Every day people mourn the loss of their loved ones. Losing a loved one is a great tragedy. And yet we also mourn for people we don’t even know personally. We mourn them because they are not strangers to us, but because they make us happy, fascinate and inspire us with their work. Thus, in memoriam, we look back to 2022.
Of course, we are devastated when a fashion icon like Vivienne Westwood passes away. However, not only because of her work as a designer but because she was an activist who always stood up for what she believed in. Luckily, she passed this trait on to her son, Joseph Corré.
Furthermore, we are dismayed when great filmmakers and actors like Sidney Poitier, Ivan Reitman, Kirstie Alley, Anne Heche, Nichelle Nichols, James Caan, William Hurt or Angela Lansbury leave the stage of life forever. We will miss their work. But we are fortunate to have fond memories of her through her works.
It’s the same with the great musicians who drove us onto the dance floors. Be it Betty Davis, Meat Loaf, Andrew Fletcher, or Jerry Lee Lewis.
We don't know their names! But as we celebrate New Year's Eve, people in Ukraine mourn the loss of loved ones they lost recently or during the year. Putin and his henchmen have driven the world into the abyss. Surely those old white men celebrate in their palaces. We, on the other hand, are thinking of the victims of the war that shook Europe and which we will stop in 2023.
When he became pope, he was the pride of Germany. It was called "We are Pope". Then followed his historically memorable resignation and then abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. Now he has found his peace, because Benedictus XVI died on December 31, 2022.
© Cavasindavide1995, Benedictus XVI fanon 2013, CC BY-SA 4.0
She was more than a fashion icon. Vivienne Westwood was a rebel, activist, and visionary. She and her husband Malcolm McLaren, the founder of the Sex Pistols, opened the first shop in the 70s. After that, her rise to become one of the greatest fashion legends of all time began. Her son, Joseph Corré, followed in her footsteps with his label Agent Provocateur. The grand dame of fashion died at the age of 81 surrounded by her family in London, on December 29, 2022.
© Mattia Passeri
Not only football fans around the world love the exceptional sports talent. Because he was more than a footballer. He has been the idol of countless today's superstars and a UN ambassador for numerous development projects and equality.
Pelé died on 29 December 2022, at the age of 82.
© Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/ABr
The frontman of the electronic band "Faithless" and their world hit Insomnia died at his London home on Christmas Eve at the age of 65.
© Sricsi, Faithless - The Dance Never Ends at Budapest 02, CC BY 3.0
The actress is best known for her role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers. Furthermore, she particularly impressed as Virgilia Hazard in the Civil War drama North and South. Her roles in "Look Who's Talking" also helped her to become well-known. Alley always suffered from the obsession of the media biz to must be slim. On December 5, at the age of 71, she lost a battle with cancer.
© photo by Alan Light, KirstieAlley1994, CC BY 2.0
Bob McGrath was one of the founding members of "Sesame Street", which has not only delighted children since 1969. McGrath starred in the series for nearly five decades. He was also a children's book author and musician. McGrath died on December 4th at the age of 90.
© Cathlin McGrath, Bob McGrath, CC BY-SA 4.0
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970. From this time, she was a keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter and wrote hits such as “You Make Loving Fun.” Until today, the Fleetwood Mac album “Rumours,” from 1977, is one of the bestselling albums of all time. Christine McVie died on Nov. 30 at the age of 79.
© Raph_PH, Christine McVie 2019, CC BY 2.0
She has starred in TV shows like Roots: The Next Generations and The Electric Company. Her biggest role was as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame. We all also know her voice on the title track of the Fame soundtrack and the title song of the film Flashdance. She won a Grammy Award and an Oscar for this song . Irene Cara died on November 25, 2022 in Florida at the age of 63.
He was the younger brother of Backstreet Boy member Nick Carter. Already at the age of 9, he had success with his first album. The early success did him no good. So he fought drug addiction. Just last year he became the father of a son. Aaron Carter died at his home on November 5, 2022.
© Paparazzo Presents, Aaron Carter Paparazzo 07 30 2010, CC BY-SA 3.0
She received an Oscar nomination for her first film, Gaslight, in 1944. She appeared in several Agatha Christie films, including the series "Miss Marple" and this year in Rian Johnson's Christie film homage "GLASS ONION". In 2013 she received an honorary Oscar. Lansbury died on October 11 at the age of 96.
Jerry Lee Lewis' career started in 1956 with Sun Records. A year later his first hit "Whole Lotta Shakin" and his biggest success "Great Balls of Fire" were released. He was wild and rebellious, in life and on stage. Until 2019, the hero of rock 'n' roll was performing. Lewis died at home on October 28, 2022, in Mississippi. He was 87 years old.
She shaped an entire century. With a strong hand, the Queen led her country through ups and downs for 70 years. However, she did not want to get over the death of her beloved Prince Philip, to whom she was married for 73 years. The mother of the nation died in December this year at the age of 96 to worldwide mourning.
In 1994 Coolio started with his debut album "It Takes a Thief". Unforgotten is the single from the next album, his song "Gangsta's Paradise". With it, he reached number 1 worldwide and won a Grammy and American Music Award in 1996. Coolio died of suspected cardiac arrest on September 28 at the age of 59 in Los Angeles.
She achieved world fame and an Oscar for her role as Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." She also fascinated us in Firestarter alongside Drew Barrymore. Louise Fletcher's death at her home in Montdurausse, France, was announced on September 26. She was 88 years old.
Jean-Luc Godard can be seen as the inventor of Film Noir, New Wave cinema, which he shaped with his film "Breathless". In any case, he was the pioneer of the "jump cut" and other camera tricks. He inspired filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, who named his production company after Godard's film "Bande a Part". Jean-Luc Godard died at his home in Switzerland at the age of 91.
© Gary Stevens, Jean-Luc Godard at Berkeley, 1968 (1), CC BY 2.0
With his policies of glasnost and perestroika, he ended the Cold War and helped reunify Germany. While Russians failed to appreciate his merits, he was revered worldwide. But he never got over the death of his beloved wife Raisa. One of the greatest politicians of the 20th century died in his homeland on August 30 at the age of 91. RIA Novosti archive, image #28133 / Boris Babanov / CC-BY-SA 3.0, RIAN archive 28133 Gorbachev with spouse in Poland, CC BY-SA 3.0
The beautiful actress, who has starred in films like Donnie Brasco, Wag the Dog and I Know What You Did Last Summer, usually appeared very cheerful. Some demons slumbered in her. Her memoir, Call Me Crazy, chronicled her painful childhood and surviving abuse. This didn't end in Hollywood either, where she was harassed by Harvey Weinstein and lost roles for turning down his immoral offers. Alcohol and drugs were always her companions. Her young life ended on August 11, 2022, after a tragic car accident. The hospital team also honored her for donating her organs.
© MingleMediaTVNetwork, James Tupper & Anne Heche - DSC 0091, CC BY-SA 2.0
She fascinated generations. She became a film icon with her performance as Sandy opposite John Travolta in Grease. And with her album "Physical" she stormed the charts for a long time. She was also an activist in the fight against breast cancer, which she lost on August 8 this year at the age of 73.
The beautiful actress, singer, and dancer was the first black actress to star in a TV series. In Star Trek, as Uhura, she not only fascinated Spock and Captain Kirk, but generations of fans worldwide. Nichelle Nichols died on July 30 at the age of 89.
He made his film debut in the film "Irma la Douce" opposite Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon. After that, he acted in Westerns like "El Dorado" before he became a superstar in Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather" films and then in Stephen King's "Misery". James Caan died on July 6, 2022, at the age of 82.
The founding member of the successful band Depeche Mode accompanied his friends for over 40 years. In 2017 we were still able to photograph him on the Global Spirit Tour. Andy was certainly not a musical genius, but he represented consistency and friendship. Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher died on May 26 at just 60 years old. © Marco Kokkot
Without a doubt, the Mafioso was immediately taken from him. He stunned audiences with his role in Goodfellas, as well as his performance in Field of Dreams. The New Jersey actor also died on May 26 at the age of 67.
© Josh Jensen, Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, Michael Shannon TIFF 2012, CC BY-SA 2.0
He created epic musical masterpieces, also for film blockbusters like Bladerunner, 1492 - Conquest of Paradise, or The Bounty. Even boxing champion Henry Maske chose his music for his fights. Vangelis aka Evangelos Papathanassiou died on May 17, 2022, at the age of 79 in France. © Markdawson7, London26July2012c, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before he became the drummer for the Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins hit the drum pads for Alanis Morissette. In 2021, the Foo Fighters were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sadly, Hawkins passed away on March 25, this year at the age of just 50.
He has acted in more than 80 motion pictures. Marvel fans know him as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from the Avenger films and spin-offs. Also in the earlier Marvel generation, he starred in Hulk. But his greatest films were certainly Gorky Park, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, etc. William Hurt died of cancer on March 13, 2022. © Marvel Studios. All Rights Reserved
She has been called The Queen of Italian Cinema and she has received many awards for her work. Monica Vitti died of complications from her Alzheimer's disease in Rome on February 2, 2022. She was 90 years old.
Born in North Carolina, the funk singer not only shaped music history. She also fascinated fans worldwide with her appearance, which she prepared for her appearance with her 1964 single "Get Ready for Betty". Betty Davis died on February 9 at the age of 77. © Light in the Attic Records
Actress Sally Kellerman's career spanned over 50 years. She acted in many series and also in the pilot episode of Star Trek. Her greatest success was her role as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the 1970 film "MASH", for which she was also nominated for an Oscar. Sally Kellerman died on February 24 at the age of 84.
He has produced many comedy films since 1971. His greatest success is the Ghostbusters series. But he also produced comedies like Twins, Kindergarten Cop, and Junior with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ivan Reitman died at his home in Montecito, California on February 12, aged 75. © GabboT, Labor Day 20 (9766111984), CC BY-SA 2.0
Sidney Poitier was Hollywood's first black superstar. He achieved world fame with films such as No Way Out, The Defiant Ones, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night. In 1964, Poitier became the first black actor to win an Oscar for Lillies of the Field. In 2009, President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sidney Poitier died on January 6 at the age of 94.
The Italian fashion designer was one of the greats who revolutionized the fashion world. He certainly made fashion history with his menswear company Hitman and luxury fashion house Cerruti in 1881. Nino Cerruti passed away on January 15 in his native Italy.
His real name was Marvin Lee Aday, but everyone only knew him as Mead Loaf. He sold more than 100 million records. His greatest achievements were his album Bat Out of Hell and his song I'd Do Anything For Love. He has also appeared in 65 films, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Meat Loaf's death was announced on January 20.
© Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Meat Loaf (48488827751), CC BY 2.0
The French actor's death was announced just a day after the first trailer of Moon Knight, a reboot of the Marvel Universe TV series, which will star art thief Anton Mogart aka Midnight Man. He died on January 19, 2022, from his injuries after a serious skiing accident. © Diana Ringo
She was crowned Miss USA 2019. Not only was she beautiful, she also had a master's degree in business administration and a law degree from Wake Forest University. She runs as a civil litigator. As a correspondent for the TV show Extra, she received two Emmy Award nominations. On January 30, 2022, Cheslie Kryst jumped to her death from 350 West 42nd Street, a 60-story high-rise apartment building in Midtown Manhattan where she resided. Her mother released a statement explaining that Kryst suffered from "high-functioning depression." Cheslie Kryst was only 30 years old.
We also mourn people who changed the world, like Gorbachev. And we mourn those who couldn’t take the cold of this world, like the beautiful and smart Cheslie Kryst.
In Memoriam of the victims of the attack to the UKRAINE
We know all these people through the media. But we don’t know all those who leave our world every day. With today’s fireworks, we think especially of our Ukrainian neighbors, who find neither Christmas nor New Year’s peace but mourn the loss of their loved ones. We wish them in particular, but also all other people in our actually so beautiful world, a peaceful, level-headed, and healthy New Year 2023.
Text: Marco Kokkot
