Actors We Lost In 2023

Because they're in the business of making entertaining and emotionally resonant films and television shows, actors seem immortal. Their art lives forever, after all — we can revisit their greatest performances long after they've passed on. But Hollywood stars really are just like the rest of us: They're not immune to the frailties of existence, and their time on Earth is limited. Actors die, and because we love their work, they're widely and deeply mourned. 

Tragically, 2023 was filled with some truly heartbreaking deaths. We said goodbye to horror stars, indie actors, and beloved comedians alike. Some who passed on were underrated actors who brought bit parts to life and used their immense talents to delight us with memorable supporting characters. Others were some of the most admired and beloved performers in the industry — stars who changed Hollywood and the world itself. Regardless of their status or international acclaim, they entertained us and moved us with their memorable on-screen work.

Updated on January 2, 2023: We lost a number of beloved performers in 2023, and we honor their lives and their work here.

Earl Boen was a consummate character actor, highly recognizable by his face, voice, and demeanor for any number of the nearly 300 projects he was involved with from the mid 1970s to the 2010s. He was probably best known for his recurring role across two decades' worth of "Terminator" movies: In the first three entries of the sci-fi franchise, Boen played persistent criminal psychologist Dr. Peter Silberman. Boen also co-starred in "Alien Nation," "9 to 5," and "My Stepmother is an Alien." On the small screen, Boen enjoyed recurring roles on "Mama's Family," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," and "Webster." He also had an illustrious career as a voice actor, contributing to animated projects like "Kim Possible," "The New Batman Adventures," "Pinky and the Brain," and "Clifford the Big Red Dog."

On January 6, 2023, TMZ reported that the character actor had died the previous day in Hawaii. A family friend told Variety that Boen had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 81.

In 1977, Adam Rich began a four-year run as Nicholas, the youngest of the eight Bradford children on "Eight is Enough." Rich went on to enjoy a number of guest roles on a variety of series, including "Silver Spoons," "St. Elsewhere," "The Love Boat," and "The Six Million Dollar Man." Tabletop role-playing game fans might also remember him from the 1980s "Dungeons & Dragons" animated series, on which he voiced the magical Presto. 

In the 1990s, celebrated author and publisher Dave Eggers recruited Rich for a massive prank: Eggers' Might magazine reported Rich's death (per The Washington Post). The seemingly posthumous tribute was so convincing, genuine news outlets attempted to jump on the story. According to TMZ, Rich died on January 7, 2023. He was 54.

Cindy Williams was an icon of 1970s entertainment. Following some due-paying with commercials and guest starring roles (according to Variety), Williams landed big parts in major movies by two of the era's most important filmmakers. She played Laurie in George Lucas' nostalgic blockbuster "American Graffiti" — earning some awards attention in the process — and portrayed Ann in Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather" follow-up, "The Conversation." 

A 1975 performance on "Happy Days" lead to Williams' most famous role: Shirley Feeney. Shirley and her friend Laverne (Penny Marshall) serve as intimidatingly older dates for the show's teenage characters. Their episode proved so popular that a "Laverne & Shirley" spin-off hit the air in 1976. By the 1977-1978 season, it was the most-watched program on television.

According to the Associated Press, Williams died on January 25, 2023, following a brief illness. She was 75.

Charles Kimbrough brought an air of dignified authority to most of the roles he played across five decades of acting. He is perhaps most famous for portraying Jim Dial on "Murphy Brown," an upright and uptight veteran anchor. That role brought Kimbrough an Emmy Award nomination in 1990. In recent decades, Kimbrough introduced his deep and serious voice to the world of cartoons, portraying characters like Victor in Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and its spin-offs, Mort Chalk in "Recess," and Dr. Ficus on "Dinosaurs." 

Said voice also helped make Kimbrough a star earlier in his career: He was a two-time Tony Award nominee for his work in big theatrical productions on Broadway. Among many notable performances, Kimbrough co-starred in "Company," "Candide," and "Sunday in the Park with George." Kimbrough also came out of retirement to reprise the role as Jim Dial on the 2018 "Murphy Brown" reboot. According to The New York Times, Kimbrough died on January 11, 2023, in Culver City, California. He was 86.

Canadian character actor George R. Robertson already had nearly two decades of acting experience before he landed his signature role in 1984: Henry Hurst, the nefarious-yet-supportive chief of police in "Police Academy." Robertson reprised the role in five sequels and the "Police Academy" TV series. This role turned out to be the middle of his long and varied career, which also included supporting roles in three films that competed for Best Picture at the Academy Awards: "Airport," "Norma Rae," and "JFK." Robertson specialized in playing stern authority figures, and was frequently cast as politicians, both real and imagined, including the president in "Senior Trip," Senator Barry Goldwater in "The Reagans," and Vice President Dick Cheney in "The Path to 9/11."

According to Legacy, Robertson died on January 29, 2023 in Toronto. He was 89.

Entering the entertainment industry in 2006, Cody Longo, also billed as Cody Anthony, became something of a teen idol. In rapid succession, he starred in two JoJo videos, the movie "Ball Don't Lie," a "Bring It On" straight-to-DVD movie, the 2009 remake of "Fame," and a TV remake of the gymnastics movie "Make It or Break It." In young adulthood, Longo landed a recurring part on "Days of Our Lives" as Nikki Alamain, and he also stood out on "Hollywood Heights" as rock star Eddie Duran. 

However, Longo's career virtually cratered following a 2020 domestic assault arrest. Then, in 2021, Longo was charged with the sexual assault of a minor, which led him to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. On February 8, 2023, police in Austin, Texas, provided a wellness check requested by Longo's wife. They found the actor dead in his bedroom. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was chronic drinking. Longo was 34 years old.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In the 1970s and 1980s, Richard Belzer established himself as a dark, acerbic, and deeply cynical wisecracker. That outsider stance, which saw him deliver unapologetic social commentary, informed many of Belzer's hosting gigs and acting roles, particularly Detective John Munch. Belzer originated the character on "Homicide: Life on the Street," and went on to  portray him on "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" until 2016. He also brought the world-weary, droll-witted, and curmudgeonly investigator to "The Wire," "30 Rock," "Arrested Development," and "Sesame Street." 

Belzer and Munch shared a cultural background, a complicated attitude about city life, and an interest in conspiracy theories. By bringing him to such vivid life, the actor became a touchstone to generations of TV-watchers. Belzer died on February 19, 2023 at his home in France. He was 78.

The '90s produced plenty of thoughtful action movies and innovative indies about the seedier aspects of American life, and Tom Sizemore was often a major part of them. After his breakthrough role as a Vietnam War-era soldier on the TV drama "China Beach" earned him widespread attention, Sizemore appeared as a DEA Agent in "Point Break," a counter-terrorism expert in "Passenger 57," a detective in "True Romance," "Natural Born Killers," and "The Relic," and a high-ranking officer in "Saving Private Ryan." His career ultimately came to encompass more than 200 roles.

Sizemore collapsed at his home in Los Angeles on February 19, 2023. It was soon determined he'd suffered a brain aneurysm. He died on March 3, at the age of 61.

There were three unique and distinct phases in the life and career of Robert Blake, an actor who started appearing in films in the late 1930s at the age of 6. Between 1939 and 1944, "Bobby Blake" portrayed Mickey in more than three dozen "Our Gang" or "Little Rascals" theatrical comic shorts. That gave way to numerous appearances as Little Beaver in "Red Ryder" movie serials and appearances on TV Westerns in the 1950s and '60s. 

After playing convicted killer Perry Smith in 1967's "In Cold Blood," Blake starred as Detective Tony Baretta on the crime drama "Baretta" from 1975 to 1978, which won him an Emmy Award. In the '80s and '90s, Blake assumed a lot of tough guy roles, retiring after a memorably creepy appearance in David Lynch's "Lost Highway" in 1997. 

Following the wind-down of his acting career, Blake would make headlines when he was arrested and tried for the 2001 murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. The salacious trial ended in an acquittal, but Blake was held liable in a civil wrongful death suit and had to pay his deceased wife's family $30 million. The Associated Press reported that Blake died at his Los Angeles home from heart disease on March 9, 2023. He was 89.

Paul Grant was an important part of multiple sci-fi and fantasy franchises — series that are still beloved to this day by multiple generations of fans. Underneath extensive makeup and costuming, he played an Ewok in "Return of the Jedi" and a member of the Goblin Corps in "Labyrinth," in which he also served as a stunt double for Hoggle. Grant also served as a stunt performer in some of the other big fantasy epics of the era, "Legend" and "Ladyhawke." Then in 2001, Grant turned in his last on-screen performance as a goblin of Gringotts bank in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

In March 2023, Grant crumpled to the ground and became unresponsive near London's King's Cross station. He was eventually taken off life support and pronounced dead on March 20, at the age of 56.

A national treasure in his home nation of Australia, Barry Humphries worked as a comedian, actor, and drag performer for decades. He's better known, however, as his drag alter ego, Dame Edna Everage, a saucy, purple-haired, older woman from the upper crust who says whatever is on her mind, often speaking truth to power and issuing withering put downs. 

In addition to portraying Dame Edna's odious rival Sir Les Patterson, Humphries appeared as his signature character in hundreds of talk shows, TV series, and movies in Australia, Europe, and the United States. For years, Dame Edna was a virtual regular on "The Tonight Show" and hosted the mock-talk show "Dame Edna's Hollywood" on NBC in the early 1990s.

Additionally, Pixar fans will recognize Humphries as the voice of Bruce the shark from "Finding Nemo," who's trying his best to view fish as friends, not food. He also voiced the Great Goblin in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Humphries was so beloved in Australia that his death was reported to the public by way of a tweet from the country's prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Humphries was 89 years old.

Gerald Castillo was likely known to most modern audiences for a couple of recurring roles on very successful 1980s daytime television programs. But he started out as a stage performer in Chicago and in a number of nationally touring productions. On the advice of co-star Sherman Hemsley, Castillo headed to Hollywood and landed small roles in "Death Wish IV," "Above Suspicion," and "Delta Force 2," as well as guest spots on "Simon and Simon," "Hill Street Blues," "Dallas," and "M*A*S*H." 

From 1992 to 1994, he earned particular distinction for playing Judge Davis Wagner on the ABC soap opera "General Hospital." Right around the same time, he portrayed Major Slater, a hard-nosed military dad on "Saved by the Bell." Castillo retired from performing in 2012 and moved to Houston, where he died at home on May 4, 2023. The actor was 90 years old.

At 8 years old, Canadian actor Samantha Weinstein entered the TV industry with a guest part on the long-running comedy "The Red Green Show." The talented voice actor worked steadily in TV series including "Gerald McBoing Boing," "Super Why," "Babar and the Adventures of Badou," "The ZhuZhus," and "Dino Ranch." Weinstein was also part of many American and Canadian live-action productions, appearing on "Being Erica," "Less Than Kind," "Alias Grace," "The Border," and "Wild Card." Some of Weinstein's most notable film work includes "Jesus Henry Christ," the Celine Dion biopic "Celine," "The Rocker," and the 2013 remake of "Carrie," where she played one of the girls who bullies the titular psychic.

In 2021, Weinstein was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive variety of ovarian cancer. Following more than two years of treatments, the actor died on May 14, 2023 at the age of 28.

After cutting his teeth with small roles on British television series in the 1990s, North Irish character actor and occasional leading man Ray Stevenson became a prolific go-to guy for producers all over the world looking to bring gravity and intensity to their action-oriented films and TV series. 

His first prominent gig came in the 2004 smash adaptation of "King Arthur," as the self-sacrificing knight Dagonet. Stevenson followed that with "Punisher: War Zone," portraying the titular vigilante in the franchise reboot. In addition to supporting roles in "The Three Musketeers," "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," and "The Book of Eli," Stevenson notably appeared in the first three MCU "Thor" films as Thor loyalist and warrior Volstagg, as well as in "Divergent" as Abnegation leader Marcus Eaton. Stevenson was heavily involved in the "Star Wars" universe, voicing Gar Saxon in multiple projects and playing Baylan Skoll in the Disney+ "Ahsoka" series. He also co-starred as soldier Titus Pullo on HBO's "Rome," played the villainous Governor Scott Buxton in the India-produced global hit "RRR," and worked alongside martial arts star Scott Adkins in the "Accident Man" series.

His publicist told Variety that the actor died in Italy on May 21, 2023. Stevenson was 58 years old.

An Army veteran and prolific stage actor, Lew Palter was nearly 40 years old before he booked his first national TV role on a 1967 episode of "Run for Your Life." In 1971, he began a four-decade run as an acting teacher at CalArts in Santa Clarita, California, and he also ran workshops around the U.S. and in Europe. Over the years, he trained notable performers like Don Cheadle, Cecily Strong, and Ed Harris. 

Palter also worked steadily as a guest performer on a variety of network TV series, with stints on "The Virginian," "Gunsmoke," "Mission: Impossible," "The Doris Day Show," "Columbo," "The Brady Bunch," "The Waltons," and "The A-Team." The actor's most significant roles were that of a Supreme Court judge in the 1981 legal drama "First Monday in October," a detective on the short-lived '70s police drama "Delvecchio," and real-life tycoon Isidor Straus in 1997's "Titanic." Remember the old man lying in his bed, holding his wife tight, as the ship filled with water? Yep, that was Palter breaking our hearts.

The actor's daughter reported that Palter died on May 21, 2023 at his Los Angeles home. He was 94.

Born Anna Mae Bullock, Tina Turner would become an iconic musician in multiple eras and earn the nickname "the Queen of Rock 'n Roll." Combining a raspy voice, a passionate performance style, and frenetic dance moves, Turner propelled the duo Ike and Tina into massive success in the 1960s and 1970s with rock-meets-soul hits like "River Deep – Mountain High," "Nutbush City Limits," and a cover of "Proud Mary." In the 1980s, Turner returned to prominence as a solo act and struck it big with "Private Dancer," "Simply the Best," and "What's Love Got to Do With It," ultimately selling 180 million albums and winning 12 Grammy Awards.

Turner was so famous, recognizable, and charismatic that Hollywood eventually beckoned. Turner took on just four film roles in her life, but all were memorable. She appeared as The Acid Queen in Tommy," gave a cameo in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," played the villainous Aunt Entity in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," and appeared as The Mayor in "Last Action Hero." Tragically, Turner's family released a statement to Rolling Stone on May 24, 2023, announcing the rock star's death at her home in Kusnacht, Switzerland. Turner's passing came after a lengthy sickness; she was 83 years old.

Fondly remembered for a string of memorable roles in 1970s cult classics, Marlene Clark left a big impression on audiences. Following her performance in the made-for-TV movie "Lost Flight" opposite then-husband Billy Dee Williams, Clark emerged as a pulp and B-movie icon, portraying a likely werewolf in "The Beast Must Die," a reptilian in "Night of the Cobra Woman," a victim in "Beware! The Blob," and a secretary in Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon." Clark's most enduring films were the 1973 Cannes hit "Ganja and Hess" and 1975's "Switchblade Sisters," in which she played a vampire and the head of a gang that kills off drug pushers, respectively. Clark also gained fame as Janet Lawson, fiancée to main character Lamont on the immensely popular 1970s sitcom "Sanford and Son." In the 1980s and 1990s, Clark moved into acting part-time, in order to run her own upscale clothing boutique and manage a restaurant.

Clark died at her Los Angeles home on May 18, 2023. No cause of death was immediately provided. The actor was 85 years old.

Across a variety of film genres and high-end theatrical productions, Glenda Jackson was among the most acclaimed actors of both her generation and the mid-20th century. A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s, Jackson portrayed Ophelia in a notable "Hamlet" staging and originated the role of Charlotte Corday in the London production of the controversial play "Marat / Sade," receiving a Tony Award nomination when the work moved to Broadway. 

Jackson then moved into film with a lead role in 1970's "Women in Love," winning her first of two Academy Awards for best actress. She'd win the other for the 1973 romantic comedy "A Touch of Class." More Oscar noms arrived for "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Hedda Gabler, with more Tony notices for "Strange Interlude" and "Macbeth."

In 1992, Jackson sidelined her extremely distinguished acting career for politics, running for and winning a seat in the U.K.'s House of Commons. She'd go on to serve as junior transport minister for the Labour Party's prime minister Tony Blair. After retiring from public service in 2015, Jackson returned to acting, portraying the titular role in a London-based "King Lear" and winning a Tony Award for "Three Tall Women."

According to a statement issued by Jackson's agent and friend Lionel Larner, the actor died at her home in the Blackheath area of London following a short period of illness. Jackson was 87.

Frequently cast in horror movies and British period pieces, Julian Sands brought intensity and gravitas to more than 150 film and television roles dating back four decades. In the 1980s and 1990s, Sands made a big impression with major roles in acclaimed films like "The Killing Fields," "A Room with a View," and "Impromptu" while also starring in scary fare like "Gothic," the "Warlock" movies, and "Arachnophobia." Along with playing in dark films like "Naked Lunch," "Boxing Helena," and the 1998 horror version of "The Phantom of the Opera," Sands segued into TV, voice acting on "Biker Mice From Mars" and "Jackie Chan Adventures" before starring as Yulish on "Banshee" and recurring on "Smallville" as Superman's father, Jor-El.

In early January 2023, Sands went hiking near Mt. Baldy in California's San Gabriel Mountains and didn't return, prompting his family to file a missing persons report. Snowstorms interrupted rescue efforts until spring 2023. On June 24, 2023, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office reported that hikers had found human remains in the area where Sands disappeared. Three days later, they were conclusively identified as those of the actor. Sands disappeared just after his 65th birthday.

A definitive icon of the mid-20th century cool, sexy French aesthetic that spread through pop culture, Jane Birkin was a singer, model, fashion figure, and actor from the 1960s onward. Born in London and coming of age during the city's "Swinging 60s," Birkin relocated to Paris where she found success as an actor and singer, particularly with her partner, French superstar Serge Gainsbourg, who she connected with on the set of the movie "Slogan." Their envelope-pushing, abundantly sensual 1969 single "Je t'aime ... moi non plus" was alternately a smash or banned around the world, but it launched a long musical career and made Birkin hugely famous. 

At the same time, she appeared in numerous edgy 1960s and 1970s movies, including "Blow-Up," "Wonderwall," "La Piscine," and "Death on the Nile." In 1984 — the same year Hermes introduced the highly-coveted Birkin bag, which was inspired by the entertainer — Birkin starred in "La Pirate," which earned her the first of three Cesar Award nominations, followed by "La Femme de ma vie" and "La Belle Noiseuse."

Birkin performed across multiple formats well into her 70s. A stroke and broken shoulder led to multiple canceled engagements in 2023, and on July 16, 2023, she died at her Paris home. Birkin was 76.

While she enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a New York theatrical actor and television performer, Inga Swenson is likely best remembered for her seven-year stint on one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1980s. After playing a character with a name similar to her own on "Soap" — Ingrid Svenson — Swenson landed a main cast role on that show's spinoff, "Benson." 

Swenson played Gretchen Kraus, the sharp-tongued cook who works in the governor's mansion alongside Robert Guillaume's titular character. "Benson" aired from 1979 to 1986, during which time Swenson picked up three Emmy Award and one Golden Globe nomination for her work. "Benson" stood out on a resume that stretched back to the early decades of TV, with appearances on "Playhouse 90," "Dr. Kildare," "Bonanza," and "Medical Center." On Broadway, Swenson received back-to-back Tony Award nominations in the 1960s for "110 In the Shade" and "Baker Street."

After half a year of worsening health issues, Swenson died of natural causes at a Los Angeles care facility on July 23, 2023. The actor was 90 years old.

While Angus Cloud attended the same Oakland performing arts school with his eventual "Euphoria" co-star Zendaya, he was working in a New York restaurant when presented with the opportunity to audition for the popular and influential HBO teen drama series. Cloud quickly became a pivotal member of the "Euphoria" ensemble cast in its first two seasons as the taciturn but emotionally complex drug dealer Fezco, a supplier to Rue (Zendaya) and love interest for Lexi (Maude Apatow). Additionally, Cloud made appearances in the films "North Hollywood" and "The Line," popped up in music videos for Juice WRLD, Becky G and Karol G, and Noah Cyrus, and was set to co-star in an anthology film and a horror movie from the makers of "Scream 6."

On the morning of July 31, 2023, the Oakland Fire Department answered an emergency call, whereupon they discovered Cloud's body. Cloud's family released a statement noting the actor's history with mental health issues and how his passing followed the death of his father by mere days. It was later confirmed that the actor had died due to an accidental overdose. Cloud was 25 years old.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Johnny Hardwick rarely appeared in front of the camera, so he's likely not as recognizable for his face as he is for his voice. He portrayed ineffectual, oblivious, chain-smoking exterminator and conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble in the animated series "King of the Hill" (and in some video game spinoffs and crossovers) for 13 years. 

When the show was in pre-production, "King of the Hill" co-creator Greg Daniels attended a comedy showcase in Los Angeles. After hearing the Austin-based Hardwick tell some funny stories about his father, he hired the comic to be part of the writing staff for the Texas-spoofing cartoon. Then Hardwick auditioned to play Dale and got the part, his first credited role on a filmography that includes numerous independent projects. He also remained on the writing staff of "King of the Hill," part of the team that won a 1999 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.

Summoned to Hardwick's Austin home on August 8 to perform a welfare check, police found the body of the actor and writer. Hardwick was 64.

A prolific actor of stage and screen with a decades-spanning career, Ron Cephas Jones earned fame and acclaim for a string of high-profile roles in popular TV series. Jones landed a recurring role on "This Is Us" as William Hill, the dying biological father of adopted triplet Randall. The part garnered Jones four outstanding guest actor in a drama nominations at the Emmys, an award he won twice. Concurrently, he portrayed Shreve Scoville on the murder mystery "Truth Be Told" and renegade hacker Romero on "Mr. Robot." Additionally, Jones popped up frequently on "Law & Order: Organized Crime," "Better Things," "The Get Down," and "Luke Cage." On the big screen, Jones co-starred in "Half Nelson," "Across the Universe," and "He Got Game."

The actor's representative reported that Jones' death was related to a long-term pulmonary issue. He was 66 years old.

While not primarily an actor, Bob Barker was an entertainer, television star, and household name. While hosting "The Bob Barker Show" in 1950 Los Angeles, he was plucked to host the television version of the popular radio game show "Truth or Consequences," a gig Barker held for 18 years. His follow-up project lasted even longer and made him a legend. In 1972, Barker hosted the first of more than reportedly 6,000 episodes of "The Price is Right." He retired in 2007, collecting 19 Emmy Awards along the way.

Thanks to "The Price is Right," the many televised pageants he hosted, and his animal rights activism, Barker became famous for being Bob Barker. He even played fictionalized, heightened versions of himself from time to time. Barker contributed cameos to "Futurama, "Yes, Dear," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Nanny," and, most famously, "Happy Gilmore." In the 1996 comedy, he memorably and thoroughly pummels Adam Sandler's character on a golf course.

Barker's publicist announced on August 26, 2023, that the game show host had died. Barker was 99.

After landing breakthrough roles in '60s classics "The Great Escape" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (he played Judas in that biblical epic), David McCallum enjoyed a long and illustrious career, bookended by playing major characters on two era-defining TV series about intelligence agents. In the James Bond-influenced 1964 spy series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," McCallum played elite secret agent Illya Kuryakin, who, along with Robert Vaughn's Solo, waged weekly war around the world against the nefarious T.H.R.U.S.H. McCallum would reprise the role in multiple TV projects along with the big-screen "U.N.C.L.E." offshoots "One Spy Too Many," "One of Our Spies is Missing," and "The Karate Killers." Then, in 2003, McCallum co-starred on "NCIS" as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, a veteran criminal profiler and provider of low-key comic relief.

McCallum died of natural causes in New York City on September 25, 2023. He was 90 years old.

Before he popped up on TV throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s, Dick Butkus was among the most dominant linebackers in the NFL. From 1965 to 1973, the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee set league records in recovered fumbles, was named Defensive Player of the Year twice, and was named to the NFL's 100th anniversary squad. 

Butkus parlayed his image as a tough guy on the field into an acting career in action-heavy projects. Following an appearance as himself in the 1971 football-based TV movie "Brian's Song," while still an active player, Butkus booked guest spots on "Wonder Woman," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Police Story," "MacGyver," "Emergency!," and "Simon and Simon." In the mid-1980s, Butkus starred on the quickly-canceled helicopter-centric police show "Blue Thunder" and was cast in a long-running, sports-focused campaign for Miller Lite beer. He's probably best known for his roles on sitcoms for kids, such as a former football player who runs a hangout restaurant on "My Two Dads," and a high school basketball coach on "Hang Time."

Butkus' family announced on social media that he had died in his sleep on October 5, 2023. He was 80 years old.

Portraying an iconic comic book character is an opportunity afforded to few actors, and it's even rarer to originate the on-screen depiction of that entity. Phyllis Coates was the very first actor to ever play Lois Lane from the "Superman" comics, both in film and on television. After performing in vaudeville and USO shows and scoring bit parts in 1940s movies like "Girls Don't Talk" and "My Foolish Heart," Coates landed the part of Superman's love interest and Clark Kent's colleague in the 1951 movie "Superman and the Mole Men." In 1952, the film was adapted into the syndicated television show "Adventures of Superman." Coates portrayed Lois Lane in Season 1 only, and would go on to act in more than 100 movies and TV series, including "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein," "The Lone Ranger," "Perry Mason," and "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," as Lois Lane's mother.

Coates died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in southern California on October 11, 2023, of natural causes. The actor was 96.

A quintessential 20th century TV star, Suzanne Somers launched her career with a memorable bit role as an anonymous, ethereal woman in a white Thunderbird in George Lucas's 1973 smash "American Graffiti." Four years later, she landed the role that made her famous: The comically dumb Chrissy Snow, one of three roommates on the ribald ABC hit "Three's Company." Slowly written out of the show after asking for a salary increase, Somers resurfaced on the mid-1980s syndicated sitcom "She's the Sheriff" before landing another lead role on long-running ABC comedy "Step by Step." But throughout the 1990s, Somers was more visible for a different TV gig: being the on-air pitch-person for the ThighMaster exercise gadget. Somers and her husband and manager Alan Hamel ultimately bought the rights to the ThighMaster, an endeavor that earned them an estimated $300 million.

According to a statement Somers' publicist shared with People, the actor and entrepreneur was diagnosed with breast cancer more than 20 years ago. On October 15, 2023, a day before her 77th birthday, Somers died at home, surrounded by family.

Richard Roundtree was a working actor for more than 50 years, appearing in the film "Moving On" and the TV series "Cherish the Day" and "Family Reunion" all in 2022. But he was forever associated with and best loved for his very first movie role, the title character in 1971's "Shaft." In what would be remembered as the quintessential entry in the "blaxploitation" genre, Roundtree portrayed the extremely cool detective John Shaft in the original movie, as well as in the sequels "Shaft's Big Score!" and "Shaft in Africa," a "Shaft" TV series, and 2000 and 2019 franchise reboots. Roundtree, a Golden Globe winner for most promising newcomer for "Shaft," also popped up in epics like "Inchon," comedies including "What Men Want" and "George of the Jungle," the landmark miniseries "Roots," and, more recently, TV projects like "Desperate Housewives" and "Being Mary Jane."

On October 24, 2023, Roundtree died due to pancreatic cancer. The actor was 81.

From the late 1980s until the early 1990s, Matthew Perry was almost constantly on television, showing up in episodes of sitcoms including "Charles in Charge," "Silver Spoons," and "Empty Nest." He even starred on one of the first ever Fox shows, "Boys Will Be Boys," and guested for a dramatic arc on "Growing Pains." 

Of course, in 1994, Perry became one of the most famous people in the world as part of the era-definitive comedy "Friends." He played the funny, quippy, commitment-averse Chandler Bing, a character he would inhabit for a decade and that would earn him an Emmy nomination. After "Friends" wrapped in 2004, Perry continued to appear on TV in high-profile projects like "The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Go On," a remake of "The Odd Couple," and "Mr. Sunshine," a cynical sitcom he co-created. Perry last appeared onscreen in 2017 — not counting 2021's "Friends: The Reunion" – but he generated a lot of media attention in 2022 for his tell-all memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," which detailed his long and harrowing history of addiction. 

On October 28, 2023, TMZ reported that authorities responded to a cardiac arrest emergency at a Los Angeles home, where Perry was discovered deceased in a hot tub. In December 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Perry had died due to "the acute effects of ketamine," which led to cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. Officials also listed drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine as contributing factors. Perry was 54.

Following an auspicious early role as the younger version of iconic soap character Luke Spencer on "General Hospital" in 2001, child actor Evan Ellingson landed a recurring role as the child version of comedian Christopher Titus in flashback sequences in the dark, early 2000s Fox sitcom "Titus." From there, Ellingson moved on to a main cast role, as Kyle Savage on the 2004-2005 ABC comedy "Complete Savages," followed by a 10-episode stint on "24" as Josh Bauer, nephew of Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer. 

However, Ellingson is likely best known for a recurring arc on "CSI: Miami" as Kyle Harmon, the teenage son of main character Horatio Caine, or as Jesse Fitzgerald, the teenage son of Cameron Diaz's character in the big-screen drama "My Sister's Keeper." After appearing in 18 episodes of "CSI: Miami," Ellingson left acting behind. On November 5, 2023 — per a statement from Ellingson's father to TMZ — the former actor was found dead in a bedroom at a sober living facility in San Bernardino County, California, where he'd been living as a boost to his recovery from substance addiction abuse issues. Ellingson was 35 years old.

Suzanne Shepherd spent decades helping countless actors reach their full artistic potential on both the stage and screen, in addition to appearing in film and television herself. When not directing plays at major theatrical outfits across the United States or performing her own roles, Shepherd ran and taught at her eponymous acting studio in New York City, depicted in the yet-to-be released documentary "A Gift of Fire." 

Not until her mid-50s did Shepherd move in front of the camera, landing a role in the 1988 Julia Roberts romantic comedy "Mystic Pizza." She quickly signed up for supporting roles in "Uncle Buck" and "Working Girl" before appearing as the mother of Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco's character) in the mob drama "Goodfellas." Soon thereafter, Shepherd played a part in a similar project, appearing as the mother of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) on HBO's "The Sopranos." Apart from those milestone roles, Shepherd appeared in "Jacob's Ladder," "Requiem for a Dream," "A Dirty Shame," "Blue Bloods," and three "Law and Order" series.

The actor, teacher, and director died on November 17, 2023 at her New York City home, according to her agent. She was 89 years old.

In the 1980s and beyond, Frances Sternhagen became the go-to actor to play the mom of well-established television characters. She had a recurring, Emmy Award-nominated role on "Cheers" as Esther Clavin, the seldom-pleased mother of doting mama's boy Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger), and another on "ER" as Millicent Carter, the grandmother of Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle). On "Sex and the City," she received another Emmy nomination for her work as Bunny MacDougal, uptight mother-in-law to Charlotte (Kristin Davis). Sternhagen also popped up often on police drama "The Closer" as Willie Rae Johnson, imposing mom of detective Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick). 

The storied actor landed 70-plus supporting roles on TV and in movies — including classic horror movies "Misery" and "The Mist" — but before and concurrently to her screen work, she was also a significant theatrical star. The two-time Tony Award winner appeared in major Broadway productions of "The Skin of Our Teeth," "A Doll's House," and "Long Day's Journey Into Night."

Sternhagen's son, actor John Carlin, announced on Instagram that his mother died on November 27, 2023. She was six weeks away from turning 94 years old.

Before he was an actor, Benjamin Zephaniah was a poet and a musician. Leaving school at 13, Zephaniah published the first of his many books of poetry at age 22. He worked in the musically adjacent field of Jamaican dub poetry and performed his works live with The Benjamin Zephaniah Band. 

After an impressive start in the literary world, Zephaniah started getting TV and film roles in the early 1990s. After appearing in the movie "Farendj" and on episodes of long-running U.K. series "EastEnders" and "The Bill," he scored the role of Jeremiah Jesus on the internationally popular crime drama "Peaky Blinders." Zephaniah portrayed the street preacher and World War I veteran in 14 episodes.

Tragically, ight weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Zephaniah died on December 7, 2023. The actor and writer was 65 years old.

After serving in the Army and working as a police officer in his early decades, David McKnight got his first acting role in 1970. It came on the Chicago TV series "Bird of the Iron Feather," the first soap opera with an all-Black cast. This led to his portrayal of the titular character in the cult horror favorite "J.D.'s Revenge," in which he played a dead criminal who inhabits the body of a young college student to hunt down his murderer. When struggling director Robert Townsend started making the low-budget show business comedy "Hollywood Shuffle," he sought out McKnight for advice, then cast him in a major role as Uncle Ray. Townsend then gave McKnight the role of Pastor Stone in "The Five Heartbeats" and asked him to play his father on his '90s sitcom "The Parent 'Hood." McKnight also guest-starred on many TV shows, including "Moonlighting," "Roc," "227," "L.A. Law" and "Kojak," as well as films like "Under Siege" and "Pump up the Volume."

The actor died on December 3, 2023 in Las Vegas. The cause of death was cancer. McKnight was 87 years old.

Widely acclaimed as one of the most talented and craft-devoted actors of his generation, Andre Braugher dazzled audiences with major TV roles over the course of the past 30 years. Following breakout roles in the Civil War epic "Glory" and a series of "Kojak" TV movies in 1989, Braugher — a graduate of Stanford and Juilliard — portrayed Baltimore homicide detective Frank Pembleton on the acclaimed NBC police drama "Homicide: Life on the Street." That role landed Braugher his first Emmy Award, for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. 

After receiving an Emmy nomination for the short-lived medical drama "Gideon's Crossing," Braugher won again for the limited series "Thief" before demonstrating his range (and picking up more nominations) by starring on the dramedy "Men of a Certain Age." When that series concluded, Braugher loomed large over the wacky police comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," where he portrayed the hilariously taciturn Captain Raymond Holt

According to Braugher's publicist, the actor died on December 11, 2023. It was later revealed that the cause of death was lung cancer. He was 61 years old.

A consummate and prolific character actor, James McCaffrey scored more than 100 acting roles over a career that began with a bit part in the 1987 sex comedy "New York's Finest." After a few more supporting gigs, McCaffrey landed a prominent supporting role as Joe Astor in the 1994-1999 syndicated action drama "Viper." A couple of years later, he'd first portray what's probably his signature role as rogue, vengeance-minded detective Max Payne in the video game "Max Payne." 

McCaffrey would reprise the voice performance in "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne" and "Max Payne 3" while continuing to appear in indie movies and on television series. Notably, he starred on FX's "Rescue Me" as ghostly New York City firefighter Jimmy Keefe, as Ryan Huntley on ABC's primetime soap "Revenge," and as Danton Phillips on Netflix's Spike Lee adaptation "She's Gotta Have It." On December 17, 2023, McCaffrey, diagnosed with myeloma — a form of cancer that affects the blood — died at home in Larchmont, New York. The actor was 65.

Apart from many theatrical roles and appearances on popular British television series spanning more than 50 years, Richard Franklin is likely most familiar to viewers in the U.S. and the U.K. from his work in two science fiction franchises. 

After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Franklin made his first TV appearance in 1969, with a role on the serial "Crossroads," before landing the recurring major role of Captain Mike Yates on the Jon Pertwee era of "Doctor Who" in the 1970s. Franklin popped up on 42 episodes of the series and also reprised the character in audio works and wrote a "Doctor Who" spinoff novel "The Killing Stone" about the military figure. After putting in stints on "Emmerdale," "The Doctors," and "Blake's 7," Franklin was cast as Sirro Argonne, a Death Star engineer, in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

Franklin died sometime in the early morning of December 25, 2023, following a lengthy period of illness, his family said in a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter. The screen and theatrical performer was 87 years old.

In the English-speaking world, Lee Sun-kyun is probably most recognizable for his role as Park Dong-ik, the well-off owner of the palatial home in 2019's "Parasite," which won the Academy Award for best picture — the first foreign-language film ever to do so. Apart from "Parasite," Lee was a mainstay of the Korean film and television industry, with a career going back two decades. Primarily working in episodic television, Lee co-starred on series like "Loveholic," "Pasta," "Behind the White Tower," "Golden Time," "Miss Korea," "Diary of a Prosecutor," "Payback," and "Dr. Brain." The latter nabbed Lee a nomination for best performance by an actor at the International Emmy Awards in 2022.

In his persona life, things were more complicated. Lee was thoroughly questioned multiple times in a 2023 South Korean government drug-busting campaign, and the actor claimed he was coerced into ingesting illegal substances as part of a blackmail plot. After a missing persons report was filed on his behalf, Lee was discovered dead in his car on December 27, with authorities initially ruling the cause of death to be suicide. The actor was 48.

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Annie Wersching was a prolific actress, booking roles on dozens of TV shows throughout the 2000s, along with work in the original "The Last of Us" video game. Wersching earned particular acclaim for her performances as Julia Brasher on "Bosch," the Borg Queen on "Star Trek: Picard," and Emma Whitmore on "Timeless." She further distinguished herself by appearing in a number of fiercely beloved sci-fi, action, and fantasy television series: Her first-ever credit comes from an episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise," and she later popped up on series like "Angel," "Charmed," "Supernatural," and "Revolution." 

Viewers might also remember Wersching from "The Vampire Diaries," on which she played wicked vampire family matriarch Lily Salvatore, or "24," which saw her portray FBI agent Renee Walker. Wersching also portrayed duplicitous cult leader Leslie Dean on the Marvel series "Runaways." According to Deadline, doctors diagnosed Wersching with cancer in 2020. She passed away on January 29, 2023, at the age of 45.