All Souls Day 2024: Notable celebrity deaths

Even before the year comes to a close, the entertainment industry has been dealt with heartbreak one time too many as several celebrities bid their final goodbye. These celebrities, though their brightness dimmed all too soon, served as inspiration to many fans and supporters. 

To mark All Souls Day, it is only fitting to take time to honor these celebrities and the legacy they left behind. 

Christian Oliver 

Hollywood actor Christian Oliver died along with his 10- and 12-year-old daughters in January, after their small plane plummeted into the Caribbean Sea while on a vacation.

Oliver had over 60 movie and TV credits to his name. Among these are his appearances in Tom Cruise movie “Valkyrie,” in George Clooney’s “The Good German,” and in the 2008 action-comedy “Speed Racer.”

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Adan Canto

Adan Canto, best known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Agent Game” and the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” died at the age of 42 due to appendiceal cancer. 

Canto, who had opted to keep his diagnosis private, is survived by his wife Stephanie Ann Canto and two children. 

Mario Bautista

Mario Bautista, a veteran entertainment writer and film critic, died in his sleep in January. He was 77.

Prior to his death, the showbiz writer was hospitalized and stayed in an intensive care unit (ICU) due to a bad fall. Mario got out of the hospital on Dec. 29 but was rushed to the emergency room again two days later.

Romy Vitug

Award-winning cinematographer Romy Vitug died on Jan. 18, a few days before his 87th birthday.

Vitug was best known for his works “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak” (1978), “Salome” (1981) “Haplos” (1982), “Paradise Inn” (1985), “Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit” (1991), and “Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal” (1992), among many others.

Throughout his career, the ace cinematographer received accolades that included Cinemanila International Filmfest lifetime achievement award in 2000, Natatanging Gawad Urian in 2016, and Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Hall of Fame award in 2019.

No cause of death was immediately disclosed by his family, although Vitug had been in and out of the hospital since 2020 due to his megaloblastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. 

Chita Rivera

Broadway legend Chita Rivera died in January at the age of 91 after a brief illness.

Rivera was best known for lighting up Broadway stages over six decades in shows such as “West Side Story” and “Chicago.

Rivera became one of the most nominated actors in the history of the Tony Awards, Broadway’s highest prizes—with 10 nods. She also earned the top US arts distinction, Kennedy Center honors, and was honored with the presidential medal of freedom in 2009.

Deo Endrinal

The death of ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment head Roldeo “Deo” Endrinal was confirmed by his actor son PJ. 

Endrinal was a distinguished filmmaker and writer who stood as the pillar of Dreamscape Entertainment, a production company under ABS-CBN. Some of the most successful TV series produced under the company include “Mara Clara” (1992), “Mula Sa Puso” (1997), “May Bukas Pa” (2009), and “Mara Clara” (2010).

Endrinal was also known as a “visionary leader” who was loved dearly by the celebrities he worked with.

Tikoy Aguiluz

Filmmaker Tikoy Aguiluz, deemed as one of the most prolific directors in Philippine cinema, died in February.

Among his notable works is the 1996 film “Segurista,” which was chosen as the country’s entry to the Academy Awards. The movie also earned him the Gawad Urian for Best Director.

Aside from “Segurista,” his other works include “Rizal sa Dapitan,” “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story” and “Tragic Theater.”

Aguiluz was also honored with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres or the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for his valuable contributions to the film industry.

Jaclyn Jose

One of this year’s most shocking celebrity deaths was that of veteran actress Jaclyn Jose, who is known for her iconic body of work in an illustrious career that spanned four decades. Jose died of a heart attack in March, at age 60.

Jose was the first ever Filipino actor to win the Best Actress award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival for her role in Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa.”

Jose also earned five Gawad Urian awards, four Star Awards, two Luna Awards and one each at the Famas and Metro Manila Film Festival.

Eric Carmen

Eric Carmen, the singer behind the hit song “All By Myself” and the former Raspberries frontman, died in his sleep at the age of 74. 

Eric cemented his name in the music industry, with his songs sung by Frank Sinatra, Mötley Crüe, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John, Axl Rose and Tom Jones, among many others.

Park Bo-ram

South Korean singer Park Bo-ram died at the age of 30 due to acute alcohol intoxication. 

Park was the voice behind soundtracks of several hit Korean series, including “Hyehwa-dong” from “Reply 1988” (2015); “Please Say Something, Even Though It Is a Lie” from “W” (2016); and “Like A Dream” from “Prison Playbook” (2017).

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill, best known for playing the role of King Théoden in “The Lord of the Rings” franchise as well as the character of Captain Edward Smith in “Titanic,” passed away in May at the age of 79.

Hill first made a name for himself as Yosser Hughes in the 1982 British TV miniseries “Boys From the Blackstuff. 

Priscila Nalundasan

Voice actor Priscila Nalundasan, who gave life to Manang Bola, one of the beloved characters in the 1980s children’ show “Batibot,” died at the age of 60.

“Batibot,” modeled after American educational show “Sesame Street,” first aired in the early 1980s and ran until the late 1990s.

While Nalundasan’s cause of death was not immediately disclosed, her son Jaymar said that she suffered from diabetes.

Carlo J. Caparas

Carlo J. Caparas, veteran comic strip creator and film director-producer passed away at 80 years old.

Among his popular comic book characters are Panday, Bakekang, Elias Paniki, Gagambino, and Pieta. He also helmed several films including “Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang,” “Kamagong,” “Kambal Na Kamao: Madugong Engkwentro,” “Ayaw Matulog ng Gabi,” “Hiwaga ng Panday,” and “Chavit.”

Caparas was named a National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts and Film by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009. However, it was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2013 due to “grave abuse of discretion.”

Donald Sutherland

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, whose popular works include his role as President Snow in “The Hunger Games” franchise, died in June at 88. 

Aside from his villain role in the dystopian film, he was also known for starring in Robert Aldrich’s “The Dirty Dozen.”

Manny Castañeda

Manny Castañeda was a veteran filmmaker and actor whose body of work include directing “Sa kabilugan ng buwan,” “April, May, June,” “Shame,” and the segment “Impakto” in the 1994 film “Shake, Rattle & Roll V.”

As an actor, Castañeda starred in “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo,” “Oro Plata Mata,” “Darna,” “Nag-iisang Ikaw,” “Nang Iniwan Mo Ako,” and “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,” among others. 

Castañeda, who had suffered from a heart condition, died at the age of 69. His lifelong friend, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes, disclosed  that the director was diagnosed with pneumonia a month prior to his death. 

Dinky Joo Jr.

Comedian Dinky Joo Jr., who had been known to be battling diabetes and high blood pressure complications, died in July at the age of 66.

Doo’s showbiz career started in 1986 when he starred in the movie “Inday Inday sa Balitaw.” His body of work also include “Maria Went to Town” (1987), “Rock-a-Bye Baby: Tatlo ang Daddy Ko” (1988), “Small and Terrible” (1990), “Suddenly It’s Magic” (2012) and “The Fighting Chefs” (2013).

Leonardo ‘Remy’ Monteverde and Lily Monteverde

Leonardo ‘Remy’ Monteverde, the husband of Regal Entertainment founder Lily Monteverde, died at the age of 86 last July.

Barely a week after his death, Lily, who would have celebrated her 85th birthday the following month, passed away as well.

Lily had produced more than 300 films under Regal Entertainment, including the classics “Manila by Night,” “Sister Stella L,” “Scorpio Nights,” “Relasyon,” and “Broken Marriage,” as well as famous movie franchises “Mano Po” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”

The studio also honed the so-called “Regal Babies” of the 1980s such as Maricel Soriano, Gabby Concepcion, Manilyn Reynes, Dina Bonnevie, Snooky Serna, Janice de Belen and Albert Martinez, among others.

Lily and Remy are survived by their children Winston, Meme, Roselle, Dondon and Goldwin.

Sergio Mendes

Grammy-winning musician Sergio Mendes was a celebrated artist whose 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global superstar. 

Mendes won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Brasileiro” and two Latin Grammy Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for Best Original Song for “Real in Rio,” from the animated film “Rio.”

Mendes died after months of battling the effects of long Covid. He was 83.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones was a sought-after voice actor whose popular works include Darth Vader of “Star Wars” and King Mufasa in the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.

Some of his other films include “Dr. Strangelove,” “The Greatest” (with Muhammad Ali), “Conan the Barbarian” and “Three Fugitives.”

Jones won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was also given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. 

Jones died in his home at the age of 93. 

Tito Jackson

Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died of a heart attack at the age of 70. 

The family group, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several hits in the 1970s including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”

Tito was the third of nine Jackson children, which include global superstars Michael and sister Janet.

Coritha

Coritha, best known for her hit 1970s and 1980s songs “Oras Na,” “Lolo Jose,” and “Sierra Madre,” died in September after a long illness.

Coritha suffered from diabetes and a stroke, which led her to be bedridden.

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith’s famous works include “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “Downton Abbey” and her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” films.

Smith won several accolades such as the Academy Award for best actress and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”; a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite”; a Golden Globes for “California Suite” and “Room with a View”; BAFTAs for lead actress in “A Private Function,” “A Room with a View,” and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne”; and another BAFTA award for supporting actress in “Tea with Mussolini.” Aside from these, she also earned a Tony award in 1990 for “Lettice and Lovage.”

Smith died in September at the age of 89. The cause of death was not made public.

Cissy Houston

Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston, was a two-time Grammy-winning soul and a gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, among others.

Cissy died in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. She was 91.

Gilopez Kabayao

Renowned Filipino violinist Gilopez Kabayao died in October after a brief, undisclosed illness. He was 94 years old.

Kabayao, who was nominated to be named a National Artist for Music, was the first Filipino violinist to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York in 1950. He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1972, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining plum in 2008. 

Liam Payne

Liam Payne was popularly known as one of the former members of One Direction, the band who rose to worldwide popularity after it was formed from five young singers who auditioned for the British TV talent show “X Factor.” 

The band, which was composed of Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, produced five albums that sold more than 70 million copies. The quintet broke up in 2016, and each of them had since released solo songs.

Payne died after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. An initial toxicology report showed that he had cocaine in his system after his death. 

Payne had acknowledged struggling with alcoholism, saying in a YouTube video posted in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.