It was another historic year with another change in Prime Minister, a new monarch officially crowned and the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final.
There was plenty to smile about over the spring as the country came together to witness the Coronation of King Charles III following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth, at the age of 96, last September (2022). There was also more changes in the political landscape when Boris Johnson resigned and Rishi Sunak was made the new PM.
There was also heartbreak both here and across the world with the Ukraine-Russia war still ongoing and the Gaza-Israel conflict.
READ MORE: The latest news from the Manchester Evening News
But as we lived through another extraordinary year, 2023 has also dealt many other sad blows as many famous faces from stage, screen and sport - including some of Greater Manchester's own - have all tragically died.
JANUARY
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley, singer and daughter of Elvis Presley, was 54 when she died on January 12 of complications from bariatric surgery – a weight loss procedure – she had several years ago.
FEBRUARY
Raquel Welch
American actress and model Raquel Welch, who rose to fame after starring in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC, died on February 15 after a brief illness at the age of 82.
MARCH
Lance Reddick
US actor Lance Reddick, best known for starring in The Wire and the John Wick franchise alongside Keanu Reeves, died from natural causes on March 17 aged 60.
Paul O’Grady
British comedian and TV presenter Paul O’Grady, known for breaking into the mainstream broadcasting landscape with his alter ego Lily Savage and for his charity work around animals and Aids, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” at the age of 67 on March 28.
His partner Andre Portasio said at the time: "He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion." Paul and Andre had been together for 18 years and tied the knot in 2017. The couple lived in a farmhouse home in Kent, which also housed a variety of their rescue animals.
It was later confirmed he died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia. The much-loved star had previously spoken openly about his battles with heart disease and revealed he'd suffered three heart attacks.
Mystic Meg
The famous astrologer Mystic Meg died at the age of 80 after the star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington in London while suffering from flu.
Her agent of 34 years, Dave Shapland, told The Sun, where Lake's daily horoscopes were followed for 23 years by millions.: "Without any question, she was Britain’s most famous astrologer by a million miles.
"Nobody came close to Meg in that respect. She was followed by millions in this country and also around the world. She even became part of the English language – if a politician, somebody from showbiz or ordinary people in the street are asked a tricky question they will say ‘Who do you think I am, Mystic Meg?' It shows what an impact she made."
APRIL
Paul Cattermole
S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole, who was a founding member of the 1990s pop group, died of natural causes on April 6 aged 46. He was found dead in his ground floor flat in Wareham, Dorset.
Cattermole, who shot to fame as part of the seven-piece band with Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee and Tina Barrett back in 1998, was preparing for a return to the stage with the Bring It All Back, Reach and S Club Party hitmakers.
Cattermole was found dead in his ground floor flat in Wareham, Dorset, on April 6. Dorset Coroner’s Service has now finished investigating the tragedy and revealed his cause of death for the first time.
Barry Humphries
Australian stage and screen veteran Barry Humphries, who died on April 22 aged 89, was best known for his satirical characters including Dame Edna Everage during a lengthy areer entertaining generations of fans.
During a seven-decade career, the stage and screen veteran entertained generations with satirical characters including Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. Humphries became a staple of the British comedy circuit after moving from Australia to London in 1959 and appearing in West End shows such as Maggie May and Oliver!
He was among the leading members of the British comedy scene, alongside Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Spike Milligan. As well as Dame Edna Everage, he also appeared as the lecherous Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone, an elderly, childless man living in the suburbs.
Len Goodman
Dancer and choreographer Len Goodman, who acted as head judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and the US equivalent Dancing With The Stars and became synonymous with his catchphrase “Seven”, died from bone cancer on April 22 aged 78.
Last November (2022), Len announced on Dancing With The Stars that he would be hanging up his scoring paddle for the last time at the end of that series.
Jerry Springer
US broadcaster and politician Jerry Springer, who served as a campaign adviser to Robert F Kennedy but is best remembered for hosting The Jerry Springer Show from 1991 until 2018, died aged 79 on April 27 after a brief illness.
MAY
Rolf Harris
Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris, who was a family favourite for decades before being convicted of a string of indecent assaults in 2014, died of neck cancer and “frailty of old age” on May 10 aged 93.
Australian-born Harris was a family favourite in the UK for decades before he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London’s Southwark Crown Court in June 2014. His victims included an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two girls in their early teens and his daughter’s friend over 16 years.
Following his conviction, Harris, was stripped of his CBE – which he received after painting the Queen’s 80th birthday portrait. Harris was jailed for five years and nine months and released from Stafford prison on licence in May 2017. He was formally cleared of four unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied. Later the same year, one of the 12 indecent assault convictions was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Andy Rourke
The Smiths’ bassist Andy Rourke, who had a string of hits in the 1980s with songs like Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and Girlfriend In A Coma, died after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer on May 19 aged 59.
His former bandmate Johnny Marr announced the news on Twitter. He described the 59-year-old, from Manchester, as a 'supremely gifted musician'. The tweet said: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time."
Rourke was noted for his melodic approach to playing the bass guitar. He played on the Smiths’ classic back catalogue, as well as on solo songs for frontman Morrissey after the group disbanded
Tina Turner
US singer Tina turner, one of rock’s most famous voices who had hits including Proud Mary and The Best and won eight Grammy Awards, died at the age of 83 on May 24 after a long illness.
In a career spanning over 60 years, the American-Swiss singer, who was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, won eight competitive Grammy Awards including record of the year for What's Love Got To Do With It She also received three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, giving her a total of 12 Grammys. Tina, widely referred to as the Queen of Rock and Roll, has a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St Louis Walk of Fame.
She wed her long-time German beau, the music executive Erwin Bach, in a Swiss civil ceremony in 2013, and has lived in Switzerland with him since 1994. It was a second marriage for the music star, who was previously married to musician Ike Turner from 1962 to 1978.
JUNE
Alan Arkin
US star Alan Arkin, who won an Oscar for his role in Little Miss Sunshine and Academy Award nods for The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter and Argo, died aged 89 on June 29.
Julian Sands
Julian Sands, best known for his role in the 1985 romantic period drama A Room With A View, prompted a five-month manhunt after he went missing in the San Gabriel Mountains in southern California where his remains were found by hikers in June. He was 65.
JULY
Sinead O’Connor
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor, who was propelled to international stardom in 1990 with her version of the hit ballad Nothing Compares 2 U, died on July 26 aged 56.
As well as being a Grammy-winning singer, she was arguably as well known for being outspoken about her social and political views as for her musical talent. O'Connor had four children. She was mum to son Jake Reynolds with her first husband John Reynolds, daughter Rosin Waters who she shares with Irish journalist John Waters and Yeshua Francis Neil Bonadio, who she welcomed during her relationship with Frank Bonadio in 2006.
Her death came just over a year after her 17-year-old son, Shane died by suicide. Shane passed away last year after going missing a few days prior. Following his disappearance, police had launched an appeal to help find him but Sinead later confirmed he had died as a result of suicide.
Tony Bennett
American crooner and jazz singer Tony Bennett, who released more than 70 albums during his career which won him a host of Grammys, died at the age of 96 on July 21 – seven years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Angus Cloud
Angus Cloud, who starred as drug dealer Fezco O’Neill in hit TV series Euphoria, died from an accidental overdose of cocaine, fentanyl and other substances on July 31 aged 25.
George Alagiah
BBC newsreader George Alagiah died almost 10 years after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The Sri Lanka-born journalist, the face of BBC One’s News At Six since 2007, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014.
He endured two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations, including the removal of most of his liver. In October 2015 he announced that his treatment was over and returned to BBC News At Six on November 10. But his cancer returned in December 2017 and he underwent further treatment before again returning to work. He took another break from studio duties in October 2021 to deal with a further spread of cancer, before returning in April 2022.
AUGUST
Ron Cephas Jones
This Is Us star Ron Cephas Jones, who won two Emmy Awards for his role as a long-lost father who finds redemption on the hit TV series, died at the age of 66 after a long-standing pulmonary issue on August 19.
Sir Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson died at the age of 88 in August. The chat show host, known for interviewing the world's most famous celebrities and icons, is said to have died 'peacefully' after a 'brief illness.'
A statement from Sir Michael's family said: "After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve."
SEPTEMBER
Sir Michael Gambon
Dublin-born star of stage and screen Sir Michael Gambon, who won four TV Baftas and played Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films, died on September 27 at the age of 82.
OCTOBER
Matthew Perry
Friends star Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the hit US sitcom, was found “unresponsive in the pool” at his home on October 28 at the age of 54. His death was later ruled as an accident from the "acute effects of ketamine".
In a joint statement to US publication People, Perry’s fellow Friends co-stars said they were “utterly devastated” and described their relationship as “more than just cast mates. We are a family”. Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston later issued their own individual tributes to their late friend and co-star.
Sir Bobby Charlton
Footballing icon Sir Bobby Charlton - one of the best ever to have played the game - died at the age of 86 on October 21, prompting tributes from the sporting world across the globe.
A coroner later ruled the death of the Manchester United legend was accidental' after an inquest heard he suffered a fall at a care home. He was said to have been living and receiving respite care at The Willows, a nursing home in Knutsford caring for patients with dementia, since July.
NOVEMBER
Shane MacGowan
The Pogues star Shane MacGowan, who led the Irish punk band best known for their festive song Fairytale Of New York, died on November 30 aged 65 – a year after he was diagnosed with encephalitis where the brain becomes inflamed.
Famous faces from the world of music paid tribute to the singer, who died 'peacefully' with his wife and family by his side, a statement from his relatives said at the time, as he was remembered as a 'lyrical genius'.
DECEMBER
Ryan O'Neal
US actor Ryan O’Neal, who starred in drama Peyton Place before rising to international stardom after his Oscar-nominated turn as Oliver in the romantic 1971 film Love Story, died on December 8 aged 82.
Steve Halliwell
Steve Halliwell, the actor who played Emmerdale’s Zak Dingle for nearly three decades, died at the age of 77. The Bury-born star, who made his first appearance on the ITV soap in October 1994, died peacefully with his family around him.
Halliwell’s family said: "He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn’t want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived."
Andre Braugher
Two-time Emmy winning actor Andre Braugher, who starred in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life On The Street, died from lung cancer at the age of 61 on December 11.
Professor Benjamin Zephaniah
Poet, author and actor, Benjamin Zephaniah, died at the age of 65 weeks after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, his family announced.
The dub poet - known for his works about refugees and healthy eating - received the diagnosis eight weeks ago and passed away early on Thursday morning with his family at his bedside, said a statement. Tributes are being paid to a 'radical poet laureate' and a 'true pioneer'.
The Birmingham-born poet, the son of a Barbadian postman, was nominated for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards for his work, The Life And Rhymes Of Benjamin Zephaniah, and it was also shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018. More recently, he also appeared in the hit BBC show Peaky Blinders as preacher Jeremiah Jesus.
