Forever remembered. After losing beloved stars including Barbara Walters, Kirstie Alley and Stephen “tWitch” Boss in the final days of 2022, the entertainment industry continued to deal with loss in 2023.
Lola “Gangsta Boo” Mitchell — a former member of hit-heavy hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia — was found dead in her home on New Year’s Day, the Associated Press reported. The “Where Dem Dollas At” rapper was 43.
“The Mitchell family would like to thank everyone for their condolences regarding the untimely death of Lola ‘Gangsta Boo’ Mitchell,” the “Mafia” artist’s family said in a statement. “The family is asking for your continued prayers and privacy as we process the loss of our loved one.”
That same day, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White’s brother announced the musician’s death.
“Dearest Family Friends and Fans….. Our family is saddened today With the loss of an amazing and talented family member, Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White. 🙏🏾🙏🏾💔💔🥁🥁,” Verdine White captioned a series of throwback photos via Instagram of the “September” artist drumming for and posing with the band. He called his sibling a “child protégé” and noted he was a “member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!” White was 67.
Alan Rankine — a founding member of the Scottish band The Associates — “died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family,” his two sons announced via Facebook on January 2, noting that they would keep his social media accounts active because “the community meant a lot to our dad.” The ‘80s pop star was 64.
January 2 also marked the passing of rally driver and YouTuber Ken Block, who was killed in a snowmobile accident.
“Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband,” his Hoonigan Racing team said in a statement at the time, per CNN. “He will be incredibly missed. Please respect the family’s privacy at this time while they grieve.”
The sports professional died after riding the vehicle down a slope in Utah. The snowmobile toppled over him and he was pronounced dead at the scene after succumbing to injuries sustained from the accident, CNN reported. “Mr. Block was riding with a group but was alone when the accident occurred,” the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office’s said in a statement. Block was 55.
Read on to remember all the stars who have died in 2023:
Forever remembered. After losing beloved stars including Barbara Walters, Kirstie Alley and Stephen “tWitch” Boss in the final days of 2022, the entertainment industry continued to deal with loss in 2023.
Lola “Gangsta Boo” Mitchell — a former member of hit-heavy hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia — was found dead in her home on New Year’s Day, the Associated Press reported. The “Where Dem Dollas At” rapper was 43.
“The Mitchell family would like to thank everyone for their condolences regarding the untimely death of Lola ‘Gangsta Boo’ Mitchell,” the “Mafia” artist’s family said in a statement. “The family is asking for your continued prayers and privacy as we process the loss of our loved one.”
That same day, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White’s brother announced the musician’s death.
“Dearest Family Friends and Fans….. Our family is saddened today With the loss of an amazing and talented family member, Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White. 🙏🏾🙏🏾💔💔🥁🥁,” Verdine White captioned a series of throwback photos via Instagram of the “September” artist drumming for and posing with the band. He called his sibling a “child protégé” and noted he was a “member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!” White was 67.
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Alan Rankine — a founding member of the Scottish band The Associates — “died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family,” his two sons announced via Facebook on January 2, noting that they would keep his social media accounts active because “the community meant a lot to our dad.” The ‘80s pop star was 64.
January 2 also marked the passing of rally driver and YouTuber Ken Block, who was killed in a snowmobile accident.
“Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband,” his Hoonigan Racing team said in a statement at the time, per CNN. “He will be incredibly missed. Please respect the family’s privacy at this time while they grieve.”
The sports professional died after riding the vehicle down a slope in Utah. The snowmobile toppled over him and he was pronounced dead at the scene after succumbing to injuries sustained from the accident, CNN reported. “Mr. Block was riding with a group but was alone when the accident occurred,” the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office’s said in a statement. Block was 55.
Read on to remember all the stars who have died in 2023:
Credit: APS-Medias/ABACA/Shutterstock
Gina Lollobrigida
The iconic Italian star — known for such roles as the Queen of Sheba in 1959’s Solomon and Sheba and as Esmerelda in 1956’s Hunchback of Notre Dame — died at a clinic in Rome, her lawyer announced on January 16. She was 95.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Al Brown
The veteran actor, best known for playing Stan Valchek on The Wire, died on January 13 at age 83. A representative for Brown announced the news via the actor’s Facebook page on January 14, writing: “May his memory be a blessing to his family, his friends, and each of you. This page will remain as a testimony to Al’s work and love for his fans.” Valchek’s daughter Jenny told TMZ that her father had been battling Alzheimer’s.
Credit: Paul A Hebert/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
CJ Harris
The American Idol alum died on January 15 after suffering a heart attack, according to a report from TMZ. He was 31. The Alabama native finished in sixth place on the 13th season of the singing competition, which aired in 2014.
Credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP/Shutterstock
Lisa Marie Presley
Elvis Presley’s daughter died on January 12, hours after going into cardiac arrest. She was 54.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Lisa’s mother, Priscilla Presley, said in a statement. “She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
Credit: Courtesy of Sipa/Shutterstock
Carole Cook
Cook’s husband, Tom Troupe, announced that the Sixteen Candles star died of heart failure on January 11 — just three days shy of her 99th birthday — at the age of 98, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Credit: Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Jeff Beck
The legendary guitarist died at age 78 after a short and “sudden” battle with meningitis, his family said in a statement to Us Weekly on January 11.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” the statement read. “After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
Credit: Action Press/Shutterstock
Tatjana Patitz
The supermodel, who skyrocketed to fame in the ’80s and ’90s and appeared on numerous Vogue covers, died at age 56. Vogue announced the news on January 11.
Credit: Petros Giannakouris/AP/Shutterstock
King Constantine II
The final Greek monarch — Prince William‘s godfather — died on January 10, according to the Associated Press. The king, who was also Prince Philip’s nephew and King Charles III‘s cousin, was 82 at the time of his death.
Credit: Youtube
Quinn Redeker
The soap actor, who appeared on Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless, died at age 86. His daughter, Arianne Raser, confirmed in January that her father passed away from natural causes one month prior.
Credit: Eric Charbonneau/BEImages/Shutterstock
Adam Rich
The Eight Is Enough alum reportedly died on January 7 at the age of 54, according to a TMZ report.
According to the outlet, a family member confirmed that Rich was found dead in his Los Angeles home. A cause of death has not been announced.
Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock
Gangsta Boo
The Three 6 Mafia rapper was found dead in her home on January 1. She was 43.
Credit: YouTube
Fred White
“Dearest Family Friends and Fans….. Our family is saddened today With the loss of an amazing and talented family member, Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White. 🙏🏾🙏🏾💔💔🥁🥁,” the Earth, Wind & Fire drummer’s brother Verdine write wrote via Instagram on January 1. “He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels! 🥁🥁Child protégé, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!”
Credit: Bill Cantrell/UPI/Shutterstock
Ken Block
The social media personality and rally driver died on January 2 after being involved in a snowmobile accident in Utah. Block was killed from the injuries sustained in the crash, during which the vehicle upended and topped over him, per CNN.
Credit: YouTube
Alan Rankine
The Associates cofounder “died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family,” the musician’s children said in a statement via Facebook on January 3. “He was a beautiful, kind and loving man who will be sorely missed.”
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