Celebrity Deaths in 2023: Stars We Lost
After losing beloved stars including Barbara Walters, Kirstie Alley and Stephen “tWitch” Boss in the final days of 2022, the entertainment industry dealt with more loss in 2023.
Hollywood mourned three significant losses in April: Jerry Springer, Harry Belafonte and Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman all died within days of his each other.
The following month, the music industry and the world at large mourned the loss of Tina Turner, who died at age 83 after battling a “long illness” at her home in Switzerland, a rep for the iconic singer shared at the time. Countless celebrities, including Beyoncé, Lizzo and President Joe Biden, paid tribute to Turner.
Read on to remember all the stars who died in 2023:
Tom Wilkinson
The Full Monty actor died on Saturday, December 30. He was 75.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” his family said in a statement to the BBC. “The family asks for privacy at this time.”
The Oscar winner was known for his work in Shakespeare in Love, The Patriot, In the Bedroom, John Adams, Michael Clayton, Selma and more.
Wilkinson is survived by wife Diana Hardcastle and daughters Alice and Mollie.
Bobby Rivers
The former Top 5 Food Network host died at age 70 on December 26. His sister, Betsy Rivers, confirmed his death via Facebook. “Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in any pain,” she wrote, per Deadline.
Betsy also told The Hollywood Reporter that Bobby had suffered a series of mini-strokes and a recurrence of lung cancer.
Stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Katie Couric mourned the news of Bobby’s passing.
“All hail this pioneer Bobby Rivers,” Goldberg wrote via Instagram. “He brought SO much to the table. R I P Bobby.”
Couric shared a tribute via X. “I am so sad to hear this. Bobby was a terrific guy and wonderfully warm, funny and smart. 💔,” she wrote.
Tom Smothers
The musician died on December 26 after battling cancer at age 70.
“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner. I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years,” his brother, Dick Smothers, said in a statement from the National Comedy Center. “Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.
Sun-kyun
The Parasite star was found dead inside a car at a park in Seoul, South Korea on December 27. He was 48.
NBC news reported that South Korean police said Lee’s death was an apparent suicide. Per the outlet, there was a charcoal briquette found in the passenger seat next to Lee. Police starting looking for the actor after his manager told them he left home after writing what appeared to be a suicide note.
Lee had recently been under police investigation on suspicion of using illegal drugs, including marijuana. Lee denied the allegations through his lawyer, per The Washington Post.
