James Earl Jones, the iconic voice of Darth Vader, has died

Hollywood icon and EGOT winner James Earl Jones sadly died on September 9, 2024, aged 93.

The actor, best known for voicing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy and Mufasa in The Lion King, passed at his home in Dutchess County, New York.

James was a pioneer in the industry for people of colour; for instance, he was the second black actor to receive an Oscar nomination after Sidney Poitier, and he was one of the first black actors to play leading characters in professional productions of Shakespeare plays.

“If it bothers someone that I’m black and playing Lear, it isn’t because there’s something wrong with me. It’s their problem,” he told People in 1974.

Other notable projects James starred in during his career – that spanned more than 50 years – include Field of Dreams, Coming to America, The Great White Hope and Claudine.

Phil Donahue, the iconic daytime talk-show host, passed away on August 18, 2024, aged 88.

Dubbed “the king of daytime talk,” Phil was one of the first to ever tackle ‘taboo’ topics on television — including alcoholism, abortion, the sexual revolution and race relations.

Phil’s family confirmed he died after a long illness.

Actress Marlo Thomas took to Instagram to pen a heartwarming tribute to Phil – her husband of 44 years.

“I’m sure by now you’ve heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night,” she wrote.

“So I know you understand that I’ll be stepping away from this page for a while to take care of myself and the many people who took care of Phil, and held him close to their hearts. But I didn’t want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day, and for the wonderful and generous way that you’ve let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years.

“As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community here, and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you’ve been sharing.”

Legendary actress Gena Rowlands, renowned for her collaborations with her late husband, filmmaker John Cassavetes, and her trailblazing roles in films like A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria, has passed away at the age of 94.

It is reported that Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California, on August 14th, where she was surrounded by family. No cause of death has been made public at this stage.

Rowlands’ career spanned over six decades, earning her multiple awards and accolades, and she was best known for her lead role in The Notebook. She is survived by her children, Nick, Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes.

Janet Andrewartha died in her sleep, aged 72, with her daughters – Eloise and Sarah – by her side on July 26.

The actress was best known for playing Lyn Scully in Neighbours, but also starred in All Saints, Prisoner and Fake.

Tributes for Janet quickly rolled in with her Neighbours co-star Jackie Woodburne writing on social media, “Janet was one of the finest actors of her generation, but more than that, she was an extraordinary woman.

“Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous and fun. To me she was a steadfast friend for over 45 years. I will miss her every day.”

Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson on Neighbours, also expressed his sadness online.

“So very upset to lose the lovely Janet. As Jackie said, she truly was an exceptional actress who was a pleasure work with and to be around. We will all miss you dear girl,” he wrote.

Bob Newhart sadly passed away at the age of 94. According to his publicist, he suffered a series of short illnesses and ultimately passed on July 18 in his Los Angeles home.

The beloved actor and comedian was best known for his dry comedy on the CBS series The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, and more recently for his role in the Christmas comedy, ELF.

Speaking to People in 2020, Bob spoke about his career and the legacy he’ll leave behind.

“I have a theory that when it’s all over … and you go up — [if] I’ve been led to believe to heaven — and there’s a God and he says, ‘What did you do?’ [And] I say, ‘I made people laugh,’ [He will say,] ‘Yeah, get in that real short line over there.’ “

Beloved 80s fitness icon, Richard Simmons, has passed away just days after celebrating his 76th birthday.

Richard became a household name after pioneering at-home workouts with a chirpy and flamboyant regime of instructional videos. News of his passing has been confirmed by one of Richard’s representatives according to the US-based ABC news. Despite largely retreating from the public eye over the last decade, Richard remained active and had a large social presence, even posting as recently as his birthday last Friday where he thanked his fans for the well-wishes.

“I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” Richard wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”

Iconic actress Shelley Duvall has passed away aged 75. Shelley is best remembered for being a protege of Robert Altman and also starring in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining opposite Jack Nicholson. The actress’ passing was confirmed by her longtime partner, Dan Gilroy.

“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” said Dan Gilroy in a statement.

After starring in blockbusters like The Shining, Popeye and Nashville, Shelley retreated from the public eye in the mid-1990’s to move back to her native state of Texas where she resided until her passing.

Martin Mull, the versatile actor, comedian, and musician, passed away at age 80, after battling a long illness. Known for his dry wit and distinctive humour, Mull captivated audiences with roles in Fernwood 2 Night, Roseanne and, most recently, VEEP. His career spanned decades, showcasing his talent in both comedy and drama.

Beyond acting, Mull was a talented painter, with his artwork exhibited in galleries nationwide. He brought joy and laughter to many, leaving a lasting legacy in both television and art.

Mull is survived by wife Wendy Haas, and daughter Maggie.

Noeline Donaher sadly died in May 2023 but the news of her death only came to light in June of this year.

Considered by many Australia’s first reality star, Noeline rose to fame because of the 1992 series Sylvania Waters, a reality show that followed her, her husband Laurie and their family fly-on-the-wall style as they went about their every day life.

At the time, Sylvania Waters faced severe criticism. Many, including the Sydney Morning Herald, believed the show depicted the Donaher family (and by extension, all Australians) as “materialistic, argumentative and heavy-drinking”.

However, today, many praise Sylvania Waters for paving the way for the reality genre, and Noeline herself for inspiring the iconic Aussie character Kath Day-Knight from Kath & Kim.

In 1993, Noeline released a single called No Regrets and then a book called The Sylvania Waters Diary, before stepping out of the public eye.

Noeline’s son, Mick, shared the news of her death via Facebook on May 30, 2023. “Dad has asked me to share with you all the sad news that Noeline Donaher, his partner of over 40yrs, recently passed away,” he wrote.

Australian radio and television presenter John Blackman has died, aged 76. Along with appearances on Blankety Blanks and The Paul Hogan Show, he was best known for being the ‘voice’ of iconic Australian variety show Hey Hey It’s Saturday from 1971 until 1999, and returning for two reunion specials in 2009 and 2021.

Since the announcement, tributes have flooded in from Australia’s entertainment industry.

“Australia is a sadder place with this news,” shared entertainment reporter Peter Ford on Channel Seven’s Morning Show.

Blackman’s former co-star on Hey Hey, Livinia Nixon, shared her sympathies for his family.

“I’m just heartbroken for his wife and Tiffany, his daughter, and everyone that he looked after because even though he had so much on his plate in the last few years, healthwise, he was the backbone of that family,” she said.

Iconic Aussie singer, Frank Ifield, who was best known for his smooth vocals and instantly recognisable yodel, has died aged 86.

Frank’s brother confirmed the news on May 20, two days after the death. The UK-born singer represented Australia twice in Eurovision, performed for the royal family on a number of occasions and enjoyed a life-long music career.

Actress Susan Bucker has sadly passed away aged 72.

Susan was best known for playing the peppy cheerleader, Patty Simcox, in Grease alongside Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. She also had a handful of other acting roles but ultimately left Hollywood to raise her family, direct kids theatre and teach dance.

“Susan will be remembered for her kindness, generosity and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others,” Susan’s publicist Melissa Berthier’s statement read, as per CNN. “Her effervescent spirit will continue to inspire generations of performers and fans alike.”

Iconic Aussie actor, Brian Wenzel, has passed away aged 94 following a reported dementia diagnosis in 2022.

Brian is best known for portraying the beloved character Sgt. Frank Gilroy on the Channel 7 show A Country Practice.

The actor’s passing comes just weeks before what would have been his 95th birthday.

Bernard Hill, who is best known for his roles Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, has passed away aged 79.

“It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce that Bernard Hill, renowned actor known for his roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of 79,” his family explained in a statement.

“He was with his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel.”