It's hard saying goodbye to stars who have provided so much joy to us throughout our
lives.
And it's always a shock to find out that one of your favorite celebrities has unexpectedly
passed away.
But paying tribute to these beloved entertainers is a way to keep their memory alive.
In that spirit, here's a look at some stars you may not know we lost in 2017.
Clay Adler
Reality star Clay Adler, who appeared on MTV's Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County, died
of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 26, 2017.
No drugs or alcohol were in Adler's system, but sources told TMZ that he suffered from
mental illness in the past.
Adler was close with actress Jennifer Lawrence, with whom he got his start in Hollywood, and
a source told Hollywood Life his death hit her hard.
"Clay brings Jennifer back to her humble beginnings and hearing that he took his own life really
has made Jennifer feel heartbroken."
Adler was just 27 years old.
Charlie Murphy
Comedian and Chappelle's Show star Charlie Murphy lost his battle with leukemia on April
12, 2017 at 57 years old.
The older brother of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, Charlie wrote for several of Eddie's
films including Vampire In Brooklyn and Norbit.
Besides starring in some of the most famous sketches on Chappelle's Show, Murphy was also
an accomplished voice actor, lending his talent to projects such as The Boondocks and Grand
Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Murphy's family told Entertainment Weekly in a statement, "Our hearts are heavy with
the loss today of our son, brother, father, uncle, and friend Charlie.
Charlie filled our family with love and laughter, and there won't be a day that goes by that
his presence will not be missed.
Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and prayers.
We respectfully ask for privacy during this time of great loss for all of us."
Erin Moran
Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi star Erin Moran was found dead in her home at age 56
on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
The cause was reportedly throat cancer.
Moran's life spiraled after her stardom began to fade, and she and her husband Steven Fleischman
lived in a trailer park towards the end of her life.
A source told People that Moran relied on a feeding tube in her final days.
Her Joanie Loves Chachi co-star Scott Baio paid tribute to Moran on Twitter.
"May people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal-loving soul.
I always hoped she could find peace in her life.
God has you now, Erin."
Michael Parks
TV and movie star Michael Parks died at the age of 77 on May 9, 2017 from unknown causes.
After star turns in the cult TV shows Then Came Bronson and Twin Peaks, Parks had a late
career revival in the '90s, becoming a muse for directors including Quentin Tarantino,
who cast Parks in From Dusk Til Dawn, Kill Bill volumes one and two, Grindhouse, and
Django Unchained.
And director Kevin Smith wrote the films Red State and Tusk for Parks, who continued working
right up until his death.
Robert Michael Morris
Robert Michael Morris, who starred on The Comeback, passed away on May 30, 2017 at 77
years old.
The Comeback writer Michael Patrick King told Deadline, "Robert Michael Morris was an inspiration
to write for and to be around.
His creativity was only matched by the joy and gratefulness he felt for each day he got
to live his life as an artist."
Co-star Lisa Kudrow tweeted, "We lost Robert Michael Morris today.
He left us with many wonderful gifts, most importantly, an example of what a truly good
soul looks like."
Powers Boothe
Character actor Powers Boothe passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017.
After winning the Best Actor In A Limited Series Emmy for his haunting portrayal of
Jim Jones in the 1980 mini-series Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, Boothe became a film
and television staple.
Among his most famous roles were appearances in Tombstone, Deadwood, and as Hydra leader
Gideon Malick in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
According to Variety, Boothe died in his sleep from natural causes.
He was 68.
Nelsan Ellis
True Blood star Nelsan Ellis died on July 8, 2017 due to heart failure and withdrawal
complications stemming from years of substance abuse, the actor's family confirmed to The
Hollywood Reporter.
Ellis' manager said in a statement, "Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul.
He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those that
were lucky enough to know him.
Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his
life.
His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary
tale in an attempt to help others."
He was 39 years old.
John Heard
Veteran actor John Heard, most famous for playing Tom Hanks' rival in Big and dad Peter
McAllister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was found dead from cardiac
arrest in a Palo Alto, California hotel room on July 21, 2017.
The 72-year-old, who earned an Emmy nomination in 1999 for a guest appearance on The Sopranos,
was reportedly recovering from back surgery.
Blake Heron
Former child actor Blake Heron, who became world famous overnight for his role as Marty
Preston in the 1996 family classic Shiloh, passed away unexpectedly on September 8, 2017.
Though he never replicated the success of Shiloh, Heron had seemingly avoided the child
actor stigma, appearing in dozens of film and television roles.
He recently appeared in the film A Thousand Junkies, and had reportedly just completed
rehab for a heroin addiction.
He was 35 years old.
Robert Hardy
Legendary actor Robert Hardy, perhaps best known for his role as Minister for Magic Cornelius
Fudge in the Harry Potter franchise, died on August 3, 2017 at 91 years old.
Over the course of a career that spanned seven decades, Hardy racked up nearly 140 film and
television credits, including the 1981 miniseries Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, which
won him a BAFTA for Best Actor.
Hardy's children released a statement that read in part, "Gruff, elegant, twinkly, and
always dignified, he is celebrated by all who knew him and loved him, and everyone who
enjoyed his work…
Dad is also remembered as a meticulous linguist, a fine artist, a lover of music and a champion
of literature, as well a highly respected historian, and a leading specialist on the
longbow."
If that's not a wonderful way to be remembered, nothing is.