2021 Oscars in memoriam: Big stars we've lost since the last Academy Awards, died over last year

By Neia Balao 5:49am PDT, Apr 26, 2021

Following the 93rd Academy Awards on April 25, 2021, join Wonderwall.com as we take a look at all the actors, actresses and notable showbiz names we've lost over the last year… beginning with this beloved star… On Aug. 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman's rep shared the heartbreaking news that the "Black Panther" star had died earlier that day at 43, sparking an outpouring of grief from Hollywood stars and fans. The "42" and "Get On Up" actor had quietly been battling colon cancer since 2016 but never shared his diagnosis publicly. Chadwick, who famously played T'Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, passed away at home with his wife and family by his side. He won most of the 2021 awards season best actor prizes for his incredible work in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," posthumously earning trophies at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards, NAACP Image Awards and more. He was also nominated for a 2021 best actor Oscar for his work in the film.

Keep reading to see more movie stars, former Oscar nominees and winners, and notable acting talents we've lost in the last year…

On Feb. 5, 2021, Christopher Plummer passed away after a fall at home, his family confirmed to Deadline. He was 91. The Canadian actor appeared in countless films from "The Sound of Music" to "Knives Out." He earned an Academy Award for best supporting actor in 2012 for his work in "Beginners."

On Oct. 31, 2020, Hollywood's original James Bond — Scottish movie star Sean Connery — was dead at 90. The Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner's son, Jason Connery, told the BBC his father died peacefully in his sleep at his home in the Bahamas after having been "unwell for some time." Hollywood stars mourned the loss of Sir Sean — who in 1988 took home a best supporting actor Academy Award for his work in "The Untouchables" — including current 007 Daniel Craig, who said of his predecessor, "He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike for years to come. … Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course."

RELATED: Stars we lost in 2021

On Jan. 28, 2021, Cicely Tyson passed away at 96. In addition to being a Tony Award winner, she earned more than 16 Emmy nominations (and won three) as well as an Oscar nomination for her work in "Sounder." In 2018, Cicely made history as the first Black woman to ever receive an honorary Academy Award.

On Jan. 26, 2021, Cloris Leachman — who earned an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1972 for "The Last Picture Show — passed away from natural causes at her Encinitas, California, home. She was 94. The comedic actress, whose career took off in the '70s when she starred on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," was the most nominated actress in Emmy Awards history.

Diana Rigg — who was famous her work on TV's "The Avengers" and "Rebecca" and for being the only Bond girl to get 007 to the altar (in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") — died at home surrounded by her family on Sept. 10, 2020, at 82. Her daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, later revealed that Diana had been diagnosed with cancer in March 2020. The Emmy, Tony and BAFTA Award winner, who was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994, was also known to a younger generation as the formidable Lady Olenna Tyrell on "Game of Thrones."

Bond girl Honor Blackman died of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, England, at 94, her family announced on April 6, 2020. After becoming a household name on the TV series "The Avengers" in the early 1960s, she starred opposite Sean Connery in 1964's "Goldfinger" and went on to act for decades.

Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Schlesinger passed away from complications related to COVID-19 on April 1, 2020. He was 52. The Emmy and Tony winner and "Stacy's Mom" hitmaker earned an Academy Award nomination for writing the title song for the film "That Thing You Do!" which was written and directed by Tom Hanks.

"Gone With the Wind" star Olivia de Havilland died of natural causes at 104 at her home in Paris on July 26, 2020. Olivia — who was born in Japan to British parents and spent the last 60 years of her life in France — was a two-time Oscar winner for her work in "The Heiress" and "To Each His Own."

On March 23, 2021, George Segal's wife, Sonia, announced that the actor had passed away at 87 due to complications from bypass surgery. The actor — who earned an Oscar nomination for his work in 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" — more recently stole the screen as Albert "Pops" Solomon on the ABC series "The Goldbergs."

Hal Holbrook died at his Beverly Hills home on Jan. 23, his assistant told The New York times on Feb. 1. He was 95. The Tony Award-winning actor, who lost wife Dixie Carter in 2010, also made history as the oldest actor (at the time) to earn an Academy Award nomination, for his performance in "Into the Wild" in 2008 at 82.

"On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer," a family representative told People magazine. The actress, who was married to actor John Travolta for nearly three decades, was best known for her work in films including "SpaceCamp," "Twins," "Jerry Maguire, "For Love of the Game," "The Cat in the Hat" and more. She was 57.

On Jan. 7, British filmmaker and documentarian Michael Apted passed away in Los Angeles, the Directors Guild of America announced. He was 79. His 1980 film "Coal Miner's Daughter" earned seven Academy Award nominations including best picture.

Jessica Walter — who's perhaps best remembered for her starring role as Lucille Bluth on "Arrested Development" and for voicing Malory Archer on "Archer" for more than 10 years — passed away on March 24, 2021, in New York. She was 80. "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. While her legacy will live on through her body of work, she will also be remembered by many for her wit, class and overall joie de vivre," daughter Brooke Bowman said in a statement.

On March 8, 2020, Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Max von Sydow died at 90. The Swedish actor famously starred in Ingmar Bergman films including "The Seventh Seal" and went on to appear in everything from "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Exorcist" to "Pelle the Conqueror," "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Game of Thrones."

"Harry Potter" franchise and "Peaky Blinders" star Helen McCrory — who was also a master of the London stage and countless other prestige projects — died 52 after a secret cancer battle, the BAFTA Cymru Award winner's husband, actor Damian Lewis, announced on April 16, 2021. Dozens of Helen's co-stars, including Cillian Murphy, Helen Mirren, Kate Beckinsale, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs and more publicly shared memories of her in the wake of her passing.

On July 6, 2020, Ennio Morricone — who was widely known as "Maestro" — passed away in a hospital in Rome after suffering a fall that resulted in a fractured femur. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning Italian composer was 91. He scored countless films over the course of his illustrious career — from Clint Eastwood Western flicks like "For a Few Dollars More" to Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight."

On April 22, 2020, two-time Academy Award nominee Shirley Knight died from natural causes at her daughter, actress Kaitlin Hopkins' San Marcos, Texas home. The Tony-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress — who appeared in projects including "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," "Sweet Bird of Youth" and "Dutchman" — was 83.

British-French actor Michael Lonsdale — best known for playing the James Bond movie villain Hugo Drax opposite Roger Moore in 1979's "Moonraker" — died on Sept. 21, 2020. The actor, who also notably appeared in "Ronin," "Munich" and "The Day of the Jackal," was 87.

On March 25, 2021, screenwriter and novelist Larry McMurtry passed away. He was 84. The Pulitzer Prize winner earned an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2006. In 1972, he earned a nomination in the same category for his script for "The Last Picture Show."

Tommy "Tiny" Lister — who appeared in movies like "Friday," "The Fifth Element," "Zootopia" and "The Dark Knight" — was found dead in his California home on Dec. 10, 2020, after experiencing coronavirus symptoms again four months after he first tested positive for COVID-19. He was 62.

Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter Johnny Mandel — who famously penned the "M*A*S*H" theme song — passed away on June 30, 2020 at 94. The songwriter earned an Academy Award for best original song for "The Shadow of Your Smile," which was featured in the 1965 flick "The Sandpiper."

Actress, dancer and Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking — who played Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" and starred in other Broadway productions — died in her sleep in a Seattle hotel on Dec. 12, 2020, while in Washington to visit her brother, reports confirmed. She was 71. Ann, the onetime protegee and romantic partner of famed director-choreographer Bob Fosse, also memorably appeared in movies including "All That Jazz," "Annie" and "Micki & Maude."

Brian Dennehy passed away of natural causes on April 15, 2020, at 81. Over the course of his career, Brian netted five Emmy nominations and one Grammy nomination. He collected a Golden Globe in 2001 for his performance in "Death of a Salesman" and won two Tony Awards.

Boundary-breaking mathematician Katherine Johnson — who served as the inspiration of the Academy Award-nominated 2016 flick "Hidden Figures" starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae — passed away at 101 on Feb. 24, 2020. Katherine, an African American math prodigy-turned-NASA "computer" helped the U.S. federal government agency send astronauts into orbit. In 2015, President Barack Obama recognized her accomplishments by awarding her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

On Aug. 1, 2020, Wilford Brimley died at 85 in St. George, Utah, where he'd been in the ICU being treated for kidney issues. The Marine Corps vet known for his mustache, baritone voice and Quaker Oats commercials memorably starred in films including "Cocoon," "The Natural," "The Firm" and "The Thing" and TV shows like "Our House" and "The Waltons" during his long career.

On May 11, 2020, Ben Stiller announced that his dad, comedian Jerry Stiller — who played Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld" and Arthur Spooner on "The King of Queens" — had died of natural causes, Jerry was 92.

Fred Willard died at home on May 16, 2020, of natural causes. He was 86. The New York Times called the four-time Primetime Emmy nominee and Daytime Emmy winner — who stole scenes in movies like "Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind," "Waiting for Guffman" and "This Is Spinal Tap" and on TV sitcoms like "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Modern Family" — the "king of the deadpan cameo." Celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Fred as news of his death made headlines.

Filmmaker Joel Schumacher — who directed "St. Elmo's Fire," "The Lost Boys," "Flatliners," "Falling Down," "The Client," "A Time to Kill" and two of the "Batman" franchise movies, among others — died in New York City on June 22, 2020, following a year-long cancer battle. He was 80.

Entertainer Carl Reiner died of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home on June 29, 2020, at 98. The stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer and Broadway star with more than 400 credits to his name won 11 Emmys over seven decades. His children include famed director Rob Reiner.

Dawn Wells, who was best known for her role as Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island," died on Dec. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles from complications of COVID-19. She was 82.

Lewis John Carlino died on June 17, 2020, at his home on Whidbey Island, Washington, from complications relating to myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disease. He was 88. The screenwriter and playwright received an Academy Award nomination for writing 1977's "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden."

David L. Lander, the actor best known for his work as Squiggy opposite Michael McKean's Lenny on the hit '70s and '80s sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died at 73 on Dec. 4, 2020, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His family confirmed to Variety that he passed away from complications related to multiple sclerosis.

On May 16, 2020, indie director Lynn Shelton, who was widely remembered for her contributions to the mumblecore genre, passed away from acute myeloid leukemia. She was 54. Over the course of her career, Lynn wrote and directed films including "Your Sister's Sister" and "Sword of Trust" and directed several television shows including "The Mindy Project," "Mad Men" and 2020's "Little Fires Everywhere." Her boyfriend, Marc Maron, revealed to IndieWire that she had collapsed following a week of being ill. "There was a previously unknown, underlying condition. It was not COVID-19," he said. "The doctors could not save her. They tried. Hard." He also shared how much he loved her, explaining, "She was a beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist. Her spirit was pure joy. She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy. I made her laugh all the time. We laughed a lot. We were starting a life together. … This is a horrendous, sad loss."

Cinematographer Allen Daviau — who earned five Academy Award nominations for his work on films including "The Color Purple" and "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" — died at a Los Angeles hospital from complications relating to COVID-19 on April 15, 2020. He was 77. "His warmth and humanity were as powerful as his lens. He was a singular talent and a beautiful human being," said "E.T." filmmaker Steven Spielberg of his late collaborator.

On Jan. 4, 2021, actress Tanya Roberts passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a urinary tract infection that spread and caused sepsis, Lance O'Brien, her longtime partner, and Mike Pingel, her publicist, told NBC News. She was 65. The actress famously starred on the television shows "Charlie's Angels" and "That '70s Show" as well as in the James Bond film "A View to a Kill."

On Feb. 24, 2021, Ronald Pickup died after losing his battle with a long illness, his agent told BBC. The English actor, who appeared in films including "Darkest Hour" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" along with the first season of "The Crown," was 80.

"Saved by the Bell" star Dustin Diamond, who was most famous for playing Samuel "Screech" Powers on the hit series, died on Feb. 1, 2021. He passed away just weeks after being hospitalized and diagnosed with stage 4 small cell carcinoma, otherwise known as lung cancer.

On Feb. 17, 2020, "Good Times" actress Ja'Net DuBois — who portrayed talkative and gossipy divorcée Willona Woods on the CBS sitcom in the '70s for five years — passed away from cardiac arrest in her Glendale, California home. She was 74. "I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment," wrote Janet Jackson on Instagram, who portrayed Penny Gordon Woods, the adopted daughter of Ja'net's character on the series. I'm grateful in recent years I had a chance to see her and create more lasting memories. I pray for comfort for all her family and friends. Thank you Ja'Net, I'll miss you."

Golden Globe winner John Saxon, who starred opposite Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon" and appeared in more than 200 TV shows and movies including "A Nightmare on Elm Street," died at home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 25, 2020, from complications of pneumonia at 83.

The body of Naya Rivera, who starred as Santana Lopez on "Glee" for six seasons — was found on July 13, 2020, five days after she went missing while boating on California's Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest and accidentally drowned. The former child star — who also memorably appeared on TV's "Devious Maids," "The Bernie Mac Show" and "The Royal Family" — was 33.

Trailblazing Bermuda-born British actor Earl Cameron — one of the first black actors to perform in mainstream British films and TV shows — died at his home in Kenilworth, England on July 3, 2020, at 102. He appeared in everything from the 1965 James Bond movie "Thunderball" to Sydney Pollack's "The Interpreter" to Christopher Nolan's "Inception" and in 2006 was appointed as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Marion Ramsey, who was best known for her portrayal of Officer Laverne Hooks in the "Police Academy" films, passed away in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2021. The actress, who also briefly appeared on shows including "MacGyver," "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "The Nanny," was 73.

On June 19, 2020, English screen and stage star Ian Holm passed away in a London hospital after a battle with an illness related to Parkinson's disease. He was 88. While he was best remembered for his work in Harold Pinter and Shakespeare plays, Ian also notably appeared in the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies.

On April 29, 2020, Indian actor Irrfan Khan — who appeared in the films "Life of Pi," "Jurassic World" and "Slumdog Millionaire" — passed away from cancer in Mumbai at 53. In 2018, he revealed he'd been diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Riz Ahmed and Mindy Kaling were among the notable stars who mourned his passing. "The charisma you brought to everything you did was pure magic. Your talent forged the way for so many in so many avenues. You inspired so many of us. #IrrfanKhan you will truly be missed," tweeted frequent co-star Priyanka Chopra.

Sam Lloyd — who famously portrayed "Scrubs" character Ted Buckland — died on April 30, 2020 at 56 "as a result of complications from lung cancer," wife Vanessa said in a statement. "Our family is devastated. It doesn't feel real. It never will. It just feels like he will walk through the door." "Scrubs" star Zach Braff also paid tribute to the later actor on Twitter. "Rest In Peace to one of the funniest actors I've ever had the joy of working with. Sam Lloyd made me crack up and break character every single time we did a scene together. He could not have been a kinder man. I will forever cherish the time I had with you, Sammy," he wrote.

On June 11, 2020, Mel Winkler passed away in his sleep. The actor, who appeared in films including "Coach Carter" and "Doc Hollywood," was 78.

British actress Barbara Shelley, who appeared in horror flicks including 1960's "Village of the Damned," 1967's "Quatermass and the Pit" and 1974's "Ghost Story," passed away from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 4, 2021. She was 88.

On March 18, 2021, Richard Gilliland — who appeared on series including "Thirtysomething" and "Operation Petticoat" — passed away in Los Angeles following a brief illness, his rep announced the following week. The actor, who also famously appeared on the series "Designing Women," where he met his wife of almost 34 years, Jean Smart, was 71.

On Jan. 7, 2021, actor Dearon "Deezer D" Thompson — who was known for his portrayal of nurse Malik McGrath on the NBC medical series "ER" — was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home. His brother, Marshawn, told TMZ his family believes the cause of death to be a heart attack. Deezer was 55.