See list of celebrities who passed in 2021 - causes of deaths and their legacy

In 2021, celebrities such as Sound Sultan, Cicely Tyson, Larry King, DMX, and others died and shook the world, and we remember their passing and legacy in this article.

As it is commonly said, no one makes it out of life alive, as death is a debt that we all owe. However, understanding this does not make it any easier to handle the cruelty of death whenever it strikes, especially when it takes a loved one or, in the case of this article, celebrities who have become our favourite faces or personalities on and off-screen.

I like to call celebrities our loved ones who don’t know us. Musicians, actors, models, comedians, and other public figures form a big part of our lives mainly through their art. Over time we develop a transfer of friendliness that makes their wellbeing vital to us.

Every year comes with its share of deaths for celebrities and unpopular people alike. While it takes some at an old and ripe age, it is rude and untimely for some. The recent demise of renowned 70-year-old actress Markie Post has stormed the entertainment world, and as we mourn her departure, we want to take a look at a few of the hundreds of celebrities who have passed so far this year. May their souls keep resting in peace.

Larry King

Late Larry King was an American television and radio host who did over 50,000 interviews during his 64-year career. King died in January 2021 at the age of 87. According to a statement shared on his social media accounts, he passed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. A cause of death was not given, but King was hospitalised earlier in the same month with COVID-19.

Cicely Tyson

Pioneering Hollywood actress Cicely Tyson died 28 January at 96, only two days after the release of her memoir “Just As I Am”. She made her mark early as the first Black woman in a recurring role in a TV drama. Cicely also had a reputation for rejecting parts that she deemed demeaning or stereotypical. Nonetheless, she excelled across film, television, and stage, winning three Emmy Awards, a Tony, and an honorary Oscar. Cicely was also Oscar-nominated for her work in 1972’s “Sounder”.

Christopher Plummer

Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer CC was a Canadian actor whose career spanned seven decades, during which he gained recognition for his performances in film, television and theatre. He was known for a long time, primarily for his famous role as Captain Von Trapp in the hit 1965 musical film “The Sound of Music”, which propelled him to worldwide stardom. Plummer, whose exceptional talent earned him an Academy Award, two Emmys, and two Tonys, died on 5 February, aged 91.

Read more: Eugenia Cooney: Everything you need to know about the ‘Anorexic’ YouTuber with an eating disorder.

Sabine Schmitz

Sabine Schmitz was a German professional motor racing driver and television personality. She became known for being an expert on the Nürburgring circuit, winning two victories in endurance races during her driving career on the course. She became a cult icon on television following her appearance on BBC’s “Top Gear”. Sabine died on 16 March at age 51 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Prince Phillip

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died at the age of 99 on 9 April. “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” a Buckingham Palace statement read. 

The British royal spent most of his adult life as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, whom he married in 1947. He’d previously been hospitalised in March to undergo surgery for a heart condition. He later left the hospital on 16 March and reunited with Elizabeth at Windsor Castle to recover.

DMX

Earl Simmons, known by his stage name DMX, was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies within its first week of release.

He died aged 50 on 9 April 2021 after being hospitalized following an alleged drug overdose the previous week. DMX found massive success as a rapper despite a turbulent, troubled lifestyle that included a lifelong struggle with substance abuse. He was known for his distinctive snarling vocals and aggressive style and appeared in films like “Belly”, “Cradle 2 the Grave”, “Romeo Must Die”, and “Exit Wounds”.

Shock G

Hip-hop legend and Digital Underground founder Greg “Shock G” Jacobs died in late April at age 57. Their biggest hit, “The Humpty Dance”, featured Shock G as his alter ego Humpty Hump, whose persona would become synonymous with the group. The rapper was also known for helping to put Tupac Shakur on the map. He produced his debut album “2Pacalypse Now” in 1991, followed by his breakthrough single “I Get Around” and “So Many Tears”. Shock G also famously produced hits for Dr. Dre, Bobby Brown, KRS-One, and others.

Also read: Rihanna joins Oprah, J.K Rowling, and Kim Kardashian as women billionaire entertainers.

Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis was an American actress, director, producer, teacher, and activist who performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films, and 50 television series. She died on 1 May at age 89 of ill health related to old age. Dukakis toiled under the radar for nearly 30 years before becoming a household name with her scene-stealing turn as indomitable matriarch Rose Castorini in “Moonstruck”, which became one of the highest-grossing and most beloved films of 1987.

Sound Sultan

Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi, known professionally as Sound Sultan, was a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, comedian, and recording artist. He was regarded as one of the pacesetters of modern hip hop music in Nigeria. On 12 May 2021, it was reported that Sound Sultan was in the USA receiving chemotherapy as he was reportedly diagnosed with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in the throat. He died on 11 July 2021 at the age of 44 due to complications from the illness.

Markie Post

Marjorie Armstrong Post was an American actress, known for her roles as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels in “The Fall Guy” on ABC from 1982 to 1985, as public defender Christine Sullivan on the NBC sitcom “Night Court” from 1984 to 1992, and as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the CBS sitcom “Hearts Afire” from 1992 to 1995. The actress, whose career spanned four decades, died of cancer in Los Angeles on 7 August 2021 at age 70. She had been diagnosed almost four years earlier.

You may also like to read her biography here, Markie Post biography: net worth, night court, age and topless photos.