While 2014 has given us plenty to celebrate, we have also lost some huge stars from the world of entertainment.
We take a look at some of the big names we have said goodbye to this year.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead of a toxic mix of heroin and other drugs in February, having apparently relapsed after more than 20 years.
The Oscar-winner – who was found in his Manhattan apartment with a syringe in his arm – had admitted struggling with drug addiction in the past but had reportedly been clean for 23 years before a relapse last year.
“I went to rehab, I got sober when I was 22-years-old,” he said in a 2006 interview. “You get panicked… and I got panicked for my life.”
There was an outpouring of condolences after the 46-year-old’s death, with screen stars on both sides of the Atlantic telling of their sadness.
Jennifer Lawrence, who worked with the actor on the Hunger Games films, where he played Plutarch Heavensbee, said the star was “an incredible actor”. “You played an excellent Plutarch. So sad,” she said.
Shirley Temple
Former child star Shirley Temple passed away peacefully from natural causes in February at the age of 85.
Shirley had been the darling of US cinema – and her face and voice were imprinted on generations of people around the world as a result of her performance of On The Good Ship Lollipop in the film Bright Eyes in 1934 – and she went on to become a prominent diplomat.
Among those paying tribute to her was Whoopi Goldberg, who said: “The Good Ship Lollipop has sailed today with Shirley Temple aboard – a true one of a kind.”
Peaches Geldof
The showbiz world was rocked in April when Peaches Geldof died of a heroin overdose aged just 25.
The journalist, model and television presenter’s musician husband Tom Cohen found her slumped on a bed in a spare room at their family home in Wrotham, Kent, on April 7, after she had taken the deadly drug.
She left her husband and their two young sons Astala and Phaedra, who were aged 23 months and 11 months at the time.
Peaches’ dad Bob Geldof – whose former wife and Peaches’ mum Paula Yates died from an accidental heroin overdose – has told of his “intolerable” pain after losing his daughter, who he said was the “wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us”.
Peaches’ funeral was held at the church in Kent where her mum and dad married, and where Paula’s funeral was held. She was carried into the private service in a coffin poignantly decorated with a picture of her young family.
Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins, whose career included starring roles in Mona Lisa and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, died from pneumonia in April.
The 71-year-old had retired from screen work in 2012 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, saying he had enjoyed “a wonderful career”.
Dame Helen Mirren, who worked with the actor on The Long Good Friday and Last Orders, said the late star had “that inimitable energy that seemed like a spectacular firework rocket just as it takes off”.
“When I worked with him on his iconic film The Long Good Friday, he was supportive and unegotistic. He was never sexist, when many around at that time were. I had the honour of watching the creation of one of the most memorable characters of British film,” she went on.
“I watched his brilliant Bosola in The Duchess Of Malfi, and then had the greatest of pleasures in playing again opposite him in the film Last Orders. Playing again with him was like playing a duet with a brother I had grown up with, which professionally I had.
“I personally will miss him very much, London will miss one of her best and most loving sons, and Britain will miss a man to be proud of.”
Rik Mayall
Comedian Rik died suddenly in June after suffering an “acute cardiac event” following a morning run. The Blackadder and Bottom star was just 56.
After the news, the world of comedy lamented a legend lost “too soon”.
Rik’s close friend and long-time collaborator Adrian Edmondson led the tributes, saying he felt privileged to have shared “carefree stupid days” with the star at Manchester University, where the pair studied.
He said: “There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him. And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish b******.”
Adrian was among those who carried the late star’s coffin at his funeral.
Robin Williams
Robin Williams’ death triggered a huge outpouring of grief, and sparked a far-reaching conversation about depression and suicide.
The Mrs Doubtfire star – whose humour touched countless lives in his more than 30–year career – killed himself in August after grappling with severe depression.
Celebrities and fans from all over the world told of their shock at the star’s death at 63, with US president Barack Obama leading the tributes.
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind,” he said.
“He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry.”
Scores of celebrities told of their sorrow at the loss, including Robin’s close friend Billy Crystal, who made a special tribute to the late star at the Emmys.
Lauren Bacall
Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall died in August aged 89, after suffering a stroke.
The actress, Humphrey Bogart’s partner on and off screen, was among the last of the old-fashioned Tinseltown stars.
She remained a star throughout her life, and in 2005 she published an updated version of her 1979 autobiography By Myself, called, By Myself And Then Some, in which she noted that as she aged: “I don’t feel that different. But I sure as hell am.”
Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough was described as a “titan of British cinema” by Bafta after passing away in August at the age of 90.
The champion of the British film industry was praised by many for his massive contribution to the industry.
His career highlights included appearing in 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park and clinching eight Oscars for 1982 film Gandhi.
Joan Rivers
Acid-tongued Joan Rivers passed away in September, a few days after she went into cardiac arrest during a throat procedure at a doctor’s office.
The official cause of death was “anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest” – brain damage due to lack of oxygen – during a procedure to scope her upper gastrointestinal tract and vocal folds.
Her death left many celebs reeling, not least her close friend and Fashion Police co-star Kelly Osbourne.
There have been reports that Joan’s daughter, Melissa, is planning to file a lawsuit over the 81-year-old comedienne’s death.
Lynda Bellingham
The actress, and star of the Oxo ads, died in October after battling colon cancer which later spread to other parts of her body.
Lynda, 66, died after deciding to end her treatment to limit the amount of suffering her family would witness, and her life was celebrated by family and friends in a Royal Variety-style send-off.
Her husband Michael told Yours magazine, for which his late wife was a columnist: “I can tell you now that the words on her gravestone will be ‘The curtain went up on May 31 1948, and the final curtain went down on October 19 2014′.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article