Stars We Lost This Year: 5 Shocking Celebrity Deaths in 2024

A few notable celebrities’ passing has left Hollywood mourning. The year 2024 saw the passing of many stars who have touched the lives of millions with their talents and personas. The departure of these icons has left their fans worldwide grieving. Here are 5 notable stars we lost this year.

1. Maggie Smith

There’s no denying that the sudden passing of Maggie Smith left a void in the hearts of her fans. With two Oscars, four Emmys, and a Tony award to her name, Dame Maggie Smith, who was 89 at the time, died in the hospital on 27th September 2024, as reported by the BBC.

Smith played the role of the strict but fair Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. This role gained her fans worldwide. Smith had dedicated her life to acting and had the gift of acting from childhood. In the mid-1950s, Smith’s passion took her to the Oxford Playhouse, where she began building her career. Though the journey wasn’t always easy, she earned a lot of praise and became the top figure in British Theatres. Though it wasn’t always smooth sailing, her hard work paid off.

For more than six decades, we saw her excel in a variety of roles. From Shakespearean classics to modern comedies, Smith’s performance left us in awe. Beginning her career with the National Theatre, she established herself as a significant personality in the sector. Maggie Smith, over the years, graced innumerable television and film industries with her elegant acting. The loss of the Downton Abbey actress was deeply felt, but her legacy will live on through the hearts of her fans.

2. Christian Oliver

Christian Oliver, also known as Christian Klesper, was one of the most charismatic actors to ever grace the screen. His talent and versatility as an actor were unmatched, and that allowed him to fit into various film types. He had a charming personality that the audience greatly admired. His acting won him great appreciation from the audience and established a massive fan following. In his lifetime, he acted in many big hits like Speed Racer, Valkyrie, Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, and many others, which were a testimony of his capability of commanding the screen.

Tragically, Christian Oliver was killed in a plane crash on January 4, 2024. His life ended in the devastating crash, which also claimed the lives of his two daughters, Madita Klesper, 10, and Annik Klesper, 12, who were also on board. The 51-year-old actor, along with his daughters, died when the small airplane fell into the ocean after taking off in the Eastern Caribbean. This was an unexpected and heartbreaking loss for his fans and the film industry alike.

3. Liam Payne

The death of the beloved popstar Liam Payne has left his fans heartbroken. His fans are still struggling to accept the reality of his sudden passing.

Payne has amassed a massive fan following as a founding member of One Direction, one of history’s most influential bands. On October 16, 2024, the 31-year-old Strip That Down singer met with his death after falling from his hotel balcony following a visit to Argentina to attend a concert by former band member Niall Horan.

After the concert, Payne chose to stay behind, enjoying what seemed like a vacation.

After responding to a call from hotel personnel in the city’s famous Palermo neighborhood, authorities discovered Payne’s death. In an emergency call obtained by CNN‘s Argentine affiliate Todo Noticias, the hotel manager voiced concern for Payne’s well-being. Soon after, Payne was declared dead.

Both fans and the music industry are grieving the loss of the beloved pop star.

4. Gavin Creel

Gavin Creel, the Broadway star, passed away on September 30 at the age of 48. He was diagnosed in July 2024 with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer. His partner, Alex Temple Ward, was the one who confirmed the tragic news to media outlets. Creel was widely admired for his sly charm and exceptional talent. Winning a Tony Award for his role as an adventurous dreamer in Hello, Dolly! and a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance as a flamboyant missionary in The Book of Mormon cemented his fame.

Over his two-decade-long Broadway career, he mostly played leading roles. Creel’s passing came as a shock to the New York theater community, where he was a beloved figure.

5. Tito Jackson

The older brother of Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, passed away on September 15 at the age of 70 after suffering a heart attack. Jackson, along with his four brothers, formed the Jackson 5 in 1964. They became the pioneers of African American performers to attain a crossover fan following. By becoming one of the most renowned bands of their era, Jackson 5 played a crucial role in kicking off Michael Jackson’s solo career, earning him the title of “King of Pop.“

It was not until 2003 that Tito Jackson launched his solo career as a Blues musician. Tito Jackson’s first successful single on the Billboards was “Get It Baby” in 2016, making him the last Jackson sibling to do so. The news about his tragic death, which left the music industry reeling, was announced by Steve Manning, the former Jackson family manager.