Celebrities who died in January 2023: David Crosby, Jeff Beck, Lisa Marie Presley and more
Entertainment and sports fans mourned the loss of many famous folks in January, including David Crosby, Jeff Beck, Lisa Marie Presley and Cindy Williams. Here’s a look at more than 30 luminaries who died during the first month of the year.
Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter David Crosby performs a solo show July 5, 2015, at the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, PA.Matt Smith | lehighvalleylive.com file photo
DAVID CROSBY
Who: Influential rock singer/songwriter, member of The Byrds, best known for his work with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Died: Jan. 18 at age 81. Crosby had a liver transplant in 1994 after decades of drug use and survived diabetes, hepatitis C and heart surgery in his 70s.
READ MORE: Legendary musician David Crosby dies at 81
Guitarist Jeff Beck performs at the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans on April 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
JEFF BECK
Who: Guitar virtuoso known for his innovation, skill and mastery of several music genres. Member of the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Double inductee into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Died: Jan. 10 at age 78, after contracting bacterial meningitis.
READ MORE: Jeff Beck, guitar god who influenced generations, dies at 78
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 10: Lisa Marie Presley at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Icelandic Glacial)Getty Images for Icelandic Glaci
LISA MARIE PRESLEY
Who: Daughter of legendary rock singer Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, heir to Graceland and her father’s estate. Singer/songwriter, released three studio albums including 2003′s “To Whom It May Concern.” Married to pop superstar Michael Jackson in mid-90s.
Died: Jan. 12 at age 54, after suffering cardiac arrest.
READ MORE: Lisa Marie Presley dies at 54 after hospitalization
Cindy Williams arrives to the TV Land Awards 10th Anniversary in New York on April 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)AP
CINDY WILLIAMS
Who: Actress best known for starring in TV sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” with Penny Marshall, also appeared in movies such as “American Graffiti” and “The Conversation.”
Died: Jan. 25 at age 75, after a brief illness.
READ MORE: ‘Laverne & Shirley’ actor Cindy Williams dies at 75
Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida in a still from “Never So Few,” 1959. (AP Photo, File)
GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA
Who: Actress, Italian film legend, international sex symbol in 1950s and ‘60s, starred in movies such as “Bread, Love and Dreams,” “Come September” and “The World’s Most Beautiful Woman.”
Died: Jan. 16 at age 95.
READ MORE: Gina Lollobrigida, Italian film legend, dies at age 95
Actress Carole Cook speaks at Warner Bros. Studios on April 4, 2018, in Burbank, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood)
CAROLE COOK
Who: Veteran actress and comedian known for her roles on television, including “The Lucy Show,” “Here’s Lucy,” “Kojak,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Cagney & Lacy,” “Dynasty” and more. Also performed in movies and theater.
Died: Jan. 11 at age 98.
Lisa Loring attended a 2007 event to benefit the Breast Cancer Fund. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
LISA LORING
Who: Actress, best known for playing Wednesday Addams on the 1960s TV sitcom “The Addams Family.”
Died: Jan. 28 at age 64, after suffering a stroke.
READ MORE: Lisa Loring, original Wednesday Addams, dead at 64
Tom Verlaine of Television performed with the band during Canadian Music Week on May 06, 2019, in Toronto. (Photo by Darren Eagles/Getty Images)
TOM VERLAINE
Who: Singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman of Television, pioneering 1970s punk rock band.
Died: Jan. 28 at age 73.
Drummer Fred White performs on stage with Earth, Wind & Fire. (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns)
FRED WHITE
Who: Drummer, percussionist, longtime member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band, which included brothers Maurice and Verdine White.
Died: Jan. 1 at age 67.
READ MORE: Fred White of Earth, Wind & Fire dead at 67
C.J. Harris performs onstage as one of the top seven contestants on “American Idol” on April 16, 2014, in Hollywood, California. (FOX photo)FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
C.J. HARRIS
Who: Country-soul singer from Jasper, Alabama; best known as top six contestant on “American Idol” in 2014.
Died: Jan. 15 at age 31, cause of death unconfirmed.
READ MORE: Former American Idol contestant C.J. Harris dies at Walker County hospital
Hoonigan Racing Division driver Ken Block, right, signs autographs at the end of the Mexico Rally in Leon, Mexico, Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
KEN BLOCK
Who: Sports marketing executive and co-founder of skateboard brand DC Shoes, later became acclaimed pro rally car driver and YouTube stuntman. Co-founded Hoonigan lifestyle brand, earned fame with “Gymkhana” stunt videos. Won five medals at the X Games (2006-2013).
Died: Jan. 2 at age 55, after snowmobile accident near his home in Utah.
READ MORE: Ken Block, action sports legend, dead at 55 after snowmobile accident
Motorcycle stunt driver Robbie Knievel talks to the crowd at Texas Motor Speedway prior to successfully jumping 21 Hummers in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
ROBBIE KNEIVEL
Who: Motorcycle daredevil and stunt rider, son of famed stunt rider Evel Kneivel. Completed televised jump over Grand Canyon (1999), fountains at Caesars Palace (1989) and many more. Starred in 2005 A&E TV series, “Knievel’s Wild Ride.”
Died: Jan. 13 at age 60, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Gangsta Boo performs as the opener for Run the Jewels at the Tabernacle on Saturday, January 21, 2017, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb Cohen/Invision/AP)Robb Cohen/Invision/AP
GANGSTA BOO
Who: Memphis rapper, member of Three 6 Mafia and solo artist, born Lola Chantrelle Mitchell.
Died: Jan. 1 at age 43, cause of death unconfirmed.
READ MORE: Gangsta Boo of Three 6 Mafia found dead at 43
Drummer Robbie Bachman from Canadian group Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) performs live on stage at the New Fillmore East in New York in December 1974. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)Redferns
ROBBIE BACHMAN
Who: Rock drummer, founding member of 1970s hitmakers Bachman-Turner Overdrive, brother of BTO frontman Randy Bachman.
Died: Jan. 12 at age 69.
Motown’s Barrett Strong arrives at the induction ceremony for 35th annual National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York on June 10, 2004. (AP Photos/Louis Lanzano, File)
BARRETT STRONG
Who: Motown singer and celebrated songwriter, first earned fame for vocals on “Money (That’s What I Want),” then teamed with Norman Whitfield to write R&B hits such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Smiling Faces Sometimes” and several singles for the Temptations, including ”Just My Imagination.” Won Grammy Award for Best R&B song with Whitfield for “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
Died: Jan. 28 at age 81.
Keyboardist Dean Daughtry of headliners The Atlanta Rhythm Section performs onstage at Alex Cooley’s Champagne Jam at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field on September 3, 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)WireImage
DEAN DAUGHTRY
Who: Southern rock musician, Alabama native, keyboard player and songwriter for Atlanta Rhythm Section. Credits include “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover.”
Died: Jan. 26 at age 76.
READ MORE: ‘70s Southern rocker, Atlanta Rhythm Section hitmaker Dean Daughtry has died
Adam Rich, who starred in the 1970s TV show “Eight is Enough,” in City of Industry, Calif., Dec. 18, 2002. (AP Photo/Jean-Marc Bouju)
ADAM RICH
Who: Actor, best known for his childhood role on the 1970s-’80s TV sitcom “Eight Is Enough.”
Died: Jan. 7 at age 54, cause of death unconfirmed.
Annie Wersching attends the Paramount+’s 2nd Annual “Star Trek Day” Celebration at Skirball Cultural Center on September 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)
ANNIE WERSCHING
Who: Actress known for her TV roles on “24,″ “Runaways,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Star Trek: Picard,” “Timeless,” “The Rookie” and more. Also appeared in the Sony video game “The Last of Us.”
Died: Jan. 29 at age 45, after battle with cancer.
READ MORE: Annie Wersching of ‘24′ and ‘The Last of Us’ dead at 45
Tatjana Patitz poses with an image from the German catalog company Otto in Hamburg, Germany, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer, File)AP
TATJANA PATITZ
Who: Supermodel, featured in Vogue, Tiffany’s, Chanel, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and more. Famously appeared in George Michael’s “Freedom! ‘90″ music video. Worked with Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh and other influential photographers.
Died: Jan. 10 at age 56, of undisclosed illness.
READ MORE: Tatjana Patitz, supermodel in George Michael’s ‘Freedom! ‘90′ video, dead at 56
Lynnette Hardaway, left, and Rochelle Richardson, a.k.a. Diamond and Silk, arrive at the LA Premiere of “Death of a Nation” at the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live on July 31, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File) Willy Sanjuan/Invision/APWilly Sanjuan/Invision/AP
LYNETTE HARDAWAY
Who: Conservative political commentator and ardent Trump supporter known as “Diamond,” half of duo Diamond and Silk with sister Rochelle “Silk” Richardson.
Died: Jan. 8 at age 51, from heart disease due to chronic high blood pressure.
READ MORE: Lynette Hardaway of Diamond and Silk died from high blood pressure
CBS announcers Billy Packer, left, and Jim Nantz laugh during a break in the championship game in the Big Ten basketball tournament in Indianapolis, March 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) APAP file photo
BILLY PACKER
Who: College basketball commentator, lead college basketball analyst for 34 straight Final Fours, first at NBC and then at CBS. Earned 1993 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Analyst.
Died: Jan. 25 at age 82.
READ MORE: Billy Packer, college basketball broadcaster, dead at 82
Then-Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Jessie Lemonier is shown on the sidelines before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)
JESSIE LEMONIER
Who: Professional football player, former linebacker for Detroit Lions, was set to make his debut for the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions in April 2023.
Died: In late January at age 25, cause of death unconfirmed.
READ MORE: Birmingham Stallions’ Jessie Lemonier, former Detroit Lion, dead at 25; Hugh Freeze reacts
Wrestlers Jay Briscoe, left, and Mark Briscoe of The Briscoe Brothers visit the SiriusXM Studios on April 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
JAY BRISCO
Who: Professional wrestling star born Jamin Pugh, teamed with brother Mark Briscoe (Mark Pugh) as the Briscoe Brothers. Won several championships, including multiple titles for Briscoe Brothers as Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions.
Died: On Jan. 7 at age 38, as the result of a car accident.
ALSO:
- Earl Boen, veteran actor who appeared in movies (including three “Terminator” films), TV and video games. Also known for voice-over work in animated series. Died Jan. 5 at age 81.
- Lloyd N. Morrisett, psychologist and co-founder of Children’s Television Workshop, which created the TV series “Sesame Street.” Died Jan. 15 at age 93.
- Ben Masters, actor best known for portrayal of Julian Crane in daytime drama “Passions.” Died Jan. 11 at age 75.
- Sylvia Sims, British actress who appeared in a wealth of movies (including 2006′s “The Queen”) and TV projects (such as the BBC soap “EastEnders.” Died Jan. 27 at age 89.
- Lance Kerwin, actor known for work in movies and TV during 1970s, including “James at 15″ and “Salem’s Lot.” Died Jan. 24 at age 62.
- Al Brown, TV and movie actor, best known for portraying Stan Valchek on HBO’s “The Wire.” Died Jan. 13 at age 83.
- Van Conner, bassist for rock band Screaming Trees. Died Jan. 17 at age 55, after contracting pneumonia during an extended illness.
- Brandon Smiley, actor, comedian and son of famed comedian Rickey Smiley. Died Jan. 29 at age 32, cause of death unconfirmed.