In this article, we will take a look at some prominent deaths that occurred in 2023. We will review the people who passed away and left their mark on our world, culture, and lives. We will discuss their achievements and their impact on society and future generations. The departed may leave lessons behind and some may evoke smiles despite the tears.
Tina Turner: Strength and Resilience
Tina Turner, the high-energy American singer who never did anything “easily and kindly,” left her imprint on the music world. Everyone was influenced by her, from Janis Joplin to Beyoncé. Beyoncé said, “You paved the way. You are strength and resilience.”
Tony Bennett: An Unmatched Voice
Tony Bennett, the American singer who grew up in Queens and shortened his name from “Benedetto” because it had too many syllables. Across rock, disco, and rap, he never abandoned his love for classic American songs. Frank Sinatra said, “To me, he is the best singer in the world.”
Norman Lear: Breaking Cultural Boundaries
Norman Lear, the television producer who brought social issues such as racism, LGBTQ rights, and abortion to primetime. You can do it as long as you are strong, and the ratings are good. And the ratings were really good.
Harry Belafonte: Music and Struggle
Harry Belafonte, the American singer and actor who lived a good life. Former President Barack Obama said, “He brought transformation to the arts and advocated for minority rights.”
Pat Robertson: The Controversial American Pastor
Pat Robertson, the television pastor who divided the nation. He described himself as a “happy warrior,” and faced criticism for his ongoing targeting of LGBTQ individuals, Democrats, and welfare programs. However, Christian activist Ralph Reed stated, “He transformed the Republican Party and American politics.”
Henry Kissinger: The Controversial American Diplomat
Henry Kissinger, the architect of 20th-century American foreign policy, who opened the way to China for President Richard Nixon and helped prosecute and end the Vietnam War. He won the Nobel Peace Prize despite being accused of war crimes by some.
Matthew Perry: The Charming Star of “Friends”
Matthew Perry, the American actor known for his role in the series “Friends,” died at the age of 54 due to drowning in his bathtub. His co-star Jennifer Aniston said, “This impacted me greatly. Rest, my little brother. You always made my day brighter.”
Andre Braugher: The Exceptional Actor and Warm Soul
Andre Braugher, the famous star of “Homicide” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” had been suffering from lung cancer before his death in December. Producer Shonda Rhimes said, “An exceptional actor but, more deeply, the departure of a warm and kind soul.”
Lance Reddick: The Remarkable Star of “The Wire” and “John Wick” Films
Lance Reddick, the famous star of the series “The Wire” and the “John Wick” films, died due to a stroke. Actor Wendell Pierce said, “A man of strength and grace, a role model of elegance.”
Jimmy Buffett: The Singer Who Brings Joy
Jimmy Buffett, the American singer who died from cancer. With his roots in calypso music and his love for middle-class vacation dreams, he knew it was always five o’clock in “Margaritaville.” His loyal fans, like followers of the Grateful Dead or Taylor Swift, all sought the “missing salt spoon.”
Sandra Day O’Connor: The First Female Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice, passed away at the age of 93, as announced by the court on December 1, 2023.
Other People Who Impacted the World
Other prominent figures also passed away in 2023, including Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein (90), global human rights activist Randall Robinson (81), military affairs analyst Daniel Ellsberg (92), breast cancer research advocate and surgeon Susan Love (75), former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Newton Minow (97), Patricia Schroeder (82), the first woman elected to the Colorado State Congress and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, Kevin Phillips (82), who helped develop the “Southern Strategy” for the Republican Party in the 1970s, Rosalyn Pope (84), who wrote “A Call for Human Rights” in 1960 and contributed to the advancement of the human rights movement, and Samuel Wurzelbacher (49), known as “Joe the Plumber,” who became a favorite among conservatives in the 2008 presidential election campaign.
Loss
The Artists Who Brightened Our Lives
We have also lost many artists who brought joy to our lives with their artistic work. Ryan O’Neal (82) passed away, the star of successful films like “Love Story,” which brought tears to viewers in 1970. Ali MacGraw said, “He was a huge part of my success due to his generosity as my co-star, and we remained friends after that.”
We also lost Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin (89), who was a reliable performer in over 100 films, including “Wait Until Dark” and “The In-Laws”; Richard Roundtree (81), who helped launch black action films with “Shaft” in 1971; Gina Lollobrigida (95), who was named “the most beautiful woman in the world”; Raquel Welch (82), who masked her sex symbol image with comedic roles; Topol (87), who starred in both the stage and film versions of “Fiddler on the Roof”; and Glenda Jackson (87), a two-time Oscar winner who went on to join the British Parliament. Jonathan Pryce from England said, “The greatest actor this country has produced.”
The “Rocky” films remind us of the tough actor Burt Young (83); David McCallum (90), the suave spy in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”; Piper Laurie (91), who appeared in “The Hustler” and “Carrie”; Stella Stevens (84), who rose to survival in “The Poseidon Adventure”; Melinda Dillon (83), featured in “A Christmas Story” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”; Lisa Loring (64), who was the sarcastic daughter in the “Addams Family” TV series; and Phyllis Coates (96), who played the brave Lois Lane in the first season of “The Adventures of Superman” on television.
We also lost game show legend Bob Barker (99), who hosted “The Price is Right” for 35 years, saying that audiences “loved me enough to invite me into their homes”; Paul Reubens (70), who was unforgettable as the children’s character Pee-wee Herman; child actor Adam Rich (54) from “Eight is Enough”; comedian Richard Belzer (78), who played the angry detective in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”; Cindy Williams (75), who was Shirley in “Laverne & Shirley”; and fitness guru Suzanne Somers (76), who was fired when she fought for equal pay on “Three’s Company.”
Loss of Actor Richard Roundtree, Known for His Role in “Shaft”
Actor Richard Roundtree, known for his role in “Shaft,” passed away on October 24, 2023, due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.
Loss of Opera and Classical Music Stars
In the world of jazz and creativity, we lost pianist Peter Nero (89), who blended jazz, classical, and pop music; saxophonist Wayne Shorter (89); Astrud Gilberto (83), the voice behind “The Girl from Ipanema”; trumpeter Curtis Fowlkes (73); pianists Ahmad Jamal (92) and George Winston (74); bassist Richard Davis (93); and experimental composer Carla Bley (87), who praised musicians “capable of surviving without major record companies.”
Loss of Classical Artists
We also lost classical pianist André Watts (77); Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (71); soprano Renata Scotto (89) and Grace Bumbry (86); modern ballet dancer Rudy Perez (93); and ballet dancers Lupi Serrano (92) and Lynn Seymour (83).
Loss of Hip Hop and Modern Music Stars
We also lost several hip hop stars, including Memphis rapper Lola Mitchell (43), known as “Gangsta Boo”; rapper Dove Shack’s Arnez Blount (52), known as “C-Bo”; David Julikour (54
Source: https://www.aol.com/died-2023-look-back-years-110435946.html
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