An English footballer who won the World Cup; a US star of one of the most successful sitcoms of all time; a million-selling singer whose career spanned five decades; and the designer who brought the miniskirt to the high street – here are some of the familiar faces who are no longer with us.
An English footballer who won the World Cup; a US star of one of the most successful sitcoms of all time; a million-selling singer whose career spanned five decades; and the designer who brought the miniskirt to the high street – here are some of the familiar faces who are no longer with us.
Stage & Screen
Those we remember include Barry Humphries, the comic genius behind Dame Edna Everage; Friends star Matthew Perry; screen siren Raquel Welch; and Oscar-winning actress and politician Glenda Jackson.
Matthew Perry
Perry, the sitcom star of the hit series Friends, was famous for playing the brainy neurotic Chandler Bing. In 2022, he wrote a candid memoir about the addiction that had plagued him for most of his adult life.
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Michael Gambon
The Dublin-born actor is known for his work on stage and screen – Sir Michael Gambon played the title character in Dennis Potter's television play The Singing Detective and Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter films .
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Raquel Welch
The American actress rose to fame after playing the role of a bikini-clad cavewoman in the 1966 film One Million Years BC. Her status as a sex symbol sometimes overshadowed her talent as an actress – but she won a Golden Globe for “The Three Musketeers” and showcased her comedic flair on TV shows like “The Muppet Show” and “Seinfeld.”
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George Alagiah
One of the BBC's longest-serving and most respected journalists, Alagiah presented BBC News at Six for 20 years. He was previously an award-winning foreign correspondent, reporting from countries ranging from Rwanda to Iraq.
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comedy
Looking back at the man behind Dame Edna and Sir Les; the most famous television impressionist of the 1970s; and popular comedian and presenter Paul O'Grady.
Barry Humphries
Australian comedian and actor, better known to many as his alter ego, housewife superstar Dame Edna Everage. Humphries also created Sir Les Paterson, Australia's red-faced “cultural attache”.
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Music
Our review includes legendary New York crooner Tony Bennett; rock and soul legend Tina Turner; and two of Ireland's most famous musical personalities – Sinéad O'Connor and Shane MacGowan.
Sinéad O'Connor
Irish singer-songwriter known for her powerful and soulful voice. O'Connor's biggest hit was a 1990 cover of the Prince song Nothing Compares 2 U. Her musical successes were often overshadowed by her outspoken advocacy on issues such as abuse and religion, as well as her personal struggles.
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Tina Turner
Singer who sold several million records and bridged the gap between soul and rock music. Turner first rose to fame in the 1960s while performing with her husband Ike. Due to his abusive behavior, she fled the marriage and reinvented herself as a solo artist starting in the 1980s, with hits such as “Private Dancer” and “Simply the Best.”
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Shane MacGowan
Singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, a band whose combination of Irish folk and punk rock brought them critical and commercial success in the 1980s and 1990s, and a Christmas song for the ages, Fairytale of New York.
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Burt Bacharach
One of the greatest pop composers of the 20th century. His hits include “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie,” “The Look of Love” and “Walk on By.” Among the many singers he worked with were Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones and Elvis Costello. Bacharach's jazz-influenced style was unmistakable. The secret of his success? “Never be afraid of something you can whistle.”
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Tony Bennett
Legendary crooner, described by Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business.” During a career that spanned eight decades, Bennett sold millions of records and won 20 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.
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politics
That year, the first female Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, died; former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Silvio Berlusconi
Controversial Italian media tycoon who entered politics and became his country's longest-serving postwar prime minister. Despite sex scandals and corruption cases, Berlusconi led four governments between 1994 and 2011.
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Write
Novelists and poets who died this year include Martin Amis; Booker Prize winner AS Byatt; and dubbing poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
Achievers
Fashion legend Mary Quant, who dressed “swinging” London; the flamboyant millionaire owner of Harrods and Fulham FC, Mohamed Al Fayed; and one of the original supermodels, Tatjana Patitz.
Sports
England's World Cup hero Bobby Charlton; John Motson, the “Voice of Football” on TV; and Bishan Singh Bedi, one of the world's best spin bowlers of all time.
Bobby Charlton
Football legend, considered by some to be England's greatest ever player. Charlton won 106 caps for his country, most notably winning the 1966 World Cup final. During his 17-year career in Manchester United's first team, Sir Bobby also won three league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup.
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Credits
Photography: Getty Images, Alamy, Shutterstock, PA Images, Portal, BBC, British Parliament, ITV
Illustrator: Jenny Law
Development: Andrew Harris
Produced and edited by James Percy and Ben Milne