Stars We've Lost in 2022

The veteran character actor died on Feb. 27, after a battle with cancer. He was 65. Eisenberg is best known for playing Defense Attorney Roger Kressler on Law & Order: SVU. His most recent role came as Detective Hauser in the acclaimed miniseries Mare of Easttown, as well as a recurring role as Lou Rabinowitz on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Additional TV credits include The Night Of, Little Voice, Person of Interest, The Black Donnellys, The Plot Against America, The Blacklist, Elementary, Bull, White Collar, The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, 30 Rock, The Big C, and New Amsterdam, to name just a few. Eisenberg also had a substantial career as a character actor on the big screen with memorable roles in Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Flags of Our Fathers. He also acted in Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, Limitless,  Primary Colors, A Civil Action and many more. Eisenberg is survived by his wife, Patricia, and his son, Lino.

The acclaimed rock vocalist, best known for founding the proto-grunge band Screaming Trees and his work as one of the members of Queens of the Stoneage, died on Feb. 22. He was 57. The news was shared in a statement posted to his Twitter account, which read, "Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland.  A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley." Lanegan's music career began in 1984 with his band Screaming Trees, which released seven studio albums before splitting up in 2000. Lanegan then embarked on a well-received solo career, which included eleven solo albums.

The actress, known for her roles in Empire, General Hospital, and Selena: The Series, was found dead on Feb. 18, days after being reported missing. She was 43. A cause of death for the actress was not immediately known and will be determined by the coroner. In her career, Pearlman held roles on General Hospital and Chicago Justice. In addition, Pearlman's acting credits include roles on Sneaky Pete, American Housewife, Vicious, The Purge anthology series and BET+'s The Ms. Pat Show.

The celebrated American journalist, political writer and satirist died on Feb. 15, following a battle with lung cancer. He was 74. The conservative-leaning humorist and political journalist's accomplished career began in 1973, when he began writing for National Lampoon. O'Rourke later served as the foreign-affairs desk chief at Rolling Stone from the early '80s until 2001. During his time at the publication, he covered several military actions including the Gulf War, and penned two New York Times bestselling books, Parliament of Whores and Give War a Chance. Over the course of his career, O'Rourke penned 16 books about politics and American culture, and penned countless articles. He was also a frequent guest on the NPR topical game show Wait...Wait Don't Tell Me. O'Rourke is survived by his wife, Tina, and their three children -- daughters Elizabeth and Olivia and son Clifford.

The acclaimed director and producer, responsible for some of the most beloved comedies of all time, died in his sleep at his home in Montecito, California, on Feb. 12, while surrounded by family. He was 75. One of Reitman's first big successes came in 1978 with the raunchy college comedy National Lampoon's Animal House, which he produced. The film became a comedy classic, and led to Reitman helming Meatballs in 1979, where he directed Bill Murray in his first leading role. Reitman and Murray would go on to work together again in 1981 on Stripes before teaming up for the beloved comedy horror Ghostbusters in 1984. Ghostbusters would go on to establish a franchise, with a sequel Reitman directed in 1989, followed by animated television shows, video games, a reboot/sequel -- directed by Paul Feig and executive produced by Reitman -- in 2016. The long-awaited follow-up, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, was released last year and was helmed by his son, four-time Oscar nominee Jason Reitman. Reitmans's additional directorial credits include Twins (1988), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Dave (1993), Junior (1994), Evolution (2001), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), the romantic comedy No Strings Attached (2011), among others. His final directorial effort came in 2014, with the sports drama Draft Day, starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner.

The funk singer and ex-wife of Miles Davis died on Feb. 8 in Homestead, Pennsylvania. She was 77. Davis graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and went on to work as a model, appearing in Glamour and Seventeen, and working for designers including Halston and Betsey Johnson. She married Miles Davis, nearly two decades her senior, in 1968. They divorced the following year. Davis recorded most of her music catalogue between 1964 and 1975, releasing her self-titled debut album in 1973. She was known for songs including 1973's "If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up" and 1975's "Shut Off the Lights. Davis' music was featured in television series such as Orange Is the New Black, Girlboss, Mixed-ish and High Fidelity. She was the subject of a 2017 documentary film, Betty: They Say I'm Different.
 

The Miss USA 2019 winner died on Jan. 30, after falling from a high floor of her New York City apartment. She was 30. Kryst's family released a statement to Extra, remembering her life and legacy. "She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined. Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague," the statement shared. "We know her impact will live on." Kryst was born in Jackson, Michigan, and went on to graduate with honors from the University of South Carolina. She later graduated with degrees from the Darla Moore School of Business and Wake Forest University School of Law. She was crowned Miss USA in 2019, and used her platform as the winner to speak out on social justice issues and bring light to causes that she felt passionate about.

The actor and comedian, best known for playing disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, died Jan. 29, from complications of colon surgery. He was 81. Hesseman was beloved for his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which revolved around the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The series, which premiered in 1978 and aired for four seasons until 1982, received 10 Emmy Award nominations -- Hesseman received two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981 -- and won a Humanitas Prize. Hesseman also played the lead role of history teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class from 1986 to 1990. His other memorable roles included playing Sam Royer on the last two seasons of One Day at a Time, and his role as Captain Pete Lassard in the 1985 comedy Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment. Hesseman is survived by his wife, actress Caroline Ducrocq.
 

The iconic French fashion designer and perfume creator died on Jan. 23. He was 73. Born Manfred Thierry Mugler, the Strasbourg-bred designer began crafting clothing in 1970s but it wasn't until the '80s and '90s that he became an internationally recognized designer, creating clothing for Demi Moore in films like Indecent Proposal and on the red carpet for Sharon Stone, David Bowie, George Michael and more, with Tyra Banks and Cindy Crawford among the top models of the time to wear his looks on the runway. Mugler left fashion in 2003, but still collaborated with celebs and even launched his own beauty line that has since released a host of fragrances, including Angel and Alien. In recent years, stars like Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, Beyoncé, Robin Wright, Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga, Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus have all rocked his ensembles.

The comedian and actor died due to complications from blood cancer on Jan. 21. He was 68. His rep, Glenn Schwartz, told ET that Anderson died "peacefully" in Las Vegas. Anderson is best known for his role as Maurice in Coming to America and Coming 2 America, as well as the role of Christine Baskets on the series Baskets, which earned him an Emmy. Anderson also had roles on the shows Search Party, Young Sheldon, Touched by an Angel, Chicago Hope, and Grace Under Fire, as well as a memorable cameo in the hit 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He's also the author of bestselling books Dear Dad -- Letters From an Adult Child, Goodbye Jumbo... Hello Cruel World, The F Word, How to Survive Your Family, and Hey Mom. He is survived by his two sisters, Lisa and Shanna Anderson. 

The legendary musician died in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 20. He was 74. Meat Loaf's manager, Michael Greene, confirmed the news on Facebook the day after his death. Meat Loaf's album, Bat Out of Hell, is one of the top selling records of all time. His best known song is "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," which marked his only single to top the Billboard 100 chart and earn him a GRAMMY in 1994. The artist -- whose real name was Marvin Lee Aday -- also appeared in several television shows and films, including the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fight Club and Wayne's World. The musician had acknowledged in the past that physical problems had affected his ability to perform. In 2016, Meat Loaf collapsed at a concert in Canada and was admitted to the hospital. The cause was dehydration, a spokesperson said at the time. In November 2021, Meat Loaf posted on Facebook that he'd had four back surgeries and planned to be back in the studio in 2022. Meat Loaf is survived by his wife, Deborah Gillespie, and daughters Pearl and Amanda Aday from his previous marriage.

The French actor, who stars in the upcoming Marvel series Moon Knight, died on Jan. 19 after a skiing accident the day prior, his family confirmed to AFP. He was 37. The actor was hospitalized Tuesday after suffering a head injury and did not recover. He was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grenoble, France, following a collision on the slopes in the Savoie region of the country. In 2005, Ulliel won the first of his two César awards, the French equivalent of the Oscar, for his work in A Very Long Engagement. He won his second in 2017 for his performance in It's Only the End of the World. In addition to those projects, Ulliel was known for his roles as the young Hannibal Lecter in 2007's Hannibal Rising, and as fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic Saint Laurent. He was also the face of Chanel's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel. He is survived by his 6-year-old son, Orso, and his girlfriend, Gaelle Petri.

The voice actor, and the original voice of Charlie Brown, died on Jan 18. He was 65. Robbins (real name Louis G. Nanasi) started his career as the beloved cartoon character in the '60s. He voiced Charlie Brown in the holiday classics A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown as well as in the feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown. In addition to lending his voice to the iconic Peanuts character, Robbins' other credits included Blondie, The Munsters, Get Smart and My Three Sons. He quit acting in 1972, and struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, which lead to multiple legal issues and run-ins with the law.

The former Vogue editor and creative director died on Jan. 18 at a hospital in White Plains, New York. He was 73. Talley's vision helped transform Vogue in the '80s and '90s as he worked his way up at the magazine to eventually become news director, a position he held from 1983 until 1987, before taking on the role of Vogue's creative director in 1988. Talley later became editor-at-large at the magazine and worked on-and-off for Vogue until leaving the publication in 2013. Even after he left the company, Talley continued contributing to Vogue and appeared on several podcasts for the publication. Talley was not only seen as a fashion icon for his incomparable wears, but for the barriers he broke at the magazine and elsewhere on the world's runways by pushing top designers to have more black models in their shows. The fashion journalist also notably advised the Obama family during their time in the White House, where he introduced Michelle Obama to the Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu, who designed her inaugural gown. 

The actress, known for her roles in films during the blaxploitation era in the '70s, died on Jan. 14. She was 76. Speed was best known for her starring role as the title character in the 1974 horror film Abby, which was about a woman who is possessed by an African sex spirit. Other memorable movies she starred in include 1973's The Mack and 1974's Black Samson. Speed is survived by her grandson, Marc Speed, and her sister, Barbara Morrison.

The songwriter best known for being part of The Five Satins and its 1956 ballad "In the Still of the Night," died on Jan. 13, following a brief illness. He was 85. "Sadly the music world lost one of the greats yesterday as Fred Parris passed away after a brief illness," a statement posted to the group's Facebook page read. "Fred's classic song 'In the Still of the Night' has been recognized as one of the greatest love songs of all time and the number one requested song of the doo-wop era." The track was featured in the Dirty Dancing, The Irishman and The Buddy Holly Story, but the song, recorded in the basement of a Connecticut church, wasn't so popular upon its initial release. In fact, Parris, who was on military leave when he recorded the classic track, was back on active duty and in Japan by the time the song took off. According to Billboard, the song hit No. 3 on the R&B charts and No. 24 on the top charts. "In the Still of the Night" is also the only song to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 three separate times (1956, 1960, 1961).

The Bachelorette contestant -- who competed for Kaitlyn Bristowe's heart on season 11 of the ABC reality dating series -- died on Jan. 11. He was 34. His sister, Taylor Lulek, revealed the news in a Facebook post, alongside a photo of her and her brother as children. "It is with great sadness, to tell you that my family has lost my best friend and older brother Clint on the morning of January 11th," she wrote. "Please respect our family's privacy as we try to cope with this great loss."
 

The music icon died on Jan. 12, following a brief battle with cancer. She was 78. The news was confirmed by a statement from her family on her official website. Spector and her sister, Estelle Bennett, along with their cousin, Nedra Talley, formed the girl group The Ronettes in 1957. The group went on to record a number of big hits in the 1960s, including "Be My Baby," "The Best Part of Breakin' Up," "Baby I Love You," and "Walking in the Rain," among others. In 1967, The Ronettes broke up, while Spector changed her focus and embarked on a solo career. She released her first solo album, Siren, in 1980, which was followed by Unfinished Business (1987), Something's Gonna Happen (2003), The Last of the Rock Stars (2006) and English Heart (2016). She also released the EPs She Talks to Rainbows in 1999, and Best Christmas Ever in 2010. Spector released a memoir in 1990, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette, detailing her life in the public eye. She and her fellow Ronettes were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

The celebrated comedian and sitcom star died on Jan. 9. He was 65. Saget was found unresponsive in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, one day after performing in Jacksonville to an arena crowd. While his cause of death was unknown, the Orange County Sheriff's Office stated that "detectives found no signs of foul play or drug use." Saget first gained fame in 1987 when he was cast to play Danny Tanner on the hit ABC sitcom Full House. He became an even more ingrained household name as the host of America's Funniest Home Videos beginning in 1989. Saget enjoyed a long and celebrated career as a stand-up comedian while working in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera. In 2005, he was cast to voice the narrator in the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which ran for nine seasons. He is survived by his wife, Kelly Rizzo, and three daughters -- Aubrey, Lara and Jennifer -- from his previous marriage.

The award-winning lyricist with Oscars, GRAMMYs and Emmys to her name, died on Jan. 8 at her home in Los Angeles, with her husband and partner, Alan Bergman, and their daughter, Julie Bergman, by her side. She was 93. Bergman and her husband were a driving force in Hollywood, racking up 16 Academy Award nominations. They won three Oscars for the tracks "The Windmills of Your Mind" in The Thomas Crown Affair, "The Way We Were" in the Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford film that shared the same title, and the score to Streisand's Yentl. Marilyn was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980.

The Oscar-winning actor, writer, director and activist, died on Jan. 6. Clint Watson, press secretary for the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, confirmed Poitier's death to ET.

The film and TV icon made history in 1964 as the first Black actor, and the first Bahamian, to win an Oscar and Golden Globe in a leading role, which he earned for Lilies of the Field. He became one of Hollywood’s leading men starring in a heap of classic films including,To Sir With Love, Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

The Oscar-nominated director, critic and actor died at this home in Los Angeles on Jan. 6. He was 82. He was a two-time Academy Award nominee with a career that spanned over 60 years. Bogdanovich's second film, The Last Picture Show, earned eight Academy Award nominations, including nominations for directing and adapted screenplay for him personally. From there, he directed Hollywood classics such as Paper Moon, Saint Jack and Daisy Miller. His last director's credit came from 2014's She’s Funny That Way. As well as his accomplishments as a filmmaker and actor, Bogdonavich was also a celebrated author who penned 10 books, mostly related to filmmaking and media. He is survived by his two children, Sashy and Antonia.

The Korean actress, best known for her role on the Disney+ series Snowdrop, died on Jan. 5. She was 29. On Snowdrop, which also stars BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Kim played Yeo Jungmin, a student activist who shares a dormitory with Jisoo’s character, Young-ro. Snowdrop was Kim’s final on-screen appearance before her death. Her other credits include films Memories and Kyungmi’s World as well as the drama series Human Luwak, Hi Bye, Mama! and Into the Ring.

Murley, who entertained the world of TikTok with her dancing and cooking videos, died at her home in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada on Jan. 2. She was 36. Known by most as "Candi," Murley gained TikTok fame for cooking and dancing videos, occasionally taking to the app to sing as well. Her sister, Marsha McEvoy, shared a post about Murley's death, which she said was "very unexpected" and comes as a "massive shock" to their family. Murley had two TikTok accounts with a total of roughly 44,000 followers, but what she loved even more than entertaining her followers, according to McEvoy, was her son, Maxwell.