Top 10 Saddest Deaths of 2023

The Top Ten

Tina Turner

Tina Turner, née Anna Mae Bullock, was a singer, dancer, actress, and author whose career spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards. She was known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. Turner sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won eight Grammy Awards... read more

Another huge loss for music: the one and only Queen of Rock and Roll! She had some of the most powerful vocals music has ever known and an outstanding stage presence. She was first known as one half of the Ike and Tina Turner husband-and-wife duo before she divorced Ike and went solo. Some of her best-known solo hits include "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "The Best" (which is a Bonnie Tyler cover in case you didn't know).
She was very ill several years before dying, including multiple cancers and a stroke. She had also lost two of her sons over the past five years: Raymond Craig, who took his own life in 2018, and Ronnie, who died from cancer in 2022.
She will always be remembered as one of the greatest female singers ever! RIP to the Queen of Rock and Roll. (1939-2023)
Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens was an American actor, writer, producer, and comedian best known for creating and portraying the character Pee-wee Herman. He gained national attention through Pee-wee's Playhouse and several feature films. Reubens also appeared in various television and film roles throughout his career... read more

This was such a huge loss for entertainment. The actor who played the iconic Pee Wee Herman lost a several-year battle to cancer. He would have turned 71 near the end of August.
A one-of-a-kind legend gone too soon. R.I.P. (1952-2023).
Lisa Marie Presley

Lisa Marie Presley was an American singer-songwriter. She was the only child of singer and actor Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley, and she became the sole heir to her father's estate following the deaths of her grandfather and great-grandmother. Presley released three studio albums during... read more

She passed away on January 12th, just three weeks before her birthday. She was the daughter of Elvis Presley and was known for songs including Weary and Dirty Laundry. She had a cardiac arrest and, even though she was treated, she didn't survive (unlike Damar Hamlin). This was two days after the Golden Globes, which she attended.
She would've turned 55 at the start of February, which is way too young. She was the most famous lady ever born on the 1st day of February and the most famous woman born in Tennessee.
An absolutely devastating loss for music. R.I.P. to the Princess of Rock 'n' Roll (1968-2023).

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the famous singer Elvis Presley, died from a heart attack at the Golden Globe Awards. R.I.P.
Sinead O'Connor

Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor was an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra. She gained global recognition with her 1990 cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U. Throughout her career, she was known for her powerful voice and outspoken... read more

Yet another huge loss for music. This iconic Irish singer, with the shaved head, may be best known for her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," but she will always be remembered as an outspoken feminist and a rebel.
She died a year after her 17-year-old son took his own life after escaping a facility where he was getting help to fight his suicidal urges. The causes of her death have not yet been revealed, but considering her unstable mental health, it could be due to suicide or self-inflicted wounds. She was only 56.
RIP (1966-2023)
David Crosby

David Van Cortlandt Crosby (August 14, 1941 - January 18, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a founding member of the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and CPR, and he also performed as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and released several solo albums. Crosby was inducted... read more

One of the greatest rock icons has just passed away. He was part of the Byrds during the 1960s before founding Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young) alongside Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, with Neil Young joining them occasionally. He had a long illness.
R.I.P. (1941-2023).

Another absolutely devastating loss for rock 'n' roll in the first month of 2023. First Jeff Beck, then Lisa Marie Presley, and now David Crosby. It's such a shame he went through many years of drug abuse. He lost a battle to a really long illness.
R.I.P. (1941-2023).
Bob Barker

Robert William Barker was an American television game show host and animal rights advocate. He was best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, the longest-running game show in North American television history. He also hosted Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.

Such a sad loss for TV. He was the longtime host of The Price Is Right until his retirement in 2007. He passed away on August 26th. He was about to turn 100 this year. R.I.P. (1923-2023).
Harry Belafonte

The king of calypso has just passed away. He was best known for songs such as "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)," "Jump in the Line," and "Matilda." He was also a notable civil rights defender and a close friend of Martin Luther King.
May he rest in peace (1927-2023).

The legend who popularized calypso music and the traditional folk song Day Dah Light (dating back to 1800) with his 1956 cover The Banana Boat Song/Day-O passed away from congestive heart failure on April 25th. He became the first artist to hit #1 on the Billboard 200 weekly album charts.
R.I.P. to the king of calypso (1927-2023).
Matthew Perry

Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 - October 28, 2023) was an American and Canadian actor, comedian, and writer. He gained worldwide fame for playing Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends (1994-2004). Perry also portrayed educator Ron Clark in the television movie The Ron Clark Story (2006) and... read more

Another huge loss for television. This actor was better known for playing Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom Friends (1994-2004). He was found dead in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home this Saturday.
Matthew Perry's character was beloved by fans for his witty humor, cynicism, and sensibility. In real life, Perry battled drug and alcohol addiction for most of his life, and it's probably what ultimately took his life. He was only 54.
This is exactly one of those episodes that Friends fans would never want to see, "The One Where Chandler Dies." RIP Chandler (1969-2023). You will be dearly missed.

No words can describe this loss. He was known as the iconic titular character Chandler Bing from Friends (the best TV series of all time), as well as Ron Clark in The Ron Clark Story film. His passing came way too soon from apparent drowning.
From what we remember, he struggled much of his life with drug addiction, a serious problem for some. R.I.P. (1969-2023) to a true legend. This is surely ranking #1 over all the music artists and sports players lately.
Steve Harwell

Steve Harwell (January 9, 1967 - September 4, 2023) was an American singer best known as the former lead vocalist and frontman of the alternative rock band Smash Mouth. Harwell co-founded the band in 1994 and retired in 2021 due to health concerns. During his time with Smash Mouth, the band released... read more

The former lead singer from Smash Mouth has died at the age of 56 from chronic liver failure. This health condition was notably due to his struggles with alcoholism. It was so severe he had to retire in 2021 to take care of his health.
The king of Far Far Away is dead, long live the king! R.I.P. (1967-2023).

Another huge loss for music and entertainment. He will be remembered as the greatest lead singer of Smash Mouth. Alcohol overdose is a serious issue some artists are facing.
Like Shrek, he was love, he was life. R.I.P. too soon.
Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch, born Jo Raquel Tejada (September 5, 1940 - February 15, 2023), was an American actress and singer. She gained early recognition for her roles in Fantastic Voyage (1966) and One Million Years B.C. (1966). Although she had only three lines in the latter film, images of her in a doe-skin bikini... read more

She was in a league of her own. Her beauty, sexuality, and charming personality were impossible to resist. An amazingly lovely, talented actress and person.

The Newcomers

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Peppino Gagliardi

Peppino Gagliardi was an Italian singer. He rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s with romantic ballads such as Settembre and Che vuole questa musica stasera. His music remains popular in Italy and among fans of classic Italian pop.
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Bill Richardson

The Contenders

Bray Wyatt

Windham Lawrence Rotunda (May 23, 1987 - August 24, 2023) was an American professional wrestler. He performed in WWE under the ring name Bray Wyatt and was a third-generation wrestler, following the legacy of his grandfather Blackjack Mulligan, father Mike Rotunda, and uncles Barry and Kendall Windham... read more
Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck was an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three notable guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds, after Eric Clapton and before (and briefly with) Jimmy Page.
As a Yardbird, Beck was consistently on the cutting edge. His first single with the band, "Heart... read more
Jerry Springer

Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer was born on February 13, 1944, in London, England, and died on April 27, 2023. He was a British-born American television presenter, lawyer, politician, actor, and news anchor. Springer served as the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978 and hosted The Jerry Springer Show... read more

The famous television host just passed away at age 79. A big loss for television. R.I.P.
Tony Bennett

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 - July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band music, jazz, and show tunes. He won 20 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmys. He was also named a National... read more

America's elder crooner just passed away at age 96. He performed jazz and pop for three-quarters of a century and has been more recently known for his duets with contemporary artists, most notably Lady Gaga, with whom he released two albums, and Amy Winehouse shortly before she passed away. He had been battling Alzheimer's disease for several years.
Heaven has just gained a man who had a remarkably long career and will always be remembered as one of the most iconic crooners of all time. RIP (1926-2023).

The legendary star lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease two weeks before his 97th birthday. He was among the greatest artists in jazz and pop and helped interpret the Great American Songbook. He collaborated with many others, including Diana Krall and Lady Gaga.
This was an absolutely huge loss for music. R.I.P. (1926-2023).
Jimmy Buffett

This singer-songwriter was best known for his song "Margaritaville," which is still a staple on oldies radio stations. He was also the owner of a restaurant chain named after his mega-hit.
He died with a net worth of $1 billion, making him one of the richest musicians in the world.
RIP (1946 - 2023).

This was such a massive loss for music. He was one of the best-selling artists, and it was revealed he had Merkel cell carcinoma (which explained his recent hospital trips). He kept it private the whole time.
He was best known for his song Margaritaville and for co-founding the Margaritaville restaurant chain. Another legend gone from a private cancer battle.
R.I.P. (1946 - 2023).
Richard Roundtree

Known as the main actor of the Shaft films as well as Family Reunion. He lost a battle to cancer. Another big loss for entertainment. R.I.P. (1942-2023).
Alan Arkin

This American actor was best known for playing the grandfather in Little Miss Sunshine. His performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2007. R.I.P. (1934-2023).
Glenda Jackson

This British actress who won two Oscars just died at 93 years old. R.I.P.
Michael Gambon

Sir Michael John Gambon was an Irish-born English actor who worked in theatre, television, and film. He was best known to international audiences for portraying Albus Dumbledore in six Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011, following the death of Richard Harris.... read more

Another big loss for cinema. This Irish-British actor was best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise. He wasn't the first actor to play the Hogwarts headmaster, though, because he replaced Richard Harris after his passing in 2002 (a few weeks before The Chamber of Secrets hit theaters).
Michael Gambon also had notable roles in movies such as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), The English Patient (1996), and The King's Speech (2011). He was also a great theater actor.
R.I.P. (1940-2023).
Lucile Randon
Lisa Loring

The original actress behind Wednesday Addams from the original Addams Family (in 1964) passed away on January 28th from a stroke caused by hypertension. R.I.P. (1958-2023).

She was the first actress to play Wednesday Addams in the Addams Family original series. RIP (1958-2023).
Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. His most popular songs include If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of... read more
Gina Lollobrigida
Richard Belzer

This actor was mostly known for playing Detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He retired from acting in 2016. He died at 78 from respiratory and circulation complications.
R.I.P.
Constantine II of Greece

He passed away from a stroke on January 10th, 2023. He was the last king of Greece, reigning until 1973. He was less than a semester away from completing 50 years since his abdication. R.I.P. (1940 - 2023).