In 2023, the world’s entertainment industry experienced profound losses as several beloved celebrities bid farewell, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
These influential figures, whether from the realms of music, film, or other artistic pursuits, played significant roles in shaping the entertainment narrative.
This overview delves into the notable celebrities who departed in 2023, highlighting the impact they had on the vibrant and dynamic world of entertainment.
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe
Renowned filmmaker, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe died on Monday, 9th January 2023 at the St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos state.
Until her death, Anyim- Osigwe was the president of the Association of Movie Producers, (AMP), a position she held since 2020.
One of her remarkable achievements included the founding of the Africa Movies Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2005, known for being one of the most esteemed accolades in African filmmaking, the award ceremony has garnered a reputation for its recognition of outstanding achievements in the industry.
Sunday Akanbi Akinola
Nollywood veteran actor, Sunday Akinlabi Akinola died on 9th January 2023. According to reports, the eighty-year-old died of kidney failure.
Akinola fondly called Feyikogbon got the famous name when he starred as Mogaji the TV drama series titled Feyikogbon aired on government-owned station The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) channel 7 in the 1980s.
It is worth noting that in the 1980s and 1990s in the South Western part of Nigeria, several TV series such as Feyikogbon which means ‘Learn From This’ was used to inculcate moral values in children.
Jeff Beck
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Legendary English guitarist, Geoffrey Beck better known as Jeff Beck died on 10th January 2023 at the age of 78.
According to reports, Jeff Beck died after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis.
Femi Ogunrombi
Nollywood veteran actor, Taiwo Femi Ogunrombi died on 15th January 2023. Aside from regular movies, Ogunrombi played Papa Ajasco in the Wale Adenuga comedy series Papa Ajasco and Company.
The character of Papa Ajasco is that of a womanising pot belly and bald-headed husband, who often slaps his head when astonished and says ‘Ojigbigbigbi’.
One controversy rocked Ogunrombi’s death; When the news of his death made rounds, media houses and fans mistook him for Richard Abiodun Ayoyinka, the one who first played the role in the mid-1990s.
Ogunrombi who also doubled as ethnomusicologist ( one who studies the music of different cultures, including both traditional and popular forms) played the role of Papa Ajasco for two years. In one of his interviews, he stated that he left the role in the best interest of Wale Adenuga Productions Company and doesn’t feel bad about it. He also noted that viewers resonated more with the first character.
Favour Agiounim Daniels
Nigerian actress and skit maker, Favour Agiounim Daniels, died on 5th February 2023 at the age of 26 after she was involved in a boat mishap.
Daniels gained fame through her skits and appearances in some movies.
AKA
South African rapper, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes better known as AKA died on 10th February 2023 after he was shot dead outside of a Fish Restaurant on Florida Road, Durban, South Africa.
Hours before his death, AKA, 35, who was with some friends and his bodyguard posted his location on his IG page. His death generated lots of questions as he was formerly embroiled in the death controversies of his ex-girlfriend, Nelli Tembe whom he proposed to on 21st February 2021. Unfortunately, Tembe died in April of the same year after a fall from the 10th floor of a hotel in Cape Town.
Stella Stevens
American actress, Stella Stevens died on 17th February at the age of 84 in in Los Angeles.
Stevens starred in such films as The Nutty Professor, The Poseidon Adventure and Girls! Girls! Girls!. She died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Christian Atsu
Ghanian international footballer, Christian Atsu died in February 2023 in a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked southern Turkey.
After the news made rounds that the footballer was trapped in the environs of the earthquake, a search and rescue team was put in place to look for him. Sadly, his body was found on Saturday 18th February under the rubble.
John Walker Motson
Legendary football commentator, John Walker Motson fondly known as Motty died on 23rd February 2023 at the age of 77.
Motson was one of the most well-known voices in British sport for 50 years. He commentated on games for Britain’s national broadcaster from 1968-2018, covering 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals.
Ojo Arowosafe
Nollywood veteran actor, Ojo Arowosafe better known as Fadeyi Oloro died on 7th March 2023 at the age of sixty-six, after a prolonged illness.
Fadeyi Oloro is known for his role as an herbalist and his ability to recite incantations in Yoruba Language movies.
Costa Titch
South African rapper, Costa Tsobanoglou, better known as Costa Titch died on 11th March 2023 at the age of 27 after he collapsed on stage.
A viral video showed the sad moment Costa Titch suddenly collapsed on stage and was confirmed dead a few minutes later.
Robert Hunter Caldwell
Legendary American singer, Robert Hunter Caldwell better known as Bobby Caldwell died on 14th March at the age of 71.
Caldwell who famously sang R&B hits including “What You Won’t Do For Love” and “Open Your Eyes,” passed away in his sleep at his residence in New Jersey.
Michael Lerner
American actor, Michael Lerner died on 8th April 2023 at the age of 81.
Lerner was a seasoned character actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of a domineering studio head in the 1991 movie “Barton Fink,
Jah Shaka
Reggae legend, Jah Shaka, better known as the Zulu Warrior, died on 12th April 2023 at the age of 72. He was a pioneering member of the roots reggae Jamaican sound system in London.
Ahmad Jamal
American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, Ahmad Jamal died on 16th April 2023 at the age of 93 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Jamal who was also an educationist won the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and admission into France’s Order of Arts and Letters.
Moon Bin
South Korean singer, actor and dancer, Moon Bin died on 19th April 2023 at the age of 25.
According to reports, Bin died at his residence in southern Seoul.
Chris Mba
Nigerian veteran Pop singer, Chris Mba died on 3rd May 2023 after battling a heart disease.
Mba gained prominence in the 80s for his distinctive jerry curl and chart-topping hits such as ‘Funky Situation,’ ‘Baby Don’t Cry,’ ‘Making My Way,’ and ‘Love Everlasting.’
Obinna Nwafor
Nollywood veteran actor, Obinna Nwafor better known as Saint Obi died on 7th May 2023 in Jos, Plateau State at the age of fifty-seven. According to reports, Saint Obi battled an undisclosed illness until his death.
Amidst controversies surrounding his family life and death, the actor was said to rest on 18th August 2023.
Jacklyn Lee Zeman
Hollywood actress, Jacklyn Lee Zeman died on 9th May 2023 at the age of 70.
She was famous for her role as Bobbie Spencer in the American soap opera ‘General Hospital’. According to her family, she died after a brief battle with cancer.
Adedigba Mukaila
Nollywood veteran actor, Adedigba Mulaila better known as Alafin Oro’ died on 13th May 2023 after a bride illness.
Murphy Afolabi
Nollywood actor, movie director and producer, Murphy Afolabi died on 14th May 2023, nine days after his 49th birthday.
According to reports, the actor fell in his bathroom at his residence in the Ikorodu area of Lagos state. His death sent shock waves among his fans and colleagues. He was buried according to Muslim rites.
Chikezie Uwazie
Nollywood actor, Chikezie Uwazie died on 14th May 2023 after undergoing brain surgery in the United States of America.
Tina Turner
The Queen of Rock n Roll, Tina Turner died on 24th May 2023 at the age of 83 her residence in Küsnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland, after a long illness.
Turner, one of rock’s great vocalists and most charismatic performers was born Anna Mae Bullock. She produced chart-topping hits such as “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Better Be Good To Me,” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).
She was greatly mourned by celebrities all over the world including the King of England, King Charles III.
Don Brymo
Nollywood veteran actor, Don Brymo Uchegbu died on 15th June 2023 at the age of fifty-six. According to reports, the actor died in his sleep.
Afeez Agoro
Afeez Agoro, the tallest man in Nigeria died on 15th June 2023 at the age of 47 after suffering from a prolonged illness which he sought public funds for.
Until his death, Agoro who was 7ft 4in tall gained fame after he appeared as an extra in some Nollywood movies.
Alan Arkin
Oscar-winning actor, Alan Arkin best known for his roles in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘Catch-22’ died on 29th June 2023 at the age of 89.
Coco Lee
Chinese-American singer and songwriter Ferren “Coco” Lee died on 5th July 2023 after attempting suicide and being in a coma.
Coco Lee who was raised in Hong Kong and the United States of America also doubled as an actress and did soundtracks for movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and soundtrack for Mulan.
Tony Bennett
Legendary American pop and jazz singer, Tony Bennett died on 21st July 2023 at the age of 96.
Bennett produced millions of records and won 20 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.
Mark Margolis
Hollywood actor, Mark Margolis known for ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul died on 3rd August 2023 at the age of 83 after a brief illness.
The actor earned an Emmy Award nomination for his role in “Breaking Bad” where he played Hector Salamanca, a silent and wheelchair-bound drug lord who could only use a bell to communicate.
Mohbad
Nigerian singer and songwriter, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba better known as Mohbad died on the 12th of September at the age of 27.
The controversies surrounding the death of Mohbad are jaw-dropping. While he suffered being bullied at the hands of his former record label boss Naira Merly and his aid, Sam Larry, it is believed that the singer was purposely taken out.
His wife, Wunmi the mother of Mohbad’s eight-month-old son, Liam has been fingered in his death. His childhood friend, Prime Boy is also being held behind bars as a suspect.
Celebrities such as Iyabo Ojo, and Tonto Dikeh among others have been at the forefront of seeking justice for the late singer.
It is worth noting that Mohbad’s family have been divided over his death. At the early stage of his death, His parents were scrutinized on social media. His father, after the singer was buried in a hurry, in a small-sized coffin and a location not fit for a superstar. His mother on her path has been criticized for abandoning him with his father and step-mother at a young age.
As the echos of #JusticeforMohbad# fades, the world still eagerly awaits the forensic result carried out on the singer after his body was exhumed. During the crooner inquest, it was revealed that the singer’s body has been released for a proper burial but his father has refused to claim his son’s body.
News also made rounds that Mohbad’s father who has been granting nonstop interviews has been generating money from them. He allegedly signed a nondisclosure agreement with an unknown person.
The controversies about Mohba’s death are endless.
Suara
Nollywood veteran actor, Oluyemi Lawrence Adeyemi better known as Saura died on 24th September 2023.
Adeyemi gained fame for his roles in numerous movies, including Wale Adenuga drama Series, Super Story where he played the role of Suara in “Oh Father! Oh Daughter!”.
Michael Gambon
British-Irish legendary actor, Sir Michael Gambon died on 27th September 2023 after a battle with pneumonia.
Before his death, Gambon won four television British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) in a decades-spanning acting career across TV, film, radio and theatre, which was capped by his renowned character as the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts in the Potter series.
Richard Arnold Roundtree
American actor, Richard Arnold Roundtree died on 24th October 2023 at the age of 81.
Roundtree is acclaimed to have redefined African American masculinity in the movies when he played detective John Shaft in the movie “Shaft” from 1971 and in four more movies that followed: “Shaft’s Big Score!,” “Shaft in Africa,” the 2000 sequel, and the 2019 sequel.
Shaft one of the first Black action heroes was released in 1971 and made Roundtree a star 2t age 29.
Matthew Perry
American actor, Matthew Perry died on 28th October 2023 at the age of 54.
An investigation into his death revealed that Perry died from an accidental ketamine overdose due to addiction. Following his death, a foundation was set up to help people struggling with addiction.
André Braugher
Hollywood actor, André Braugher died on 11th December at the age of 61.
Braugher was famous for his roles as Captain Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Detective Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street a role that won him an Emmy Award in 1998
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