2024 was a hard-hitting year with the amount of inspiring actors, musicians, and athletes the world lost.
Actress Maggie Smith tragically passed away on September 27th, 2024 in her home country of the United Kingdom. During her 89 year lifespan, she was a beloved actress who got her career started in theater then progressed to movies and television. She had a variety of roles, but her most well known is Professor McGonagall in seven of the eight Harry Potter films.
Smith’s legacy had a great impact on both the acting world and those in need. She won five Academy Awards, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, and many other acting awards. Professor McGonagall and Violet Crawley of the show Downton Abbey were her only long term roles, but she was heavily awarded for her performances in Othello, David Copperfield, and California Suite as well. Smith was also known to give back to the community. She donated to many charities in support of theater, fighting diseases, and natural disaster recovery.
News of Smith’s death shocked the world. King Charles III of England stated, “As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage.” Outdoor lights of Broadway and West End theaters across England were put out on October 1st as a moment of remembrance for Maggie Smith.
2024 came with the tragic losses of other talented actors as well. James Earl Jones, who most notably starred as the voice of Darth Vader, passed away on September 9th due to health complications. He will be remembered as a highly honored leader and inspiration for Black actors. Shelly Duval and Donald Sutherland, stars of The Shining and The Hunger Games trilogy respectively, also passed away this summer.
A musical artist that passed away this year was Kris Kristofferson. He died at the age of 88 on September 28th, 2024. He wrote and produced 21 country studio albums, many of which won Grammy awards and CMA’s.
Kristofferson’s music career started against the odds. His parents pushed him to pursue a full career in the military, where he would serve for five years. He left the army in 1965 in an attempt to reach his goal as a singer and songwriter, but it wasn’t easy. Dealing with the burden of abandonment from his parents, debt from a move across the country to Nashville, and the divorce of his wife, he had to work lots of low paying jobs to stay alive. One of those jobs was a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios. There his musical talent was recognized. Johnny Cash helped him record “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, which would win song of the year at the CMA’s in 1970. Kristofferson would evolve to become one of the most influential country singers of the 20th century.
Toby Keith was another country artist who passed away on February 5th of this year. He produced music from 1993 until his passing. Keith had a total of 20 singles that hit the top spot on the Billboard 100, and 18 others that made the chart but didn’t go number one. He worked with Willie Nelson throughout his career and was well respected by groundbreaking country musicians such as Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood.
Liam Payne suddenly passed away on October 16th, 2024. He got his start in music on the British vocal competition show The X Factor, where the incredibly famous boy band One Direction would form. He was one of the five members of the band. One Direction released five widely loved studio albums during their short lifespan as a band. The band separated in 2015. Payne began his solo career shortly after the band dissolved, releasing a total of 14 singles and one album. His last single was released on March 1st, 2024. It was the lead single for a planned 2nd album that has now been cut short.
Other musicians we lost this year were Eric Carmen, lead singer of the band Raspberries and singer/songwriter of the songs “Hungry Eyes” and “All By Myself,” and Mark James, who wrote over 200 songs for Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Jay-Z, and other artists.
Bill Walton was a two-time NBA champion, MVP, and All-Star. He passed away on May 27, 2024. Walton got his start with sports at an early age. He played basketball in elementary, middle, and high school, where he was also a star football player. He went on to play basketball at UCLA where he helped win 2 national titles. Walton was the 1st overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, taken by the Portland Trail Blazers. It was with the Trail Blazers that he would win one national title and both MVP awards. He was then traded to the Boston Celtics where he won one more NBA championship, then retired as a Celtic.
Walton is considered by many to be one of the greatest NBA players of all time. After retiring from basketball, he became a sports broadcaster for over 30 years, announcing both NBA and college basketball games. He even won an Emmy for his broadcasting. In 1993, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
While these people aren’t with us anymore, efforts are being made to continue their legacy and bring honor to their names.
