Take a look back at stars whose
light burned out this year, but still shines on in the legacies they've
left behind, the loved ones who survive them, and the memories they've given to us all.
Here are the celebrities we've lost in 2020. Saturday Night Live favorite and
screenwriter Buck Henry died on January 8, 2020. He was 89 years old. Henry
was acclaimed for his screenplays, scoring an Oscar nomination for Best
Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate and an Emmy win for Get Smart, the spy spoof
series he co-created with comedy legend Mel Brooks. Though most screenwriters aren't
widely known to audiences, television viewers were familiar with Henry, who hosted SNL numerous
times during the NBC staple show's first five seasons. Henry was also an occasional director,
helming Heaven Can Wait and First Family. In addition to appearances on SNL, Henry had
small acting roles in several films and TV shows, including parts in Hot In Cleveland,
Law & Order: SVU, Franklin & Bash, and as Liz Lemon's dad on 30 Rock. He also served
as a guest host for late night shows including The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, The Dick Cavett
Show, and The Late Show With David Letterman. Terry Jones, co-founder of the
Monty Python comedy troupe, died on Jan. 21, 2020, following a long
battle with dementia. He was 77 years old. Jones began working on British television in the
1960s before co-founding Monty Python that same decade. Following the hugely successful run of
Monty Python's Flying Circus from 1969 to 1974, Jones co-directed Monty Python and the Holy
Grail and directed Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, films in which
he also acted as a member of the troupe. "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!" Outside of Python, Jones' film
work included co-writing Labyrinth and writing and directing films like Erik
the Viking and Absolutely Anything. He was also a history buff, publishing books on
the subject and hosting series including Terry Jones' Medieval Lives
and Terry Jones' Barbarians. Numerous celebrities, including the
surviving members of Monty Python, reacted to Jones' death. His Python collaborator
John Cleese wrote, in part, "It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless
enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away." Singer and songwriter John Prine passed
away on April 7, 2020, from complications from coronavirus. He was 73 years old. Prine,
a two-time Grammy winner, was one of the most prolific country and folk songwriters in America,
widely known for his storytelling in hits like "Hello In There," about a lonely elderly couple;
"Paradise," a song about his parents' mining town of Paradise, Kentucky; and "Sam Stone," about
a Vietnam War soldier numbing his PTSD with drugs. In 2018, Prine saw a resurgence with his
first album of original material in 13 years, giving him his highest career debut at number five
on the Billboard 200. Everyone from Johnny Cash to Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Miranda Lambert
and Bette Midler has covered Prine's tunes. Prine's wife, Fiona, said in part upon his passing "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the
outpouring of love we have received from family, friends and fans all over the world. John will be
so missed but he will continue to comfort us with his words and music and the gifts of kindness,
humor and love he left for all of us to share." Actor Brian Dennehy died on
April 15, 2020 at age 81. Dennehy started his career with guest
roles in TV series like M*A*S*H, Kojak, and Dallas before hitting it big with a starring
role on Dynasty. His first big break on the big screen was as the antagonist sheriff in First
Blood, the first film in the Rambo franchise. He went on to star in Cocoon, Tommy Boy,
Silverado, Presumed Innocent, and Romeo + Juliet, among many other roles. In 2001 he won a Golden
Globe for his performance in the title role in Death of a Salesman, a role he'd also played
in a Tony-winning performance on the stage. Dennehy is survived by his wife and five children. Sylvester Stallone honored Dennehy on Instagram,
sharing a still from First Blood and writing, "The great actor Brian Dennehy has passed
away. He simply was a brilliant performer... He also was a Vietnam vet that helped me
very much building the character of Rambo. The world has lost a great artist." Actor Sam Lloyd died on April 30, 2020 as
a result of complications from lung cancer, his wife Vanessa confirmed. He was 56 years old. Lloyd was a prolific character
actor, most famous for Scrubs, in which he starred as attorney Ted
Buckland. He appeared in many other sitcoms as well as movies including Flubber
and Galaxy Quest. He was also a musician and working on directing a country rock musical
titled With Pam and Gil before his passing. Lloyd was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019
and it metastasized to several other organs. Vanessa released a statement upon
his death which read in part, "Our family is devastated. It doesn't feel
real. It never will. It just feels like he will walk through the door. The overwhelming
outpouring of love and sharing your stories about working with or knowing Sam keeps
his memory alive and our hearts strong." Rock and roll pioneer Little Richard died
at age 87 on May 9, 2020 from bone cancer. Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia,
his flamboyant style, gospel-infused vocals, piano pounding, and at times nonsensical
lyrics made him a chart staple in the 1950s. He left rock behind in 1957 to become a minister,
then a gospel artist. Then he made a rock comeback in 1964 and hob-nobbed with the likes of the
Rolling Stones, the Beatles (who covered "Long Tall Sally") and Bob Dylan, all of whom counted
him as a major influence. He remained a successful touring act and was one of the original inductees
to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Jerry Stiller, prolific comedian and actor, died on May 11, 2020 at age 92. His son, actor,
Ben Stiller confirmed on Twitter, writing, "I'm sad to say that my father, Jerry
Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather,
and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be
greatly missed. Love you Dad." A New York City native, Stiller became best known
early in his career for his performances with wife and fellow comedian Anne Meara, first in clubs and
then in film and television. His career spanned decades and includes more than 100 film credits,
but he was likely best known for roles like Frank Costanza - father to George Costanza and
Festivus enthusiast - on Seinfeld, for which he was nominated for an Emmy in 1997. When Seinfeld
ended, he played another often-irrationally temperamental patriarch in The King of Queens
from 1998 to 2007. He also appeared in movies with his beloved son Ben, including Heavyweights,
The Heartbreak Kid, Zoolander, and Zoolander 2. Fred Willard, great comic and character
actor, died on May 15, 2020 at 86 years old. Willard's first big break was the
talk show satire Fernwood Tonight, playing a sidekick to a smarmy onscreen host,
in 1977. In 1984, he made a memorable turn as an Air Force lieutenant in This Is Spinal Tap
alongside Christopher Guest, with whom he would collaborate frequently, co-starring in cult
classics including Best In Show, A Mighty Wind, and Family Tree. His other major film roles
included Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, For Your Consideration, Youth
in Revolt, Mascots, and more. Willard was also beloved for his television
work, with recurring roles on Roseanne, Everybody Loves Raymond, Review,
and Modern Family. In the latter, he starred as Ty Burrell's
eccentric father, Frank Dunphy. Director Lynn Shelton died on May 16, 2020
from a previously undiagnosed blood disorder, The New York Times reported. She was 54 years old. Shelton got her breakthrough in 2006, winning
the Grand Jury prize with We Go Way Back at the Slamdance Film Festival. She followed with 2008's
South by Southwest entry My Effortless Brilliance, then the acclaimed Humpday in 2009, which
premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She directed numerous TV series,
including Little Fires Everywhere, New Girl, GLOW, The Good Place, Fresh
Off the Boat, and The Morning Show. Shelton's boyfriend, comedian Marc
Maron, said in part after her passing: "I loved her very much as I know many of you
did as well. It's devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don't
really know how to move forward in this moment." He added, "She was a beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist. Her spirit was pure
joy. [...] This is a horrendous, sad loss." Tyler Gwozdz , a contestant on
Season 15 of ABC's The Bachelorette, died on January 22, 2020. He was 29 years old. TMZ reported that Gwozdz was suspected to have
suffered from an overdose at his Boca Raton, Florida home and was hospitalized on January 13, 2020, passing away a little
more than a week later. Gwzodz competed for Hannah Brown's final rose
(and nabbed a one-on-one date with the former pageant princess) before he left the show with
no explanation after three weeks of shooting. At the time, he told Refinery29 in a statement
that his exit was, quote, "a decision that I came to with producers, and something that
I've come to realize what is the best decision that could've been made." He is survived
by his parents and five younger siblings. Ian Holm passed away at age 88 on June
19, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. Holm began his career in theater, winning a Tony
Award and other accolades before his transition to film in the 1970s. Two years after playing android
Ash in Ridley Scott's iconic Alien in 1979, Holm starred as Olympic coach Sam Mussabini in
Chariots of Fire, earning his first BAFTA Award. In a career that spanned decades, he appeared
in numerous acclaimed films including Brazil, The Fifth Element, Big Night, The Madness
of King George, From Hell, and many more. Still, Holm was best known for his role of
Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. "Alas, eleventy-one years is far
too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits." He is survived by his fourth
wife, Sophie, and five children. Among the several Lord of the Rings castmates
paying tribute was Elijah Wood, who tweeted, "So sad to hear that the singular, brilliant and vibrant, Sir Ian
Holm has passed. Farewell, uncle." Director Joel Schumacher died from
cancer on June 22, 2020, at 80 years old. Schumacher started as a costume designer, then
a screenwriter for projects including Sparkle, The Wiz, and Car Wash before making the
leap to directing. With St. Elmo's Fire, Schumacher introduced the Brat Pack - including
a young Demi Moore - to the world in 1985. He followed with vampire comedy The Lost
Boys, then the 1990 thriller Flatliners and the critically acclaimed hit Falling Down in 1993. Schumacher's distinct aesthetics are perhaps
best-known thanks to his work on two Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, in the 90s',
both of which have gained new appreciation among fans in recent years. After his
Batman work, he went on to more acclaim for films like his adaptation of Phantom of
the Opera, and remains a celebrated filmmaker with remarkable range, with other credits
ranging from A Time to Kill to Phone Booth. Comedy legend Carl Reiner died on June
29, 2020, at 98 years old. His son, actor, writer, and director Rob Reiner,
announced the news on Twitter, adding, "As I write this my heart is
hurting. He was my guiding light." Throughout his career, Reiner was a
producer, comedian, actor, writer and director. Like his lifelong best friend Mel
Brooks, Reiner got his start on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows in the 1950s. Together, he
and Brooks created "The 2,000 Year Old Man," one of the most popular comedy sketches of all time.
He then went on to create television of his own, writing The Dick Van Dyke Show,
which he also co-starred in. Reiner went to film work, and as a director
he brought some of the greatest comedies of all time to the big screen, including Oh
God, All Of Me, The Jerk, Summer Rental, Summer School, and more. His seemingly endless
acting credits included Ocean's Eleven, House, Hot in Cleveland, and Two and a Half Men. Over 70 years in the business, Reiner won nine
Emmys, two Grammys, and a Mark Twain Prize. Naya Rivera was reported missing on Wednesday,
July 8, 2020, after she took her four-year-old son, Josey, to Lake Piru in Ventura County,
California. Josey was found alone and asleep on their rented boat, while Rivera was nowhere
to be found. Tragically, what started as a search-and-rescue mission for the actress
and singer turned into a recovery mission: Her body was found on Monday, July 13, 2020,
after a days-long search. Rivera was 33 years old, and no foul play is suspected in her death,
which is being treated as a tragic accident. Rivera started out as a child star, landing
the role of Hillary Winston on The Royal Family when she was just four years old. Her
big break came as Santana on Glee in 2009, which launched her to a record
deal with Columbia two years later. In addition to being an actress and
singer, Rivera was also a businesswoman, designing unisex kidswear for Jojo &
Izzy, and the author of candid memoir Sorry Not Sorry. Rivera is survived by her
parents, brother, sister, and son Josey. Kelly Preston died on July 12, 2020, her
husband John Travolta announced on Instagram. She was 57 and had been battling breast
cancer in secret for two years. He wrote, "She fought a courageous fight with
the love and support of so many. Kelly's love and life will always be remembered." Hawaii native Preston studied acting at
the University of Southern California, landing her first role in 1985's
Mischief. She went on to appear in CHiPs and star in movies including Twins,
Jerry Maguire, For Love of the Game, Sky High, and many more. She is survived by
Travolta and their children Ella and Benjamin. TV icon Regis Philbin died on July 24, 2020, at 88 years old. His family announced
his death in a statement, and added, "His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him - for
his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every
day into something worth talking about." A native of The Bronx, Philbin's TV hosting days
began in California before he moved back to New York City to host The Morning Show in 1983,
which was later retitled Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and, after Kathie Lee Giffords'
departure, Live with Regis and Kelly. He was also the first host of Who Wants to Be
a Millionaire?, Million Dollar Password, and the first season of America's Got Talent.
Throughout his career, he won three Emmys, plus a Lifetime Achievement Daytime
Emmy. Philbin also earned a Guinness World Record for most broadcast hours from
a TV personality, with more than 16,000. Philbin is survived by daughters
Joanna and J.J. and his second wife, Joy, as well as his daughter
Amy from a previous marriage. Olivia de Havilland, the last
surviving star of Gone with the Wind, died peacefully in her sleep on
July 25, 2020, at 104 years olds. De Havilland got her first role at 18 in A
Midsummer Night's Dream and grew famous in the 1930s for starring alongside Errol Flynn
in several films, including The Adventures of Robin Hood. After nabbing an Oscar nomination for
her performance as Melanie in Gone with the Wind, she turned to more dramatic roles, winning
two Academy Awards for 1946's To Each His Own and 1949's The Heiress. De Havilland
also appeared on Broadway and television, scoring a Golden Globe for
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. The beloved star, who gave up on Hollywood
in the mid-1950s and moved to Paris, was also politically active, campaigning for
Franklin D. Roosevelt and against communism, and fighting to improve the
industry throughout her life. Character actor Wilford Brimley died on August 1,
2020, at 85 years old. As his agent told The New York Times, Brimley had a kidney condition
for about two months before his passing. First working with horses in TV and film,
he eventually graduated to nonspeaking roles on horseback. Brimley then cut his acting
teeth on television in recurring roles on series like How The West Was Won and Kung
Fu, and later landed a breakthrough role on The Waltons as Horace Brimley. His star turn
on the big screen was in The China Syndrome, alongside Jane Fonda and Jack
Lemmon. He followed that success with roles in Absence Of Malice,
The Natural, The Firm, and Cocoon. Brimley, who received a type
2 diabetes diagnosis in 1979, later became the face of Quaker
Oats and Liberty Medical, the latter of which became a meme for his
distinct, accented pronunciation of "diabetes." "Find out some things about diabeetus
and your own body in the bargain" Chadwick Boseman died on August 28, 2020, the
actor's team said in a statement on Instagram. His wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, and family
were at his side. He was 43 years old. "Chadwick was diagnosed with stage three
colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to
stage four," the statement read in part. "A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it
all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da
5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed
during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to
bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther." "Wakanda Forever!" In his short career as a screen
actor, Boseman embodied icons, playing Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown
in Get On Up, Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, and more. But he was best known around the
world for his work as T'Challa in four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role he
was set to continue in a Black Panther sequel.
