The Australian and Hollywood stars we lost in 2024
A number of our beloved stars took their final bows this year. Here, we reflect on some famous lives well lived in Hollywood and across Australia.
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In 2024, a number of our beloved stars took their final bows. Here, we reflect on some famous lives well lived in Hollywood and across Australia.
MAGGIE TABBERER
Fashion icon and Australia’s first real supermodel Maggie Tabberer died on December 6 just days before her 88th birthday.
Tabberer was one of the most influential fashion editors in the history of the Women’s Weekly and the first cover model for Australian Vogue.
She was also a television personality, winning the Gold Logie twice, and launched her own plus-size fashion label – Maggie T – in the 1980s.
Tabberer is a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to not only the Australian fashion industry, but to multiple charitable causes.
FATMAN SCOOP
The American hip hop star, whose real name was Isaac Freeman III, died on August 30.
Best known for his single Be Faithful, the recording artist was only 56 when he succumbed to heart disease.
Fatman Scoop collaborated with the likes of Missy Elliott, Ciara and Mariah Carey throughout his career.
While he had suffered heart disease for some time, Fatman Scoop’s death came as a shock.
He collapsed on stage mid-concert in Connecticut and to the devastation of his fans, he was unable to be revived.
JOHN BLACKMAN
The voice of Hey Hey It’s Saturday, John Blackman, died on June 4, aged 76.
Blackman’s career spanned radio, television and the comedy circuit, but he was best known for his voiceover work on the iconic Aussie television show – most especially his stick puppet called Dickie Knee.
He was last heard on radio on the MAGIC stations in Brisbane and Melbourne in 2016.
LEX MARINOS
The actor best known for his portrayal of Bruno, the Italian son-in-law of Ted Bullpitt in 1980s Aussie comedy Kingswood Country died on September 13, aged 75.
Marinos was also a radio presenter on the station now known as Triple J back when it was still called Double Jay in the 1970s.
IAN PARMENTER
The well-known celebrity chef died on April 13, aged 79. He rose to national prominence in the 1990s as the host of ABC TV’s Consuming Passions, which aired for 450 episodes between 1992 and 2001. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011.
TROY BECKWITH
The Neighbours star died at just 48 when he died on January 24 following a secret battle with cancer.
Beckwith was best known for being the second actor to play the soap’s infamous villain Michael Martin – “Sicko Micko” – from 1992 to 1998.
Sicko Micko was actually the second role Beckwith had on Neighbours, initially appearing as school bully Darren Wood in a number of episodes.
PIXIE SKASE
The widow of infamous Aussie fugitive Christopher Skase died at age 83 on November 15.
Ms Skase fled to Spain with her husband after his business collapsed owing millions and lived there with him for 17 years until his death of stomach cancer.
She returned to live in Melbourne in 2009 in a modest home in Toorak which was a far cry from her former life as a wealthy socialite with a private jet on call and hosting lavish parties.
GAVIN WEBB
The bassist from Australian band The Masters Apprentices died aged 77 after a lengthy cancer battle.
Webb, who died on April 15, and his band were among the first to be inducted to the ARIA Hall of Fame.
In a Facebook post, the band said he would be greatly missed. “Gavin leaves behind an incredible musical legacy which will live forever in Australia’s music history,” their tribute post read.
The rock band were best known for their hit Turn Up Your Radio.
OJ SIMPSON
The notorious former football star – who was sensationally acquitted of the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman – died of cancer on April 9 aged 76.
He made headlines around the globe when in 1994 he led police on a two-hour chase following the deaths of Goldman and Brown for which he would later be found civilly liable.
Simpson was defended at his criminal trial by late celebrity lawyer Robert Kardashian, father of Kim, despite Brown being best friends with Kardashian’s ex-wife and mother of his children Kris Jenner.
GRAHAM ‘SPIDER’ WEBB
The Australian radio and TV legend died aged 88 on April 25.
Webb enjoyed a seven-decade career that included working on UK pirate station Radio Caroline, pioneering the music video show Sound Unlimited, hosting Blind Date and Jeopardy, and co-founding Sunshine FM.
BRIAN WENZEL
The death of the beloved Australian actor on May 5 came just weeks shy of his 95th birthday.
Wenzel famously played Sergerant Frank Gilroy on popular TV drama A Country Practice, which ran from 1981 to 1993. He won a Silver Logie for his role.
IGNATIUS JONES
The Jimmy and the Boys singer turned artistic director died on May 6 at his home in the Philippines aged 67.
In the first phase of his career, Jones and his band were known for their hits I’m Not Like Everybody Else (1979) and They Won’t Let My Girlfriend Talk To Me (1981).
After pivoting to become a creative and artistic director he was involved in Sydney events including the Olympics, New Year’s Eve and Vivid.
JACK COLWELL
The rising Australian musical talent died far too young at age 34 on October 2. As of late 2024, his cause of death had not been made public.
Colwell, who released the well-received studio album Swandream in 2020, had told fans a new album “isn’t too far off” just a week before his death.
Sarah Blasko, who produced Swandream, said the young singer-songwriter “possessed the charm of a thousand princes and a musical spirit like no other”.
NATHAN TEMPLETON
The popular Channel 7 sports reporter died at just 44 after suffering a medical episode while walking his pet dog.
The passionate Geelong supporter was known for his work on Sunrise, the Seven news sports bulletins and his role as a correspondent for major events including Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
He was working in an off camera role for Seven at the time of his unexpected death.
BEV BROCK
The long-time partner of Aussie racing legend Peter Brock died aged 77 on April 7.
Although she was never legally married to the motorsport great, Ms Brock changed her name via deed poll, and always referred to herself as his wife. The couple shared two children together.
Ms Brock was a constant in the pits at Australian motor racing events in the 1970s and ’80s.
She died following a two-year battle with cancer.
DONALD SUTHERLAND
The veteran actor’s death on June 19 at age 88 was announced by his son and fellow actor Keifer.
“Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that,” Keifer said.
Sutherland had almost 200 acting credits to his name, from The Dirty Dozen to The Hunger Games.
CHITA RIVERA
The queen of Broadway, best known for pioneering the roles of Velma Kelly in Chicago and Anita in West Side Story, died on January 30 at 91.
The American star of Latina heritage also starred in Bye, Bye Birdie on stage and in the film Sweet Charity alongside Shirley MacLaine.
Rivera published her memoir last year and continued to act on Broadway until 2015.
TITO JACKSON
The brother to the late Michael Jackson and founding member of the Jackson 5, Tito died on September 15 at age 70.
As one of 10 Jackson siblings, Tito was musical from a young age and while several of his brothers would switch in and out of the band, he was one of its most consistent singers.
Tito had some success as a solo artist and was a judge on British TV singing competition show Just the Two of Us.
NOELINE DONAHER
The star of groundbreaking Aussie reality TV series Sylvania Waters actually died in May 2023 but the country did not learn of her fate until June this year.
Ms Donaher and her husband Laurie allowed a film crew to capture everyday life in their south Sydney family home – an unheard -of concept in the early 1990s.
The resulting reality TV show sent shockwaves around the world with many reflecting on what went on behind closed doors after the series depicted much arguing and alcohol consumption.
MICHAEL MOSLEY
The British celebrity doctor died on June 5 after collapsing while walking alone on a remote Greek island, sparking a desperate search.
Dr Mosley was beloved around the world, including Down Under, where he starred on Australia’s Health Revolution.
The 67-year-old was a pioneer of the intermittent fasting and keto methods of weight loss.
Despite holding a medical degree, Dr Mosley never practised and instead spread his knowledge as a TV and radio presenter.
MAGGIE SMITH
Dame Maggie Smith died on September 27, aged 89, after an incredible 70-year career on the stage and screen. The two-time Oscar winner was best known as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies as well as her roles in Downton Abbey and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. She was made a dame by Queen Elizabeth in 1990. Her final film was The Miracle Club which was released in 2023.
QUINCY JONES
The American record producer was one of the most decorated in his field receiving a whopping 28 Grammy Awards, seven Oscars and four Golden Globes.
Jones died peacefully at home on November 3, aged 91.
The music giant was best known for producing Michael Jackson’s iconic album Thriller.
In an epic career spanning 75 years, he also worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner.
SHANNEN DOHERTY
The beloved star of Charmed died on July 13, aged 53, after a much publicised battle with breast cancer.
Doherty was a child star who found fame in Little House on the Prairie. She was perhaps best known for playing Brenda in Beverly Hills 90210.
The actor had battled cancer since 2015, going into remission in 2017 only for it to re-emerge two years later.
The three-times married actor was going through a bitter divorce with her photographer husband Kurt Iswarienko when she died, which was only officially finalised two days after her death.
GEORGE NEGUS
The veteran journalist left behind the incredible legacy of heading up some of the most influential news and current affairs programs in Australia.
He began his media career as a print journalist writing for The Australian, but became a household name on This Day Tonight in the ’60s and ’70s.
He was a founding correspondent for 60 Minutes when it launched in 1979 and long-time anchor of Foreign Correspondent and Dateline.
He died on October 15, aged 82, following a battle with Alzheimer’s.
JANET ANDREWARTHA
The beloved Neighbours stalwart died on July 26, aged 72, after a short cancer battle.
Best known for her iconic role as Lyn Scully on Ramsay Street, Andrewartha first shot to prominence as Rebecca “Reb” Kean in Prisoner.
The respected Australian actor was also prolific on the stage and made appearances in other local TV dramas including A Country Practice and Blue Heelers.
JAMES EARL JONES
The voice behind one of the most iconic characters of our times, James Earl Jones, died on September 8.
The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony recipient enjoyed a string of film credits but was notably the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa from The Lion King.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, posted simply: “RIP Dad.”
LIAM PAYNE
The One Direction star died aged just 31 when he fell from the balcony of his room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16 with a cocktail of drugs and alcohol in his system.
Payne was in Argentina to watch his former bandmate Niall Horan perform a concert, and as 2024 drew to a close, prosecutors were still working on criminal charges in relation to the case.
The singer shot to fame aged 14 when he was plucked from obscurity and placed in a boy band along with fellow contestants on the British version of X Factor.
One Direction would go on to achieve global fame before going on a hiatus in 2016 so its members could pursue solo careers.
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Originally published as The Australian and Hollywood stars we lost in 2024
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