Celebrity deaths

TELEVISION guitarist Richard Lloyd has died aged 75, after a brave battle with cancer as Smiths star Johnny Marr leads tributes.

Pennsylvania-born Lloyd appeared on all of the influential New York punk band’s studio albums.

Television are best known for Marquee Moon 1977, Adventure 1978 and their self-titled third LP released in 1992.

Lloyd was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer, in March this year.

Sadly, a post on Television’s official X account announced: “We are so very sad that Richard Lloyd has today passed away at the age of 75.

“Deepest condolences to Sheila and to all of is family and friends.”

With Television, Lloyd’s style helped form the post punk and indie movements.

Bands such as Pixies, Sonic Youth and Gang Of Four credit Television as an influence.

Former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr lead tributes to Lloyd, posting touching words to his Instagram.

He said: “RIP Richard Lloyd. A seeker and finder and a true inspiration with and without the guitar.

“It was an honour to know him and a blessing to have been a fan. Thank you Richard. Carry on my friend.”

Singer Lloyd Cole also paid tribute, posting on X: “I just heard. RIP Richard Lloyd.

“I only saw Television once – all those amazing riffs that drive the songs – Richard played them all.”

Television are best known for their 10-minute epic Marquee Moon, from the album of the same name.

The song reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and is known for its repetitive guitar riff.

They also had two further hits with Foxhole and Prove It.

Television were one of the first punk bands to play at the legendary CBGB’s club in New York.

The venue would go on to launch the careers of bands such as Blondie, Patti Smith and The Ramones.

It had previously been intended to host country and bluegrass music.

The band’s line-up on their first album was made up of Lloyd, singer and guitarist Tom Verlaine, bass player Fred Smith and drummer Billy Ficca.

Verlaine died in 2023, aged 73, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and Television disbanded following his death.

Alongside his work with the band, Lloyd also released nine studio albums beginning with 1979’s Alchemy.

He married his wife Sheila O’Keefe in 2010, he also had a son named Dylan.

OSCAR-winning filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, who directed the critically acclaimed A Fantastic Woman, has died aged 52.

The Chilean director passed away at his home in Santiago, Chile due to “health reasons”, said his partner, actress Amalia Kassai.

She reportedly called police after finding Lelio at his home in the city’s Las Condes district.

“We are going through a very painful time, and his memory will remain with us forever,” Amalia wrote in a touching tribute on Instagram.

“He was a wonderful person who contributed to Chilean culture during important moments in its history.”

The statement, signed by the Lelio Kassai and Campos Watt families, continued: “As a family, we ask for respect for our privacy and consideration during these difficult times.”

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Lelio’s 2017 film A Fantastic Woman starred Daniela Vega as a trans woman implicated in the accidental death of her older boyfriend.

The groundbreaking movie took home the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2018 and led to reforms for trans identification in Chile.

It also won the Independent Spirit Award for best international film.

Lelio also received critical acclaim for directing English language features such as The Wonder and Gloria Bell.

The latter was a remake of his earlier film Gloria, which took home numerous awards and was selected as Chile’s Oscar entry for best foreign feature.

It starred award-winning actress Paulina Garcia as a 58-year-old woman who starts dating a decade after getting divorced.

Lelio’s 2017 film Disobedience starred Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams and follows a woman who reunites with a childhood friend at an Orthodox community.

The late filmmaker was born in Argentina, before his family moved to Chile when he was two.

He launched his career in 2005 with La Sagrada Familia after directing several short films and music videos.

Lelio also directed two seasons of the documentary series Mi mundo privado (My private life), which earned two Emmy nominations.

His third film, The Year of the Tiger, was set in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 Chile earthquake and follows an escaped prisoner as he travels through the worst-affected regions of the country.

Lelio’s 2022 flick The Wonder was a critically acclaimed adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s novel The Wonder and starred Florence Pugh.

He told The Guardian: “I love working with actors, and need to know they trust me and can explore, get lost, be foolish or brave, and I’ll take care of them.

“I love working on set – it is where the sparkle is.”

His final film was 2025’s The Wave, a musical protest drama that premiered at Cannes.

“Making a film is like a gift you leave somewhere – you then hide and see what happens,” Lelio said.

LOONEY Tunes actor Eric Bauza, who voiced iconic cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died aged 46.

The award-winning star’s family posted on Instagram that he had died “suddenly” and there would be “more details to come”.

The Canadian voiced dozens of beloved characters over more than 25 years in the industry, winning three Emmys for his Looney Tunes roles.

He died as a result of heart disease, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.

Bauza had multiple characters in this summer‘s hit animated comedy Coyote vs. Acme.

These included Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and The Road Runner.

The actor told NBC News in 2021 that he was a huge fan of Looney Tunes growing up and used to copy the voices.

He said: “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures.

“It doesn’t matter what part of the planet you’re from. You get the comedy.”

Bauza was also known for playing Toad General in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, this year’s fifth highest-grossing film internationally.

He won three Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in 2022, 2023 and 2025 for different animated shows.

Channing Dungey, the chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, said in a statement: “Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world.

“He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc. Eric said that carrying on the legendary legacy of the Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life.”

Born in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough in Ontario, Bauza made his voice acting debut in the Canadian animated series The Ripping Friends.

Before stepping behind the microphone, he began his journey in animation as a character designer for Hollywood production studios.

He would go on to have more 421 voice acting credits in film, television and video games listed on his IMDb profile.

Bauza’s extraordinary vocal range allowed him to become the definitive modern successor to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc, and he first took on the iconic Bugs Bunny role in 2018.

He was hired by showrunner Peter Browngardt to audition during breaks in recording sessions for Uncle Grandpa.

His official debut episodes eventually premiered with the launch of the HBO streaming series Looney Tunes Cartoons in 2020.

Film producer and screenwriter Christopher DeFaria, who worked with Bauza on Coyote vs. Acme, told Variety the voice actor would be remembered for his “incredible impact”.

DeFaria said: “He’s a voiceover artist for animated characters that have historic precedents and roles, and somehow out of that, he carved out a place in this business.

“This past year, he had such an incredible impact, both on our movie, of course, but also on bringing attention to this amazing art form.”

Bauza is survived by his son and his family.

HOLLYWOOD legend Tom Skerritt has died at the age of 93 after a six-decade career.

Tom is best known for his roles in Top Gun, Alien, and Picket Fences.

The veteran actor died on Wednesday from natural causes, his family confirmed to TMZ.

“We are heartbroken by his loss,” Tom’s family told the outlet.

The Detroit native’s acting credits span six decades, starting with his breakout role in the 1970 war series, M*A*S*H.

He later played Captain Dallas in the 1979 sci-fi Alien, before landing the part of Tom Cruise’s instructor, Viper, in the 1986 film Top Gun.

Tom is also remembered as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences, which earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.

Some of his other notable credits include A River Runs Through It (1992), Steel Magnolias (1989), and a six-episode stint on Cheers (1987-1988).

Tom’s final on-screen role was playing Cliff in the 2025 contemporary Western drama Broke, with Dennis Quad and Wyatt Russell.

Years before his Hollywood fame took off, Tom served in the U.S. Air Force.

He later became an advocate for veterans as co-founder of The Red Badge Project.

Tom maintained close friendships with many of the people he met in the industry over the years.

He shared photos from a reunion with Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges in one of his final Instagram posts in April.

The TV star shared his support for Jeff, who is opening an art gallery in Santa Barbara, as the pair hugged and linked arms.

“Got to see my talented friend Jeff Bridges’ photography while in Santa Barbara. Truly inspiring work, and even better catching up with the best people,” Tom wrote in his caption.

Tom also posted a heartfelt tribute last September to his “dear friend” Robert Redford following the actor’s passing.

“We grew up in this industry together – his art and friendship over these many years has profoundly changed my life. The world simply won’t be the same without him,” his post read.

The duo worked together as co-stars of the Korean War drama, War Hunt in 1962, and when Robert directed Tom in A River Runs Through It.