THE year coming to and end and we have said goodbye to so many stars from the showbiz world.
We remember those who have passed away so far this in 2019.
FREDDIE STARR, 76
50
Comic who featured in The Sun’s most popular front page ever when we ran the headline “Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster” in March 1986 after he pretended to put a friend’s pet in a sandwich and scoff it.
Once Britain’s highest-paid comedian, he died virtually penniless on May 9 at his apartment in Spain.
WINDSOR DAVIES, 88
50
The actor became a household name playing tough Battery Sergeant Major Williams, with booming catchphrase “Shut up!” in 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
The former miner, who died on January 17, recorded Whispering Grass, a duet with his sitcom co-star Don Estelle, which topped the chart in 1975.
DORIS DAY, 97
50
Hollywood’s golden girl of the 1950s, her career spanned eight decades after she started as a big band singer in 1939. She earned a fortune as an actress and singer but her wealth was squandered by the men she married.
Real name Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff, she died from pneumonia on May 13 at her home in Carmel, California.
KEITH FLINT, 49
50
The Prodigy’s dancer-turned-frontman was found hanged at his home in Essex on March 4.
The rave giants achieved massive mainstream success with single Firestarter, which featured Flint on lead vocals, and the 1997 album The Fat Of The Land. Keith kicked a drug habit before The Prodigy’s comeback in 2009.
CAROL CHANNING, 97
50
The Broadway legend shot to fame as Lorelei Lee in 1949 musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and starred in 1964 musical Hello, Dolly! Winner of a lifetime Tony award, she died on January 15.
JEREMY HARDY, 57
50
Comedian who played Corporal Perkins in Blackadder Goes Forth and was a regular on Radio 4’s The News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, as well as TV’s QI. He died of cancer on February 1.
CLIVE SWIFT, 82
50
Actor became a household name playing Hyacinth Bucket’s henpecked hubby Richard in sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. Clive, who died on February 1, was dad to telly gardener Joe Swift.
ALBERT FINNEY, 82
50
Veteran Brit actor and five-times Oscar nominee starred in Murder On The Orient Express, Annie and Erin Brockovich, as well as Skyfall and the Bourne movies. He died from liver cancer on February 7.
JOHN HAYNES, 80
50
The tea-planter’s son, who was born in Sri Lanka, created the famous Haynes Manual car maintenance books, which sold 200 million copies, covering more than 1,000 car models. He died on
February 8.
GORDON BANKS, 81
50
England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper earned 73 England caps and made a total of 628 appearances for Chesterfield, Leicester City and Stoke. He died on February 12.
KARL LAGERFELD, 85
50
German fashion legend reinvented Chanel’s classics including the little black dress, quilted handbags and costume jewellery. He died in a Paris hospital of pancreatic cancer on February 19.
PETER TORK, 77
50
Keyboard player with The Monkees, who had their own sitcom in the mid-60s and hits including I’m A Believer and Daydream Believer. Peter died on February 21, ten years after being diagnosed with cancer.
ANDRE PREVIN, 89
Oscar-winning composer who worked on more than 50 films, including 1964’s My Fair Lady. Andre, also known for appearing in a famous Morecambe And Wise sketch, died on February 28.
MAGENTA DEVINE, 61
50
The face of “yoof” TV in the 1980s. Magenta – real name Kim Taylor – was the host of Channel 4’s Network 7 and BBC’s Rough Guides To The World. She died on March 6 after a short illness.
MIKE THALASSITIS, 26
50
Former League Two footballer who found fame on ITV2 reality show Love Island in 2017. He took his own life near his Essex home on March 16, prompting anger over aftercare on TV shows.
SCOTT WALKER, 76
50
Member of American pop trio The Walker Brothers in the 1960s before going solo. Considered to be one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in rock, he died on March 22.
SANDY RATCLIFF, 70
50
Starred in first episode of EastEnders and played cafe owner Ali Osman’s wife Sue for four years. Quit due to a heroin addiction before becoming a counsellor after beating addiction. Died on April 7.
TOMMY SMITH, 74
50
Liverpool legend who won four league titles and the European Cup as a tough-tackling defender. Bill Shankly said Smith “wasn’t born, he was quarried”. He died on April 11 after battling dementia.
BILLY McNEILL, 79
50
The Lion of Lisbon was the first British skipper to lift the European Cup, leading Celtic to victory against Inter Milan in 1967. He also managed Celtic, Man City and Aston Villa. Billy died on April 22.
PETER MAYHEW, 74
50
For nearly 40 years, the 7ft 3in Brit actor played Chewbacca in Star Wars. He appeared in five movies as Han Solo’s co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon before dying at home in Texas on April 30.
BRIAN WALDEN, 86
50
A Labour MP, Brian quit Parliament in 1977 for the media, joining ITV to present Weekend World. He would go on to become one of the UK’s most respected political interviewers. He died on May 9.
TARDAR SAUCE, 7
50
Nicknamed Grumpy Cat due to her expression – caused by an underbite and dwarfism – she was the world’s most famous cat with millions of social media followers. Died at home in Arizona on May 14.
NIKI LAUDA, 70
50
Austrian racing driver and three-time Formula One champion. Badly injured when his Ferrari crashed and burst into flames in Germany in 1976, he returned to win two more championships. Died on May 20.
JUDITH KERR, 95
50
Writer and illustrator behind children’s favourites The Tiger Who Came To Tea, which has sold five million copies, and the Mog series. She died at home on May 22 after a short illness.
PAUL DARROW, 78
50
Best known for playing scheming Kerr Avon in telly sci-fi Blake’s 7. Paul also played Eddy Fox in Emmerdale but in 2014 the actor had a brain aneurism and his legs were amputated. He died on June 3.
GLORIA VANDERBILT, 95
50
The New York heiress and designer was still having one-night stands in her eighties. Lovers included Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Howard Hughes and Roald Dahl. She died on June 17.
JOHN McCRIRICK, 79
50
Outspoken broadcaster who was the face of C4’s racing coverage for almost 30 years. Known for whirling his arms like tic-tac men in the betting ring. He died on July 5 after battling lung cancer.
TANYA JONES, 53
50
Wife of hardman actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones. The couple were both diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer six years ago. Tanya died at their home in LA on July 6.
RUTGER HAUER, 75
50
Dutch actor most famous for 1982 sci-fi film Blade Runner. Also starred in Batman Begins and humorous Guinness ads in the 1990s. Died at his home in the Netherlands on July 19.
JOE LONGTHORNE, 64
50
The singer and impressionist found fame in 1981 on TV’s Search For A Star. He blew a fortune with extravagant spending but raised millions for charity. A 20-year cancer fight ended on August
3.
PETER FONDA, 79
50
The son of icon Henry and brother of Jane, Peter wrote, produced and starred in 1969’s Easy Rider, the road movie that made stars of Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper. He died on August 16.
ROBERT MUGABE, 95
50
Led the fight to free Rhodesia from British rule, becoming PM of the newly renamed Zimbabwe in 1980. But he became a dictator and persecuted the white minority. He died on September 6.
ARON EISENBERG, 50
50
Played Nog in more than 40 Star Trek episodes. He died on September 21 from kidney failure, just months after marrying wife Malissa in secret. In 2015 he crowd-funded for a kidney transplant.
JACQUES CHIRAC, 86
50
Nicknamed “Le Bull- dozer” due to his blunt determination, Chirac was French president from 1995 to 2007. Was also PM twice and Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995. He died on September 26.
LEAH BRACKNELL, 55
50
The actress played Zoe Tate in Emmerdale but died in September after fighting lung cancer for three years. Fans raised £50,000 for Leah to undergo pioneering treatment in Germany.
PETER SISSONS, 77
50
The former war reporter was wounded by gunfire while covering the Biafran conflict in 1968. He went on to anchor BBC and ITV news bulletins and host Question Time. He died on October 1.
‘GINGER’ BAKER, 80
50
One of the greatest ever drummers – and one of the most volatile too. In 1966 Baker, who could keep perfect time even on heroin, founded Cream with guitarist Eric Clapton. He died on October 6.
ROBERT NORRIS, 90
50
Advertising’s original Marlboro Man, Robert got his break posing in a photo alongside his pal, the Hollywood legend John Wayne. But Robert, who died on November 3, was a non-smoker himself.
TERRY O’NEILL, 81
50
He got into photography by chance but took pictures of some of the biggest stars in the world, including the Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Nelson Mandela. He died on November 17 of cancer.
CLIVE JAMES, 80
50
Aussie broadcaster, critic and poet who famously compared Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body to “a brown condom full of walnuts”. Clive battled leukaemia from 2010 and died on November 24.
GARY RHODES, 59
50
The chef died of a brain bleed in Dubai, where he ran restaurants. He won five Michelin stars, hosted TV’s MasterChef and had his own series, Rhodes Around Britain. He passed away on November 26.
JONATHAN MILLER, 85
50
A man of many talents who gave up medicine for the theatre, directing plays and operas. Appeared with Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Alan Bennett in revue Beyond The Fringe. He died on November 27.
BOB WILLIS, 70
50
Pace bowler, Ashes winner and Bob Dylan fan who led England in 18 Tests. After playing, he become one of cricket’s most demanding and respected analysts on Sky Sports. Died on December 4.
RON SAUNDERS, 87
50
As manager of Aston Villa, he led the Midlands club to its first Division One title in 71 years, also winning two League Cups. Bossed Birmingham City and West Brom too. Ron died on December 7.
CAROLL SPINNEY, 85
50
Puppeteer who provided the voice for Big Bird and the movements for Oscar the Grouch on children’s TV show Sesame Street for nearly 50 years until he retired in 2018. Died on December 8.
MARIE FREDRIKSSON, 61
50
Swedish singer and co-founder of pop duo Roxette. The pair sold 75million records around the world, with hits including It Must Have Been Love and The Look. Marie died on December 10.
DAVID BELLAMY, 86
50
Botanist and TV host who inspired a generation of kids to be excited by nature with his shows in the 1980s. Was dropped by the BBC after comments about climate change. Died on December 11.
SHEILA MERCIER, 100
50
Actress who played farmer’s wife Annie Sugden on Emmerdale from its first episode in 1972 until 1994. Came back for several cameo appearances after. Sheila died in her sleep on December 13.
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MARTIN PETERS, 76
50
Scorer of England’s second goal in the 1966 World Cup win against West Germany and football’s first £200,000 player. Martin was suffering from Alzheimer’s when he died on December 21.
ALLEE WILLIS, 72
50
Grammy-winning songwriter co-penned the Friends theme song with band The Rembrandts in the 1990s. It went on to become one of the most famous TV tunes. She died on December 24.
Prodigy minder Con dead just weeks after tragic Keith Flint was found hanging
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