In Memoriam: Celebrity Deaths 2022

by Kalin Flynn

2022 has been a wild year, along with all the 20s so far, and there have been a number of deaths that have hit close to home for many of us. Many people we love on the big screen have sadly passed, so let's take a second to remember their accomplishments.

Jerry Lee Lewis, 87

You might not recognize his name but I bet you recognize at least one of his songs, "Great Balls of Fire." While he wrote and performed many songs, that is one that comes to mind for most people. It was even in Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, two very popular movies.

Leslie Jordan, 76

Leslie Jordan is a household name. He appeared in American Horror Story, Desperate Housewives, and Will and Grace. He appeared in many more, including some off Broadway shows. It's safe to say his legacy will be secured.

Robbie Coltrane, 72

A lot of us remember Robbie Coltrane from our childhoods but under a different name, Hagrid. Robbie Coltrane starred in all 8 Harry Potter movies and was beloved by all. He also appeared in many other TV shows and movies winning 3 BAFTAs.

Angela Lansbury, 96

This hits home for a lot of us. I grew up listening to her melodious voice in Beauty and the Beast. Her voice often sang me to sleep when I had nightmares, or when I was going through a tough time I would turn on Disney+ and she was there. She won 6 Tony Awards and 6 Golden Globes and will be missed by all.

Louise Fletcher, 88

Now if you've completed 11th grade English you might be familiar with the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Louise Fletcher starred in the movie adaptation of the book as Nurse Ratched, where she won an Oscar.

Pharoah Sanders, 81

Pharoah Sanders was a jazz musician who grew up in Little Rock Ark. He played his music from the Jim Crow law-bound South, to California, to New York! His work reached millions of people before he died at the age of 81.

Olivia Newton John, 73

Olivia Newton is best remembered as an activist and entertainer. She starred in Grease and had a hit song "Physical". She fought breast cancer all her life but eventually did succumb to the disease in August.

Nichelle Nichols, 89

You may not recognize her name but I bet you'll recognize her face. Nichelle Nichols starred in the hit series Star Trek. She broke many barriers as a black dancer, singer, and actress but most notable was her interracial kiss with William Shatner.

Pat Carroll, 95

Another Disney legend is dead. Pat Carroll voiced Ursula in The Little Mermaid and starred on many notable shows such as the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Laverne & Shirley. She will be missed by all.