Stars of stage, screen and politics: The notable names we have lost in 2019
JANUARY BOB EINSTEIN ACTOR AND COMEDY WRITER 20 November 1942 – 2 January 2019, age 76
Einstein was known best for his portrayal of the annoying Marty Funkhouser in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm.
SIR MICHAEL ATIYAH FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 22 April 1929 – 11 January 2019, age 89
The world-renowned mathematician was the first president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
EMILIANO SALA FOOTBALLER 31 October 1990 – 21 January 2019, age 28
The Argentinian Cardiff City footballer’ s body was recovered from a plane that crashed over the English Channel.
ANDREW FAIRLIE: RENOWNED CHEF 21 November 1963 – 22 January 2019, age 55
Fairlie co-founded the country’s only two Michelinstarred restaurant, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles.
ADAM WATSON SCOTTISH ECOLOGIST AND CONSERVATIONIST 13 April 1930 – 23 January, age 88
With a first-class honours degree in zoology, Macgillvray Prize, a PHD on the rock ptarmigan bird and a second doctorate in the behaviours of northern animals, Watson was a regular figure on TV and radio programmes.
HUGH MCILVANNEY SPORTS WRITER 2 February 1934 - 24 January 2019, age 84
He was known as the outstanding practitioner in his sports writing craft and was appointed an OBE in 1996 for services to sports writing, which he elevated to a higher plane.
FEBRUARY JEREMY HARDY COMEDIAN 17 July 1961 – 1 February 2019, age 57
The endearing comedian won the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1988 gained further fame on BBC Radio 4 radio panel shows the News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.
ROSAMUNDE PILCHER WRITER 22 September 1924 – 6 February 2019, age 94
After years of churning out romances for publisher Mills & Boon, Pilcher was in her 60s when she wrote The Shell Seekers, which set her on the way to being one of Britain’s most successful authors.
BARONESS FALKENDER CBE POLITICAL AIDE AND LABOUR PEER 10 March 1932 – 6 February 2019, age 86
Marcia Williams, later Lady Falkender, was possibly one of the most powerful women in British politics before Thatcher and was Harold Wilson’s trusted close confidante.
DR KATHARINA LINDNER GERMAN ACADEMIC AND FOOTBALLER 3 September 1979 – 9 February 2019, age 39
While completing her PHD at Glasgow University, Lindner continued a football career by joining Glasgow City, Scotland’s leading women’s football team, for which she played 173 games and scored an impressive 128 goals.
KARL LAGERFELD FASHION DESIGNER 10 September 1933 -19 February 2019, age 85
Lagerfeld’s designs at Chanel and Fendi had an unprecedented impact on the entire fashion industry, leading him to a six-decade career as a designer of luxury labels providing designs for the wealthy.
PETER TORK SINGER, SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN 13 February 1942 – 21 February 2019, age 77
The teen idol was the lovable bassist of American pop group The Monkees and having studied music since childhood, was often hailed as the band’s most talented musician.
ANDRÉ PREVIN PIANIST, CONDUCTOR AND COMPOSER 6 April 1929 – 28 February, age 89
A former child prodigy who started working for Metro-goldwyn-mayer’s music department when he was still in school, had broad musical reach that entered him into the worlds of Hollywood, jazz and classical music, and won four Oscars for his orchestrations.
MARCH KEITH FLINT VOCALIST AND DANCER 17 September 1969 – 4 March 2019, age 49
Instantly recognisable with his bright, spiky, green hair and piercings, Flint created energetic stage performances with the electronic dance act The Prodigy and was renowned among fellow musicians for his unreserved kindness.
LUKE PERRY ACTOR 11 October 1966 – 4 March 2019, age 52
After taking on the role of badboy Dylan Mckay on Fox’s Beverly Hills, 90210, Perry went on to appear on countless magazine covers and had roles across film and television, including as Fred Andrews on CW’S teen drama Riverdale.
ERIC CALDOW SCOTTISH FOOTBALLER 14 May 1934 – 4 March 2019, age 84
The Cumnock-born player was regarded by many Rangers fans as the finest full-back to play for the club, having won ten honours in his 13 years as a first-team player after making his début as a 19-year-old in the 1953-54 season.
DONALD CAMPBELL PLAYWRIGHT, HISTORIAN AND POET 25 February 1940 – 8 March 2019, age 79
From the 1970s onwards, Campbell’s voice spoke for a modern nation and lit up the Scottish literary scene with impressive ambition and confidence.
BRIAN GOWENLOCK PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY 9 February 1926 – 17 March 2019, age 93
He was a well-respected professor of chemistry and head of the Department of Chemistry at Heriot-watt University between 1966 and 1987 and dean of the Faculty of Science there from 1969 to 1972 and 1987-1990.
SCOTT WALKER SINGER AND RENOWNED MUSIC PRODUCER 9 January 1943 – 22 March 2019, age 76
The American-born star of The Walker Brothers, famed for hits such as The Sun Ain’t Going to Shine (Anymore) 1996, reached Beatles-mania levels of stardom during the 1960 and he became a cult figure as he entered the 1970s.
APRIL BILLY MCNEILL SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLER 2 March 1940 – 22 April 2019, age 79
The leader of Celtic’s Lisbon Lions – the team which defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in 1967 – Mcneill is considered the greatest Celtic player and a true legend of the game. The defender received an MBE in 1974 and retired after playing 789 games for the club.
PETER MAYHEW
STAR WARS ACTOR
19 May 1944 – 30 April 2019, age 74
The British-american journalist played one of the most recognisable characters in cinematic history, but would walk in the streets unnoticed after playing Chewbacca in five Star Wars films, most recently in the 2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
DOUGLAS HALL FIRST KEEPER OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART 9 October 1926 – 23 April 2019, age 92
He established the gallery’s international reputation and made a lasting impact on the arts in Scotland and beyond. His independent taste helped shape a collection which today would cost hundreds of millions of pounds to reassemble.
MAY IAIN MACMILLAN CBE FORMER LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND PRESIDENT 14 November 1923 – 8 May 2019, age 95
A suggestion from his sister led to Macmillan becoming a solicitor, sheriff and president of the Law Society of Scotland – as well as a hugely influential educator who restructured legal education.
BRIAN WALDEN FORMER MP WHO BECAME A RUTHLESS TV INTERVIEWER 8 July 1932 – 9 May 2019, age 86
The former Labour MP became one of the most ruthless and analytical TV interviewers of his generation and despite his Labour background had admiration for Margaret Thatcher.
FREDDIE STARR COMEDIAN 9 January 1943 – 9 May 2019, age 76
Starr became a household name due to his wacky pranks and sketches, but his outrageous sense of humour often landed him in hot water and a headline in the Sun – ‘Freddie ate my hamster’ – would follow him for the rest of his life.
DORIS DAY AMERICAN ACTRESS AND SINGER 3 April 1922 – 13 May 2019, age 97
Known as a honey-voiced singer and actress who had a wholesome beauty and beaming smile, she landed roles in Hollywood films including Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 drama The Man Who Knew Too Much, in which she sang Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera).
GEORGE SMITH SCOTTISH REFEREE 14 October 1943 – 13 May 2019, age 75
The most successful referees to hail from Edinburgh, Smith was one of only ten Scots to receive the honour of refereeing the World Cup Finals.
NIKI LAUDA FORMULA ONE LEGEND 22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019, age 70
The three-time Formula One world champion was one of the best-known names in sport and prominent head in the aviation industry. He was badly burned in the 1976 German Grand Prix, but made an astonishingly quick return to the sport in just six weeks.
HARRY HOOD CELTIC FAVOURITE 3 October 1944 – 26 May, age 74
Harry Hood was a Celtic favourite who regularly appears in discussions about Scotland’ s best uncapped players,despite having often scored goals for Clyde and Celtic.
JUNE
LAWRIE LESLIE FORMER SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL GOALKEEPER 15 March 1935 – 4 June 2019, age 84
Although best known for missing Scotland’s 9-3 drubbing from England in 1961, Leslie was a spectacular and brave football player whose courage made him stand out.
WILLIE ROBERTSON SPORTSMAN 28 October 1947 – 14 June 2019, age 71
The all-round sportsman achieved national distinction despite competing in an era that saw the development of specialism and was most recognised for representing Scotland twice in wrestling in the Commonwealth Games.
ARTHUR ORR SCOTTISH RUGBY PLAYER AND ATHLETE 14 May 1944 – 16 June, age 75
Along with many others, he was unfortunate enough not to have been awarded a cap despite representing Scotland in a test against Argentina in 1969, and represented the Edinburgh-based select team the Co-optimists.
GLORIA VANDERBILT ACTRESS AND FASHION DESIGNER 20 February 1924 – 17 June 2019, age 95
Beginning her life as a “poor little rich girl” of the Great Depression, surviving family tragedies and multiple marriages and reigned as a designer and blue jeans pioneer during the 1970s and 1980s.
JULIE-ANN MACQUEEN SOCIAL WORKER AND CHAMPION OF SOCIAL CHANGE 30 April 1928 – 22 June 2019, age 91
Born in Jerusalem to a Scottish father and French mother, she had a deep affection for the Palestine people and supported their cause throughout her life. As director of One Parent Families Scotland, she achieved much to raise awareness of the needs of one-parent families.
NOEL MCPARTLIN SCOTLAND’S LONGEST-SERVING SHERIFF 25 December 1939 – 23 June 2019, age 79
Mcpartlin was a well-respected sheriff who served 28 years in full-time office. His refusal to leave his humanity behind when entering a courtroom left him held in high regard by the authorities.
TOMORROW, JULY-DECEMBER