Celebrities / Famous / Notable People Who Passed in 2024

Posted this elsewhere when Kevin was very ill, but very sadly has now passed away...

Ex-Everton star Kevin Campbell 'very unwell' in hospital..

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Everton and Arsenal have sent messages of support to their former striker Kevin Campbell, who is "very unwell" in hospital.

The Merseyside club said the 54-year-old, who began his career with the Gunners, became ill last week.

"Not just a great footballer but an incredible person, Kevin is, and always has been, a fighter and we wish him and his family well at this challenging time. Sending all our love," Everton said in a statement posted on X., external

On Monday, Arsenal wrote:, external "Everyone at the club is sending love to Kevin Campbell and his family, following news that our former striker is very unwell.

"We're thinking of you."

Campbell came through Arsenal's youth ranks, making his debut in 1988, and after loan stints at Leyton Orient and Leicester City, was a member of Arsenal's league title-winning squad in 1990–91.

He helped the Gunners win the FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993, and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994.

After spells with Nottingham Forest and Turkish side Trabzonspor, Campbell joined Everton on loan in March 1999, scoring nine goals in their final eight Premier League games to help the Toffees avoid relegation.

Campbell then made a permanent move to Everton that summer and spent more than five seasons with the Toffees.

He ended his career with spells at West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, scoring a career total of 148 goals from 542 appearances, and has since worked as a media pundit.

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Kevin Campbell is loved by both Arsenal and Everton fans

Lots more on the link below:

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqvvyypg33zo

Such a versatile actor, Even had a role in Kate Bush's Cloudbursting video, RIP

Ray Reardon dies age 91: Snooker legend passes away after cancer battle..by Press Association

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Six-time world snooker champion Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91.

Welshman Reardon, who dominated the sport in the 1970s, died on Friday night, his wife Carol confirmed to the World Snooker Tour.

A statement on the WST's official website said: 'Ray Reardon, widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players ever and a six-time world champion, has died at the age of 91.'

Jimmy White said on X: 'Gutted to hear my very good friend Ray Reardon has passed away.

'A total class act and very kind to me when I was making my way in the game. A giant of the game. Rest in Peace mate.'

In 2004 he teamed up with Ronnie O'Sullivan in a mentoring role at the World Championship and helped to steer the Rocket to his second world title. He had received a call from O'Sullivan's imprisoned father, Ronnie snr, to encourage the union.

Reardon, who is survived by his second wife Carol, saw the Welsh Open trophy named in his honour in 2016 but savoured his quiet retirement in Devon, saying: 'It's nice on the golf course.'

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Four Tops' Abdul 'Duke' Fakir dies aged 88 just two days after Motown icon retired..by Harry Rutter

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The final surviving original member of the Motown group passed away at his home in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, per local media. The Detroit Free Press reports the legendary singer died from heart failure.

"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who, through his 70-year music career, touched the lives of so many as he continued to tour until the end of 2023, and officially retired this year," his family said in a statement.

"As the last living founding member of the iconic Four Tops music group, we find solace in Duke’s legacy living on through his music for generations to come," they added. It follows the deaths of bandmates Lawrence Payton, Obie Benson and Levi Stubbs.

It was in 2008 that the Mirror reported the death of frontman Levi. He passed away at his home aged 72 after battling several illnesses. He was first diagnosed with cancer in 1995 and finally stopped touring in 2000 after suffering a stroke.

With Stubbs fronting the band, the Four Tops sold more than 50 million records. They had a string of hits, including I Can't Help Myself and Reach Out (I'll Be There). Stubbs formed the group when they met at a party in 50s Detroit and began harmonising together.

Their first gigs paid just U170 a week and they were signed to Motown in 1963. He described his voice as "loud and raw", saying in an interview: "I just come by the way I sing naturally." Stubbs left behind his wife of 48 years, Clineice, and their five children.

Renaldo "Obie" Benson died aged 69 in 2005. He was in the band five decades and wrote most of their upbeat love songs. He passed away in hospital following an operation and had been suffering from cancer, we reported at the time.

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EastEnders and The Bill star Roberta Taylor dies at the age of 76 after an infection caused by a fall..by Laura Fox.

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The actress was best known for her role as Irene Raymond in the BBC soap from 1997 to 2000, before joining the cast of The Bill as Inspector Gina Gold.

According to Roberta's obituary published in The Guardian, the star died on July 6 'from an infection caused by a fall two months prior, agitating her underlying health problems with pneumonia.'

She leaves behind her actor husband Peter Guinness, her son Elliott, a granddaughter and two stepbrothers.

Roberta's last TV appearance came on the BBC private investigators comedy Shakespeare & Hathaway.

Her EastEnders stint began in 1997, when she arrived in Walford as the matriarch of the Hills family, visiting her children Sarah (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and Tony (Mark Homer).

During her three-year stint on the soap, Roberta's character Irene had a string of love interests, including Terry Raymond (Gavin Richards), as well as a steamy affair with her lodger Troy Harvey (Jamie Jarvis).

After three years in EastEnders, Roberta decided to leave the soap, and told The Mirror at the time: 'I was always thinking, 'When can I learn my lines?' I gave over much of my life to the show and if I was to carry on at such a pace I'd have to continue to put my life on hold.

'I didn't want to do things at half-cock [...] I had a lot of fun playing Irene, and Gavin, who plays my screen husband Terry, and I got on brilliantly.

'Irene was a complicated lady. I never knew what was going to happen next, but that's what life is like. We worked hard at our characters. People thought we were comical but actually there was a lot of sarcasm.'

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Roberta was best known for her role as Irene Raymond in the BBC soap from 1997 to 2000.

Roberta also had roles in dramas Silent Witness, Inspector Morse and Doctors.

She split from her first husband in 1975 and set up home in Pimlico, central London, and then Vauxhall, with her second husband Peter, 20 years ago, after they married in 1996.

News of Roberta's death sparked a spring of tributes from fans, with posts on X including: ' Such sad news about Roberta Taylor she was fantastic in EastEnders and The Bill. Rest in peace.

Ex-Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare has died aged 60..

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Former Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has died at the age of 60, his family has announced.

Shakespeare was undergoing treatment for cancer back in October 2023.

As well as managing Leicester, he also worked for West Brom, Hull, Everton, Watford, Aston Villa and Norwich and had a spell as England assistant boss in 2016.

A statement released on behalf of his family via the League Managers' Association said Shakespeare "passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family".

It added: "While the family are immensely proud of his footballing achievements as both a player and a coach, to us, his family, he will always primarily be a loving and loved husband, father, son, brother and uncle.

"The loss is devastating to us all and we would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly difficult time as we try to come to terms with, and mourn, the loss of a very special person.

"The family would like to thank and acknowledge the many prayers and good wishes sent during the past few difficult months, many of which we were unable to respond to but all meant a lot to Craig and the family."

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Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who worked with Shakespeare at five different clubs, said: "It's difficult to put into words how I, and indeed everyone who came across or worked with Craig, will feel on hearing such devastating news.

"He is without hesitation one of the most wonderfully talented, emotionally understanding, calm, balanced and outrageously funny people I've had the privilege of calling my friend. Safe journey to the next destination my wonderful friend.

"You are loved and admired by us all, and every time we think of you, a smile, smirk, chuckle or memorable occasion will come to us. We truly are the lucky ones for having known 'Shakey'."

Sven Goran-Eriksson has passed away aged 76 with Pancreatic Cancer.

RIP Sven.🙏