It's a special brand of sadness we all experience when one of our favorite actors or actresses
passes away.
We didn't know them personally, but their work nonetheless affected our lives — sometimes
in meaningful, lasting ways.
Here are some of those we have lost so far in 2021.
Jahmil French - from the Canadian TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation — died on
March 1, 2021 at the age of 28.
Though the cause of death wasn't released, French's representation and coworkers were
quick to post on social media their shock and grief, as well as messages of love for
the young actor.
One rep said:
"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of a dear friend and client Jahmil
French.
He will be remembered by many for his passion for the arts, his commitment to his craft,
and his vibrant personality."
Melinda Shankar, one of his Degrassi costars, posted a tribute to her friend on Instagram.
She wrote:
"You will always hold such a special place in my heart.
Thank you for being one of the most talented, compassionate, kindest, funniest friends I
have.
You were so loved."
French was also known for his work on the Netflix show Soundtrack in which he starred
alongside Christina Milian.
Milian expressed her grief over French's death by commenting on his Instagram page:
"You will be missed.
Rest peacefully King."
Actress Cloris Leachman died in January 2021 at age 94.
According to People, the cause of death was a stroke, with COVID-19 a contributing factor.
TMZ gave additional details, noting that she was with her daughter in her home in Encinitas,
California when she died.
Leachman's career spanned decades, beginning on the stage when she made her Broadway debut
in 1947 in John Loves Mary.
The powerhouse actress then made the jump to the screen, appearing in several TV shows
and movies.
In 1971, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Last Picture Show.
Despite her many other successes, Leachman was best-known for her depiction of Phyllis
Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the '70s.
Juliet Green, her manager, told People:
"It's been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses
of our time.
With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh till the
tears ran down your face."
Green also added that the Leachman family was asking that donations in her name be made
to Last Chance for Animals or PETA.
Ronald Pickup, best known for his work in the Netflix hit The Crown, died February 24th,
2021 at the age of 80.
His agent told BBC:
"[Ronald] passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness surrounded by his wife
and family.
He will be deeply missed."
After working at various theaters throughout Britain in his younger years, the actor got
his first big break when he was cast in an episode of Doctor Who in 1964.
Ronald then went on to appear in a laundry list of shows including Call the Midwife,
Downton Abbey, Silent Witness, Doc Martin, and Coronation Street.
He told the PA news agency in 2012 that his favorite role was George Orwell in the TV
movie Crystal Spirit: Orwell on Jura.
As reported by Variety, Pickup is survived by his wife, Lans Traverse, and their two
children.
Actress Mira Furlan died from complications of the West Nile Virus on Wednesday, January
20, 2021.
She was only 65 years old.
Her family said in a statement:
"It is with great sadness that I confirm the passing of Mira Furlan.
She was a woman full of kindness, strength and compassion."
The statement went on to say that Furlan, quote, "died peacefully at her home in Los
Angeles, surrounded by her family."
According to the IMDB, Furlan was born in Zagreb, Croatia, and starred in sci-fi hit
Babylon 5 as Delenn from 1993 to 1998.
She also portrayed Danielle Rousseau on Lost.
Babylon 5 creator J Michael Straczynski tweeted in response to her passing:
"It is a night of great sadness, for our friend and comrade had gone down the road where we
cannot reach her.
[...] We will catch up with her in time, and I believe she will have many stories to tell
us."
And as her family's statement read:
"We will all continue to celebrate her life and legacy, and know she'll always be here
with us."
Canadian-born, world-famous actor Christopher Plummer died in early February of 2021 at
the age of 91.
As reported by Variety, he was in his Connecticut home when he passed away.
Though his career spanned decades and mediums, from Broadway to film, Pummer is perhaps best
known as Captain von Trapp from the movie adaptation of the musical The Sound of Music.
Plummer was also an Oscar winner, taking home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
in 2010 for the movie Beginners.
Additionally, many fans don't know that he also voiced the evil Charles Muntz in the
Pixar hit Up.
Lou Pitt, Plummer's manager, told Variety:
"Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great
old fashioned manners, self deprecating humor and the music of words.
He was a national treasure who deeply relished his Canadian roots.
Through his art and humanity, he touched all of our hearts and his legendary life will
endure for all generations to come."
Variety reported that actress Tanya Roberts collapsed while walking her dogs on December
24, 2020.
She was hospitalized for several days and died on the evening of Monday, January 4th,
2021 from a urinary tract infection that had spread to her bloodstream and several organs.
She was 65 years old.
Roberts began her career as a model and stage actress, but things really took off when she
played Bond Girl Stacey Sutton in the 1985 Bond flick A View to a Kill.
The bombshell then went on to warm hearts and crack smiles as Midge Pinciotti, hippie
mother to Donna, on That '70s Show.
"Oh my god!
Red!
Are you hurt?"
"Go, Bob!
Go!"
Another Bond Girl, Britt Ekland, tweeted about Roberts' death:
"Rip Tanya Roberts, once a Bond Girl always a Bond Girl."
Don Coscarelli, director of The Beastmaster, also responded to her passing:
"I just heard the sad news that actress Tanya Roberts passed away.
Tanya was a beautiful person, inside and out.
I will always remember Tanya for being incredibly sweet and for her genuine love of animals."
Dustin Diamond of Saved By the Bell fame died in early February of 2021 from carcinoma;
he was 44.
His representative shared:
"He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks
ago.
In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited
was its sharp and swift execution.
Dustin did not suffer."
Diamond's rep went on to mention his checkered past:
"His actions, though rebukable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process
that pain properly."
The representative was most likely referring to the actor's stint in jail after allegedly
attacking someone with a knife, his infamous sex tape that turned out not to be of him
at all, and his drama-inducing tell-all book Behind the Bell.
The representative concluded:
"Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always
left us shocked, but never left us bored.
We are thankful he trusted us enough to share his genuine, authentic self with our team."
Acting legend Cicely Tyson died at age 96 in January 2021.
She worked in entertainment for more than 60 years, dedicating her entire life to depicting
strong, inspiring Black women.
In a previous interview with People, she said of her work:
"It's very exciting to know that you are, hopefully, making a roadway for someone else
to follow."
Additionally, she was the first Black woman to be awarded an honorary Oscar, as well as
the first Black woman to win an Emmy for a lead role.
Tyson was also nominated for an Academy Award for Sounder.
Furthermore, she scored several Emmy nominations for her work in The Autobiography of Miss
Jane Pittman, Roots, and King.
She even won a Tony Award in 2013 for her work in the Broadway play The Trip to Bountiful.
Tyson revealed in an interview:
"I used my career as my platform in an effort to address [race and gender] [...] Every now
and then when I receive an achievement award I realize [...] the sacrifices that I made
as a result were worth it."
Peter Mark Richman, best known for playing Reverend Snow on Three's Company, died at
the age of 93 on Thursday, January 14, 2021.
His representatives said in a statement:
"Peter Mark's family would like to thank all those who have been expressing their condolences
and admiration for his extraordinary accomplishments.
The love he gave — to everything he did, and everyone he knew — will live forever."
The Philadelphia native was a pharmacist before he joined the Actors Studio in the '50s and
began an acting career that would include over 130 television credits.
Richman's first TV appearance was in 1956 in the show Friendly Persuasion, but he went
on to have roles in such hits as Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
He then gathered credits in numerous movies, ranging from The Strange One to Friday the
13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.
Richman was aware of his amazing life and career, writing in his memoir I Saw A Molten
White Light:
"God has been good to me, in everything."
Actor John Reilly died at age 84 on January 10, 2021.
Reilly's daughter, Caitlin Reilly, posted a heart-wrenching tribute to her father on
Instagram, writing,
"The brightest light in the world has gone out [...] Imagine the best person in the world.
Now imagine that person being your dad."
Reilly's acting career began in the '60s when he appeared on several then-popular TV shows
like Gunsmoke and Apple's Way.
However, it was his work on General Hospital that earned him lasting fame.
"I killed him.
I killed Robert, my best friend!
I killed him!"
John played WSB agent Sean Donely for over 11 years, but was written off of General Hospital
when he decided not to renew his contract in 1994.
He reprised his role for a brief moment when he appeared in the spinoff General Hospital:
Night Shift for one episode in 2008, and the General Hospital 50th anniversary special
in 2013.
Caitlin went on to say:
"I'm so grateful I got to love him.
I love you forever Daddy."
Dearon Thompson, better known as Deezer D, died at age 55 on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
According to TMZ, Deezer D's brother found him unresponsive in his LA home.
Though his brother also told TMZ that he believes he died of a heart attack, an official cause
of death has yet to be announced.
However, it would make sense that Deezer D died of heart problems, as back in 2009, he
told Radar Online that he'd gone through, quote, "over 10 episodes of heart failure
in the last eight months alone."
The actor added:
"I have a heart valve that is leaking and the aorta had expanded to way beyond what
it is supposed to be."
Deezer D appeared in 190 episodes of the hit TV drama ER as nurse Malik McGrath between
1994 and 2009.
In addition to his acting, Deezer D was a Christian rapper and motivational speaker.
His brother wrote a tribute on Instagram:
"My Big Brother!
God is with you.
I will miss you."
Police Academy actress Marion Ramsey died on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at the age of
73.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, she died at home in Los Angeles of unreported causes.
Ramsey's management team sent a statement to The Hollywood Reporter about the actress's
death:
"Marion carried with her a kindness and permeating light that instantly filled a room upon her
arrival.
The dimming of her light is already felt by those who knew her well.
We will miss her and always love her."
Marion Ramsey's first acting credit was one episode of The Jeffersons back in 1976.
And though she was a regular on Cos, Bill Cosby's sketch show, she is perhaps best known
for playing Officer Laverne Hooks in six Police Academy movies from 1984 to 1989.
She was also a voice over actress, playing characters in cartoon TV shows like The Addams
Family and Robot Chicken.
In addition to acting, she was also a devoted humanitarian, helping the annual Divas Simply
Singing event raise money to fight and prevent AIDS.
Actress Trisha Noble died from mesothelioma at the age of 76 in early February of 2021.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Noble was originally a singer who got her start on the Australian
variety show Bandstand.
Under her singing name Patsy Ann Noble, she had several pop hits down under, including
"Good Looking Boy" and "Busy Lips."
She was even awarded the Best Female Singer of the Year Logie — similar to an Emmy — in
1961.
It wasn't until she moved to America in 1967 that Noble became an actress.
According to her IMDb profile, some of Noble's earliest credits include TV shows like The
Rockford Files, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Columbo, and Casablanca.
However, it was her work in the Star Wars franchise that gave Noble a cult following.
She played Jobal Naberrie, mother to Natalie Portman's Padme Amidala, in Star Wars: Episode
II — Attack of the Clones and Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.