From the comedic genius of Bob Saget and Louie Anderson to the on-screen gangster stars Paul Sorvino and Tony Sirico, the world lost remarkable talents in 2022.
Now, it is time to remember these celebrities and more for the joy they brought to the entertainment industry.
Estelle Harris
Actress Estelle Harris, aka Seinfeld’s Estelle Costanza and Toy Story’s Mrs. Potato Head, will be sorely missed for her comedic talent and iconic shrill voice.
Harris’ final film role was in the 2019 animated movie Toy Story 4.
Taylor Hawkins
An iconic talent, Taylor Hawkins was the drummer for the rock band the Foo Fighters from 1999 until 2021. His talents even captured the eyes and ears of legendary rockstar Alanis Morissette, whom he toured with before joining the Foo Fighters.
In 2021, Hawkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band.
Tony Sirico
Tony Sirico was known for his numerous gangster roles, including that of Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri in the hit series The Sopranos.
Amazingly, Sirico only took up the iconic role because producer David Chase promised his character would not “become a rat.”
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd was one of the ladies in the country music group The Judds. The other was her daughter.
The duo became very popular, eventually going on to win five Grammy Awards.
Louie Anderson
Stand-up comedian Louie Anderson was known for his sitcom The Louie Show. But it was his stage presence that had people like Dennis Miller going to see him.
Miller said about Anderson, “[he’s] one of the lightest on his feet comedians I know. There are very few guys I’m going to leave my dressing room early (to watch).”
Nichelle Nichols
While Nichelle Nichols was a singer and dancer, she is arguably best known for her performance as Nyota Uhura in the television series and film Star Trek.
She will also be remembered for promoting NASA programs, namely to women.
Paul Herman
Paul Herman had an extensive career prior to his passing in 2022.
Film viewers will remember him as Randy in Silver Linings Playbook, Peter “Beansie” Gaeta in The Sopranos, and Whispers DiTullio in The Irishman.
William Hurt
William Hurt is one of those special actors who not only won an Academy Award for Best Actor but also a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor, showing his skills on both the screen and stage.
The two awards were for his performances in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Hurlyburly, respectively.
Olivia Newton-John
The world was heartbroken when the news that Olivia Newton-John would no longer be around.
Her angelic singing voice and iconic roles in films such as Grease are timeless and will never be forgotten.
Mike Hagerty
Comedic actor Mike Hagerty was known for portraying a wide variety of characters that had one thing in common — they were all blue-collar workers.
While he was never a leading man, one of Hagerty’s most well-known characters was the building superintendent, Mr. Treeger, in the sitcom Friends.
Sally Kellerman
Actress Sally Kellerman had a career spanning over 60 years. Some of her most iconic performances was that of Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the 1970s film M*A*S*H.
Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination.
James Caan
A four-time Golden Globe Award winner, a two-time Emmy Award Winner, and an Academy Award winner, James Cann made the most of his amazing career.
Cann broke through the industry with his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather trilogy and went on to star in films such as Brian’s Song, Cinderella Liberty, and Chapter Two.
Bob Saget
Comedian and actor Bob Saget was the “television dad” of the 1990s, thanks to his role as Danny Tanner in the sitcom Full House.
Aside from television, Saget had an iconic career as a stand-up comedian specializing in adult humor.
Scott Hall, Aka Razor Ramon
Coming in a six-feet and seven inches, Scott Hall, known by his ring name, Razor Ramon, was a World Champion Wrestler and went on to become seven-time WCW World Tag Team Champion.
In 2014, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Gilbert Gottfried
The eccentric shrill voice of comedian Gilbert Gottfried is going to be sorely missed.
Thankfully, it lives on in characters such as Iago from the Disney animated movie Aladdin, the Aflac Duck, and even Kraang in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
André Leon Talley
André Leon Talley was not only the editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, a fashion journalist, or a judge of America’s Next Top Model but also the stylist for some top names in Hollywood.
Talley was known to work with Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, and Naomi Campbell.
Sidney Poitier
A leading man, Sidney Poitier, was a force on the screen and stage during his career.
Many people will remember this man for his dramatic performances in A Raisin in the Sun, A Patch of Blue, and lilies of the Field. The latter earned Poitier an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Peter Bogdanovich
Considered a “New Hollywood” director, Peter Bogdanovich paved his way in Tinsel Town with the release of his film The Last Picture Show. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations.
While he did not win an Oscar for the film, Bogdanovich won numerous others during his career, including a Grammy Award for Best Music Film.
Kirstie Alley
Known for her iconic role as Rebecca Howe in the popular sitcom Cheers, Kirstie Alley was a comedic actor people couldn’t get enough of.
Fans also might recognize her from the 1995 It Takes Two where she starred alongside Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Michael Aday, Aka Meat Loaf
Powerful, lively, and theatrical, Michael Aday, aka Meat Loaf, knew how to put on a show.
One of the best-selling artists of all time, Aday’s Bat out of Hell trilogy became some of the best-selling albums in history.
Leslie Jordan
Actor and comedian Leslie Jordan will be remembered for his numerous television characters.
Not only is he the mastermind behind the Emmy Award-winning character of Beverly Leslie on Will & Grace, but he also played various characters throughout the American Horry Story anthology.
Tony Dow
While Tony Dow was in numerous on-screen projects during his career, he will arguably be most remembered for his role as Wally Cleaver in the sitcom Leave it to Beaver.
As a fun fact, during his youth, Dow was also a Junior Olympic diving champion.
Anne Heche
Anne Heche was an actress known for her portrayal of twins Vicky and Marley in the soap opera Another World. It was her big break and earned Heche her first Daytime Emmy Award.
Heche went on to win numerous other awards during her career, including two Soap Opera Digest Awards.
Ray Liotta
While actor Ray Liotta was a man of many genres during his career, most people probably remember him as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams and Henry Hill in Goodfellas.
In one of his final projects, Liotta went back to his inner gangster to portray Aldo “Hollywood Dick” Moltisanti and Salvatore “Sally” Moltisanti in the Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.
Robbie Coltrane
Soccitsh actor Robbie Coltrane will be remembered as the man who brought one of the most magical characters to life on the silver screen — Rubeus Hagrid.
Coltrane portrayed the half-giant throughout the Harry Potter franchise.
Loretta Lynn
Country singer Loretta Lynn had a career in the music industry that lasted over six decades. She released hit songs such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “One’s on the Way,” and “Fist City.”
Her talent got Lynn nominated for a Grammy Award a whopping 18 times. She won three.
Artis Ivey Jr., Aka Coolio
A rapper and producer, Artis Ivey Jr., better known as Coolio, was a man of many talents.
Fans will best remember him as the man who came up with the Kenan & Kel theme song “Aw, Here it Goes!” and songs such as “Gangsters Paradise,” “Fantastic Voyage,” and “C U When U Get There.”
Howard Hesseman
While actor Howard Hesseman had film credits under his belt, he will arguably be remembered for his numerous television roles.
One of his most iconic TV roles was that of burned-out disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Robert Morse
A stage and screen actor, Robert Morse went on to win numerous awards during his illustrious career.
Some of the awards include two Tony Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Mad Men.
Paul Sorvino
Whether he was playing a character on the wrong side of the law or the one catching bad guys, actor Paul Sorvino always understood the assignment.
He is best known for his roles in Goodfellas, Law & Order, and Bloodbrothers.
Ivan Reitman
Film lovers have a lot to thank screenwriter and director Ivan Reitman for, including Ghostbusters, Space Jam, and his breakthrough comedy Animal House.
Reitman’s final film project was the 2021 movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
Peter Robbins
While many people might not know the face of Peter Robbins, they definitely know his voice!
Robbin’s soared to national fame in the 1960s when he became the first person to voice the iconic character of Charlie Brown.
Gaspard Ulliel
French actor Gaspard Ulliel was about to hit it big time when he got into a fatal skiing accident in 2022.
He was portraying Anton Mogart in the Marvel television series Moon Knight.
Traci Braxton
Traci Braxton was all over the entertainment industry, starting her career as a singer before moving on to reality television in Braxton Family Values.
Her final project was a feature in the Candiace song “Stay With Me.”
Betty Davis
Funk diva Betty Davis didn’t care what people thought of her music, just that she was making it and having fun.
Davis will be remembered as having the “gritty, emotional realism of Tina Turner, the futurist fashion sense of David Bowie, and the trendsetting flair of Miles Davis.”
Bobby Rydell
In the 1960s, Bobby Rydell was a teen idol, bringing the world rock and pop music with his addicting voice.
Some of his most notable songs are “Wild Ones,” “Volare,” and “Wildwood Days.”
Emilio Delgado
Sesame Street won’t be the same without Emilio Delgado. The actor joined the cast in 1971, becoming the Fix-It shop owner Luis.
The show was Delgado’s biggest project, being part of the cast from 1971 until 2016.
Ronnie Spector
Considered the “original bad girl of rock and roll,” Ronnie Spector was a singer who co-founded and fronted the band the Ronettes.
The group had a string of massive hits in the 1960s, including “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up,” “Be My Baby,” and “Walking in the Rain.”
Douglas Trumbull
The film industry would not have progressed as it has without the help of Douglas Trumbull’s genius.
A special effects master, Trumbull is credited with the development of the slit-can photography process.
Monica Vitti
“The Queen of Italian cinema,” Monica Vitti is known for her numerous starring roles in Michelangelo Antonioni films throughout the 1960s.
Some of her most popular works include La Notte, L’Avventura, and L’Eclisse.
Fred Ward
Actor Fred Ward will be remembered for his diverse roles in both film and television.
Some of his most notable performances include John Anglin in Escape from Alcatraz, Corporal Lonnie Reece in Southern Comfort, and Archibald ‘Biscuits’ Toue in Swing Shift.
Jean-Luc Godard
A pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, Jean-Luc Godard was a skilled screenwriter, director, and even a film critic.
He will be remembered for his experimentation with camerawork, sound, and narrative.
Moses J. Moseley
While Moses J. Moseley didn’t have the longest resume, he was still a part of some pretty high-profile projects.
Viewers might remember Moseley as Walker / Mike / Pet Walker in The Walking Dead.
DJ Kay Slay
Known as “Hip Hop’s One-Man Ministry of Insult,” Keith Grayson, known as DJ Kay Slay, released four studio albums before passing away in 2022.
His albums include The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, The Champions: North Meets South, and More Than Just A DJ.
Pat Carroll
Actress Pat Carroll was an Emmy Award, Grammy Award, and Drama Desk Award Winner, showing how talented she was during her career.
Most people will remember Carroll as the evil sea witch Ursula in The Little Mermaid, a role she went on to say was one of her favorites.
