Stars We Lost In 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, it is a perfect time to reflect on the year, and more importantly, remember those who we lost this year. Every year we lose a good amount of stars, and even though we didn't know them personally, it still hurts to lose someone who may have been a big part of our lives in other ways. Whether you watched them growing up or you listened to their songs that now give you nostalgia, losing a celebrity who had an impact on you can feel just like losing a loved one. Some of us get so caught up in our day-to-day that we may miss the news of a celebrity who has passed, so in honor of their memory, here is a list of 50 stars we lost in 2022. 

Bob McGrath was best known for being one of the longest-running human characters in Sesame Street and also an original cast member. He died on Dec. 4th at the ripe age of 90, so he lived a long and healthy life. 

Julia Reichert was a remarkable filmmaker known for her award-winning documentary, American Factory. She died of cancer on Dec. 1st, at the age of 76. Julia studied filmmaking at Antioch College in Yellow Springs. She also co-founded a documentary distribution company called New Day Films. 

Henke was an NFL star before he made the transition to acting. As an actor, he’s best known for portraying a prison guard in Orange Is the New Black. As an NFL star, he played for the Denver Broncos and made an appearance in Super Bowl XXIV. 

Freddie Roman made a name for himself as a standup comedian on the famous Borscht Belt. He’d gotten his start at 15 when he got to emcee for the Crystal Spring Hotel owned by his relatives. 

Irene Cara was a New York City-born singer and performer, and Oscar award winner known for performing remarkable theme songs for movies like Flashdance and Fame. Unfortunately, she died in her sleep in her Florida home at 63. 

Wilko Johnson was a British rocker associated with the Dr. Feelgood band and an actor on Game of Thrones. On Nov. 21st, he died at age 75 after he’d been diagnosed with cancer about 10 years ago and had found inspiration to release new songs from that. 

As the original stuntman for Michael Myers in the 1978 film Halloween, James Winburn got to famously rock the slasher’s mask. He was a standout stuntman that helped simplify the most difficult scenes in the movie, including when he fell off a balcony because he got shot several times by Dr. Samuel Loomis. 

Jason David Frank was a mixed martial artist and actor known for his role in the original Power Rangers. Frank played the role of Tommy Oliver, the Green and White Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and quickly became a fan favorite for it. 

As the owner and founder of The Improv, the announcement of Budd Friedman’s death on Nov. 12th as a result of heart failure sent shockwaves around the industry. In 1963, Friedman launched The Improv in New York, and he gradually expanded the franchise to about 22 clubs in 12 states. 

Even in death, Kevin Conroy remains one of the most remarkable actors to voice and play the role of Batman. He died after a fight with cancer on Nov. 10th. Kevin studied at the Juilliard School, where he honed his voice-acting skills. 

Jeff Cook was a famous guitarist, and one of the inaugural members of the country rock group Alabama. After taking up music at a young age in his native Fort Payne, Alabama, he co-founded Alabama with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. 

Phillips was a legendary English comedy actor until he died on Nov. 7th, aged 98. He will be remembered for his role in Carry On, and for voicing the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter franchise. Phillips’ legendary career began in the 1930s, and he’s since appeared in over 200 movies, TV shows, and radio projects. 

Herrin was a former actress and Playboy playmate that played the role of the Dream Ghost in the original Ghostbusters movie. Throughout her illustrious career, she got to grace the covers of different magazines, and she was also featured in a handful of movie projects like Road House, Romancing the Stone, and Beverly Hills Cop II. 

Jerry Lee Lewis was a piano music legend that helped create the image of the larger-than-life rock star while also creating rock & roll. In 1956, Lewis began to record for the Sun Records label, and he got to hang with generational talents like Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley while he was at it. 

Jules Bass was a director, composer, and producer best known for creating the evergreen and beloved stop-motion picture Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He also delivered projects like Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town and Frosty the Snowman. Bass directed and co-produced remarkable projects like The Little Drummer Boy, Pinocchio’s Christmas, and Mad Monster Party. 

Aaron Carter was a beloved singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer who touched the hearts of millions around the world. Sadly, on November 5th, he passed away at the age of 34. A toxicology report was done to determine the cause of death but no causes have been stated.

As an actor, Robert Brown was best known for his role on ABC's series Here Comes the Brides. The New Jersey native was on course to play the role of Det. Steve McGarrett before that plan was axed and Jack Lord was made to play the lead role. 

John Hartman was the original drummer of the legendary rock group called the Doobie Brothers. He died at age 72, and his band described him as a great showman, great drummer, and wild spirit. He was also described as an intricate part of the band's personality. 

PnB Rock, whose real name was Rakim Hasheem Allen, was fatally shot during a robbery on Sept. 12th. The Philadelphia native was 30 and he’d signed a deal with Atlantic Records in 2015 after which he became famous on the back of solid singles like "Selfish." 

The monarch of the United Kingdom and its 15 other Commonwealth realms, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Sept. 8th, aged 96. She was the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the UK. 

David A. Arnold was an actor, showrunner, writer, and comedian known for creating That Girl Lay Lay, a Nickelodeon series. Arnold was a Cleveland native and experienced stand-up comic that had lots of hilarious opinions about marriage and life in general. 

Peter Straub was an accomplished author that created remarkable supernatural fiction stories like Ghost Story, The Talisman, and Julia. He wrote both Black House and The Talisman along with his close friend Stephen King. 

Joe E. Tata was an actor known for portraying the approachable Peach Pit diner owner, Nat Bussichio on Beverly Hills, 90210. He played the role of Nat for the entire run of Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 2000. 

Denise Dowse was a veteran actress known for portraying therapist Rhonda Pine on Insecure and Vice Principal Yvonne Teasley on Beverly Hills, 90210. She died on Aug. 13th after falling into a meningitis-induced coma at age 64. 

Wolfgang Petersen was an Oscar-nominated German filmmaker that became famous thanks to his World War II drama Das Boot, which had some technically accurate set pieces. Wolfgang Petersen died on Aug. 12th aged 81 due to pancreatic cancer. 

Anne Heche was an actress that rose to fame thanks to the soap opera Another World, and a couple of appearances in movies such as Wag the Dog, My Friend Dahmer, and Six Days, Seven Nights. After being involved in a scary car crash in Los Angeles on Aug. 5th, she died at 53. 

Mosley’s most famous performance was as Theodore T.C. Calvin, the helicopter pilot on the ‘80s hit show Magnum P.I. He died on Aug. 7th, aged 83 after sustaining injuries from a car accident. His acting career started in 1971 when he appeared in Gordon Parks’ Leadbelly, which was inspired by the life of Huddie Ledbetter, the folk singer. 

Roseanna Christiansen became famous after playing the role of the Ewings’ maid on 112 episodes of Dallas, a prime-time soap opera. She died at the Antelope Valley Medical Center on July 14th, aged 71. 

Nichelle Nichols was a legendary actor that will be forever remembered for breaking a major race barrier to become the star of the 1960s sci-fi series Star Trek. She died on July 30th, aged 89 in Silver City, New Mexico due to heart failure. 

David Warner was a prolific actor with a legendary career that spanned voice work, stage acting, TV, and film. He was known for contributing to movies like Tron, The Omen, and Titanic before he died on July 24th after a hard-fought battle with cancer. 

James Caan was the star of many well-received movies like Elf and The Godfather, where he portrayed Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 movie, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 

Joe Turkel was a talented character actor that made a name for himself with roles in Blade Runner and The Shining. He died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on June 27th, aged 94. 

Brad Johnson was a terrific actor best known for his role on the Fox series Melrose Place and Steven Spielberg’s Always. He died on Feb. 18th in Forth Worth, Texas at 62 from a COVID-related illness. 

George Shapiro was a famous producer and talent manager that represented comedy stars like Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld, and uncle Carl Reiner until he died of natural causes on May 26th, he was 91. He co-founded Shapiro/West & Associates, an entertainment firm with which Shapiro executive-produced TV shows, documentaries, and specials like Seinfeld. 

Bo Hopkins was a beloved legendary actor that appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows like American Graffiti and The Wild Bunch. He died on May 28th at 84 after suffering a heart attack earlier in the month. 

With a face that even casual movie fans can recognize, Ray Liotta was a famous actor known for being the star of Goodfellas and other well-received movies. He died in his sleep on May 26th while filming a project in the Dominican Republic. He wasn’t even 70 when he passed. 

John Aylward was a veteran screen and stage actor known for his roles on The West Wing and ER. The Seattle native died on May 16th at the age of 75 from natural causes.

Fred Ward was a veteran actor known for his role in a diverse selection of movies. He died on May 8th at 79, and his cause of death wasn’t disclosed by his family. In his life, Ward was featured in movies like Miami Blues, Tremors, and the historical drama, The Right Stuff. 

Rapper Takeoff, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, has sadly passed away at the age of 28. He was shot outside of a bowling alley in Houston, Texas around 2:30 AM. The incident occurred as Quavo was playing dice with a group of men and an argument broke out. 

Kirstie Alley, the beloved actress and comedian, sadly passed away at the age of 71. The death was confirmed by her children on Dec. 5th, after her short battle with colon cancer. 

DJ Jay Slay was a talented hip-hop disc jockey and record executive that rose to fame as a graffiti artist under the famous moniker Drama King. He died as a result of COVID-19 complications on April 17th, aged 55. 

Rae Allen was a talented actress known for remarkable supporting roles in projects like A League of Their Own and The Sopranos. She died of natural causes on April 6th, aged 95. Allen had her first major movie role in the 1958 baseball comedy Damn Yankees, which turned out to be an Oscar-nominated project. 

Estelle Harris was a talented actress known for her role as sitcom mom Estelle Constanza on Seinfeld. She died from natural causes on April 2nd, aged 93. Harris’s career began in the 1970s, and she got to star in multiple radio and TV commercials before making her way to the set of shows like Law and Order, Brooklyn Bridge, and Night Court. 

Paul Herman’s role as club owner Peter Gaeta on The Sopranos is by far his most memorable role, although he’s also known for starring in movies like The Irishman and Goodfellas. He died on March 29th at the age of 76 and his cause has yet to still be announced. 

John Stahl was a remarkable Scottish actor best known for his role as Richard Karstark on HBO’s Game of Thrones. He died on the Scottish Isle of Lewis on March 2nd, at the age of 68 due to a brain tumor.

Ivan Reitman is best known for directing Ghostbusters and for producing two David Cronenberg movies in the mid-70s. He died in his sleep on Feb. 12th, aged 75. He rose to fame after working on Animal House, the highest-grossing comedy ever when it was released. 

Betty Davis was a fierce entertainer whose songwriting and singing served as an inspiration to countless performers that came after her. She died on Feb. 9th, aged 65. Davis attended the New York Fashion Institute of Technology, and she worked for Wilhelmina as a model after graduating from the Institute. 

Maria Ewing was a famous opera singer, and she’s also the mother of actress Rebecca Hall. She died on Jan. 9th, aged 71. Maria was the youngest Ewing born to her white Dutch mother and African-American father. In 1976, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. 

Bob Saget was an actor and comedian that became famous after portraying Danny Tanner on Full House. He’s also remembered for hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos.