Actors and Actresses Who Died in 2018
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After a battle with diabetes-related complications, Penny Marshall passed away on December 17, 2018. She was 75. Marshall is best known for her role as Laverne on the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley, but she also starred in and directed a broad range of productions, including A League of Their Own and Big.
Beloved magician and actor Ricky Jay passed away on December 1, 2018 at the age of 72. While he may have been best known for his magic tricks, Jay also appeared in over 40 movies and television shows, including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Tomorrow Never Dies.
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Actress Kim Porter, who shares three children with rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, was found unresponsive in her home on November 15, 2018 and pronounced dead at the scene. She was 47. At the time of reports, no cause of death had been determined.
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James Karen, who was best known for his role of Frank on The Return of the Living Dead passed away on October 23, 2018. He was 94.
In addition to his aforementioned role of Frank, Karen also made numerous appearances in a range of horror films, including Poltergeist, Invaders from Mars, and Piranha. With a career spanning decades, the beloved actor made well over 200 appearances throughout television and film.
Scott Wilson
Photo: Metaweb (FB)Long-time actor and The Walking Dead star Scott Wilson died on October 6, 2018. Wilson played Hershel Green on Walking Dead from 2011 to 2014, though he was also known for his roles in The Ninth Configuration, In the Heat of the Night, and The Host.
Paul John Vasquez
Photo: @PaulVasquez122 / TwitterOn September 24, 2018, actor Paul John Vasquez, who appeared in shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Justified, NYPD Blue, and ER, passed away. The actor was 48 years old. He was found unconscious in his father's house in San Jose, CA. The exact cause of death is unknown, but TMZ reports he suffered a heart attack.
“This news has come as a surprise to us,” the actor's rep told People. “Our hearts are heavy. He was a kind, creative and loving man. He will be missed.”
Another Sons of Anarchy alum, Alan O'Neill, also passed away unexpectedly in June 2018.
On September 13, 2018 Marin Mazzie, a Broadway veteran nominated three times for her work in musicals like Passion, Ragtime, and Kiss Me Kate, passed away. The actress had been battling ovarian cancer since 2015. She was 57 years old.
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On September 6, 2018, Burt Reynolds died after going into cardiac arrest. He was in a Florida hospital surrounded by family. The actor was 82 years old.
Reynolds was one of the most prolific actors of the last century, landing roles in approximately 100 films throughout his illustrious career. At the time of his death, Reynolds had still been working, filming for Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
On August 21, 2018, Stefán Karl Stefánsson, best known for his role as LazyTown villain Robbie Rotten, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Doctors diagnosed Stéfansson back in 2016, and he said the cancer was removed surgically. In March, Stéfansson told fans via social media that the disease had returned and was inoperable.
"It's not until they tell you you're going to die soon that you realise how short life is. Time is the most valuable thing in life because it never comes back. And whether you spend it in the arms of a loved one or alone in a prison cell, life is what you make of it. Dream big," he posted to Twitter.
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Actress Charlotte Rae, best known for her role as housekeeper Edna Garrett in Diff'rent Strokes and its spinoff, The Facts of Life, died on August 5, 2018. Her son, Larry Strauss, said she passed away peacefully surrounded by family in her Los Angeles home. She was 92.
Her death came after multiple illnesses, her son revealed. She had several bouts with cancer and a history of heart failure. Her son did not release a definitive cause of death.
Tab Hunter, an actor who was known as a heartthrob in the 1950s, passed away on July 8, 2018, at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. His partner, Allan Glaser, told CNN the cause of death was a blood clot that lead to cardiac arrest. Hunter was 86.
Hunter rose to fame with his roles in Battle Cry and Damn Yankees. Rumors circulated that Hunter was a closeted gay man, and in 2005, he confirmed he was gay in his autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star.
Carlos Lopez, Jr.
Carlos Lopez Jr, 35, of TV's Operation Repo is found dead in his Los Angeles apartment after 'committing suicide' https://t.co/FTlVZvPpZi
— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) June 25, 2018Carlos Lopez Jr., one of the stars of truTV's Operation Repo, died on June 24, 2018, of an apparent suicide. The 35-year-old actor died in his Los Angeles apartment.
Lopez had guest roles on shows like CSI: Cyber, and played small roles in films such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His mother posted a tribute on Facebook, saying, "Our hearts are heavy. Our handsome, adventurous, and loving son, Carlos Jr., left us for Heaven yesterday and our hearts are so heavy... We've lost our eldest son and military warrior."
Jackson Odell, the actor best known for his role as Ari Caldwell on The Goldbergs, was found unresponsive in his Tarzana, CA, home on June 8, 2018. The cause of death has not been released. He was 20 years old.
"He will always be a shining light and a brilliant, loving and talented soul," Odell's family said on Twitter on June 10. "He had so much more to share. Our family will always carry that truth forward. Our wish is that the rest of the world who knew and loved him does as well."
Alan O'Neill
Alan O'Neill, who played Hugh on Sons of Anarchy, was found dead at his girlfriend's apartment on June 6, 2018. The Irish-born actor was 47.
According to TMZ, the actor had a history of heart problems and smoked heavily. No foul play is suspected in his death.
Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren, best known for his role as a member of the Lollipop Guild in The Wizard of Oz, passed away on June 7, 2018, due to congestive heart failure. The actor and activist was 98.
Unlike many of his munchkin co-stars, Maren stayed in Hollywood post-Oz. The actor performed in stunt roles for child performers, tossed the confetti on The Gong Show, and was Mayor McCheese in a series of McDonald's ads.
Maren was also an advocate for little people in Hollywood. He co-founded the organization Little People of America with his friend, Billy Barty, in 1957.
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Hugh Dane, who played Hank the security guard in The Office, passed away. His death was first announced on May 26, 2018, by the Los Angeles Inner City Cultural Center which posted a flyer on Facebook celebrating his life. "A loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend," the announcement read. The cause of death has not been revealed. Dane was 75.
Co-stars of The Office offered their condolences on social media.
"RIP Hugh Dane, aka Hank the security guard. He was one of the greats. So kind, funny, talented. We will all miss him," Rainn Wilson wrote on Twitter. Steve Carell retweeted Wilson's sentiments and added, "A terrific guy."
Frank Doubleday, best known for his villainous roles in films like Escape From New York and Assault on Precinct 13, passed away on March 3, 2018. He died due to complications from esophageal cancer in his Los Angeles home.
He was 73. His wife of 40 years, actress Christina Hart, revealed the news of his death in late May 2018.
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Clint Walker, best known for his roles in Cheyenne and The Dirty Dozen, passed away on May 21, 2018. His death was confirmed by his daughter, who said the cause was congestive heart failure. The actor was 90 years old.
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José Lavat was a Mexican voice actor, best known for narrating the hit Japanese anime television series Dragon Ball Z. News of his death was first reported on May 15, 2018. He was 69 years old, and the cause of his death has not yet been reported.
Toei Animation confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, "Rest in peace Jose Lavat, an amazing dubbing actor who lended his voice talent to many famous characters for Hispanic audiences including the narrator in Dragon Ball Z."
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Best known for her role as Lois Lane in the Superman films, Margot Kidder passed away on May 13, 2018 at 69. In addition to being famous for her work as an actress, Kidder was also known for being an advocate for mental health awareness.
Her bipolar disorder once left her homeless and she spoke openly about her struggles throughout her life.
Pamela Gidley
Actress Pamela Gidley was best known for her role in the Twin Peaks prequel, Fire Walk With Me. She passed away early in April, and her death was announced on April 29, 2018. She was 52 years old. The exact cause of death was not released.
Gidley also starred in films like Thrasin' and Cherry 2000. She made several TV appearances in shows such as MacGyver, CSI, and The Closer.
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Best known for his role as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers franchise, actor Verne Troyer passed away at 49 on April 21, 2018. Troyer had been admitted to a hospital earlier in the month due to suicidal thoughts.
While no cause of death was immediately released, the family mentioned in an Instagram post that suicide and depression are serious issues.
Best known as the host for the long running ITV show Supermarket Sweep, Dale Winton passed away on April 18, 2018, at the age of 62.
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On April 16, 2018, actor Harry Anderson passed away at 65 and was found dead at his home. Anderson was best known for roles on sitcoms like Cheers and Night Court.
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Best known for his portrayal of the the haunting drill sergeant Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, R. Lee Ermey passed away on April 15, 2018, at 74. Ermey served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, which added a great deal of authenticity to his portrayal.
He received a Golden Globe for best supporting actor for the role.
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Actor and television host Chuck McCann passed away on April 8, 2018 from congenital heart failure. McCann was a staple in children's television, having done voiceover work for shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Animaniacs.
He also voiced many cereal mascots and starred in critically acclaimed films like The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
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On March 23, 2018, Chicago Fire actress DuShon Monique Brown passed away at the age of 49. A cause of death was not released, but Brown passed at St. James Olympia Field Hospital just outside of Chicago.
Frank Avruch
Photo: City of Boston Archives / flickr / CC BY 2.0While Frank Avruch's name is not immediately recognizable, he played Bozo the Clown in the popular children's television show of the same name from 1959 to 1970. In March of 2018, Avruch passed away at the age of 89.
- Photo: M*A*S*H/CBS Television / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
On March 3, 2018, actor David Ogden Stiers died at home of bladder cancer at 75. Stiers had parts in many popular television shows throughout the '70s and '80s, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Charlie's Angels. He was most famous for playing Major Charles Emerson Winchester III in M*A*S*H.
He also voiced Cogsworth in the Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
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South Korean actor Jo Min-ki was found dead of an apparent suicide by his wife on March 9, 2018. The actor had recently been accused of molesting at least eight students when working as a drama teacher at Cheongiu University.
Min-ki had admitted to the allegations, releasing a statement saying, "Everything is my fault and I am the one to blame."
