With the new year here, it's a fitting time to pay tribute to the famous faces who have passed away in 2023.
These late, great stars left a lasting mark in their respective fields and used their wealth and influence to inspire the world. They may be gone, but their impact lives on, whether it's through their charity work or their unforgettable contributions to pop culture and social change.
From Matthew Perry to Tina Turner, read on to discover the lives and legacies of 17 celebrities who passed away in 2023. All dollar amounts in US dollars.
Born into fame and fortune as the only child of Elvis Presley and his then-wife Priscilla, Lisa Marie Presley carved out her own path to stardom, particularly in the music world.
Lisa Marie, who was married four times (including to king of pop Michael Jackson and Hollywood star Nicolas Cage), opted to follow in her father's musical footsteps. She released her debut album, To Whom It May Concern, in 2003, which she followed up with Now What in 2005 and Storm & Grace in 2012.
As the sole heir of the Elvis Presley estate, Lisa Marie inherited Elvis Presley Enterprises on her 25th birthday and dedicated much of her time to preserving her father's legacy.
Lisa Marie tragically passed away last January after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 54 years old.
Although some sources suggest she was in debt when she died, other reports claim she had several life insurance policies and left behind an estate worth more than $30 million (£25m) to be divided between her daughters Riley, Harper, and Finley.
Throughout her life, Lisa Marie Presley was a dedicated philanthropist. Most notably, she founded the Presley Charitable Foundation (now known as The Presley Foundation) in 2007, which has launched anti-poverty programmes throughout the US. She also aided relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and became a patron of the Dream Factory, a London-based charity committed to supporting the wishes of terminally ill children, in 2011.
The late David Crosby was best known as a founding member of the bands the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in both groups.
As a gifted songwriter, Crosby penned a number of major hits throughout the 1960s and 70s, including Everybody’s Been Burned, Déjà Vu, and Wooden Ships.
Crosby's talents also extended into acting, most notably landing him a small role in the swashbuckling 1991 adventure flick Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg. His small screen credits included appearances in sitcoms including Roseanne and Ellen, and he even voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons.
Crosby passed away on 18 January 2023 at the age of 81, reportedly due to complications related to COVID-19. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth stood at $10 million (£8m).
Throughout Crosby, Stills & Nash's decade-spanning career, the band supported various charities, including Autism Speaks, the Plastic Pollution Coalition, WhyHunger, and Rock CAN Roll.
Additionally, Crosby left his mark on the world as an ambassador for Seva, a global charity committed to curing blindness. Seva is well known for hosting benefit concerts and in 2008, Crosby and his bandmate Graham Nash performed in California to raise funds for the organisation.
Crosby, Stills & Nash made headlines in February 2022 by pulling their music from Spotify amid concerns about COVID-19 misinformation spread by The Joe Rogan Experience podcast hosted on the streaming platform. They later reinstated their music on Spotify, with a source telling Billboard in July that year that the band planned to donate their streaming proceeds to COVID-19-related charities for at least a month.
Burt Bacharach, the renowned composer and record producer, is widely regarded as one of America's greatest songwriters. Bacharach wrote or co-wrote hits including I Say a Little Prayer, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, and What's New Pussycat?
His decade-spanning career earned him three Academy Awards and six Grammys, while over 1,000 different artists, including legends such as Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, and Elvis Costello, have recorded his songs.
Beyond his stellar songwriting career, Bacharach also recorded his own albums and became a somewhat familiar face on the screen. He hosted a number of musical specials on TV, including An Evening with Burt Bacharach and Another Evening with Burt Bacharach, and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, made cameo appearances in all three of the Austin Powers movies.
Bacharach, who passed away in February at the age of 94, boasted an estimated fortune of $160 million (£128m).
He not only left behind a lasting musical legacy but also a significant philanthropic impact, particularly due to his work with HIV/AIDS organisations.
In 1982, Bacharach co-wrote That’s What Friends Are For with Carole Bayer Sager. The song became synonymous with the fight against AIDS, and the songwriters both agreed to donate any profits from the record to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). Music icons Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder released a cover of the song in 1985, with all four musicians also choosing to donate the profits.
The anthem not only topped the charts but also earned Bacharach a prestigious Song of the Year Grammy award. More importantly, it raised millions of dollars for amfAR and inspired numerous fundraising events, including a 2011 reunion where Warwick, John, Knight, and Wonder came together once again to perform the song.
The late Raquel Welch shot to stardom with her breakout role in the 1966 film One Million Years B.C. She infamously donned a fur bikini in the flick, cementing her status as one of the most iconic femmes fatales of the 1960s and 70s.
The brunette beauty flexed her acting chops in a diverse range of roles, notably winning a Golden Globe for her performance in The Three Musketeers in 1974. She also appeared in several popular TV shows over the decades, including Seinfeld, CSI: Miami, and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, with her final acting role in the 2017 sitcom Date My Dad.
Beyond her acting career, Welch was a renowned entrepreneur. Her diverse business empire spanned everything from fitness videos to wellness books.
Welch passed away in February at the age of 82 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Her estimated net worth stood at $40 million (£33m).
Throughout her life, Welch used her success for good in the world, most notably supporting cancer charities.
In 1998, the star launched a line of wigs, which eventually grew into a business empire called HairUWear. Each year, Welch donated $1 million (£820k) worth of wigs to the American Cancer Society, with her contributions amounting to $15 million (£12m) by 2021, or over 100,000 wigs.
Welch's association with the American Cancer Society dates back to 1975 when she first became its spokesperson. In her role, she participated in campaigns and encouraged Americans to undergo cancer screenings.
British fashion designer Dame Mary Quant revolutionised 1960s fashion. She contributed significantly to the style-conscious Mod movement and was synonymous with London's "Swinging Sixties" culture.
At the time, Quant was best known for popularising the miniskirt and hot pants, with her bold fashion designs often ahead of the curve. Her London fashion boutique, Bazaar, became one of the city's most popular hotspots with fashionista teens.
Other notable career highlights include launching a successful cosmetics line and designing the iconic interior of a special edition Mini (1000) Designer Car in 1988, which was originally dubbed the "Mini Quant".
Mary Quant passed away in April at the age of 93. At the time of her death, her estimated total fortune was $22 million (£18m).
Her legacy continues through her trailblazing fashion designs, especially the miniskirt. The fun and flirty garment redefined women's fashion and symbolised youthful rebellion and female empowerment in a way that still resonates today.
In 2015, Quant was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry, having already been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1966.
Entertainer Harry Belafonte skyrocketed to fame with catchy hits such as Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), Matilda, and Jamaica Farewell.
His 1956 album Calypso became the first ever record from a single artist to sell more than one million copies in a year. The record's success saw Belafonte become the highest-paid Black musician in history by 1959.
The multi-talented star also graced the silver screen in movies such as the 1959 sci-fi drama The World, the Flesh and the Devil, the 1996 crime flick Kansas City, and the 2018 Spike Lee movie BlacKkKlansman.
Belafonte passed away on 25 April at the grand old age of 96, leaving behind an estimated fortune of $30 million (£25m).
Beyond his achievements in the entertainment industry, Belafonte was a prolific social activist, playing significant roles in the American civil rights movement and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. As a close friend of Dr Martin Luther King, Belafonte used his wealth to support civil rights causes, including bailing out protesters and financially supporting King's family.
Belafonte's philanthropic endeavours extended to organising and participating in the Grammy-winning charity single We Are the World and performing at Live Aid in 1985. Two years later, his charitable work earned him the title of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
He also engaged in philanthropy in Africa, raising awareness around issues such as child poverty and AIDS.
Some might be surprised to learn that the late Jerry Springer started his career in politics, acting as a campaign advisor to Robert Kennedy before being elected as Mayor of Cincinnati in 1977. He served in the role for one year.
However, Springer was undeniably most famous for his often controversial talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, which aired between 1991 and 2018. The series became infamous for all the wrong reasons, often featuring troubled guests who engaged in arguments or physical altercations on stage.
When the show wrapped in 2018, Springer went on to executive produce and star in the courtroom reality TV series Judge Jerry, which aired between 2019 and 2022. The series was axed after three seasons and Springer decided to retire from the spotlight.
Springer passed away in April at the age of 79, having battled pancreatic cancer. He was worth an estimated $60 million (£49m) at the time of his death.
In his life, he was actively involved with World Jewish Relief. His support for the organisation was deeply personal as it had rescued his parents, who were Jews living in Nazi Germany during WWII, and helped them find refuge in the UK. Tragically, 15 of his family members were victims of the Holocaust. Springer actively participated in the charity's fundraising efforts, attending and speaking at annual dinners.
Upon Springer's death, his family asked fans to make charitable donations in his name, including to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
The late football player Jim Brown was regarded as one of the best running backs and greatest NFL stars of all time.
His epic nine-season career peaked with a 1964 NFL championship victory with the Cleveland Browns, and Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Transitioning from the football field to the silver screen, Brown made a name for himself as a leading man in Hollywood during the 1970s. He starred in several "blaxploitation" movies, including Grasshopper and Black Gunn. In the 1980s, he mainly shifted to working on television, with appearances in small-screen hits such as Knight Rider and The A-Team.
The hard-working star continued to act into his twilight years, with IMDb listing his final credit as an appearance in the 2014 sports drama Draft Day.
Brown died on 18 May at the age of 87, leaving behind an estimated net worth of $30 million (£25m).
Beyond his celebrated career in sports and entertainment, Brown was also committed to charity work. Notably, he was behind Food First, an initiative he launched in 1972 to provide food for the residents of Marshall County, Mississippi, which was then one of America's most impoverished counties.
In 1988, he established the Amer-I-Can Program, which was focused on aiding at-risk youths in schools and juvenile detention centres.
Reflecting on his charity work, Brown once remarked: "This is life. That's tougher than any football game."
Spanning decades, the career of American music icon Tina Turner was nothing short of legendary. Her albums sold over 200 million copies worldwide, cementing her status as one of the best-selling music stars in history.
Accumulating an impressive 12 Grammy Awards, including three esteemed Grammy Hall of Fame honours and a Lifetime Achievement accolade, Tina Turner left behind a remarkable musical legacy.
Her timeless hits Proud Mary, What's Love Got To Do With It, and Nutbush City Limits are celebrated as classics, earning Turner the prestigious title of "Queen of Rock and Roll". In recognition of her astonishing achievements, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
Turner sadly passed away in May at the age of 83. At the time of her death, her estimated wealth stood at a whopping $250 million (£204m).
Throughout her life, Turner used her platform to make a difference in the world. One of her most noteworthy endeavours was teaming up with the Children's Health Fund, a charity that provided healthcare to disadvantaged children and their families.
In 2021, West End show Tina Turner the Musical donated money to domestic abuse charity Refuge to mark the organisation's 50th anniversary.
It's thought that Tina's own struggles, which include being a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Ike, fuelled her passion for giving back.
The late American novelist Cormac McCarthy is widely regarded as one of the all-time greats, with his debut novel The Orchard Keeper first published in 1965. While he penned a dozen novels and various screenplays over the years, he's best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning dystopian fiction The Road, which was published in 2006. The harrowing story follows a father and son as they fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Some of McCarthy's most famous works have been adapted for the screen, including The Road, No Country for Old Men, All the Pretty Horses, and Child of God.
Cormac McCarthy passed away from natural causes on 13 June 2023 at the age of 89. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth stood at $10 million (£8m).
Though McCarthy is gone, his literary masterpieces continue to resonate and influence new generations of writers, as well as inspiring peers such as horror author Stephen King.
"There is no way to convey the loss I feel," King said following McCarthy's death. He revealed that his short story, The Dreamers, which will feature in his upcoming anthology You Like It Darker, drew inspiration from McCarthy's The Passenger.
After serving in World War Two, American music legend Tony Bennett launched his career in the 1950s and swiftly shot to stardom thanks to hit songs Because of You, Rags to Riches, and I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
Throughout his epic career, Bennett collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including jazz icons Count Basie and Duke Ellington, as well as modern-day music mavericks such as Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse.
Bennett won an incredible 20 Grammy awards throughout his decade-spanning career and sold over 50 million records.
Bennett passed away in July at the age of 96, leaving behind an estimated fortune of $200 million (£163m).
Outside of his staggeringly successful music career, Bennett was a champion for numerous causes, with his extensive fundraising efforts even earning him the nickname "Tony Benefit" in the 1990s.
He supported the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and established a research fund for the charity, as well as using his impressive painting skills to raise over $800,000 (£653k) for the American Cancer Society. Other causes close to his heart included arts education and civil rights, and he even marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965.
Additionally, the music icon was honoured with the Humanitarian Award in 2007 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after he helped with fundraising efforts for victims of violence in Darfur, Sudan.
The late actor and comedian Paul Reubens was best known for his eccentric Pee-wee Herman character. He created the kooky Pee-wee in the late 1970s while serving as a member of The Groundlings comedy troupe before launching a stage adaptation titled The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981.
Reubens later transitioned from the stage to the screen when his Pee-Wee Herman character landed an HBO special. This was followed up with several Pee-wee Herman feature films and the children’s TV show Pee-wee's Playhouse, which won several Emmy Awards through the late 80s and early 90s.
Beyond this iconic character, Reubens appeared in numerous Hollywood hits, including the superhero blockbuster Batman Returns (1992) and the beloved Roald Dahl adaptation Matilda (1996). He also had a voice role in Tim Burton’s animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
On 30 July, Paul Reubens passed away at the age of 70 following a six-year battle with cancer. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth was around $5 million (£4m).
While Reubens kept his cancer diagnosis from the public, he was an active supporter of cancer-related causes. This included helping a Californian teen named Lucy Crew raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2021. Reubens shared a link to Crew's fundraiser on Twitter and encouraged his two million followers to donate, helping the campaign reach its $25,000 (£20k) goal.
The loss of Reubens resonated deeply, with PETA sharing their condolences and commenting that the world would be "a little less joyful without him". The kind-hearted Reubens had fundraised and featured in campaigns for the animal rights organisation throughout his life.
But his legacy of generosity doesn't end there. In 2021, while secretly battling cancer, Reubens competed in the gameshow Celebrity Wheel of Fortune to raise money for Feeding America. His efforts paid off and he netted an epic $52,000 (£42k) for the charity.
Clarence Avant was one of America's most renowned music producers. Throughout his decade-spanning career, Avant played a pivotal role in mentoring numerous iconic Black musicians, including Janet Jackson and Quincy Jones.
Furthermore, Avant made history in the 1970s when his Avant Garde Broadcasting company launched the first ever African-American-owned radio station.
Known as the "Godfather of Black Music" for his significant contributions to the industry, Clarence Avant was also the subject of a 2019 Netflix biopic titled The Black Godfather.
Avant was not only a music mogul but also a major political activist and Black rights advocate.
He was a friend and mentor to influential US presidents including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter, valuing their efforts to support Black Americans. Avant notably co-sponsored a fundraising event for Clinton's presidential campaign, which raised $650,000 (£517k) and has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "the largest Black political fundraiser ever held".
Avant also advised Black musicians and athletes on how to secure fair wages for their talents, and was a passionate advocate for musicians' rights.
When he passed away in August at the age of 92, he left behind an estimated fortune of $50 million (£41m).
Jimmy Buffett was an American entertainer and businessman, best known for his relaxed, tropical-themed music style.
Buffet began his career in the late 1960s and gained fame in the 1970s with hits such as Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise. His music is often associated with the "island escapism" lifestyle, and his dedicated fan base, known as 'Parrotheads', embraced his carefree, beach-inspired ethos.
In addition to his stellar music career, Buffet found success as a businessman. His legendary Margaritaville brand encompassed restaurants, merchandise, and a line of alcoholic beverages.
Buffett sadly passed away in September at the age of 76, leaving behind an epic fortune of $1 billion (£815m), primarily attributed to the Margaritaville brand.
Throughout his lifetime, Buffett was actively involved in various charitable efforts, with one of his most notable contributions being his co-founding of the Singing For Change foundation in 1995.
The organisation supports a wide range of social and environmental causes, including education, disaster relief, and poverty alleviation, with funds raised through donations and benefit concerts.
The late British actor Sir Michael Gambon received many accolades throughout his decade-spanning career, including prestigious Olivier and BAFTA awards.
Gambon's career began on the stage in the 1960s before he stepped in front of the camera, with his impressive filmography including the 1999 gothic horror Sleepy Hollow, the 2010 historical drama The King's Speech, and a vocal role in the beloved Paddington film series.
However, Gambon was perhaps best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the juggernaut Harry Potter franchise. He first portrayed the Hogwarts headmaster in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, having taken over the role from Richard Harris after his death in 2002.
Following a brief battle with pneumonia, Gambon passed away on 27 September at the age of 82. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth stood at $20 million (£16m).
Famed not only for his impactful acting career, Gambon was also celebrated for his philanthropic work. He supported various noble causes, including cancer charities, homelessness, arts and education, and fundraising for children's hospitals.
His contributions to drama were recognised in 1998 when he was appointed a Knight Bachelor by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Matthew Perry was best known for his portrayal of the lovable Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends between 1994 to 2004. Perry's performance as the witty Bing made him a household name and earned him widespread acclaim, including a win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Beyond Friends, Perry starred in a number of funny flicks, including the 2000 crime-comedy The Whole Nine Yards and its 2004 sequel, The Whole Ten Yards, as well as the 2009 teen comedy 17 Again.
Outside of his acting career, Perry published his best-selling autobiography, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. The 2022 memoir covers his rise to stardom and chronicles his personal struggles with depression and addiction.
The world was deeply saddened by Perry's sudden passing in October at the age of 54. At the time of his death, his net worth was an impressive $120 million (£98m).
Much of this fortune stemmed from his role in Friends, with Perry continuing to earn around $20 million (£16m) a year from syndication revenues. In response to his death, the National Philanthropic Trust established the Matthew Perry Foundation, and it's believed a portion of Perry's estate and royalties will be donated to the trust.
The newly formed foundation will keep Perry's legacy alive by supporting people struggling with addiction. ”In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honour his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible,” a statement from the charity read.
In November, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter sadly passed away at the age of 96. Her estimated fortune at the time of her death was $10 million (£8m).
Rosalynn married Jimmy Carter in 1946, and the two quickly became a formidable political power couple. Rosalynn actively engaged in her husband's career, assisting in his successful bid for the Georgia governorship in 1970 and campaigning on his behalf during his presidential run in 1976.
During her term as First Lady between 1977 and 1981, Rosalynn left a lasting impression by advocating for White House initiatives and championing causes related to mental health and elderly care.
After their tenure as First Lady and POTUS, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter continued their remarkable legacy of activism and became dedicated humanitarians. One notable project was their work with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit focused on providing affordable housing to those in need. The charity's website describes the duo as "tireless advocates, active fundraisers, and some of our best hands-on construction volunteers".
Additionally, the power couple founded The Carter Center in 1982, a non-profit human rights organisation. Seven years later, they established the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, which focused on mental health and caregiving.
In 1999, the Carters were honoured with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of their commitment to humanitarian efforts. While presenting the award to the couple, Bill Clinton remarked: "Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have done more good things for more people in more places than any other couple on the face of the Earth."
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