Remembering Celebrities Who Passed Away in 2020

Saying goodbye to some of our most beloved celebrities, including Kobe Bryant, Kelly Preston, and Kirk Douglas, was one of the many challenges we faced in 2020.

This year, the world lost plenty of people who brought joy to others throughout their own lives. Read on to see some of the most beloved entertainers, athletes, and celebrities who passed away in 2020.

All of these people impacted and helped shape the world in different ways.

RUTH BADER GINSBURG, 87 YEARS OLD

Feminist icon of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who spent years advocating for women’s rights and was only the second woman to serve on SCOTUS, died on September 18 following metastatic pancreatic cancer complications.

KOBE BRYANT, 41 YEARS OLD

NBA great Kobe Bryant, who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and took home an Oscar for the animated short film “Dear Basketball,” died on January 26 in a helicopter crash. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was with him.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN, 43 YEARS OLD

Actor Chadwick Boseman, also known as T’Challa in Marvel’s “Black Panther,” privately battled stage III colon cancer for four years. On August 28, Boseman died of the disease.

SEAN CONNERY, 90 YEARS OLD

One of the most beloved actors to ever portray spy James Bond, Sean Connery took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Role in 1988 for his performance in “The Untouchables.” He passed away on October 31.

KENNY ROGERS, 81 YEARS OLD

Country singer Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned seven decades and scored over twenty No. 1 Country Hits, passed away on March 20 from natural causes. He was under hospice care at his home.

BILL WITHERS, 81 YEARS OLD

R&B singer-songwriter Bill Withers, known for “Lean on Me” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” took home three Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. He died on Match 30 due to heart complications.

CARL REINER, 98 YEARS OLD

“The Dick Van Dyke Show” creator Carl Reiner, whose career spanned over six decades and took home nine Emmys, a Grammy, and a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, passed away on June 29.

KELLY PRESTON, 57 YEARS OLD

Actress Kelly Preston, who acted in “Twins” and “Jerry Maguire” and was married to John Travolta for many years, passed away on July 12 after battling breast cancer for two years. She left behind two children.

NAYA RIVERA, 33 YEARS OLD

“Glee” actress Naya Rivera, who also worked in “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Family Matters,” passed away on July 8. The official cause of death was drowning, as she was swimming in a lake with her four-year-old son Josey. He survived.

BENJAMIN KEOUGH, 27 YEARS OLD

Elvis Presley’s lookalike grandson Benjamin Keough, who kept a low profile during most of his life, died by suicide on July 12. His mother, Lisa Marie Presley, once admitted that she was sometimes “overwhelmed” by his resemblance to the King of Rock and Roll.

KIRK DOUGLAS, 103 YEARS OLD

Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, the father of Oscar-winning actor Kirk Douglas and main star of “Spartacus” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” passed away on February 5.

FRED WILLARD, 86 YEARS OLD

Actor and comedian Fred Willard, who appeared in many famous TV shows like “Best in Show,” “For Your Consideration,” “Space Force,” and “Modern Family,” died of natural causes on May 15.

JERRY STILLER, 92 YEARS OLD

Character actor Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller’s dad and a comedy legend known for his outstanding performances in “Seinfeld,” “The King of Queens,” and “Zoolander,” died of natural causes on May 11.

REGIS PHILBIN, 88 YEARS OLD

Talk show host and three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Regis Philbin, who hosted “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and “Live!” with Kathy Lee Gifford and then Kelly Ripa for years, passed away on July 24.

ALEX TREBEK, 80 YEARS OLD

Six-time Emmy Award-winning TV host Alex Trebek, who hosted over 8,000 episodes of “Jeopardy” and more than 6,800 of “The Price is Right,” died of pancreatic cancer on November 8.

It is important to point out that none of these people died of COVID-19. They all impacted and helped shape the world in different ways, which is why their memories will forever be with us. Rest in peace, Kings and Queens.