THE BIG NAMES WE SAID GOODBYE TO IN 2017
The past year has, sadly, seen some of both Wales’ and the world’s most famous faces leave us. From Oscar-winning actors to musicians, sports stars, and the politician called the ‘Father of Wales’, here’s a look at the big names we lost in 2017...
JANUARY SIR JOHN HURT
THE actor died aged 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
MARY TYLER MOORE
THE American actress, who shot to stardom as a suburban housewife in 1960s comedy The Dick Van Dyke Show, died aged 80.
GORDEN KAYE
THE ‘Allo ‘Allo! star Gorden Kaye passed away aged 75 in a care home.
MIGUEL FERRER
US actor Miguel Ferrer died aged 61 after battling cancer. The star was most famous for his roles in RoboCop and Twin Peaks.
GRAHAM TAYLOR
THE former England, Watford and Aston Villa manager died of a heart attack at the age of 72.
GEOFF NICHOLLS
THE former Black Sabbath musician died aged 68 after a battle with lung cancer.
FEBRUARY BILL PAXTON
A STAR of Aliens and Titanic, the American actor died due to surgical complications.
NEIL FINGLETON
BRITAIN and the EU’s tallest man Neil Fingleton died, reportedly of heart failure.
He was best known for his portrayal of Mag the Mighty in Game of Thrones and as Doctor Who villain the Fischer King.
PETER SKELLERN
THE former pop star, who had a hit in the 1970s with You’re A Lady, died following a battle with brain cancer.
SARA COWARD
THE Archers icon died at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer.
TARA PALMER-TOMKINSON
THE former It Girl died aged just 45.
ALAN SIMPSON
THE sitcom writer icon, one half of the much-loved Galton and Simpson duo, died at the age of 87.
AL JARREAU
THE acclaimed vocalist from Milwaukee boasted a 42-year career in the music industry, with hits including Breakin’ Away, Boogie Down and Never Givin’ Up. He died aged 76.
JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
THE former scrum-half lost his sixyear battle with motor neurone disease aged just 45.
MARCH COLIN DEXTER
THE author of Inspector Morse died peacefully in his Oxford home at the age of 86.
JONI SLEDGE
THE Sister Sledge star passed away at the age of 60.
CHUCK BERRY
THE music icon died at the age of 90.
JOHN FORGEHAM
BEST known for his work in Footballers’ Wives, in which he played Frank Laslett, he passed away aged 75.
APRIL TIM PIGOTT-SMITH
THE British actor, best known for his role in the Bafta-winning The Jewel in the Crown TV series, died at the age of 70.
JONATHAN DEMME
THE director of huge films including Silence Of The Lambs, Philadelphia and Rachel Getting Married, passed away at the age of 73.
DAVID PARRY-JONES
THE veteran Welsh broadcaster, who once presented the BBC Wales flagship news programme Wales Today, died at the age of 83 following a battle with dementia.
ERIN MORAN
THE actress, best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days, died on April 22.
MICHAEL BOGDANOV
THE Neath-born theatre director died while on holiday in the Greek island of Paros. He was 78.
MAY JOHN NOAKES
BLUE Peter’s longest-serving senter died aged 83.
MORAY WATSON RHODRI MORGAN GREGG ALLMAN SIR ROGER MOORE CHRIS CORNELL MICHAEL PARKS GEOFFREY BAYLDON
pre- THE actor, best known for playing the Brigadier in The Darling Buds of May in the early 1990s, died aged 88. THE former First Minister of Wales collapsed and died while cycling near his home. He was 77.
Described as “the Father of Wales”, Mr Morgan spent more than 30 years in politics and led the country as First Minister for almost 10 years from 2000. THE rocker, who founded The Allman Brothers Band with his late brother, Duane, died at the age of 69. THE James Bond star died aged 89 after a short battle with cancer. THE Soundgarden and Audioslave rocker died aged 52. THE Twin Peaks and Kill Bill II actor Michael Parks passed away aged 77. THE British actor died at the age of 93.
JUNE BARRY NORMAN
THE much-loved film critic died at the age of 83.
MICHAEL BOND
THE revered creator of Paddington Bear passed away at the age of 91.
PETER SALLIS
THE Last of the Summer Wine actor died aged 96.
ADAM WEST
THE actor, who played Batman in the iconic 1960s TV show, passed away aged 88 after a short battle with leukaemia.
ROY BARRACLOUGH
THE star of Coronation Street passed away aged 81.
LYN JAMES
THE actress, best known for her longrunning role as Helen Gordon in The Young Doctors, died aged 87.
Born Margaret James in the Rhondda Valley, she rose to fame appearing as a receptionist in the Australian soap from its inception in the 1970s until it ended seven years later.
JULY DEBORAH WATLING
THE Doctor Who actress Deborah Watling died six weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
CHESTER BENNINGTON
THE Linkin Park lead singer died aged 41. He was found dead in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles.
BRADLEY LOWERY
THE six-year-old won the hearts of football fans around the world as he battled neuroblastoma – a rare type of cancer.
But the Sunderland fan lost his fight in July.
CAROL LEE SCOTT HYWEL BENNETT SAM SHEPARD AUGUST ROBERT HARDY GLEN CAMPBELL JERRY LEWIS SIR BRUCE FORSYTH SEPTEMBER LIZ DAWN
THE actress, best known as her character Grotbags, died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer. THE Welsh actor, who was born in Garnant, Carmarthenshire, passed away in July at the age of 73.
More recently seen in EastEnders, he shot to fame during the 70s in TV sitcom Shelley which attracted up to 18m viewers a week. THE actor died on July 30 aged 73 at his home in Kentucky, THE star of All Creatures Great and Small and Harry Potter died aged 91. THE country music legend, who sang Rhinestone Cowboy, died aged 81 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. THE American comedian, actor, singer, producer and director was known for his slapstick humour in film, television, stage and radio. THE legendary entertainer and face of dance show Strictly Come Dancing died at the age of 89. THE cast of Coronation Street paid tribute to Liz Dawn following her death aged 77.
The actress became a fan favourite playing Corrie’s Vera Duckworth for more than 30 years.
WILLIAM G STEWART
THE former Fifteen To One host died on September 21 after a brief illness.
HUGH HEFNER
THE founder of Playboy died at the age of 91.
ALAN THOMPSON
DESCRIBED by his many fans at the “champion of the Welsh music scene”, radio presenter Alan Thompson died after a short illness.
Aged just 54, the popular radio show saw him present classic songs and explore the stories behind them with special guests.
Close friend Rob Brydon led the heartfelt tributes at his funeral in Cardiff – saying there was “no one else” like his long-time friend.
JAKE LAMOTTA
THE boxing legend who was the inspiration behind Hollywood blockbuster Raging Bull died at the age of 95.
OCTOBER TOM PETTY
THE legendary rocker died at age 66 after suffering a heart attack.
GORD DOWNIE
THE lead singer for Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip died after a battle with brain cancer. He was 53.
FATS DOMINO
THE rock ’n’ roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music died at the age of 89.
SEAN HUGHES
THE Irish stand-up comedian, actor and author died at the age of 51.
NOVEMBER ANTONIO CARLUCCIO
THE celebrity chef and restaurateur died at the age of 80.
KEITH BARRON
THE former Duty Free star died at the age of 83 after a short illness.
MALCOLM YOUNG
THE AC/DC guitarist was hailed by his band as a “visionary” after his death in November at the age of 64.
JANA NOVOTNA
THE former Wimbledon champion died from cancer aged 49.
IOLA GREGORY
POBOL y Cwm star Iola Gregory died aged 71 following a battle with illness.
The Welsh actress made her name by playing pub landlady Jean McGurk in the popular Welsh language soap opera during the late 1980s and 1990s.
RODNEY BEWES
THE Likely Lads star died aged 79, a week before his 80th birthday.
DAVID CASSIDY
THE former teen heartthrob died at the age of 67.
DECEMBER SHASHI KAPOOR
THE leading Bollywood actor and producer from the 1970s and 1980s died after a long illness.
CHRISTINE KEELER
THE former showgirl was at the heart of the Profumo affair which rocked the Establishment in the 1960s. She died at the age of 75.
JOHNNY HALLYDAY
THE French music icon who packed stadiums and was the country’s top rock star for decades died aged 74.
KEITH CHEGWIN
THE veteran television presenter died aged 60 following a long illness.
MEIC POVEY
THE Welsh screenwriter, director and actor was one of the co-creators of Pobol y Cwm.
Originally from Nant Gwynant, near Beddgelert in Gwynedd, Povey lived in Cardiff for many years. He died of cancer aged 67.