Yahoo NewsThe most notable celebrity deaths of 2020
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Derek Fowlds - 2 September, 1937 - 17 January, 2020
Derek Fowlds, the actor known for his roles in Yes Minister, Heartbeat and the Basil Brush Show, died aged 82 after suffering with pneumonia. Basil Bruch paid tribute to 'Mr Derek', describing him as as "my best friend forever". (Photo by Michael Crabtree - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) - 2/30
Terry Jones - 1 February, 1942 - 21 January, 2020
Monty Python's Terry Jones died aged 77 in January four years after contracting a rare form of dementia. He was remembered by the surviving Pythons, with Sir Michael Palin lauding him as "one of the funniest writer-performers of his generation". (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage) - 3/30
Kobe Bryant - 23 August, 1978 - 26 January, 2020
NBA player Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash aged 41 along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, sparking a multitude of tributes from public figures. The LA Lakers sportsman was remembered by stars including Shaquille O'Neal, former US President Barack Obama and David Beckham. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) 
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- 4/30
Nicholas Parsons - 10 October, 1923 - 28 January, 2020
Broadcasting legend passed away aged 96 at the beginning of 2020 following a short illness. He hosted the long-running radio panel game Just A Minute for more than 50 years and fronted game show Sale of the Century during his impressive career. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images) - 5/30
Kirk Douglas - 9 December, 1916 - 5 February, 2020
One of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood Kirk Douglas died at 103 in February. The Spartacus actor's career had spanned seven decades and he'd received three Academy Awards nominations across his body of work. (Photo by Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) - 6/30
Caroline Flack - 9 November, 1979 - 15 February, 2020
Love Island host Caroline Flack died by suicide in February this year at the age of 40. Friend Laura Whitmore described Flack as "vivacious" and "loving" in a moving tribute. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 7/30
Roy Hudd - 16 May, 1936 - 15 March, 2020
Entertainer Roy Hudd died with his wife Debbie by his side in March at the age of 83 following a short illness. The comic had fronted BBC Radio 2's The News Huddlines for 26 years with his other career credits included a stint as undertaker Archie Shuttleworth on Coronation Street. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) - 8/30
Honor Blackman - 22 August, 1925 - 5 April, 2020
Bond girl Honor Blackman died from natural causes at the age of 94. The British actor had starred as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger opposite Sean Connery and was also known for her role in TV series The Avengers. (Photo by Rosie Greenway/Getty Images) - 9/30
Tim Brooke-Taylor - 17 July, 1940 - 12 April, 2020
One third of The Goodies Tim Brooke-Taylor died of complications from the coronavirus at the age of 79. He was remembered by the remaining members of the comedy trio with Bill Oddie describing him as a "true visual comic and a great friend" while Graeme Garden said hew was "terribly saddened" by the loss. (PA) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 10/30
Lynn Faulds Wood - 25 March, 1948 - 24 April, 2020
Presenter and journalist died in April at the age of 72 following a stroke. She hosted BBC's Watchdog with her husband John Stapleton from 1985 to 1993. The courageous campaigner had helped to create the world's first evidence-based guide to symptoms of bowel cancer after being diagnosed with the disease. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) - 11/30
Little Richard - 5 December, 1932 - 9 May, 2020
Rock 'n' roll trailblazer Little Richard died aged 87 back in May. Born Richard Penniman, the musician inspired countless other artists including Beatle Paul McCartney who said he learned “everything he knows” from the late star in a tribute. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) - 12/30
Dame Vera Lynn - 20 March, 1917 - 18 June, 2020
Forces' Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn died in June at the age of 103 with many prominent figures, including the Royal Family, paying their respects. The We'll Meet Again singer was honoured with a military funeral, with the procession accompanied by a Battle of Britain flypast. (Photo by Sean Dempsey - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 13/30
Naya Rivera - 12 Janaury, 1987 - 8 July, 2020
Glee actor Naya Rivera's body was recovered from a California lake several days after she was reporting missing after going on a boat trip with her then four-year-old son Josey. The 33-year-old's cause of death was later ruled as an accidental drowning. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) - 14/30
Jack Charlton - 8 May, 1935 - 10 July, 2020
Footballer Jack Charlton died aged 85 in July after suffering from lymphoma and dementia. He was part of England's winning 1966 World Cup team alongside his brother Bobby and went on to manage the Republic of Ireland. (Photo By Ray McManus/Sportsfile via Getty Images) - 15/30
Kelly Preston - 13 October, 1962 - 12 July, 2020
Kelly Preston had privately battled breast cancer for two years until her death at the age of 57 in July, with husband John Travolta releasing an emotional statement announcing her passing. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 16/30
Olivia de Havilland - 1 July, 1916 - 26 July, 2020
The world lost another Golden Age legend in 2020 with the death of Gone With the Wind star Olivia de Havilland aged 103. At the time of her death she was the oldest living and earliest surviving Academy Award winner. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) - 17/30
Chadwick Boseman - 29 November, 1976 - 28 August, 2020
Actor Chadwick Boseman's death rocked the entertainment world as he had opted to keep his 2016 colon cancer diagnosis private. His death at 43 prompted an outpouring of tributes as he was remembered for his legacy in portraying the Black Panther, one of the first prominent Black superheroes in a blockbuster movie. (Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) - 18/30
Dame Diana Rigg - 20 July, 1938 - 10 September, 2020
The Avengers actor and Game of Thrones star Dame Diana Rigg was 82 when she died from cancer in September. Also a Bond girl, she was the spy's love interest in On Her Majesty's Secret Service opposite George Lazenby. She was named a Dame in 1994 for her acting achievements. (Photo by Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 19/30
Archie Lyndhurst - 4 October, 2000 - 22 September, 2020
CBBC star and son of actor Nicholas Lyndhurst tragically died at the age of 19. At the time, CBBC said he had passed following a 'short illness'. Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas said he and his wife were "utterly grief stricken" at the passing of their only child. (Photo by Joe Maher/FilmMagic) - 20/30
Eddie Van Halen - 26 January, 1955 - 6 October, 2020
Guitar great Eddie Van Halen died from cancer in October at 65. Van Halen, the band he co-founded with his brother, announced they would not continue as a group without him. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty) - 21/30
Bobby Ball - 28 January, 1944 - 28 October, 2020
One half of comedy duo Cannon & Ball Bobby Ball died in October after testing positive for the coronavirus. The 76-year-old was remembered by his comedy partner who said he would "never get over" Ball's death. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 22/30
Nobby Stiles - 18 May, 1942 - 30 October, 2020
World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died aged 78 after suffering with prostate cancer and advanced dementia. Made an MBE in 2000, he had played for the victorious England squad in the 1966 World Cup and famously celebrated by dancing around with his false teeth in hand. (Photo by Dave Thompson/PA Images via Getty Images) - 23/30
Sir Sean Connery - 25 August, 1930 - 31 October, 2020
James Bond icon Sean Connery died at the age of 90 in October due to pneumonia-related respiratory failure and atrial fibrillation. He was the first actor to bring the spy to screen, appearing in seven of the films. Successful outside of the 007 films, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 1988 ceremony for his role in The Untouchables. (Photo by United Artist/Getty Images) - 24/30
John Sessions - 11 January, 1953 - 2 November, 2020
Actor and comedian John Session died of a heart attack in November at the age of 67. He was best known as a panellist on improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and appearances on Spitting Image and QI. (Getty) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 25/30
Geoffrey Palmer - 4 June, 1927 - 5 November, 2020
As Time Goes By actor Geoffrey Palmer died peacefully at home aged 93 earlier this year. He was frequent collaborator of Dame Judi Dench whom he starred opposite in the BBC sitcom as well as films Tomorrow Never Dies and Mrs Brown. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images) - 26/30
Des O'Connor - 12 January, 1932 - 14 November, 2020
Des O'Connor passed away at the age of 88 in November, one week after suffering a fall at his home. As well as a deluge of tributes from others in the entertainment industry, his agent said he was "well loved by absolutely everybody" and "loved life". (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) - 27/30
Diego Maradona - 30 October, 1960 - 25 November, 2020
Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona died aged 60 in November following a heart attack. The sporting star famously captained his nation's team in the 1986 World Cup, where in the quarter final he scored the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 28/30
David Prowse - 1 July, 1935 - 28 November, 2020
Bristolian acting star David Drowse, who was best known for playing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, died aged 85 in November. The 6'6" weightlifter-turned-actor was also played road safety mascot the Green Cross Code Man in the UK and earned himself an MBE through doing so. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) - 29/30
Barbara Windsor - 6 August, 1937 - 10 December, 2020
Carry On and EastEnders legend Dame Barbara Windsor died aged 83, six years after receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her cheeky laugh and natural charm helped established her as a British acting icon, with many fans sharing touching stories about the star after her passing. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images) - 30/30
John le Carré - 19 October, 1931 - 12 December, 2020
John le Carré, the author famous for his spy novels, died of pneumonia in December at the age of 89. Born David Cornwell, he went to become one of the great British novelists with works such as The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. (Photo by Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images)
Amy Johnson
·Contributor
The end of 2020 is fast approaching and – to use a worn-out phrase – it's safe to say it's been an unprecedented year.
Among the chaos of the year sadly, as usual, we've also lost a number of famous faces from across the spectrum of entertainment.
We've seen a few more greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood bid farewell, as well as some stars who have tragically passed much too soon.
