While there are several months still left in the year, 2017 has already seen the loss of a number of beloved stars.
A handful of Hollywood icons, legendary musicians, and other famous personalities have gone too soon. These stars may no longer be living, but their legacy will live on with the incredible impact left on their families, fans, and friends.
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The Playboy founder, who was commonly referred to as “Hef,” passed away at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles on September 27. He was 91 years old.
The musician, who was one-half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry, was killed in a tragic helicopter accident on September 8.
Gentry was 50-years-old and is survived by his wife and two children.
Keep scrolling to see a list of stars that have died in 2017.
Celebrity Deaths 2017
The actor passed away on July 21 at the age of 72. Two days prior, Heard had undergone back surgery. He was best known for playing theย McCallisterย family patriarch in the original Home Alone movies. Also, in 1999, he was nominated for aย Primetimeย Emmyย for his role onย The Sopranos.
Hardy was most known for his portrayal of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in four of theย Harry Potterย films.
He passed away at the age of 91. His family released a statement on August 3 to describe the actor. “Gruff, elegant,ย twinkly, and always dignified, he is celebrated by all who knew him and loved him, and everyone who enjoyed his work,” the statement read.
On July 27, the playwright, actor, and director died at the age of 73. He had been battlingย ALS. In 1979, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his stage play Buried Child. He was also recognized by The Academy when he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role inย The Right Stuff, a 1983 historical drama.
The formerย Linkinย Parkย frontmanย was found dead on July 20 at his California home. He was 41 at the time of his death, which was ruled as a suicide by theย Losย Angelesย coroner. He is survived by his wife,ย Talinda, and his six children. His most well-known songs were the band’s hits including “Numb,” “In the End,” and “Crawling.”
Celebrity Deaths 2017 (cont.)
At the age of 39, Ellis died after suffering complications from heart failure. His most notable acting role was inย HBO’sย True Blood.
His manager, Emilyย Gersonย Saines, gave a statement toย Us Weeklyย about the late actor, “He was not only a gifted artist, but he was a very special person with a kind and gentle soul.”
On July 1, theย YouTubeย star died at the age of 33. Her death was ruled as a suicide by hanging, according to theย Losย Angelesย County Coroner’s Office. Ryan will also be remembered for her VH1 sketch comedy series titledย Stevieย TV. Her impressions of celebrities such as Justinย Bieber, Amyย Winehouse, and Lady Gaga were among her best.
Adam West
After a short battle with leukemia, theย Batmanย star passed away at the age of 88 on June 9. He was best known for playing the “Caped Crusader” himself on the 1960s DC Comics TV series and later voiced Quahog Mayor Adam West on Sethย MacFarlane’sย Family Guy.
Celebrity Deaths 2017 (cont.)
On May 17, theย Soundgardenย lead singer died only hours after performing a sold-out show in Detroit. The “Black Hole Sun” artist was found by a family friend in the bathroom of his room at the
The “Black Hole Sun” artist was found by a family friend in the bathroom of his room at theย MGMย Grand Hotel. The cause of death was ruled as a suicide, and his widow, Vicky Cornell, issued a statement saying that prescription drugs such asย Ativanย could have factored in his death.
Christopher “Big Black”ย Boykin
After suffering from heart failure, theย Rob & Bigย star passed away on May 9 at age 45. He rose to fame on theย MTVย reality series, that run from 2006 to 2008, as Robย Dyrdek’sย best friend and bodyguard.
At age 42, the former member of hip-hop groupย Mobbย Deep,ย died on June 20. “It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duoย Mobbย Deep,” his publicist said in a statement. “Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Vegas after aย Mobbย Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis. As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth.”
Celebrity Deaths 2017 (cont.)
On April 22, theย Happy Daysย alum was found dead at her Harrison County, Indiana. She was 56 and passed from complications with stage IV cancer.
She will be most remembered forย roleย asย Joanieย Cunningham on the ’70s sitcom and later starred in theย spinoffย Joanieย Lovesย Chachi, alongside Scottย Baio.
After battling leukemia, the 57-year-old comedian passed away at anย NYCย hospital on April 12. Murphy, who is the older brother of Hollywood superstar Eddie Murphy, will be remembered for his hilarious skits onย Chappelle’sย Showย and for co-writing some of his brother’s movies such asย Vampire in Brooklynย andย Norbit.
On January 27, the British actor passed away at the age of 77. In June of 2015, the Alien star announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Throughout his career, Hurt was nominated for two Oscars for his roles inย Midnight Expressย andย Elephant Man.
The Sopranosย actor passed away on Wednesday of this week. He was 78-years-old and died while undergoing open-heart surgery after suffering a heart attack.
Celebrity Deaths 2017 (cont.)
The comedy icon died in hisย Lasย Vegas home on August 20 after suffering health issues for many years.
In addition to his philanthropic work, Lewis will be remembered for his talents as an actor, singer, director and for his films including The Nutty Professor andย Cinderfella.
The country music legend passed away on August 8 at age 81. He had been suffering for a years-long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Other stars that have passed away this year include: Bernie Casey (actor), Joseph Bologna (actor), Jay Thomas (comedian), June Foray (actress), Barbara Sinatra (socialite), Martin Landau (actor), Glenneย Headlyย (actress), Michael Nance (reality star), Henryย Deutschendorfย (actor), Stephenย Furstย (actor), Roger Smith (actor), Danny Dias (reality star), Peterย Sallisย (actor), Butch Trucks and Greggย Allmanย (musicians), Steven Holcomb (Olympic gold medalist) and Cubaย Goodingย Sr.
