbett, said: “We lost my darling Mum at one o’clock in the morning. She was an amazing woman, and my sister Emma and I, and all four of her grandchildren, Tom, Tilly, Dylan, and Billy, will love and miss her forever.”
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Denny Laine
Denny Laine, who was a guitarist for Paul McCartney’s band Wings and also fronted the band The Moody Blues, died aged 79 in intensive care after a long battle with interstitial lung disease. His wife, Elizabeth, confirmed the sad news on December 5, writing: “I was at his bedside holding his hand as I played his favourite Christmas songs for him.”
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David Kernan
David Kernan, who is best known for his time in Carry On Abroad and as Private Hitch in Zulu, died at the age of 85 on Boxing Day. His representatives said he died “peacefully”, adding: “In this time of such sadness, we shall think of the wonderful man he was, and the truly fantastic career that he had on stage, and on screen.”
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