Celebrity Deaths In 2022: The Legends We Lost

We lost Danny Tanner from “Full House,” the musicians we loved to rock out to such as Coolio and Naomi Judd, and actors such as Sidney Poitier and Ray Liotta who will live on forever in our favorite movies and television shows.

Some died young and unexpectedly, and others spent long lives in the public eye. This year, we lost monarch Queen Elizabeth II, teen pop sensation Aaron Carter, Olivia Newton-John and comedian Gilbert Gottfried.

To all the greats who entertained and inspired us, rest in peace.

Sidney Poitier, 94

Actor, film director and diplomat Sidney Poitier played roles with such dignity that it helped change the way Black people are portrayed on screen. Poitier, who died in January, became the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1963 film “Lilies of the Field.”

Queen Elizabeth II, 96

In her 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II helped modernize the monarchy across decades of enormous social change, royal marriages and births, and family scandals. For most Britons, she was the only monarch they had ever known. She died at age 96 on Sept. 8.

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Bob Saget, 65

The actor-comedian is known for his role as the beloved single dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom “Full House” and the wisecracking host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” He died on Jan. 9 at age 65.

Olivia Newton-John, 73

British-Australian singer, actress and activist Olivia Newton-John was best known for her role as Sandy in the iconic 1978 film “Grease.” Newton-John had a roughly 50-year career in the movie, music and TV industries. She died at her ranch in Southern California Aug. 8 after a public battle with breast cancer.

Jerry Lee Lewis, 87

Jerry Lee Lewis, the untamable rock ‘n’ roll pioneer whose outrageous talent, energy, and ego collided on such definitive records as ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ died on Oct. 28. He is credited with being the last survivor of a generation of groundbreaking performers that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard.

Ray Liotta, 67

The New Jersey native known for his role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s film “Goodfellas,” died May 26. Liotta’s acting career began with his role as Joey Perrini on the TV show “Another World” from 1978-81. In 1990, he earned the role of mobster Henry Hill in “Goodfellas,” which was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.

Coolio, 59

American rapper Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known professionally as Coolio, won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film “Dangerous Minds” that sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song “Pastime Paradise” and was played constantly on MTV. He died suddenly on Sept. 28.

Nichelle Nichols, 89

American actress, singer, and dancer Nichelle Nichols started her career as a dancer and singer for Duke Ellington. She broke ground in 1966 when she appeared on screens as Uhura in the first “Star Trek” series, a rare case at the time of a Black woman being shown in a position of authority on television. She died July 30.

Leslie Jordan, 67

Emmy-winning comedian and actor Leslie Jordan, known for his roles in ‘Will and Grace’ and ‘American Horror Story,’ died suddenly after his car crashed in Hollywood on Oct. 24. Jordan won a Primetime Emmy in 2006 for ‘Will and Grace.’ Some of his other work included the movies “The Help” and “Ski Patrol.”

Naomi Judd, 76

Singer and actress Naomi Judd, known as the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, died suddenly April 30. Prior to her death, The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and they had just announced an arena tour to begin in the fall, their first tour together in over a decade.

Aaron Carter, 34

Aaron Carter, a former teen pop star who also starred in television shows like “Lizzie McGuire” and “7th Heaven,” died suddenly on Nov. 5. Carter, the younger brother of Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys, released his debut album in 1997. He toured with his brother’s band and Britney Spears before his follow-up album, “Aaron’s Party (Come and Get It),” was released in September 2000.

Sacheen Littlefeather, 75

Sacheen Littlefeather, the actor and activist who declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Academy Award for “The Godfather” on his behalf in an indelible protest of Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans, died Oct. 3. She was 75.

Gilbert Gottfried, 67

Actor and legendary stand-up comic Gilbert Gottfried, known for his raw, scorched voice and crude jokes, died April 12 from a rare genetic muscle disease that can trigger a dangerously abnormal heartbeat, a previous Patch report said. He was known his iconic voice acting, most famously playing the parrot Iago in Disney’s “Aladdin.”

Jean-Luc Godard, 91

Bold director Jean-Luc Godard is credited with changing the course of filmmaking through the ’60s thanks to his unconventional camera work, narrative style and penchant for radical politics. He died Sept. 14.

Anne Heche, 53

Actress Anne Heche gained distinction with roles in “Donnie Brasco,” “Volcano” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer” in 1997. The Emmy Award-winning and Tony-nominated actress was 53 years old when she died Aug. 12 after suffering critical injuries from a car crash.

Taylor Hawkins, 50

American musician Taylor Hawkins spent half of his life on the music scene. After touring as the drummer for Alanis Morrisette, Hawkins joined the Foo Fighters in 1997. Hawkins helped write eight of the band’s 10 studio albums, beginning with the band’s third studio album, “There Is Nothing Left To Lose,” in 1999. He died on March 25.

Meat Loaf, 74

The rock superstar loved by millions for his “Bat Out of Hell” album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).” He died Jan. 20.

Loretta Lynn, 90

Country music star Loretta Lynn got her start with a $17 guitar from Sears, playing local gigs in her home state of Tennessee, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame. She eventually rose to prominence, penning her signature song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” in 1970. She died Oct. 4.

tWitch, 40

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the DJ on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” died suddenly on Dec. 14 at age 40. Boss joined the Ellen Degeneres talk show in 2014 and was on the show until it ended in 2022. He became an executive producer in 2020.

Madeleine Albright, 84

Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. secretary of state, was selected by former President Bill Clinton as America’s top diplomat in 1996. She served in that capacity for the last four years of the Clinton administration. She had previously been Clinton’s ambassador to the United Nations. She died after a battle with cancer on March 23.

Angela Lansbury

Award-winning actress Angela Lansbury was perhaps best known for her role as mystery novelist and sleuth Jessica Fletcher on the series “Murder, She Wrote,” but was also beloved for her roles in the classic Disney films “Anastasia” (1997,) “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971,) and “Beauty and the Beast” (1991.) She died Oct. 11.

Takeoff, 28

Kirsnik Khari Ball, popularly known as Takeoff, was one-third of the Atlanta-based Migos, alongside cousin Offset and Quavo, his uncle. He died Nov. 1 during a shooting at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas.