In addition to more than 300,000 people in the United States whose deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus, a handful of leaders and beloved figures died in what has been a tough 2020. The number of people who lost their lives in 2020 is unparalleled. This year, preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate there will be 3.2 million deaths, which would be the first time the U.S. surpassed 3 million deaths in a given year.
Here’s a list remembering some of the most famous people who lost their lives this year.
Kobe Bryant, 41, Gianna Bryant, 13:
In January, the NBA and city of Los Angeles grieved the death of superstar former basketball player Kobe Bryant, who died along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash. He left behind his wife, Vanessa, and three other daughters, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
During a televised eulogy at the Staples Center, after the league canceled games to honor the famed player, Vanessa said of her daughter’s passing, “I won’t be able to tell her how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day. I’ll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy … or have babies of her own.”
Others in attendance at the ceremony included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jimmy Kimmel, Usher, and Alicia Keys. NBA greats such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Steph Curry were also in attendance. Bryant is set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame next year.
Kenny Rogers, 81:
Legendary vocalist Kenny Rogers died in March from natural causes under the care of a hospice, surrounded by loved ones.
He held a farewell tour in 2015 and kept going through December 2017. In April 2018, with only a few months remaining on the tour, he canceled the remaining shows because of unspecified “health challenges.”
“You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone,” country music star Dolly Parton said after his death. “I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success, I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend.”
Nick Cordero, 41:
The Rock of Ages star died in early July after a monthslong bout with the coronavirus. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March and put on a ventilator. He was in a coma until May and faced several complications from the virus, including blood clots that led to doctors amputating his leg and severe lung damage.
“God has another angel in heaven now,” Amanda Kloots, his wife, wrote at the time. “My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth. I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere. My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him.”
Naya Rivera, 33:
The former Glee star died in July in a water accident. She and her son were on a boat when she went missing, and her 4-year-old son was found asleep on the boat alone. Her son said he and his mother went swimming, but she didn’t come back. A search party began, and she was presumed dead. Her body was found days later.
“How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post?” Chris Colfer, Rivera’s co-star who played Kurt on Glee, wrote in an Instagram post. “How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone? If you were friends with Naya Rivera, you simply can’t.”
Rivera’s disappearance is the latest in a string of horrors for members of the show’s cast and crew, which has been dubbed “the Glee curse.”
Rep. John Lewis, 80:
Lewis, a Georgia Democratic congressman and civil rights leader, died in July. A confidante of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis was among the last surviving leaders of the civil rights movement and was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer late last year.
In the 1960s, he embraced King’s message of nonviolent protest against racist, white local and state officials. Over the following years, he participated in the Nashville, Tennessee, lunch counter sit-ins, the 1961 Freedom Rides, the 1963 March on Washington, and the 1965 Bloody Sunday march in Alabama, during which he was beaten by a state trooper.
“He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise. And through the decades, he not only gave all of himself to the cause of freedom and justice, but inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example,” former President Barack Obama wrote in a tribute of Lewis.
He represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District since 1987.
Regis Philbin, 88:
Longtime television host Regis Philbin died in late July from natural causes, one month before he was set to turn 89 years old.
He was perhaps best known as the host of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, which he began hosting in 1988. In 2001, the show became Live! with Regis and Kelly, co-starring Kelly Ripa before he left in 2011. He was also the original host of the hit television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
“We are beyond saddened to learn about the loss of Regis Philbin,” read a joint statement from Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, who currently co-host the talk show Philbin once anchored. “He was the ultimate class act, bringing his laughter and joy into our homes every day on Live for more than 23 years. We were beyond lucky to have him as a mentor in our careers and aspire every day to fill his shoes on the show. We send our deepest love and condolences to his family and hope they can find some comfort in knowing he left the world a better place.”
Chadwick Boseman, 43:
Chadwick Boseman, who played the iconic role of Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic world, died of colon cancer in late August. He was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and battled it for four years as it progressed. The 43-year-old actor, who played leading roles in 42, Marshall, and Draft Day, died at home beside his wife and family. Thousands of Boseman tributes poured in as the world learned of his death.
“The Avengers have all been given an opportunity to portray characters that are meaningful and hopefully memorable,” said Robert Downey Jr, the actor who played Iron Man alongside Boseman in the Avengers series. “Mr. Boseman truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero. His impact as a groundbreaking leading man, as an icon on screen, it won’t be quantified by the box office records he broke, but by the legions of fans who will celebrate him for many years to come.”
“His list of selfless and inspirational acts and deeds is too long to recount here,” Downey Jr. added. “Consistently showing up during trial and triumph for family, friends, and fans alike, some of whom were battling the same invisible enemy. He was the most heroic when just being Chad. That’s when he was bigger than anyone he played on screen.”
Marvel Studios announced earlier this month that they will be moving forward with the Black Panther franchise but will not recast Boseman’s King T’Challa character.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87:
Ginsburg, who served on the Supreme Court since 1993, died in September at her home surrounded by loved ones from complications related to her bout with cancer. The liberal female icon was briefly hospitalized in New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in late July and underwent a nonsurgical procedure to revise a bile duct stent. She began a course of chemotherapy last May to treat a recurrence of cancer, and that same month received treatment for a gallbladder infection.
Born in 1933, she graduated from Cornell University and went on to attend Harvard Law School, where she was one of nine women in her class. She became the first female member of the Harvard Law Review. Ginsburg ultimately transferred from Harvard to Columbia Law School after her husband, Martin, whom she married in 1954, accepted a job at a law firm in New York City.
“Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her — a tired and resolute champion of justice.”
The Senate ultimately voted to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace the vacancy left by Ginsburg’s passing despite calls from Democrats for the seat to remain open until the next administration.
Eddie Van Halen, 65:
The legendary guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen died of cancer in early October. He died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his wife, son, and brother.
Van Halen formed his namesake group with his brother, Alex Van Halen, in 1972. His brother played the drums, while Eddie Van Halen played lead guitar.
“He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift,” Wolfgang Van Halen, the guitarist’s son, wrote in a tribute. “My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.”
Sean Connery, 90:
The original James Bond actor died in October at the age of 90. He died peacefully in his sleep. His son said the actor who played the 007 spy had “been unwell for some time.”
His decadeslong acting career included credits in The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and The Untouchables, which won him an Oscar in 1988.
Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the co-producers of the upcoming Bond movie, No Time To Die, which is set to hit theaters in 2021 after being delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic, said they were devastated at Connery’s passing.
“We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery,” they said in a statement shared on social media. “He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words — ‘The name’s Bond … James Bond’ — he revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent. He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him.”
Alex Trebek, 80:
Trebek, who was the main staple of the TV game show Jeopardy! for more than three decades, died in November. He battled stage 4 pancreatic cancer for over a year since he first announced his illness in March 2019. He began chemotherapy treatments immediately after the diagnosis but made no plans to retire.
He won five Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding game show host, and in 2011, he received a Peabody Award for “encouraging, celebrating, and rewarding knowledge,” and he also holds the Guinness World Record for the most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter. He broke the record in 2014 with more than 6,800 episodes of Jeopardy! hosted at that point.
Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Television Division, called Trebek’s death a “tremendous loss” for the Jeopardy! family.
“Not only was Alex a television icon, but he was one of the most genuine, kind, caring people you could ever know,” LoCascio said in a statement. “The way he openly and bravely battled cancer, while continuing to host the show, was a true inspiration. He has brought joy to the millions of fans — including generations of families — who have welcomed Alex into their living room each night. Our hearts go out to Alex’s wife and children. We have truly lost a legend.”
There is still no long-term plan for a replacement, but Ken Jennings, the most successful Jeopardy! contestant in history, will be hosting the show temporarily.
