Remembering All The Celebrities Who Tragically Died In 2020
Many people were left heartbroken when news hit the web that Naya Rivera had tragically passed away on July 13,

Many people were left heartbroken when news hit the web that Naya Rivera had tragically passed away on July 13, 2020. As fans know, the Glee star went missing on July 8, 2020, while out on a boat ride with her 4 year old son, Josey. And five days later, police confirmed that they had found her body in the lake and that she was dead.
The entire world, including her costars, celebrity friends, fans and family, were devastated over her passing. And unfortunately, she’s not the only star that we lost this year. A lot of celebrities have sadly died in 2020, and we rounded them all up for you so we could take some time to remember them all. Rest in Peace.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Supreme Court justice passed away on September 18, 2020, after battling metastatic pancreatic cancer.
“Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87 years old,” the Supreme Court said in a statement at the time. “Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years.”
Ethan Peters
The beauty influencer, who was known online as “Ethan Is Supreme” died on September 6, 2020, at only 17 years old. According to Fox News, the star died of a suspected drug overdose. His dad told the outlet, “The cancel culture we find ourself in weighed heavy on his heart. He wanted nothing but to inspire, make people laugh and push the boundaries of what is acceptable in our world for All young people. He was kind soul, who accepted everyone for who they were.”
Diana Rigg
The actress, who was known for her roles in Game of Thrones, The Avengers and the James Bond franchise, died at age 82 on September 10, 2020. Her daughter, Rachael Stirling, later revealed that she had suffered from cancer.
Stevie Lee
The Jackass star died at 54 years old on September 9, 2020, from an unexpected heart attack.
“He was beloved by many, has many friends that were family, and a countless number of fans that adored him,” his family wrote on a GoFundMe page. “Puppet has put smiles on people’s faces across the world with his hardcore attitude and lifestyle.”
Lloyd Cadena
Cadena died of a heart attack, days after he tested positive for coronavirus.
“Lloyd was confined in the hospital on September 1 due to high fever and dry cough. He was tested for COVID-19 on the same day which the result came out positive on September 3,” the YouTuber’s family wrote on Instagram. “As soon as the result of his swab test came out, our family, including BNT immediately isolated themselves. His vitals were okay and had no complaints. On September 4, 5 A.M. he was seen by the staff unresponsive and pale looking. As informed by the doctor, he suffered a heart attack while asleep. He was cremated yesterday and his remains is in our house in Cavite in the meantime.”
Chadwick Boseman
The beloved Black Panther star passed away on August 28, 2020, at 43 years old. A statement on his Twitter account confirmed the news, and revealed that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” it read. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson‘s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more — all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”
Landon Clifford
The entire world was devastated when the social media star’s wife announced that he had died on August 13, 2020. She wrote, “August 13, 2020, was Landon’s last day being the best dad and husband he could be. After spending the [previous] six days in a coma he passed on and donated several organs to people in need all over the country. He died saving the lives of others. That’s the type of person he was. Compassionate, loving, thoughtful, kind, and gentle. He was an amazing husband and the best father those girls could of ever asked for. It saddens me deeply that they will never get to truly know him. He was so young and had so much more life to live. This isn’t how things were supposed to go. He was meant to make it to his next birthday. He was meant to walk his daughters down the isle. He was meant to die old with me. Words can not come close to describe the pain I feel. All I can do now is make sure our girls know how much he loved us. He’s looking down on us from heaven and his light will shine through the clouds when we look up at him. May he rest peacefully.”
John Saxon
The actor actor died of pneumonia on July 25, 2020. He was 83 at the time of his passing.
Regis Philbin
The talk show host was 88 years old when he passed away from natural causes on July 25, 2020.
“We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday,” his family said in a statement to People Magazine. “His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him — for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
Kelly Preston
The Last Song star passed away on July 12, 2020, after a private two-year battle with breast cancer. Preston is survived by her husband of nearly three years, John Travolta, and their children, Ella, 20, and Benjamin, 9.
Olivia De Havilland
The Gone With the Wind star died peacefully in her sleep at age 104 on July 26, 2020.
Grant Imahara
Imahara, who was known for hosting the show Mythbusters, passed away after suffering from a brain aneurysm on July 12, 2020. He was 49 years old.
Benjamin Keough
Keough, who is the grandson of Priscilla Presley, committed suicide on July 12, 2020. He was 27 years old.
“The shock of losing Ben has been devastating,” Presley shared on Facebook. “Trying to put all the pieces together of all the possible whys has penetrated my soul. Each day I wake up I pray it will get better.”
Nicole Thea
Thea’s family confirmed the devastating news that she, along with her unborn baby, had passed away on July 12, 2020.
“To all Nicole’s friends and supporters it is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Nicole and her son she and Boga named Reign sadly passed away on Saturday morning,” they wrote via Instagram. “As a family we ask that you give us privacy because our hearts are truly broken and we are struggling to cope with what has happened.”
Her mom added, “RIP My beautiful baby girl, Nicnac, and my grandson, Reign. I will miss you for the rest of my life until we meet again in eternal heaven.”
The cause of death has not been released, but the YouTuber was 24 years old at the time of her passing.
Peter Green
The Fleetwood Mac founder and guitarist passed away on July 25, 2020.
Sebastián Athié
The actor died of “a sudden heart attack” on July 4, 2020. He was best known for starring in Disney Channel Latin America’s O11CE.
“With much pain, we regret the departure of Sebastián Athié whom we will always remember for his great talent, companionship, professionalism and above all, enormous heart,” the network said in a statement. “Rest in peace, Sebas. Your art and your smile remain forever. We accompany his family, colleagues, friends and fans in his farewell.”
Nick Cordero
The Broadway star died of coronavirus on July 5, 2020, at the age of 41. His wife, Amanda Kloots, wrote on Instagram at the time, “God has another angel in Heaven now. 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. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband. Elvis and I will miss him in everything we do, everyday.”
Siya Kakkar
The TikTok star was only 16 years old when she tragically passed away on June 25, 2020. India Today reported at the time that Kakkar died by suicide.
Yohan
Yohan, who was a member of the K-Pop group TST, sadly passed away on June 16, 2020. His record label, KJ Entertainment, confirmed the sad news.
“We are sad to relay the most unfortunate, sorrowful news. On June 16, TST member Yohan left this world,” they said. “The late Yohan’s family is currently in deep mourning.”
The cause of death has not been announced yet.
Sushant Singh Rajput
The Bollywood star was found dead in his home on June 14, 2020. Police are still investigating, but according to reports, it is believed that he took his own life.
Ian Holm
The Lord of the Rings actor passed away from an illness related to Parkinson’s disease on June 19, 2020.
Chris Trousdale
Trousdale, who was known for his time in the band Dream Street, died on June 2, 2020, from an “undisclosed illness.”
“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of Chris Trousdale on June, 2, 2020 from an undisclosed illness,” a representative said in a statement to Billboard. “He was a light to so many and will be missed dearly by his family, friends and fans all over the world.”
Mary Pat Gleason
Gleason, who fans may recognize from her role in A Cinderella Story, died of cancer June 2, 2020, according to a post on her Facebook page. The post read, “Mary Pat Gleason, one of the dearest and sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure to know, passed away last night at age 70. She has 174 credits on her IMDB page (with one unreleased film still to come), but she was so much more than a wonderful actress: she was one of a kind. So caring, so funny, and so delicious to be around, that I find it hard to imagine a world without her shining presence and smiling face. My heart goes out to all who knew and loved her (all one million of you). Let’s all raise a glass to her this evening as one and offer a final toast and a fond farewell in her memory.”
Fred Willard
Willard passed away on May 15, 2020, at 86 years old. The cause of death has not been revealed.
Jerry Stiller
The acclaimed actor died on May 11, 2020. His son, Ben Stiller, confirmed the sad news, writing, “I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad.”
Gregory Tyree Boyce
The Twilight actor was tragically found dead in a Las Vegas residence on May 13, 2020, alongside his girlfriend, Natalie Adenike Adepoju. The cause and manner of death is still being determined, but according to CNN, their deaths were “not a criminal incident.”
Corey La Barrie
Fans are still mourning the tragic death of La Barrie. The YouTuber was killed in a car accident on May 10, 2020. The Los Angeles Police department told People Magazine, “A 2020 McLaren 600LT was traveling eastbound on Huston Street at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control. Driver then ran off the road and collided with a stop sign and a tree on the northeast corner of Huston Street and Carpenter Avenue.”
The driver was identified as Ink Master tattooist Daniel Silva. He was intoxicated at the time of the crash, and he later entered a no contest plea to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Little Richard
Richard died from cancer on May 9, 2020, at 87 years old.
Irrfan Khan
Khan, who was most known for his role in Slumdog Millionaire, died on April 29, 2020, after being admitted to the hospital with a colon infection.
Logan Williams
Williams, who was best known for playing a young Barry Allen on The CW’s The Flash, died on April 2, 2020, at 16 years old, following a three-year battle with opioid addiction. His mom later opened up about it, telling the New York Post, “I did everything humanly possible — everything a mother could do. I did everything but handcuff him to me to try to keep him safe.”
Adam Schlesinger
The Fountains Of Wayne front-runner died from coronavirus complications on April 1, 2020.
“That night he woke up at 4 am with a fever. We spent such a sweet week together, our roles kind of reversed because usually Adam was the one to take care of me. I tried to keep him comfortable, nurse him back to health, as we waited for the fever to break. We were sure it would—just like any other crappy flu. He said, ‘I’m ok. I have my Alexis,’” his girlfriend, Alexis Morley, shared on Instagram. “But seven days later. things got worse and I brought him to the hospital. I wasn’t allowed to walk in with him. I drove home alone through a snowstorm terrified (the first time I’d driven a car in years), but we spent the night texting, making cute jokes, feeling optimistic. He kept telling me how much he loved me and thanked me for ‘saving [his] life. I never got to hear his voice again. After 10 days of me, our incredible families, and friends drawing on every resource possible trying to help, I got a 3 A.M. call from the hospital. He wasn’t going to make it.”
Kenny Rogers
The country singer died of natural causes on March 20, 2020. He was 81 at the time of his death.
Max von Sydow
The Star Wars and Game of Thrones actor died on March 8, 2020, at 90 years old. His agent, Jean Diamond, confirmed the news in a statement to Paris Match.
“It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” he said.
Pop Smoke
The rapper was tragically killed by masked gunmen during a Los Angeles home invasion on February 19, 2020.
Caroline Flack
Flack, who was the former host of the U.K. reality show Love Island, died by suicide on February 15, 2020.
“We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February,” a statement from the family read. “We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us.”
Nikita Pearl Waligwa
Waligwa, who starred in Disney’s Queen of Katwe, died at age 15 on February 15, 2020 — over three years after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Lynn Cohen
Cohen, who fans may recognize from her role in Hunger Games: Catching Fire, died on February 14, 2020.
Raphael Coleman
Coleman, who starred in the movie Nanny McPhee when he was younger, died on February 7, 2020, after he suddenly collapsed.
“Rest in peace my beloved son Raphael Coleman, aka Iggy Fox,” his mom wrote on Twitter at the time. “He died doing what he loved, working for the noblest cause of all. His family could not be prouder. Let’s celebrate all he achieved in his short life and cherish his legacy.”
Orson Bean
The Twilight Zone actor died at the age of 91 after being hit by a car in Los Angeles on February 7, 2020.
Kirk Douglas
Douglas died at the age of 103 on February 5, 2020. His son, Michael Douglas, wrote at the time, “To the world he was a legend… But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband.”
Kobe and Gianna Bryant
The basketball star and his daughter tragically passed away on January 26, 2020, after their helicopter crashed. It’s still unclear what caused the crash, but according to reports, all nine passengers died on impact, including the pilot.
Harry Hains
The American Horror Story star died on January 27, 2020. His mom shared the tragic news on Instagram, writing, “On January 7, my beautiful son died. He was 27 and had the world at his feet. But sadly he struggled with mental illness and addiction. A brilliant spark shone bright too short a time. I will miss you, Harry, every day of my life.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office later announced Hains died of fentanyl intoxication, and that the manner of death was ruled as an accident.
Lexii Alijai
The rapper was 21 when she sadly passed away on January 2, 2020. The cause of death has not been revealed, but her family confirmed the heartbreaking news via Facebook.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).