By
- Megan Sims, cleveland.com
July brought a succession of losses across the entertainment world as actors, musicians, reality television personalities and other familiar public figures died
The month’s deaths spanned generations and nearly every corner of popular culture. Audiences said goodbye to performers associated with “Jurassic Park,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “Emergency,” Marvel television series and some of pop and disco music’s most recognizable songs
Others were remembered for using their public platforms to advocate for first responders, cancer research or people with disabilities. Several younger performers died before their careers and lives had fully unfolded
Hal Williams
Hal Williams, who brought warmth and stability to American television through his roles on “Sanford and Son” and “227,” died July 15 at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, PEOPLE reports. He was 91
Williams did not begin pursuing acting professionally until his 30s. Born Halroy Candis Williams in Columbus, Ohio, he worked as a social worker, corrections officer and postal worker before relocating to Los Angeles after a 1968 divorce
“I sat down after getting divorced and said, ‘What do I really want to try to do before the maker comes and gets me?’ And it was acting,” Williams previously told Get TV. “So, I took the plunge and drove to California in 48 hours.”
He gained momentum in 1972 as Officer “Smitty” Smith on “Sanford and Son,” then became best known as Lester Jenkins, the grounded patriarch on “227.” Williams starred alongside Marla Gibbs and a young Regina King on the sitcom, which he later described as a “family show that anybody could watch across all color lines.”
Although his best-known work came in comedies, Williams considered himself a serious actor
“In all those comedies, you have to remember one thing. I wasn’t the funny guy,” he told Antenna TV in 2019. “I was the straight guy in all the madness.”
His credits also included “The Waltons,” “Private Benjamin,” “Moesha,” “The Rookie,” “Flight” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”
Preston Hale
“Pretty Little Liars” actress Lucy Hale announced that her father, Preston Hale, died suddenly July 17
The actress shared the news in an Instagram post, describing her father as “mind-numbingly funny, sensitive, and deeply kind” and a “true Southern man with a genuine soul.”
Preston Hale lived in Milan, Tennessee, where he worked as a farmer and enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing
Lucy Hale said her sister, Maggie, happened to be visiting her in Los Angeles when the family learned of their father’s death
“She was sitting no more than three feet away from me,” Hale wrote. “That’s something only God and my dad could have orchestrated. I can’t imagine receiving that call alone or walking through these first surreal days by myself. I got to be with my sister. He knew I needed her. Thank you, Daddy, for that parting gift.”
“Pretty Little Liars” showrunner I. Marlene King was among those who offered condolences, telling Hale that she and her sister were their father’s legacy
Kaylee Hottle
Kaylee Hottle, the actress known for portraying Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” died at 19 following a vehicle accident in Maryland, KTLA reports
Her father, Joshua, announced her death in a Facebook livestream. He explained in American Sign Language that police contacted him after the crash and later told him that his daughter’s heart had stopped while she was being taken to the hospital
“I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” the caption accompanying the video read
Hottle appeared in the 2021 film “Godzilla vs. Kong” and returned for its 2024 sequel, “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.” She also appeared in the 2021 reboot of “Magnum P.I.”
A Georgia native, Hottle came from an all-deaf family spanning four generations on her father’s side. Her fluency in American Sign Language previously led to appearances in public service announcements and the 2018 production “10 Deaf Children: One Powerful Message.”
Cristina Sanz
Cristina Sanz, who appeared in all four seasons of A&E’s Emmy-winning reality series “Born This Way,” died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest. She was 36
Her parents, Mariano and Beatriz, said Sanz experienced the medical emergency at her day program and was taken to a hospital, where medical workers were unable to stabilize her heart
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our daughter, Cristina, passed away Monday morning,” the family wrote. “We are grateful that we were able to be by her side at the end. Her death was a total shock and unexpected.”
“Born This Way,” which aired from 2015 to 2019, followed adults with Down syndrome as they pursued personal and professional goals. The series documented several milestones in Sanz’s life, including her 2018 marriage to Angel
A&E remembered Sanz as someone who “touched the hearts of many” through the program
Her parents said they would “forever treasure the gift of her life” and the memories they shared
Lauren Bennett
Lauren Bennett, who appeared on LMFAO’s 2011 hit “Party Rock Anthem” and performed with Paradiso Girls and G.R.L., died at 36, Variety reports. A cause of death was not released
Her former G.R.L. bandmates Natasha Slayton, Emmalyn Estrada and Paula van Oppen announced her death in a joint statement
“Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us,” they wrote. “We will forever cherish the love, laughter and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved.”
Born in England, Bennett began entering local talent contests and formed a musical duo at 14. She later moved to Los Angeles at 17 to join Paradiso Girls
The group released “Patron Tequila” in 2009 before disbanding the following year. Bennett later joined G.R.L., which appeared on Pitbull’s “Wild Wild Love” and released the international hit “Ugly Heart.”
LaToya Malcolm
LaToya Malcolm, an actress, dance instructor and former Miss Universe Jamaica finalist, died at 35
Malcolm had worked in entertainment for more than a decade and contributed to the Transition project, which provides adolescents with re
Earlier in the year, she won the Miss Jamaica Bikini International title after training while grieving the death of her father
“My beloved father, Mr. Malcolm, this win was for you,” Malcolm wrote after her victory. “Your one and only daughter continues to make you proud. I know you’re smiling down on me from heaven.”
The Miss Universe Jamaica organization offered condolences to Malcolm’s family and friends, stating, “Rest peacefully, LaToya. You will never be forgotten.”
No cause of death was reported
Tom Chadbon
Tom Chadbon, the veteran British actor whose nearly 50-year career included appearances in “Doctor Who,” “Casino Royale” and “Game of Thrones,” died at 80, Page Six reports
Fantom Events, a publishing and events company that worked with Chadbon, remembered him as a warm and friendly man
Chadbon became part of “Doctor Who” history through the 1979 story “City of Death,” which attracted more than 16 million viewers and remains the most-watched episode in the program’s history He returned to the series in 1986
His film work included the 2006 James Bond movie “Casino Royale,” while his final television role came as High Septon Maynard in the Season 7 finale of “Game of Thrones.”
Louise Lasser
Louise Lasser, who became a household name playing a pigtail-wearing Ohio housewife in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” died of natural causes at her New York City home. She was 87
The Norman Lear-produced satire aired five nights a week from 1976 to 1977 and parodied traditional soap operas. Lasser’s performance as Mary Hartman earned her an Emmy nomination in 1976, the same year she hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
Lasser began performing in musicals while attending Brandeis University before moving to Manhattan to pursue acting
Her career began on Broadway and included several early film collaborations with Woody Allen, whom she married in 1966 and divorced in 1970
After “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” she appeared in “Taxi,” “It’s a Living” and, decades later, HBO’s “Girls.” She also wrote and starred in the 1978 film “Just Me and You.”
Randolph Mantooth
Randolph Mantooth, who portrayed paramedic Johnny Gage throughout the six-season run of NBC’s “Emergency,” died in Ventura, California, at 80, Entertainment Weekly reports
His brother, Donald, said Mantooth had battled several cancers over the years
The popularity of “Emergency” coincided with the widespread adoption of emergency medical services across the United States. After the series ended, Mantooth remained a lifelong advocate for first responders and worked with organizations including the International Association of Firefighters and the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association
He also built a substantial career in daytime television, appearing in more than 300 episodes of “Loving” and nearly 200 episodes of its spinoff, “The City.”
His other credits included “As the World Turns,” “One Life to Live,” “Dallas,” “MacGyver,” “ER” and “Criminal Minds.”
Wai Ching Ho
Wai Ching Ho, best known for playing the powerful and villainous Madame Gao across several Marvel series, died at 82 after suffering a stroke, Page Six reports
Actor Perry Yung announced that Ho had died peacefully and remembered her as a compassionate person whose artistry elevated every production
“Wai Ching was a kind, compassionate human being whose work as an artist lifted every production to a higher standard, and we are better for it,” Yung wrote
Ho introduced Madame Gao in “Daredevil” and reprised the role in “Iron Fist” and “The Defenders.” She also voiced Grandma Wu in Pixar’s “Turning Red” and appeared in “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Law & Order.”
Peter Shinkoda, who worked with Ho on “Daredevil,” remembered her as “one of the coolest” people he had encountered
“I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set,” he wrote, per Page Six. “I know wisdom — I’d hang on your every word.”
Theo Burrell
Theo Burrell, a ceramics and glass specialist on “Antiques Roadshow,” died at 39 after becoming a prominent advocate for brain cancer research
Burrell was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2022 and initially told she had 12 to 18 months to live, PEOPLE noted. She survived for four years after that prognosis
During that time, Burrell underwent brain surgery and 17 rounds of chemotherapy. She also watched her son begin school and married her husband, Alex, on March 28
Burrell joined “Antiques Roadshow” in 2018 after beginning her career with Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull. Following her diagnosis, she became a patron of Brain Tumor Research and advocated for increased government funding
She previously said that although advances might come too late to change her outcome, she could find peace in knowing conditions might improve for people diagnosed in the future
Her family said she wanted others to find hope in her story and hoped future cancer statistics would one day be different
Victor Willis
Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of Village People, died after what the band described as a “short but aggressive illness,” one day before his 75th birthday
Willis provided vocals for the disco group’s most enduring hits, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “In The Navy” and “Go West.”
He became a central figure in the late-1970s disco movement and frequently appeared in character costumes, including a police officer and Navy officer
After leaving Village People in 1980, Willis became involved in copyright disputes involving songs he had co-written. He returned to the group in 2017 and remained its lead singer until his death
Before becoming ill, Willis had continued touring internationally. In late May, he wrote that the group had completed the first leg of a European tour and traveled to New Delhi to perform during celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler, the raspy-voiced Welsh singer whose power ballads included “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” died unexpectedly from an illness for which she was being treated. She was 75, NBC News reports
Tyler had recently spent a month in a medically induced coma after emergency surgery for a perforated intestine
Born Gaynor Hopkins in Wales, Tyler rose from public housing to international fame during the 1970s and 1980s. Her distinctive voice led to comparisons to Rod Stewart, while her collaboration with songwriter and producer Jim Steinman produced her biggest hits
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” reached No. 1 in the United States and United Kingdom in 1983 and later surpassed 1 billion streams. The song also regularly returned to public attention during solar eclipses
Tyler earned three Grammy nominations, represented Britain at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest and received a medal of honor for her services to music in 2023
Despite performing her signature songs for decades, Tyler previously told BBC News that she never grew tired of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” because audiences remained enthusiastic about singing along
Glen Hansard
Academy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard died at 56 after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, near Dublin, Today reports
Hansard won the 2008 Oscar for “Falling Slowly,” the song featured in “Once,” in which he starred with Markéta Irglová
He had previously appeared in the 1991 film “The Commitments” and later performed with The Frames and The Swell Season. His 2016 solo album, “Didn’t He Ramble,” received a Grammy nomination for best folk album
Hansard also organized an annual Christmas Eve charity performance outside Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre in support of the Dublin Simon Community
In 2023, he performed The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” with Lisa O’Neill at Shane MacGowan’s funeral as mourners danced in the church aisles
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin remembered Hansard as a musician and actor who made a significant contribution to the country’s culture
Sam Neill
Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor who played paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, died from pneumonia in Sydney, Australia, at 78, Page Six reports
His agent, Philip Grenz, clarified that Neill had successfully defeated stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma through CAR-T therapy and was cancer-free at the time of his death
“Sam passed away from pneumonia,” Grenz said. “Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy.”
Neill continued working until recently, completing four projects over the previous year that are expected to be released in the coming months. His career included more than 150 roles
Nicole Kidman remembered Neill as “one of the greats” and a “friend for life,” while Laura Dern called him a “true and noble gentleman.” Cillian Murphy said he “admired and adored” Neill in equal measure
His family described his death as sudden and unexpected. A private memorial will be held on his New Zealand farm
Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon
Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, Kris Jenner’s mother and a familiar presence on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” died at 91, PEOPLE reports
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner wrote on Instagram. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.”
Shannon became known to viewers through her appearances with the Kardashian-Jenner family, but she had established her own business decades earlier. She founded Shannon & Co., a San Diego children’s boutique, in 1980
Jenner had previously spoken about her mother’s independence, revealing that Shannon declined to move in with her even at 91
Shannon was married to businessman Harry Shannon for 40 years before he died in a car accident in 2003, PEOPLE said. She had previously been married to Robert Houghton, Jenner’s father
“When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us,” Jenner wrote. “There is not a part of me that isn’t shaped by you.”
This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff
