We remember the legends we said goodbye to in 2023

As we welcome 2024,
let’s not forget those we said farewell to in 2023.

Let’s pause to remember some of the local and international legends and historical icons who have inspired us, entertained us,
and who will always be remembered*


Lisa-Marie Presley	Gerrie Coetzee	Frene Ginwala
Died aged 55	Died aged 67	Died aged 90
She was an American singer and songwriter. She was the only child of singer and actor Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley. She was a succesful singer in her own right with one studio album being certified gold.	He was a South African professional boxer who competed on the international stage from 1974 to 1997 winning the WBA title from 1983 to 1984	She was a South African politician and journalist and was the first Speaker of the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004



Gina Lollobrigida	David Crosby	Burt Bacharach
Died aged 95	Died aged 81	Died aged 94
She was an Italian actress, model, photojournalist and politian who was best known for her roles in the classic 1956 film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"	He was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who found fame as part of the band Crosby, Stills & Nash	He was an American composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist and is considered one of the most important and influential figures in 20th century popular music as over 1000 artists performed his songs over the years



Raquel Welch	Mark Pilgrim	Glenda Jackson
Died aged 82	Died aged 53	Died aged 87
She was an American actress and model and was best known for her role in Fantastic Voyage in 1966.	Mark was a veteran South African radio and TV presenter	She was an English actress and in her acting career won two Oscars, three Emmies and one Tony award. She later served as a member of Parliament for over 23 years.



Tina Turner	David Lopes & Bev Johnstone	Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso
Died aged 83	Both over 60	Died aged 80
Tina rocked to fame as one of the duo in The Ike & Tina review. Her legendary career as a solo artist spanned nearly 50 years.	David and Bev started the South African Facebook Group "Pensioners Forum & Deals" which at the time of their deaths (within 10 days of each other) had over 50 000 members	This professor was best known to South Africans for his role as the Yebo Gogo man in the advertising campaign for Vodacom



Rodriquez	Derek Watts	Roger Whittaker
Died aged 81	Died aged 74	Died aged 87
He was known to the world as Sugar Man and found huge success in South Africa in the 1960's	Best known for being co-anchor of Carte Blanche for 17 years. Derek was also a freelance journalist, MC and guest speaker.	Born in 1936 this British singer songwriter played an eclectic mix of folk music and popular songs. He is best known for his baritone singing and trademark whistle



David McCallum	Sir Michael Gambon	Dorothy Hoffner
Died aged 90	Died aged 82	Died aged 104
This Scottish actor shot to fame in the 1960s for playing a secret agent in The man from U.N.C.L.E. His career spanned decades in Hollywood and his most recent role was that of "Ducky" in the show NCIS	This Irish-English actor received his CBE in 1988 in recognition of a six-decade long career on stage, in film and in Television	Dorothy was the oldest person to ever sky dive. She died in November



Matthew Perry	Hannes Strydom	Professor Harry Seftel
Died aged 54	Died aged 58	Died aged 94
The popular actor who played chandler Bing died in his home in 2023	Springbok World cup winning lock died in a car accident in November 2023	Prof Seftel was a well-known medical expert and "national treasure"



Ryan O'Neal	Tom Wilkinson	Tony Bennett
Died aged 82	Died aged 75	Died aged 96
Ryan was a true Hollywood legend best known for his Oscar nominated role in the 1970 romance "Love Story”	Known for his roles on stage and screen, he received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards.	Tony Bennett was a music legend who has been living with Alzheimer’s since 2016. Bennett died at the age of 96 in July 2023.