EpicStream pays tribute to the following A-listers fans loved and lost during the last year.
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John, the angelic Australian singer whose chart-topping tunes “Physical,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” a duet with John Travolta from Grease inspired a passionate fan base, has passed away in August. She was 73 years old. Newton-John, born in England and raised in Australia, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and disclosed in May 2017 that the disease had progressed to her lower back after 25 years in remission. The singer cancelled a two-city tour in August 2018, barely three weeks after announcing it; she was scheduled to reflect on her career with an interviewer in Melbourne and Sydney. During her five decades in the music industry, Newton-John sold more than 100 million records and had nearly 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100. She was a country-pop and soft-rock phenomenon in the 1970s and ’80s with a girl-next-door appeal.
Robbie Coltrane
On October 14, the actor, who portrayed Hagrid in the famous fantasy flick series Harry Potter, passed away at 72. According to numerous British news sources, the actor died due to multiple organ failures. Before his death, Coltrane was diagnosed with sepsis, lower respiratory tract infection, and heart block, according to his death certificate. Also mentioned were his weight and Type 2 diabetes diagnoses. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter franchise, the James Bond actor raved about his role in the project before his passing.
Anne Heche
A week after being badly injured in a vehicle accident, American star Anne Heche died in August. Attorneys for Heche, 53, acknowledged that she was “brain dead,” which is the legal definition of death in California. It was revealed earlier that Heche’s life support would be turned off. Her heartbeat was believed to be preserved so that her organs might be donated. Many had hoped that Heche would recover when a spokesperson for the star revealed that she was in “stable” condition on August 5 after colliding with a house in Los Angeles. According to the firefighters, she communicated with them while she was extracted from the debris and sent to the hospital. Shortly after that, however, the Heche lost consciousness, and on August 8, his reps reported that he had fallen into a coma and was in “very grave condition.” Her family released a statement on Friday stating that she was not expected to live and was being kept on life support to assess whether or not her organs could be donated. Heche, an intelligent actress, rose to popularity in the early 1990s, portraying twins on the serial opera Another World and appearing in films such as Nicole Holofcener’s breakthrough film Walking and Talking as Catherine Keener’s closest friend. Her first significant appearance was as Johnny Depp’s girlfriend in the gangster-themed film Donnie Brasco (1997). During the same year, she starred in the timeless films Wag the Dog, Volcano, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Paul Sorvino
According to his representative, Paul Sorvino died in July of natural causes after a brilliant career on stage and in the film that included Goodfellas and Law & Order. He was 83. Sorvino was arguably best remembered for his roles as Sgt. Frank Cerreta on NBC’s Law & Order, Mafia don Pail Cicero in Martin Scorsese’s renowned gangster picture Goodfellas, and Kissinger in Oliver Stone’s Nixon. With over 170 credits and dozens of jobs in recent years, including cameo appearances on Godfather of Harlem, Bad Blood, Undercover Grandpa, The Goldbergs, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Sorvino has consistently worked. Lips Manlis selected him as one of a motley gang of severely made-up villains for the highly stylised criminal drama Dick Tracy, starring and directed by Warren Beatty.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, died in Balmoral at 96 after 70 years on the throne. She passed away quietly at her Scottish estate, where she had spent most of the summer. In 1952, when she ascended to the throne, the Queen observed a tremendous societal transformation. Her son, King Charles III, stated that his mother’s passing was a “time of tremendous grief” for him and his family and that her loss will be “deeply felt” around the globe. After Queen Elizabeth’s physicians expressed worry for her health earlier in the day, senior royals convened in Balmoral. After physicians placed Queen Elizabeth under medical observation, all her children travelled to Balmoral, close to Aberdeen. Prince William, her grandson and current heir to the throne, and Prince Harry, his brother, were also there. Stay tuned to EpicStream for the latest news and updates about your favourite celebrities and royalties!
