Celebrity deaths

AMERICAN actor T.K. Carter best known for his role in horror Sci-Fi film The Thing has been found dead at home.

Carter played Nauls in the 1982 movie and has starred in other films including Southern Comfort, He’s My Girl, and Ski Patrol.

He also featured in various television shows including Punky Brewster, The Corner, and Just Our Luck.

According to TMZ, the actor was found dead on Friday at his home in Duarte, California.

Officers discovered his body around 5:40 pm after they were called to the property.

No foul play is suspected and a cause of death has not yet been released.

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LIZZIE Cundy has revealed the heartbreaking news that her brother has died.

Sharing a picture of her sibling Peter, Lizzie wrote in an emotional tribute: “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness to tell you that my brother Peter has died.”

The TV and radio presenter, 57, added: “We as a family are heartbroken.

“Peter was a much loved son, brother and uncle.

“He worked in theatre, film, had a great love of dogs and of Chelsea FC.

“A real character and a kind soul who will be very much missed.

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“Can’t believe he has gone. Rest in peace dear Pete.”

A number of famous friends commented on Lizzie’s post, with Vanessa Feltz writing: “Lizzie I am so sorry for your sad loss.

“I send you my deepest condolences and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your lovely family. Love always Vanessa.”

GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins wrote: “So sorry to hear that Lizzie, sending huge love to you”.

Lizzie’s loss comes just five months after her best friend, TalkRadio star James Whale passed away following a five year battle with terminal cancer at the age of 74.

The legendary broadcaster, who appeared on Big Brother in 2016, is said to have died “with a smile on his face” following the lengthy battle.

He was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed.

Then, in 2020, the TalkTV host revealed that the cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs.

Lizzie was friends with James for over three decades, and said at the time: “I got the phone call from his lovely wife Nadine and I just burst into tears. Because I knew this day was coming but I never wanted it to come.”

She also described James as a father figure, recalling: “He helped me through a lot of ups and downs, through my divorce.

“He told me when I was being an idiot, he told me straight and I loved that in James.”

Lizzie is a mum to sons Josh and James, who she shares with her footballer ex-husband Jason Cundy.

HAPPY Mondays singer Shaun Ryder missed Stone Roses bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield’s funeral with pneumonia.

Shaun, 63, said he and Black Grape bandmate Paul Leveridge caught the lung condition as they were finishing a tour on December 20.

He told BBC Breakfast: “I got back the day before Mani’s funeral and collapsed, and so I couldn’t even go.

“In the end I got antibiotics . . .  that sorted me out. I’ve only been out of bed, what, four days?”

Shaun was on the breakfast show with Happy Mondays dancer Mark “Bez” Berry, who made Mani’s funeral at Manchester Cathedral on December 22.

Mani, who had emphysema, died at 63.

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Oasis star Liam Gallagher helped carry legendary bassist Gary’s coffin at his funeral – as a host of stars said their final goodbyes.

Sir David Beckham and Ian Brown also paid their respects to Stone Roses’ Mani, who died just two years after losing his wife, Imelda, to cancer.

The dad-of-two was last seen in public alongside Liam at the funeral of legendary boxer Ricky Hatton in October.

Just weeks later, the rocker’s family announced the sad news of his death on social media – sparking floods of tributes from across the globe.

Hundreds of locals in his hometown of Manchester were spotted lining the streets as Mani’s procession passed.

SCARY Movie star and bodybuilder Jayne Trcka has died at 62.

The athlete, who portrayed Miss Mann in the original Scary Movie film, passed away on December 12 in San Diego, California.

“There was trauma to the body, but we wouldn’t be able to indicate cause of death at this time,” a San Diego Medical Examiner spokesperson exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun about the star’s sudden passing.

TMZ was first to report the news and noted that Jayne’s son wasn’t privy to any medical conditions or illnesses the actress had that could’ve caused her death.

Scary Movie, which premiered in 2000, was Jayne’s first acting role.

She was notable in the bodybuilding world after competing in many shows in the 1980s.

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Jayne later starred on The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line is it Anyway?

She also appeared in a string of fitness magazines, such as Flex, MuscleMag International, and Women’s Physique World.

The TV star most recently worked as a realtor, according to a San Diego real estate agency’s website.

Scary Movie was the first parody film in the franchise, starring Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Regina Hall, and Carmen Electra.

Four sequel films were released in 2001, 2003, 2026, and 2013.

The franchise’s sixth installment is scheduled for release in June, with many of its original cast members reprising their roles.

Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans, and Saturday Night Live alum Heidi Gardner have also signed on for the film, which Paramount Pictures will release in theaters worldwide, Deadline revealed in November.

A BELOVED influencer, actor and Broadway star has died after a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer.

Bret Hanna-Shuford, 46, passed away just days after posting a heartbreaking photo from his hospital bed of him smiling alongside his husband.

Dad-of-one Bret shared a positive Christmas Day picture where he tragically looked ahead to 2026 and said “hope to see you all soon”.

On Saturday, his partner Stephen Hanna confirmed the sad news that Bret had peacefully passed away.

Stephen said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that early this morning we said goodbye to the most amazing man, husband and Papa in the universe.

“Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully with love surrounded by his family.

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“Our hearts are broken but we will continue to make him proud of us.”

He leaves behind his young three-year-old son, Maverick.

The actor, who had roles in the Wolf of Wall Street, Little Mermaid and Wicked, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer over the summer.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and T-Cell Lymphoma – both rare disorders – left Bret in and out of hospital in his final months.

Both cancers attack the body’s immune system with T-Cell Lymphoma being among the deadliest forms of the disease.

Bret and Stephen were best known for their ever-growing social media page which detailed their family life.

Broadway Husbands managed to amass over 255,000 followers at the time of Bret’s death.

The account would go on to update followers on Bret’s health in recent months.

In October, he revealed he spent three days unconscious in the ICU due to the disease attacking his immune system.

His illness also forced Bret to step away from his graduate studies at the University of Central Florida.

The couple had only just moved into their new home in Orlando at the time.

A GoFundMe was launched for the Broadway star in August.

As of Saturday evening, the page has raised over $315,000 of its $350,000 fundraising goal.

One of the final posts on the fundraiser from December 12, stated how Bret had been in hospital since Thanksgiving.

A post from a friend read: “As many of you may have noticed, posts have been rather radio silent from both Bret and Stephen.

“These past few weeks have been some of the toughest that they have faced in this cancer journey. Bret has been in the hospital since just before Thanksgiving.”

But Bret was believed to have been improving health wise.

“As of today, Bret is looking and feeling better. His liver enzymes have plateaued, which is good, and he is back in the right direction with his oxygen,” the post continued.

He also directed an episode of the Emmy Award-winning Hulu series Only Murders in the Building in 2023, according to his IMDb page.

Bret is also known for his acting and producing work on Disney Royals, Disney Animazent Trio IRL, and In Rehearsal with… Stranger Things the Musical.

He and Stephen, who works at Walt Disney World, tied the knot in April 2011.

THE daughter of Tommy Lee Jones was arrested over an alleged domestic violence dispute just six months before she was found dead in a hotel.

Emergency services were called to the Fairmont in San Francisco in the early hours of Thursday, where paramedics found Victoria Jones unresponsive and later pronounced her dead, TMZ reported.

It has now been revealed that Victoria was arrested in June for domestic battery and domestic violence involving elder abuse for an alleged incident that occurred at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, California.

The mugshot from her arrest shows the 34-year-old former child actress red eyed and dishevelled.

She pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Victoria Kafka Jones was the daughter of the actor Tommy and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley, who divorced in 1996. 

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Sadly, Victoria was found lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the swanky hotel on New Year’s Day.

A harrowing 911 call has revealed a possible cause of death as an overdose.

Dispatch logs indicate that the call came in at 2.52 am on Thursday, prompting crews to rush to the hotel.

After assessing Victoria, medics pronounced her dead at the hotel, officials said.

Dispatch audio from Broadcastify, obtained by TMZ, described it as a “code 3 for the overdose, color change.”

TMZ reported the call was also logged as an overdose response.

A San Francisco cop who had previously dealt with Victoria told The Post she had struggled with substance abuse issues and suspected her death was “fentanyl-related.”

It remains unclear whether Victoria was staying at the hotel or why she was on the 14th floor.

Page Six has reported a string of other run-ins Victoria had with the law.

In April this year, Victoria was arrested for obstructing a peace officer, using/being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a narcotic controlled substance, for which she also pleaded not guilty.

The earliest criminal encounter is thought to be 2011 when she was arrested for theft in the amount of $50 to $500 in San Antonio, Texas — though the charges ended up being dismissed.

DAD’S ‘FIRING’

Victoria acted as a child, appearing in Men in Black II and later The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. 

She also made a one-episode appearance on One Tree Hill.

Speaking about his daughter while promoting The Three Burials, Tommy said, “She’s a good actress, has her SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, speaks impeccable Spanish. 

“When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish,” he said.

He also recalled a clash over an early call time on set in a resurfaced interview in which he joked that he had to fire his young daughter.

“She had to get up at 5 am for her part. One morning, she wouldn’t get out of bed,” he said.

“I said, ‘Honey, this is work.’ But she wouldn’t budge. So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time.”

Although she stepped away from acting, Victoria still appeared with her father at public events, including the premiere of Just Getting Started in 2017 and the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival that same year.

Fans also flooded social media with condolences, with one writing, “Condolences. Really sad way to lose someone, especially a family member, on the first day of the year as well.”

“No father should ever have to bury their daughter. I hope Tom has a lot of love around him during this tough time,” another fan added.

“Heartbreaking. 34 is far too young. Condolences to the family.”

CHUCKLE Brothers comedy great Paul Elliott says he wants to show that all the world’s a stage — by appearing in Shakespeare plays.

The funnyman, 78, who received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours for his charity work, said he would love to play parts in the Bard’s repertoire given a chance.

But alas, poor Paul — famed for his “To me, to you” catchphrase with late brother Barry — admits he might struggle to learn all the lines.

Asked if he had any ambitions to do Hamlet, Paul said: “To me, or not to me, that is the question?

“I doubt very much I’d be able to learn those lines, but if it was offered, I’d have a go.”

One role he knows he does not stand a chance of getting is as the next James Bond.

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He said it would be more like “the retired James Bond, at my age”.

But despite a Shakespeare play appearing to have neither rhyme nor reason it would be another chance for him to expand his acting range.

He played a gangland enforcer in last year’s crime flick Fall To The Top and said that he “jumped at the chance” to do it.

Paul said: “I thought, ‘well, that suits me down to the ground.’ I used to bully Barry around in Chuckle Brothers. Why not go one step further?”

The Chuckle legend also works as a club DJ and sells personalised videos to fans for £40 each on shout-out website Cameo.

Paul and Barry, from Rotherham, South Yorks, made almost 300 episodes of ChuckleVision for the BBC from 1987 to 2009.

Barry died of bone cancer in 2018, aged 73.

AN ACTOR who appeared in Kung Fu Hustle has died at the age of 69.

Yuen Cheung-yan also choreographed martial arts scenes for Charlie’s Angels and The Matrix.

The star died in hospital on New Year’s Day

His cause of death was not disclosed.

Cheung-yan’s film career began in the late 1960s.

He was best known for playing the beggar in Stephen Chow’s 2004 film Kung Fu Hustle, having previously played a beggar in Gordon Chan’s 1992 King of Beggars.

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The choreographer was a member of Hong Kong’s renowned Yuen family.

His late father, Yuen Siu-tien, was an actor and martial artist who starred alongside actors such as Jackie Chan.

Cheung-yan’s elder brother, Yuen Woo-ping, is a martial arts choreographer and director who has worked in Hong Kong and Hollywood.

Another brother, Yuen Shun-yi, is a martial artist, actor, and stuntman.

The siblings were all trained in martial arts from a young age by their father.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Cheung-yan worked in Hollywood, choreographing fight scenes for films including Charlie’s Angels, Daredevil, and The Matrix.

He was nominated four times for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography, winning in 1992 for Once Upon a Time in China.

He was also nominated at the 30th Golden Horse Awards for Tai Chi Master.

Despite declining health later in life, he remained active in the film industry and was photographed in 2025 working on Red Wedding Dress while using a wheelchair.

His funeral will be held in Hong Kong on February.

It comes after former late night host John Mulrooney died at the age of 67.

The comic was found dead in his Coxsackie, New York, home on December 29.

He died suddenly, as reported by Albany Times-Union.

Mulrooney was known for hosting Fox’s The Late Show in 1987 after Joan Rivers was fired.

He hosted Comic Strip Live between 1989 and 1990, and appeared in Great Balls of Fire in 1989.

Mulrooney played a talk show host in the flick which also starred Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, and John Doe.

CHILLING details have been revealed in the strange death of Tommy Lee Jones’s daughter.

Former child star Victoria Jones, 34, was found unresponsive in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Staff thought Jones had been drinking when they found the 34-year-old lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the ritzy Fairmont hotel, San Francisco.

She was spotted by a guest who thought she “might be drunk”, a source told The Daily Mail.

But when desperate attempts to revive her failed, they realised the truth.

Hotel staff quickly started CPR and called an ambulance, but couldn’t bring her back.

TRAGIC LOSS

Tommy Lee Jones’ daughter ‘found dead on New Year’s Day in luxury hotel’

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Emergency services were called to the swanky hotel at 2.52am, where paramedics found Victoria unresponsive, TMZ reported.

First responders pronounced Victoria, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, dead at the scene.

There were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body, according to the Daily Mail source.

Cops didn’t find drug paraphernalia on the scene, or any signs that Jones had taken her own life.

Her cause of death remains a mystery, and San Francisco police have asked anyone with information about the incident to get in touch with them.

It is still unclear if the child star was a guest at the hotel or what she was doing on the 14th floor.

A spokesperson for the police force said: “On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person.

“At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation.”

Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley.

She followed in her father’s footsteps, acting in several films, including 2002’s Men in Black II and One Tree Hill.

She performed her first acting role as a child before making her Hollywood debut in 2002.

Her famous father played Agent K in the Men in Black franchise.

Victoria also appeared in a handful of acting projects as a child, including a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and a role that same year in the Western picture The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father.

Tommy is also known for Batman Forever, No Country for Old Men, Captain America: The First Avenger and Jason Bourne.

After a brief stint in Hollywood, Victoria did not act in any other movies, but occasionally appeared alongside her father to attend red carpet events.

In 2017, she posed at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, which also starred Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo.

She is survived by her father Jones, her mother Cloughley and her brother, Austin.

CELEBRITY make-up artist and reality TV star Jasen Kaplan has died, as Kelly Osbourne grieves the loss of her “dear friend”.

The beloved entertainment industry heavyweight sadly passed away on Wednesday in a New York City hospital.

NYPD said they were investigating the death of a man at Kaplan’s apartment building.

The chief medical examiner is still yet to determine the cause of death.

Kaplan, 46, has been remembered by his long-time friend Kelly Osbourne.

“I’m devastated. I love you so much,” Osbourne, 41, wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you for all the love, laughter and joy you brought [to] my life. I hope you are at peace now.

“Life will never be the same without you! RIP my dear friend.”

Osbourne recalled her friend to be the funniest person she knew.

“You were the best wing man a girl could ask for. 25 years of friendship and every second was worth it,” she wrote.

Kaplan made a name for himself when he started working with Brittny and Lisa Gastineau on their 2005 show “Gastineau Girls.”

He went on to become the go-to makeup artist for many celebrities, including Cyndi Lauper, Eva Longoria and Lynda Carter.

He did The Real Housewives of New York City alum Tinsley Mortimer’s makeup for her wedding to Robert Bovard in 2023.

More recently, Kaplan had the chance to work with Bethenny Frankel on numerous campaigns with brands like MCoBeauty and Terez clothing.

He had a strong social media presence, with over 95.4K followers on Instagram, sharing makeup tips and his work wit celebrity clients and brands.

He was the “father” to his beloved dog Coco, understood to be the “love of his life” and featured heavily on his social media.

Kaplan was a contestant on “Finding Prince Charming” , a gay bachelor-style dating show which aired in 2016.

His bio for the show read: “He has a great sense of humor but isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s bright, exuberant and completely comfortable with himself.

“Although he is a total flirt and loves dating apps, he’ll only take a relationship to the next level if he really feels like he’s in love.”

He was eliminated in episode two.

ACTOR Isiah Whitlock Jr – whose starring role in The Wire launched an iconic catchphrase – has died aged 71.

Whitlock Jr was best known for his recurring roles in Law & Order and Veep as well as being a regular in Spike Lee films.

His iconic catchphrase “Sh*******t” was also enshrined into pop-culture after he first delivered the line in 25th Hour.

In an interview in 2008, Whitlock Jr revealed he had picked up the phrase from his uncle Leon.

“I did it there, and I did it in She Hate Me,” he said.

“But then, when I got on to The Wire, I saw a couple of opportunities where I could do it, and I did.

“And they started writing it in.”

Whitlock Jr was born in South Bend, Indiana, and began his acting career after graduating from college, when he joined San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater.

The star first appeared on screen in 1987 in a guest role on CBS’ Cagney & Lacey.

He continued to appear on TV for the following 35 years, starring in the Law & Order franchise in multiple episodes of Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent.

Best known for his role as corrupt State Senator R. Clayton “Clay” Davis in The Wire, he appeared in all five seasons of the popular crime drama.

Whitlock Jr later got to play a man obsessed with The Wire in the 2011 comedy Cedar Rapids.

The star was confirmed dead on Tuesday by his long-time manager Brian Liebman.

“Isiah was a brilliant actor and even better person,” Liebman told Deadline.

“He was loved by all who had the pleasure to work with or know him. 

“He will be greatly missed.”

A fan favourite on HBO’s political comedy Veep, he played Secretary of Defence General George Maddox.

Whitlock Jr was a series regular on Showtime’s legal thriller Your Honor, where he portrayed a politician with connections in organised crime.

His final TV role was in the Netflix murder mystery series The Residence, where he depicted the Chief of Police, opposite Uzo Aduba.

The show premiered in March.

The star had a long-standing relationship with Spike Lee, appearing in six of the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s movies: 25th Hour (2002), She Hate Me (2004), Red Hook Summer (2012), Chi-Raq (2015), BlacKkKlansman (2018) and Da 5 Bloods (2020).

He also appeared as a doctor in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, as well as roles in Chappelle’s Show, Pieces of April, Enchanted and Pixar’s Cars 3 and Lightyear.

On the big screen, Whitlock Jr was most recently seen in Elizabeth Banks’ black comedy Cocaine Bear.

His voice will also be heard as part of the voice cast in the Pixar/Disney animated feature Hoppers, which is slated for release in March, 2026.

FROM music legends like Ozzy to literary icons such as Jilly Cooper, 2025 saw the loss of many beloved celebrities.

Here The Sun remembers the stars we lost in 2025.

JANUARY

Wayne Osmond, 73, January 1

TALENTED member of Mormon boy band The Osmonds.

Played eight instruments including the saxophone and guitar, sang and also arranged the group’s harmonies.

Wrote worldwide hit Crazy Horses. Died from a stroke.

The Vivienne, 32, January 3

FIRST winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.

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Born James Lee Williams, their stage name was inspired by a love of designer Vivienne Westwood.

Had a cardiac arrest after taking ketamine.

Found at home two days later.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, 96, January 7

WIDELY regarded as a racist, he made five failed bids for the French presidency.

Founded the National Front party in 1972 but was expelled in 2015 after a row with party leader Marine – his daughter.

Died in a care home.

Peter Yarrow, 86, January 7

FOLK singer who formed Peter, Paul and Mary.

Their version of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind became a US civil rights anthem.

Also had hits with If I Had A Hammer and Leaving On A Jet Plane.

Died from bladder cancer.

Tony Book, 90, January 13

MAN CITY legend captained the side in the late 60s and early 70s, winning four trophies in three years after being signed by Malcolm Allison at the age of 31.

Also managed City to ’76 League Cup win.

Died peacefully.

Tony Slattery, 65, January 14

STANDOUT star of Channel 4’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?

His manic humour masked the pain of depression and addiction.

At the age of 36 suffered a drink and cocaine-induced breakdown.

Died from a heart attack.

Linda Nolan, 65, January 15

THE wildest of the Nolan Sisters singing group dubbed herself the “naughty Nolan”.

Appeared with sister Anne on The Nolans Go Cruising and Coleen on Loose Women.

Died from pneumonia while living with incurable cancer.

Paul Danan, 46, January 15

TROUBLED former Hollyoaks star who played Sol Patrick in the Channel 4 soap.

Had battled with addiction since his early twenties.

His death was ruled as “misadventure” after he took a combination of drugs including heroin.

Dame Joan Plowright, 95, January 16

STAGE and screen star whose career spanned more than six decades.

Married to Laurence Olivier, who she met when playing his daughter in play The Entertainer in 1957.

Won two Golden Globes and an Olivier Award.

David Lynch, 78, January 16

US-born director responsible for cult films Dune, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, and Nineties TV hit Twin Peaks.

Nominated three times for the best director Oscar.

Died from emphysema after a lifetime of smoking.

Denis Law, 84, January 17

ONE the all-time Great strikers, scoring memorable goals for Manchester United and Scotland.

Spent 11 years at Old Trafford, netting 237 times.

“The King” was part of the famous “Holy Trinity” alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton.

Broke into the First Division after signing for Manchester City from Huddersfield Town, but after one season joined Torino in Italy, before going to United.

Subsequently rejoined City and scored the goal he believed had relegated his former club, but other results that day meant United would have been relegated in any event.

Law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2021.

Marianne Faithfull, 78, January 30

SIXTIES pin-up singer and actress who was Rolling Stone Mick Jagger’s lover for four years.

Rose to fame in 1964 with single As Tears Go By.

Starred in 1968 erotic movie The Girl On A Motorcycle, the first film to get an X certificate in the US.

Convent-educated, she recovered from heroin addiction, anorexia and home-lessness in the 1970s to produce critically acclaimed music, starting with her 1979 album Broken English.

She also overcame breast cancer.

Appeared on stage and TV, including Absolutely Fabulous in 2001.

In 1999, she ranked 25th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll.

FEBRUARY

Tony Martin, 80, February 2

FARMER who was jailed after shooting and killing a 16-year-old burglar on his property in 1999.

Sentenced to life for murder but released after three years when his conviction was reduced to manslaughter.

Died from a stroke.

Brian Murphy, 92, February 2

BELOVED for his role as hen-pecked husband George Roper in Seventies sitcom Man About the House, opposite Yootha Joyce as ­Mildred.

He also appeared in Last Of the Summer Wine and Benidorm.

Died from cancer.

Aga Khan IV, February 4

SPIRITUAL leader of Ismaili Muslims, billionaire and philanthropist.

Gave his friend the late Queen Elizabeth II a horse that went on to win the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.

Died peacefully in Lisbon, surrounded by family.

Rick Buckler, 69, February 17

DRUMMER with The Jam who played on hits including Going Underground and In The City.

Was with the trio from their formation in 1972 until they split in 1982 and featured on all their top 40 UK singles.

Died after a short illness.

Gene Hackman, 95 February 17

ONE of the greatest actors of his generation who featured in major movies including The French Connection – as drug cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle – which won him the first of his two Oscars.

His other Academy Award came for Unforgiven.

Also featured in Mississippi Burning and Superman.

His cinematic career only began when he was in his 40s.

Found dead, with second wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, at their Hollywood mansion.

Died from heart disease.

Roberta Flack, 88, February 24

SOUL legend who had mega-hits with Killing Me Softly and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, making her the first artist to win two consecutive Grammy Awards for Record of the Year.

Was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2022.

Henry Kelly, 78, February 25

IRISH journalist turned presenter who hosted game shows Going For Gold and Game For A Laugh in the 1980s and 1990s.

Later became a mainstay on Classic FM and LBC.

Died peacefully after a period of ill health.

Boris Spassky, 88, February 27

RUSSIAN world chess champion whose reign was ended by America’s Bobby Fischer in 1972, in the game’s most famous en-counter dubbed the Cold War Clash.

Major stroke in 2010 left him partially ­paralysed.

MARCH

Brian James, 74, March 6

GUITARIST of trailblazing Brit punk band The Damned who penned the first-ever UK punk single New Rose, released in 1976.

Worked with Iggy Pop and formed Brit-US supergroup The Lords Of The New Church.

John “Paddy” Hemingway, 105, March 17

SOLE surviving fighter pilot from the Battle of Britain who was shot down four times and survived two crash landings.

The Dublin-born Group Captain said he had the “luck of the Irish”.

Died in a care home.

Eddie Jordan, 76, March 20

FORMER Irish street trader turned Formula One owner who introduced grid girls and gave Michael Schumacher his debut.

Numerous business interests meant he left a multi-million pound fortune.

Died of prostate cancer.

George Foreman, 86, March 21

TWO-TIME world heavyweight boxing champ who was known as Big George.

Won Olympic gold in 1968 and a year later took the pro crown with a second-round knockout of the then-undefeated Joe Frazier.

Lost his title in the Rumble In The Jungle against Muhammad Ali in 1974 before retiring in 1977.

Became an ordained minister before coming back to regain the title in 1994 at the age of 45 – the oldest champion in the sport’s history.

His business exploits, including the George Foreman Grill, earned him far more than his boxing.

Colin Hart, 89, March 22

LEGENDARY boxing correspondent with The Sun who befriended and wrote about some of the greats of the sport, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Brits including Frank Bruno.

Died of cancer.

Andy Peebles, 76, March 22

RADIO 1 DJ who interviewed John Lennon two days before he was shot dead in New York in 1980.

Started out as a nightclub DJ and joined Radio 1 in 1978.

Hosted Top Of The Pops and Live Aid. Died in his sleep.

Richard Chamberlain 90, March 29

DR KILDARE heart-throb who shot to fame in the title role of the Sixties US TV drama.

Had a successful film career featuring in The Three Musketeers and The Towering Inferno.

Died following complications from a stroke.

APRIL

Val Kilmer, 65, April 1

MOVIE great who became one of Hollywood’s biggest heart-throbs as Tom Cruise’s rival Iceman in the first Top Gun film.

Also starred in Batman Forever and as Jim Morrison in The Doors.

Married to actress Joanne Whalley for eight years.

Later dated Daryl Hannah, Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford and Cher.

Died of pneumonia.

Jean Marsh, 90, April 13

UPSTAIRS Downstairs actress who co-created show and starred as Rose in the 1970s period drama.

Had three roles in Doctor Who and was wed to co-star Jon Pertwee from 1955-60.

Died of complications with dementia.

Clodagh Rodgers, 78, April 18

NORTHERN Irish singer who represented the UK in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with Jack In The Box, finishing fourth and reaching No4 in the charts.

Other hits include Goodnight Midnight.

Died after a three-year illness.

Pope Francis, 88, April 21

THE former nightclub bouncer once joked that whisky was “the real holy water” and later became one of the most approachable popes in history.

Elected in 2013 aged 76, having already lodged paperwork for his ­retirement.

On his appointment, he said: “May God forgive you for what you have done!”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he was a fan of local football club San ­Lorenzo de Almagro.

As Pope he shunned luxury, choosing to live in a simple hotel as opposed to the Papal apartments favoured by his predecessors.

Died from heart failure on Easter Monday.

Virginia Giuffre, 41, April 25

SEXUAL abuse survivor who spoke out against child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking.

Claimed she had slept with the then-Prince Andrew, eventually settling a civil suit against him for an estimated £12m, although he made no admission of liability.

The allegations rocked the monarchy and led to the royal’s “car-crash” BBC interview.

Giuffre took her own life at home in Neergabby, Western Australia.

MAY

Sir Tom Farmer, 84, May 9

KWIK-Fit boss who turned a tyre-fitting firm into a household name with the catchphrase, “You can’t get quicker than a Kwik-Fit fitter”.

The firm was the third the Scots entrepreneur founded, having become a millionaire at the age of 27.

Alan Yentob, 78, May 24

TV exec who rose from a BBC trainee to become controller of BBC One.

Interviewed dozens of stars including Mel Brooks and Jay-Z and comic Billy Connolly.

Gave the green light to Ab Fab, Strictly and The Office.

Loretta Swit, 87, May 30

PLAYED Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Korean war comedy-drama MAS*H.

A ten-time Emmy nominee, she won the award twice during her 11-year stint on the show.

Died at home in New York of natural causes.

JUNE

Uriah Rennie, 65, June 7

THE first black referee to officiate in the Premier League, in 1997.

Born in Jamaica but raised in Sheffield, he took charge of 175 games in the elite division.

Had been battling a rare neurological condition as well as cancer.

Sly Stone, 82, June 9

MUSIC legend who was frontman for Sly And The Family Stone, which featured his sisters and a brother.

The band had huge hits with Family Affair and Dance To The Music.

Died from lung disease COPD and other issues.

Frederick Forsyth, 86, June 9

FORMER MI6 agent who used his years with the secret service to pen 25 books, selling 75million copies in a 50-year career.

His best-known novel, The Day Of The Jackal, was turned into a hit 1974 movie starring Edward Fox.

Brian Wilson, 82, June 11

AS singer and songwriter of The Beach Boys, he was the man behind hits God Only Knows, Good Vibrations, Surfin’ USA, I Get Around and Wouldn’t It Be Nice.

Considered a genius by stars including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bob Dylan, he suffered mental health issues throughout his life.

A nervous breakdown in 1964 saw him withdraw from regular touring to focus on composition.

Went on to receive huge acclaim as a solo artist, including for 2004 album Brian Wilson Presents Smile.

Died from undisclosed causes.

Kim Woodburn, 83, June 16

QUEEN of Clean with a caustic wit who ventured into some of Britain’s most dirty homes to make them sparkle, along with Aggie MacKenzie, in Channel 4’s How Clean Is Your House?

The show ran for six series. Kim died after a short illness.

David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, 61, June 21

CRICKET star and first British-born black player to represent England.

Awarded an MBE for tackling racism in sport as well as fundraising for motor neurone disease, which he was diagnosed with a year before his death.

JULY

Michael Madsen, 67, July 3

RESERVOIR Dogs star who played Mr Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 movie.

He was the director’s go-to actor, featuring in his two Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Died from a heart attack.

Diogo Jota, 28, July 3

LIVERPOOL striker who won the Premier League with the Anfield club last season.

The Portuguese father-of-three died in a car accident just three weeks after he wed childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso.

Kop boss Arne Slot vowed the player would never be forgotten as he led a host of tributes including from Prince William and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The player died with his brother Andre Silva, 25, also a footballer, when their Lamborghini crashed in north west Spain.

Jota was on his way to England for the title-winners’ ­pre-season games.

Lord Tebbit, 94, July 7

TORY working-class hero who was one of Margaret Thatcher’s most fervent supporters during his eight years as a government minister.

In 1981, Tebbit made his famous “get on your bike” speech to the Conservative Party ­Conference, criticising riots caused by unemployment.

He was considered Thatcher’s “enforcer” and a natural ­successor.

The 1984 IRA bombing of Brighton’s Grand Hotel, which nearly killed Thatcher and left Tebbit severely injured and his wife Margaret paralysed for life, put paid to that.

He left ­government in 1987 to care for his wife.

Ian Blair, 72 July 11

MET Police commissioner who led the force during the July 7 London bombings in 2005 and the subsequent police shooting of innocent man Jean Charles de Menezes.

Resigned in 2008 saying he had lost the mayor’s backing.

Connie Francis, 87, July 16

BIGGEST-selling pop artist of her time.

Rarely out of the charts in the 1950s and 1960s with hits such as Who’s Sorry Now?

Her 1962 record Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok earlier this year.

Died from ­pneumonia.

Ozzy Osbourne, 76, July 22

HELL-RAISING bat-eating singer with Black Sabbath who later became an unlikely reality TV sensation alongside his wife Sharon in the highly successful The Osbournes.

Black Sabbath’s big breakthrough came with the album Paranoid, which topped the British charts.

After falling out with his fellow band members he went on to achieve solo success which far outstripped the group’s achievements.

His catalogue of addictions included alcohol, heroin, cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamines, cough mixture and prescription drugs.

Died in hospital from a heart attack just 17 days after his farewell concert and was buried under a crab apple tree on the family’s Buckinghamshire estate as per his wishes.

Suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 2020.

On his death certificate he was described as a “songwriter, performer and rock legend”.

Joey Jones, 70 July 22

WELSH footballer who won two European Cups as a full-back with Liverpool.

Also represented Wrexham across three spells with the club, before taking up coaching positions there, earning him the nickname “Mr Wrexham”.

Dame Cleo Laine, 97, July 24

BRITISH jazz legend who performed with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles as well as in the West End and on Broadway.

Counted the late Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as friends.

Died peacefully at home in Buckinghamshire.

Hulk Hogan, 71, July 24

THE 21-stone giant was the man behind Hulkamania as TV wrestling boomed in the 1980s.

Born Terry Bollea, he bulked up with steroids when the drugs were still legal in the US.

Won six World Wrestling Federation titles. Died of cardiac arrest.

AUGUST

Stella Rimington, 90, August 3

TRAILBLAZING MI5 chief, the first woman to lead our security service, modernising its dated practises.

Her autobiography, Open Secrets, then took two years to be security-cleared before its publication in 2001.

Made a Dame in 1996.

James Whale, 74, August 4

ACCLAIMED broadcaster who was never afraid to be controversial and out- spoken.

For 13 years he hosted a popular night-time radio show on TalkSport and later worked on TalkRadio.

Died after a long battle with ­kidney cancer.

Jim Lovell, 97, August 7

COMMANDER of Apollo 13 who kept his cool and guided the craft back to Earth in 1970 after an on-board explosion in space.

He uttered the immortal words, “Houston, we’ve had a problem”.

Also in first crew to orbit the moon on Apollo 8.

Biddy Baxter, 92, August 10

FORMIDABLE Blue Peter editor from 1965 until 1988, who turned the children’s show into a national institution and introduced its famous badge.

Awarded an MBE in 1981.

Died after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Terence Stamp, 87, August 17

THE Cockney legend starred in hit Sixties films including Billy Budd and Far From The Madding Crowd.

He was said to have inspired The Kinks’ song Waterloo Sunset, featuring a couple named Terry and Julie (Julie Christie his then-girlfriend).

Dame Patricia Routledge, 96, August 29

PORTRAYED suburban snob Hyacinth Bucket (she pronounced it “Bouquet”) in the hit BBC One sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, alongside Clive Swift, who played her downtrodden husband.

The show aired for five years and attracted up to 13million viewers, with the Queen Mother reportedly a big fan.

Also starred on Broadway and the West End and in a vast number of TV and radio productions in a career spanning more than seven decades.

Particularly remembered for her roles in BBC TV’s A Woman Of No Importance (1982) and Talking Heads in 1988, also on the Beeb, both of which were written by Alan Bennett.

SEPTEMBER

Joe Bugner, 75, September 1

BOXER twice went the distance with Muhammad Ali, although he lost both fights on points.

The public never forgave the heavyweight for beating the much-loved Henry Cooper in 1971 – a decision he said should have gone to “Our ’Enry”.

Duchess of Kent, 92, September 4

TIRELESS charity worker put away her tiaras and titles in the 1990s to teach at a Hull primary school for 13 years.

Returned to the classroom in West London in 2017 to help kids who had lost homes and loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Giorgio Armani, 91, September 4

FASHION giant who invented “power dressing” for women.

The Italian was a favourite of a host of famous faces including Princess Diana, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and Victoria Beckham.

Died at home due to an age-related illness.

Rick Davies, 81, September 6

SINGER who co-founded Supertramp in 1970 with Roger Hodgson.

As part of the band, Davies had hits including The Logical Song, Goodbye Stranger and Breakfast In America.

He died after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Charlie Kirk, 31, September 10

CONTROVERSIAL conservative activist who founded Turning Point USA, which focuses on young voters.

A close ally of President Trump, he championed free speech and fierce patriotism.

Was shot dead during a rally at Utah University.

Ricky Hatton, 46, September 12

WORLD boxing champ dubbed “The Hitman”, who was backed by his fanatical fans throughout his career.

An avowed Manchester City fan – Hatton was on their books as a schoolboy – he always entered the ring to the strains of City’s Blue Moon anthem.

He won the world crown at light-welterweight and welterweight, but his life went downhill after he was defeated by US great Floyd Mayweather and he turned to drugs.

He was found dead, having taken his own life, at his home in Hyde by his long-time manager and friend Paul Speak.

Thousands lined the streets before his funeral service at Manchester Cathedral.

Robert Redford, 89, September 16

SCREEN heart-throb who starred in iconic movies including Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Natural and Out Of Africa.

Playing the role of the Sundance Kid, and insisting on doing all his own stunts, he began a lifelong friendship with co-star Paul Newman.

Redford later became a highly successful director, winning an Oscar for his first film, Ordinary People.

Launched the Sundance Film Festival backing independent filmmaking and was also an environmental activist.

Died peacefully in his sleep in his home in Utah.

John Stapleton, 79, September 21

TELLY presenter who interviewed every Prime Minister from Callaghan to Cameron.

His long career saw him working on Panorama, TV-am, GMTV, Good Morning Britain and Watchdog.

Died after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Dickie Bird, 92, September 22

MUCH-loved cricket umpire known for his eccentric gestures to dismiss batsmen.

Son of a miner, he played cricket for Barnsley with boyhood pals Michael ­Parkinson and Geoffrey Boycott before representing his county.

OCTOBER

Dame Jane Goodall, 91, October 1

CHIMPS’ champion whose conservation studies in Africa found the animals experienced social behaviours such as love and grief just like humans.

The London-born veteran primatologist died of natural causes while on US speaking tour.

Patrick Murray, 68, October 2

AFTER previous film roles, played dim- witted trilby-wearing wide-boy Mickey Pearce in Only Fools And Horses, appearing in 20 episodes from 1983 to 2003.

After leaving the industry, he worked as a taxi driver. Died from lung cancer.

Dame Jilly Cooper, 88, October 5

BONKBUSTER novelist whose 1985 book Riders about the sex lives of the upper class launched a lucrative career.

Followed up with a series of best-sellers with titles like Rivals, Rutshire Chronicles, Class and How To Stay Married.

Sold more than 11million copies of her 18 novels and at one point was reputedly earning £500,000 a year.

Started out in the 1950s as a journalist for the Middlesex Independent and later produced candid columns for the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday.

Awarded an OBE, CBE and DBE for contributions to literature.

Died after falling down stairs at her Gloucestershire home.

Diane Keaton, 79, October 11

OSCAR-winning actress best known for her role in Woody Allen’s classic Annie Hall and who also starred in other hit movies including The God- father trilogy, The First Wives Club and Father Of The Bride.

Died from pneumonia.

Ace Frehley, 74, October 16

KISS guitarist who in 1973 co-founded the band, whose song I Was Made For Lovin’ You is still a concert staple.

His guitar was adapted to emit smoke and fire.

Alice Cooper was among those who paid tribute to Frehley, who died following a fall.

Lady Annabel Goldsmith, 91, October 18

SOCIALITE, author and political activist who inspired the Mayfair nightclub – set up by her first husband – that carries her name today.

Was a close friend of Princess Diana.

Mother to six including ex-Tory MP Zac.

Dave Ball, 66, October 22

PLAYED with Marc Almond in Soft Cell, the synth-pop duo famous for Tainted Love.

Broke his back after falling down the stairs in 2022 and was in a wheelchair when the group played at Henley-on-Thames in August.

Died in his sleep.

Prunella Scales, 93, October 27

FAWLTY TOWERS star who played Sybil Fawlty, domineering wife of John Cleese’s Basil in the classic BBC TV sitcom.

Her acting career lasted almost seven decades.

Married to fellow actor Timothy West for 61 years.

He passed away in November last year.

Scales, who had vascular dementia, died peacefully at home, a day after watching an episode of Fawlty Towers.

NOVEMBER

Dick Cheney, 84, November 3

FORMER US vice- president was a leading advocate of the Iraq invasion in 2003.

Shaped foreign policy after 9/11 for the eight years he served under George W Bush.

Survived five heart attacks.

Died after a long history of heart issues.

Pauline Collins, 85, November 6

BROUGHT the role of Liverpool housewife Shirley Valentine from the West End to the big screen and earned an Oscar nomination.

Her big break came as a maid in Upstairs, Downstairs.

Died after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

James Watson, 97, November 6

GENIUS Cambridge scientist was 25 when he co-discovered the structure of DNA with Francis Crick.

The pair are said to have interrupted drinkers in a pub to tell them they’d cracked “the secret of life”.

The Nobel laureate died after a brief illness.

Quentin Willson, 68, November 8

FORMER Top Gear presenter co-hosted the BBC show with Jeremy Clarkson from 1991, appearing as an expert on used cars for ten years.

Was a campaigner for a fairer deal for motorists.

Died after a short battle with lung cancer.

Baroness Helen Newlove, 63, November 11

CAMPAIGNER dedicated her life combating youth violence following the death of her husband Garry, who was murdered in 2007 after confronting a teen gang.

Victims Commissioner for eight years.

Died after a short illness.

Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, 63, November 20

BASSIST joined The Stone Roses in 1987 and two years later featured on their self-titled debut album, considered one of the greatest of all time.

Later became a member of Primal Scream.

Died from respiratory issues.

Jimmy Cliff, 81, November 24

THE sweet-voiced Jamaican’s reggae anthems included I Can See Clearly Now and You Can Get It If You Really Want.

Also had a major hit with The Harder They Come and starred in the film of the same name.

Died from pneumonia.

Billy Bonds, 79, November 30

WEST HAM legend captained the side to two FA Cup Final wins and had club record of 799 appearances over 21 seasons.

Later managed the Hammers, taking them into the top flight at start of the Premier League era.

Died after a long illness.

Sir Tom Stoppard, 88, November 29

PLAYWRIGHT won an Oscar for his screenplay of the film Shakespeare In Love and a host of Tony and Olivier Awards over a six-decade career.

The titan of modern theatre was married three times including to TV’s Dr Miriam Stoppard.

DECEMBER

Robin Smith, 62, December 1

CRICKET legend who played 62 Tests for England and was always willing to take on fast bowling.

Born in South Africa, “The Judge” struggled with alcoholism and mental health after retirement.

Died at his home in Perth, Australia.

Martin Parr, 73, December 6

PHOTOGRAPHER whose camera captured the humour – and often banalities – of British life over a 50-year career.

The world-renowned snapper shot to fame with The Last Resort, a study of New Brighton in Merseyside, in the mid-1980s.

Sophie Kinsella, 55, December 10

BEST known for her chic-lit novels, two of which were turned into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.

Sold more than 50million books in 60 countries.

Died after suffering brain cancer.

Joanna Trollope, 82, December 11

ROMANTIC novelist won several awards and whose father came from the family of Victorian writer Anthony Trollope.

Known as the Queen of the Aga Saga, her best-known works included Marrying The Mistress and A ­Village Affair.

Stanley Baxter, 99, December 11

BAFTA-winning Scottish comic and 1960s film star who later gained fame with The ­Stanley Baxter Show, a huge early hit on BBC TV.

Moved to London Weekend Television in the 1970s for The Stanley Baxter ­Picture Show.

He declined an OBE.

Rob Reiner, 78, December 14

THE director of Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men also acted in The Wolf Of Wall Street and Sleepless In Seattle.

Found fatally stabbed along with his wife at their LA home.

Their son Nick has been charged with murder.

Chris Rea, 74, December 22

BEST known for festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, the Middlesbrough-born singer started out working in his Italian dad’s ice cream business.

Diagnosed with pancreatic ­cancer at 33, he had several health ­battles during his life.

John Robertson, 72, December 25

FOOTBALLER called “the Picasso of our game” by his Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough.

The Scots international made Trevor Francis’ winner in the 1979 European Cup Final vs Malmo and scored in 1980 win vs Hamburg.

Had Parkinson’s.

Brigitte Bardot, 91, December 28

BLONDE bombshell who symbolised a new age of sexual liberation in the cinema in the 1950s.

The Paris-born former ballet dancer won international acclaim in the 1956 movie And God Created Woman.

Abandoned her fame in the 70s to devote herself to animal rights activism.

Died at her home in southern France.

THE list of living names in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire has shrunk to a jaw-dropping three.

Three decades after the tongue-twister song topped charts around the world, most of its human landmarks are gone. 

Out of the 59 people name-checked in the 1989 mega-hit, only Bob Dylan, rock n roll singer Chubby Checker, and “subway vigilante” Bernie Goetz are still alive. 

The grim-but-fascinating fact has been doing the rounds on social media after Bardot’s death was announced on Sunday.

One shocked fan admitted: “This is how I find out Chubby Checker is still alive.” 

Another said: “The kind of useless trivia I’ll be physically incapable of not repeating at the next dinner party.”

SCREEN GODDESS

How Brigitte Bardot became face of swinging 60s & sparked sexual revolution

DARK TIMES

Billy Joel reveals he attempted suicide twice after affair with bandmate’s wife

Billy’s catchy banger is a whirlwind history lesson.

It rattles through headlines and pop culture moments in strict chronological order starting the year Billy Joel was born in 1949, and racing toward the late 1980s.

One of the song’s most packed lines – “Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev” – covers 1956, the year iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot shot to global fame in And God Created Woman. 

It also nods to the Hungarian Revolution in Budapest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, and Nikita Khrushchev’s rise to power in the Soviet Union after Stalin’s death. 

Music also runs through the song like a second timeline.

Chart topper Billy, now age 79, kicks things off with Cry singer Johnnie Ray in 1949, one of the first modern pop stars signed to a major label. 

He quickly follows with Bill Haley & His Comets, whose Rock Around the Clock sent rock ’n’ roll into overdrive. 

Elvis Presley turns up in 1955, Buddy Holly marks 1959 and the tragedy of the Day the Music Died, Chubby Checker dances into 1960.

Bob Dylan appears in 1961 as pop music takes a sharp turn toward protest and social change.

By the time Joel hits the mid-to-late 1960s, it’s Beatlemania and Woodstock.

Bernie Goetz gets a mention after he became a household name in 1984 for shooting four black men on a train in New York after they allegedly demanded money.

One of the men was left brain damaged and paraplegic, and the shooting became a symbol of deep racial divide in the city.

Goetz handed himself in to police nine days later and was dubbed the “subway vigilante” by local media.

ACTRESS Melanie Watson died on Friday in Colorado Springs.

Best known for her role on the 80s TV show “Diff’rent Strokes”, she passed away aged 57.

The Diff’rent Strokes actress had been in hospital where she quickly deteriorated, TMZ reported.

Robert Watson, Melanie’s brother told the outlet that she died on December 26.

He said his sister had been suffering bleeding, and that doctors did their best to help her.

Watson was born in Dana Point, California, with a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes bones to fracture easily.

The disease can also cause a curved spine, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, and other issues.

The actress’ brother told TMZ that she was lucky to have lived as long as she did with her condition.

Robert said he would always think of Melanie.

She played Arnold’s pal Kathy Gordon on the 1980s TV show Diff’rent Strokes, appearing in four episodes of the hit show.

Her character used a wheelchair, just as the child star did in real life.

In 1982, she appeared in an episode called Kathy, named after her character.

In the episode, Kathy argued with Gary Coleman’s character, Arnold, after he tried to convince her to walk without using crutches.

Watson retired from showbiz after her run on hit show Diff’rent Strokes ended.

Later, she was married to Roger Bernhardt, for four years between 1994 and 1996.

Known professionally as Melanie Bernhardt, the child star was the founder and executive director of Train Rite, an organisation that trains shelter dogs to help disabled people.

In 2020, the the actress began a run for the Colorado State Senate, but pulled out of the race as “unforeseeable health conditions” derailed her campaign.

In 2024, she had expressed hopes of running for political office again.

Watson spoke about her TV stardom in a 2020 interview with IndieWire, describing herself as “a pill” to work with.

She said: “I was always playing with my yo-yo and listening to my Walkman.”

Talking about representing disabled people like her on screen, Watson said: “I didn’t realise what a gift it was to be the first one out there.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business.”

WHAM! star George Michael has raked in almost £75million from beyond the grave — and is set to bank even more, accounts show.

The singer’s firm, Nobby’s Hobbies Holding Limited, has turned over £74.7million since he died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016.

Royalties poured in after the band’s 1984 classic hit Last Christmas, which he wrote, was the festive No1 in both 2023 and 2024.

George’s estate earned £6.6million from the 2023 chart success alone.

Cash also came from the 2023 Netflix documentary Wham!.

The company’s latest accounts end in March 2024, meaning earnings from Christmas 2024 are yet to be included.

Read more on George Michael

SPRUCED UP

George Michael’s £10m mansion gets modern makeover after row with neighbours

Generous George

George Michael’s incredible generosity revealed after handing singer £50k

George left a £98million fortune when he died, mostly to his sisters.

We revealed earlier in the year how George Michael’s dilapidated £10m London mansion is showing signs of improvement after major renovation work.

A bitter row with neighbours over the chopping down of a number of historic trees hasn’t deterred the late star’s sister from updating the property.

George’s only living sibling, Yioda Panayiotou, was handed ownership of the property following the singer’s tragic death on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53. 

There was outrage when Yioda’s design team asked the local council to remove a number of trees and prune others at the front and rear of the property, which is in a conservation area. 

One residents association was furious that the works were also going to occur during the peak nesting season, which runs from March to July. 

CHRIS Rea became the third of his siblings to die in just three months – sending his heartbroken family “into shock”.

Devastated relatives of the Driving Home for Christmas singer revealed he had welcomed his first grandchild shortly before his “tragic” death.

Chris died in hospital following a short illness, a spokesperson for his family said on Monday.

In a statement on behalf of his wife and two children, they said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris.

“He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”

The singer songwriter’s death – just three days before Christmas – becomes the latest heartbreak for his family.

His older sister, Camille Whitaker, revealed two of Chris’ siblings had also sadly passed away just months ago.

She told how her youngest sibling, Nicholas, died in hospital aged 66 in October after battling brain cancer.

Just days after his funeral, Camille’s twin sister Geraldine Milward died suddenly – sending the family into shock.

She told the Daily Mail: “It is an awful pain. It is gut-wrenching what happened. The family has been quite shocked by it.

“It is tragic. We can’t sort of get around it.”

Camille, who says she last spoke to Chris less than a week ago, admitted his family will be “wrecked” by his passing.

The iconic hit writer lived with his wife and family at home in Buckingham and remained “very close” with his family.

Camille also told how Chris was “very pleased” when he became a grandfather for the first time this year.

Prior to his death, the singer-songwriter battled a number of health issues after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over 40 years ago.

Chris reportedly went under the knife for serious ops nine times, spending over half a year in hospital following his cancer diagnosis at the age of 33.

Discussing the shock prognosis with Saga, he told how it had been his “Mount Everest” to climb.

Chris explained: “The original illness hit me hard. I almost had a nervous breakdown with the shock of it. That was the Mount Everest to climb.

“When they said it was pancreatic cancer, I could not believe it. It seemed that if your DNA says you are going to have cancer, then you can.

“They did not think I would recover from the first operation, but I was determined to do so for my wife and the girls.”

BOB Mortimer is leading the tributes for Chris Rea following the Driving Home For Christmas star’s tragic death.

The legendary British singer-songwriter penned the festive favourite in 1978, which later became a regular hit on the UK Singles Charts.

Rea passed away in hospital, just three days before Christmas after battling with ill health for several years.

He made a huge impact in the entertainment industry and following his passing a host of celebrities have shared their tributes to the late singer.

Comedian Bob Mortimer branded the star a ‘brilliant bloke’, taking to X to pen a heartfelt message, he wrote: “So so sad. A lovely brilliant funny giant of a bloke. Oh Man….RIP Chris .. Boro legend forever. Love to family and friends”.

On the post the comedian added a sweet picture of Chris in a bubble bath holding an egg, which features in Bob’s memoir recalling a time on Would I Lie To You ? where Chris had ‘supposedly’ put an egg in his bath, after the episode Rea sent him the pic.

LONG ROAD

Why Chris Rea never wanted a Christmas hit – and how his loving wife inspired it

HITMAKER

Who was Chris Rea, what happened during Oxford gig & his biggest hits explained

Bob was good friends with the late star, the pair even making the song Lets Dance together in 1997 for Middlesbrough’s Football Club’s FA Cup Final.

The football team also wrote a tribute on their own page for Chris, who hails from Middlesborough, they wrote: We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris.”

TV star Lizzie Cundy also took to X to express her own condolences, she said: “I’m so sad to hear Chris Rea has died. I was lucky enough to star in his music video Driving home for Christmas. 

“I loved every minute and was an honour to work with him and be in his iconic music video . He will always be an inspiration and legend to me. Rest in peace Chris.”

Lizzie appeared in the smash festive hit’s music video back in 2009, alongside a host of celebs including Gail Porter and Martin Shaw.

TV presenter Timmy Mallet wrote in his tribute: “ #RIP Chris Rea I bought his house 1991 on garage wall is happy Christmas message his daughters sprayed it’s still there. 

“Chris is driving home For Christmas now singing for our nearest & dearest. Grateful for his wonderful gravely voice. God bless you Chris #RIP”

During Rea’s last TV appearance, on BBC’s Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing in 2020, the singer revealed a special gift he gave childhood sweetheart Joan.

He guest starred on the show for a special Christmas episode where he talked about his battle with serious health issues over the years.

Mortimer also spoke about how his health battles had strengthened the bond between him and his family.

Rea was quick to agree and beamed as he said he shared a similar experience with Joan.

The singer replied: “It was exactly the same for me. I was in hospital and the pancreatic cancer nurse comes in and tells me ‘it’s not grade three cancer phone your wife!’

“So I phone my wife and she pulled the car over and burst into tears.”

The musician had his pancreas removed after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2001 and suffered a stroke in 2016.

The singer went on to make a light-hearted joke about leaving his wife the royalties to his famous hit.

“I gave her all the money, all the rights to all the songs, and now she won’t give them back,” he laughed. 

Rea’s wife of 57 years played a key role in writing his Christmas smash hit.

LEGENDARY British singer-songwriter Chris Rea has tragically passed away aged 74.

The singer, from Middlesbrough, penned the smash hit Driving Home For Christmas in 1978.

Christopher Rea was born on 4 March 1951 in Middlesbrough in the North Riding of Yorkshire to an Italian father, Camillo Rea, and an Irish mother, Winifred K. Slee.

In 1973 he joined the local Middlesbrough band, Magdalene and began writing songs.

He went on to enjoy a long and sucesfull career on the British music scene.

His most famous song Driving Home for Christmas, song has made a reappearance on the UK Singles Chart every year since 2007.

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It’s now a chart regular at this time of year, reaching its highest position in 2021 when it made it to number 10.

Rea was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of just 33 and faced nine serious operations – spending a total of 32 weeks in hospital.

While appearing on the TV show Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special in 1994 Rea told the hosts he had “never really gotten over” his diagnosis.

He has previously opened up on his health battle, revealing that some of his internal organs, his pancreas, gallbladder, and left quadrant of the liver were “all gone” after an operation.

It was after he had received the lifesaving surgery that the star discovered he had type 1 diabetes.

Speaking candidly about the moment he told his wife Joan Lesley about the diagnosis Rea said: “She pulled the car over and burst into tears.”

Chris has previously said he has to take “34 pills every day” after his health struggles.

His wife Joan was there when the hitmaker wrote the Christmas favourite Driving Home for Christmas.

The pair have been together since they met as 16 year olds in Middlesbrough and it is said Rea has the longest surviving relationship in the music industry.

The couple have two daughters together Josephine, born 16 September 1983, and Julia Christina, born 18 March 1989.

Speaking to Bob Mortimer about its origins, Chris previously said: “I was on the dole when I wrote that.

“My manager had just left me. I’d just been banned from driving.

“My now wife, Joan, had to drive down to London to pick me up in the Mini and take me home, and that’s when I wrote it.”

That Christmas drive up north was a magical one indeed, not only did he write a famous song, he also received a cheque for £15,000 upon stepping through his front door.

His song Fool (if you think it’s over) had become a hit in America and earned him a pretty sum. The timing couldn’t have been better given he was down to his last £200.

It was a while before Driving Home would make any money.

GEORGE Clooney is mourning the loss of his sister Adelia Zeidler who has died aged 65.

The Hollywood star’s sibling passed away on Friday (December 19) following a battle with cancer.

Clooney, 64, described his sister – known as Ada – as his “hero” and praised her bravery.

He said: “My sister, Ada, was my hero. She faced down cancer with courage and humor.

“I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”

Ada’s official biography says she died “peacefully” while “surrounded by the people she loved” at St Elizabeth healthcare in Kentucky.

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‘Talented artist’

She was born on May 2 1960 in Los Angeles to mum and dad Nina and Nick, and was described as a “talented artist”.

She was named after her great-grandmother.

Her obit states: “A talented artist, she shared her skills as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School for several years.

“In high school, her academic achievements qualified her to be a National Merit Scholar.

“Her love for reading connected her with other readers in a local book club.

“She was also a member of the Augusta Art Guild and was a past grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade.”

Ada married Norman Zeidler, a retired army captain, in Augusta in 1987.

While she led a very private life, she supported her brother publicly over the years, including attending his wedding to wife Amal in Venice in 2014.

Ada was snapped standing next to Clooney on a boat as they rode along a canal in the Italian city.

The siblings grew up together in Kentucky.

Clooney told CBS This Morning in 2015: “My sister, I’m very close to.”

Their mum Nina told HGTV in 2006 how she once came home to find her children had thrown a house party, and had thrown cooked marshmallows all over the walls.

COPS investigating the deaths of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife have shared more details about the scene that greeted them at the couple’s sprawling home. 

Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were allegedly murdered by their 32-year-old son, Nick, on December 14.

Both deaths have been ruled as a homicide by Los Angeles County medical examiners.

And, both died from multiple sharp force injuries. Only one cause of death has been listed on their reports.

Cops on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners spoke briefly about the scene at the $13.5 million Brentwood home. 

Dominic Choi said the couple were found in the master bedroom of the home. 

“Officers conducted a thorough search of the residence to determine whether there was any additional victims or suspects,” he said.

“No one else was located.”

Los Angeles Fire Department was among the first agencies to rush to the Reiner home. 

The first call was made at 3:30pm and a unit was requested to respond to a Code two situation, as per dispatch audio obtained by People. 

A code two situation is where trucks respond with lights flashing and no sirens.

This was then upgraded to code three, where crews respond with sirens and flashing lights. 

The Reiners died on December 14, according to the medical examiner’s report.

A masseuse called the couple’s 27-year-old daughter, Romy, on Sunday when they weren’t let into the home. 

She found her dad’s dead body before suddenly charging out of the home, as reported by the New York Times.

Romy didn’t see her mom’s body before learning that she was also dead.

The legendary career of iconic director Rob Reiner

FAMED actor, director and producer Rob Reiner, 78, died on December 14 alongside his wife Michele Singer, 68, in an apparent homicide.

Here is a look at the prodigious list of achievements the Hollywood powerhouse earned before his tragic and sudden death.

Director’s Beginnings

• Reiner was born in New York City on March 6, 1947, to legendary comedy writer Carl Reiner and singer Estelle Reiner
• He studied at the University of California, Los Angeles film school before breaking into the entertainment industry

Hollywood Career

• Reiner first found fame as an actor playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the iconic sitcom All in the Family from 1971 to 1979
• In 1984, he directed his first film This Is Spinal Tap – a mockumentary following a fictional heavy metal band
• Reiner went on to direct cult classic films like The Princess Bride in 1987 and When Harry Met Sally… in 1989
• Other notable movies made by the director include Misery, The American President, and A Few Good Men, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture
• The production company he co-founded, Castle Rock Entertainment, has also produced hits like Seinfeld and The Shawshank Redemption
• Reiner didn’t halt his acting career either, recently starring in The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013 and The Bear in 2025

Personal Life

• Reiner married actress Penny Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy, from a previous marriage. The couple divorced in 1981
• He met photographer Michele Singer while shooting When Harry Met Sally
• They married in 1989 and had three children: Jake, born 1991, Nick born 1993, and Romy born 1997)
• Nick opened up about his struggle with drug addiction in 2016. The movie Becoming Charlie, directed by Reiner, was based on Nick’s story
• Reiner was an outspoken Democratic activist and a fierce critic of Donald Trump

Nick was arrested near the Expo/Vermont metro station in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles at around 9:15pm – around six hours after Romy rushed to the scene. 

Around one hour before he was arrested, he bought a Gatorade from an Arco gas station.

He was reportedly fidgety before buying the drink and kept looking behind him.

At around 4am on Sunday, he checked into the Pierside Santa Monica hotel – located around four miles from the family home.

Nick has been charged with two counts of first degree murder. 

Prosecutors are still considering the death penalty. 

Nick made his first court appearance on Wednesday and wore a blue suicide vest. 

He had been on suicide watch while in custody, according to reports.

In the court hearing, he waived his right to a speedy arraignment, and his next scheduled appearance is January 7.

Timeline of Rob and Michele Reiner’s death

Rob Reiner and his wife of Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025.

Timeline:

• December 13, 2025: Reiner and his wife Michele attended a holiday party on the evening of December 13 with their son, Nick.
• Sources conveyed to The U.S. Sun that the couple and their son were engaged in a heated public argument while at the event.
• December 14, 2025: Reiner and Michele were found dead in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles at around 3:30 pm PST.
• The couple’s daughter, Romy, reportedly discovered her parents’ bodies.
• Online police records show Reiner and Michele’s 32-year-old son, Nick, was arrested at 9:15 pm PST on December 14.
• December 15, 2025: Authorities in Los Angeles announce that Nick Reiner was arrested and charged with murder.
• Nick was booked into a Los Angeles jail at 5:04 am and was being held on $4 million bail, which was later revoked.
• December 16, 2025: Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman formally charged Nick Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder.
• Hochman said his office would consider the death penalty in Nick’s case.
• Nick’s scheduled court appearance on December 16 was postponed due to what his attorney said was a procedural issue.

Nick did not enter a plea at the court hearing.

His lawyer, Alan Jackson, told the lawyer it was “too early” to enter a plea.

Outside court, Jackson later told reporters the case involves “complex and serious issues” that needed to be dealt with “thoroughly and carefully”.

Nick’s siblings, Jake and Romy, described the deaths of their parents as a “horrific and devastating” loss.

“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they told TMZ.

“They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”

Jake and Romy didn’t mention Nick in their statement.

Nick allegedly killed his parents after attending a Christmas party held on December 13.

But at the shindig, Nick and his dad reportedly had a bust-up, family sources told TMZ. 

Nick also had a tense moment with Bill Hader at the party, according to Page Six.

He reportedly stared at the ex-Saturday Night Live star before storming off.

Nick also quizzed A-listers at the bash, reportedly asking if they were famous.

At the party hosted by Conan O’Brien, Reiner expressed concern for his son’s well-being. 

ADDICTION BATTLES

Nick has been candid about his battles with drug addiction.

His stints in rehab facilities began when he was just 15. 

Nick, also a producer, co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie and the inspiration behind it was his relationship with his dad during his addiction.

Charlie, played by Nick Robinson, becomes addicted to drugs and his dad in the movie urges him to get help.

The movie follows Charlie’s battle as he fails at different rehab programs.

“It was very, very hard going through it the first time, with these painful and difficult highs and lows,” Reiner said.

“And then making the movie dredged it all up again.”

Reiner said making the movie with Nick helped the two become closer.

“I said it to his face. I’ll say it on the air: He was the heart and soul of the film and any time I would get an opportunity to work with him I would do it,” he told NPR.

SIR Humphrey Burton, an award winning classical music broadcaster and BBC Radio 3 presenter, has died at age 94.

The prolific broadcaster, author and director died peacefully at home today with his family by his side.

Sir Humphrey had a celebrated career in the arts including as head of the BBC’S music and arts in the 1970s and 80s where he hosted the BBC‘s Omnibus and In Performance arts programmes.

He went onto found the BBC‘s Young Musician of the Year award in 1978 which helped to spotlight young talent, including famed violinist Nicola Benedetti.

In a statement, his family said: “He was deeply loved by his children and grandchildren, and his commitment to spreading the joy of classical music was so inspiring.”

It continued: “He will be missed beyond words. We take comfort in knowing he is now at peace.”

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Sir Humphrey was knighted in 2020 for services to classical music and the arts.

His daughter, Clare Dibble, announced the news on X: “It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my father, Sir Humphrey Burton 25.3.31-17.12.25, at 05.15 this morning at home with family by his side. A huge influence on several generations of arts programme makers, he will be missed beyond word.”

BBC Radio 3 then said in a tribute on social media: “He was a much-loved classical music broadcaster and had a huge influence on generations or arts programme-makers.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Classic FM, where he worked as a presenter on multiple programmes, said he “helped shape a golden age of classical music on television and radio“.

Sir Humphrey helped with programmes on Leonard Bernstein and Yehudi Menuheim, both influential figures he had personal and professional relationships with.

These programmes “introduced multiple generations to classical music with the trademark enthusiasm that made his name synonymous with arts broadcasting,” said Classic FM in a tribute.

His programme, Burnstein on Beethoven: A Celebration in Vienna won an Emmy Award in 1972 and he went onto win again in 1988 for the Great Performances episode Celebrating Gershwain.

This was part of a 20 year friendship with the composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein which saw the broadcaster direct 170 documentaries and filmed concerts.

Sir Humphrey was born in Towbridge Wiltshire in 1931 and became one the broadcasting industry’s most influential presenters.

He studied music and history at Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge before joining BBC Radio as a trainee studio manager in 1955.

Sam Jackson, the controller of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms said he was fortunate to work with Sir Humphrey and described him as a “a man so full of grace, warmth, and brilliant anecdotes.”

Suzy Klein, Head of Arts and Classical Music TV at the BBC, told The Sun: “In the history of arts and classical music broadcasting, there are few figures as influential as Sir Humphrey Burton.

“His vision, ambition and ability to forge partnerships across borders brought world-class opera, classical music and arts programming into the homes of many millions. Humphrey leaves an enormous legacy at the BBC and beyond, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

The Royal Philharmonic Society said Sir Humphrey’s renowned work set a “gold-standard” which engaged millions with music.

“Few have done so much to proclaim classical music’s wonders” it added.

Alongside radio, Burton helped the launch of BBC Two in April 1964 before he became the BBC’s first Head of Music and Arts a year later. He later founded London Weekend Television.

He won a BAFTA (then SFTA) for creativity in music programming in 1965.

Until 1988 Sir Humphrey was editor of performance programmes and director of Proms. He also directed opera relays from the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera.

Sir Humphrey married Gretel Davis in 1957 but the couple later divorced and he married Swedish radio and television presenter Christina Hansegård in 1970.

He is survived by his six children: Chris Hockey, Clare Dibble, Matthew Burton, Helena Burton, Lukas Burton and Clemency Burton-Hill.

ROB Reiner’s daughter has broken her silence over her dad’s death – revealing she saw him just one day before the film director and his wife Michele were murdered.

Tracy Reiner, 61, said the brutal double killing left her devastated – before paying her respects to the “the greatest family ever”.

Tracy, who was adopted by Rob during his marriage to Penny Marshall, said she was left speechless.

The actress said: “I came from the greatest family ever.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m in shock.”

She added that she had seen her late dad at a family gathering just one day before horror knife attack.

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The iconic director was married to Marshall from 1971 to 1981, during which time he adopted Tracy.  

Rob, 78, and Michele, 68, were found dead by their other daughter Romy, 28, with their throats slit at their sprawling $13.5million Brentwood mansion on Sunday afternoon.

The Hollywood icon’s youngest son Nick has been charged with murder in connection with the grisly killing.

A source revealed to The U.S. Sun that Rob and Michele got into a heated public argument with Nick at a Hanukkah party on Saturday evening.

The clash is believed to have continued overnight at the family’s home where Rob and Michele were found dead at around 3:30pm local time.

The party was hosted by Conan O’Brien, according to TMZ.

Nick, 32, was booked into a Los Angeles jail on Monday morning, according to online records viewed by The U.S. Sun.

He has since been charged with murder and is being held at Parker Center Jail on $4 million bail, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell announced during a press conference on Monday.

Nick, who reportedly lives in the Los Angeles area, is rarely seen in public since he opened up about his struggles with drug addiction in 2016.

He admitted to first going to rehab at the age of 25 and said his addiction issues even led him to being homeless at one point in his life, according to People.

“When I was out there, I could’ve died. It’s all luck. You roll the dice and you hope you make it,” Nick said.

In 2015, Nick and his father worked on the semi-autobiographical film, Hey Charlie, which centered around the entitled, drug-addicted son of a renowned actor turned political candidate in California.

Rob told the Los Angeles Times at the time that he had to push past trauma and tough memories during filming.

“It was very, very hard going through it the first time, with these painful and difficult highs and lows,” the beloved director told the outlet then.

“And then making the movie dredged it all up again.”

Fellow Hollywood stars paid tribute to both Rob and Michele.

Ex-Monty Python member Eric Idle said he had spoken to Rob the night before his death.

Paying his respects, he said: “Rob Reiner was a lovely man. I spoke to him last night for over an hour. I always enjoyed his company.

“I met him at his Dad’s in 1975. He was telling me about filming at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future … I shall miss him.

“A clever, talented and very thoughtful man. So awful.”

Ben Stiller said Rob was one of his favourite directors, and called him “a kind caring person who was really really funny”.

Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf in Frozen, described Rob and his wife’s deaths as a “devastating” loss.

Actor John Cusack, who starred in Rob’s 1985 film The Sure Thing, said he “saw the soul in others”.

Timeline of the double murder

ROB Reiner and his wife of Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025.

Timeline:

• December 13, 2025: Reiner and his wife Michele attended a holiday party on the evening of December 13 with their son, Nick.
• Sources conveyed to The U.S. Sun that the couple and their son were engaged in a heated public argument while at the event.
• December 14, 2025: Reiner and Michele were found dead in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles at around 3:30 pm PST.
• The couple’s daughter, Romy, reportedly discovered her parents bodies.
• Online police records show Reiner and Michele’s 32-year-old son, Nick, was arrested at 9:15 pm PST on December 14.
• December 15, 2025: Authorities in Los Angeles announce that Nick Reiner was arrested and charged with murder.
• Nick was booked into a Los Angeles jail at 5:04 am and is being held on $4 million bail.

HOLLYWOOD HORROR

The gruesome homicides of Rob and his wife, Michele, 68, shocked the world of Hollywood after reports emerged that the couple were discovered with multiple lacerations.

The Misery director and his wife, who had been married for 36 years, had their throats slit by a family member following a heated argument, according to TMZ.

Romy, 28, told authorities that a family member “should be a suspect” because they’re “dangerous,” the outlet reported.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the deaths as an apparent homicide.

Alan Hamilton, the deputy police chief of the LAPD, told reporters on Sunday evening that authorities would interview several family members of the Reiners as the investigation continued.

Hamilton said the property showed no signs of forced entry.

FILM ICON

Rob, who was raised in the Bronx by famed actors Carl and Estelle, was a huge presence in the film industry after more than five decades as one of Hollywood’s top directors and actors.

His career as an actor began in the early 1960s, but it was not until the 1970s that Rob gained recognition after portraying Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the TV comedy All in the Family.

Throughout the 70s, Rob continued to make guest appearances on several TV series, including The Partridge Family.

However, it was in the director’s chair where Rob flourished into a star in the world of film.

He helmed a string of hit movies, including, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and the Academy Award nominated film A Few Good Men, among others.

It was on the set of When Harry Met Sally that he met the photographer and his eventual wife, Michele Singer.

“I look over and I see this girl, and ‘Whoo!’ I was attracted immediately,” Rob told The New York Times in 1989.

The couple wed in 1989, the year the film was released.

After their marriage, Michele began helping her husband with producing films, including Shock and Awe and Albert Brooks: Defending My Life.

The legendary career of iconic director Rob Reiner

FAMED actor, director and producer Rob Reiner, 78, died on December 14 alongside his wife Michele Singer, 68, in an apparent homicide.

Here is a look at the prodigious list of achievements the Hollywood powerhouse earned before his tragic and sudden death.

Director’s Beginnings

• Reiner was born in New York City on March 6, 1947, to legendary comedy writer Carl Reiner and singer Estelle Reiner
• He studied at the University of California, Los Angeles film school before breaking into the entertainment industry

Hollywood Career

• Reiner first found fame as an actor playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the iconic sitcom All in the Family from 1971 to 1979
• In 1984, he directed his first film This Is Spinal Tap – a mockumentary following a fictional heavy metal band
• Reiner went on to direct cult classic films like The Princess Bride in 1987 and When Harry Met Sally… in 1989
• Other notable movies made by the director include Misery, The American President, and A Few Good Men, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture
• The production company he co-founded, Castle Rock Entertainment, has also produced hits like Seinfeld and The Shawshank Redemption
• Reiner didn’t halt his acting career either, recently starring in The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013 and The Bear in 2025

Personal Life

• Reiner married actress Penny Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy, from a previous marriage. The couple divorced in 1981
• He met photographer Michele Singer while shooting When Harry Met Sally
• They married in 1989 and had three children: Jake, born 1991, Nick born 1993, and Romy born 1997)
• Nick opened up about his struggle with drug addiction in 2016. The movie Becoming Charlie, directed by Reiner, was based on Nick’s story
• Reiner was an outspoken Democratic activist and a fierce critic of Donald Trump

Rob and Michele are survived by their children, Romy, Jake, Nick, and Tracy, the director’s daughter, whom he adopted from his previous wife, Penny Marshall.

Tributes have been paid to the actor and director and his wife following their deaths.

“Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men,” California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X.

“His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger.

“Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity.”

Former US president Barack Obama spoke warmly about the couple.

“Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” he said.

“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.

“Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired.”

Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Rob as someone who was creative and funny.

She also hailed him as an actor who could make fans laugh and cry when they watched his films.

Pelosi described Rob’s wife as an “indispensible partner and intellectual resource.”