2009: The lives that ended – the legacies they left behind
Soldiers, actors, writers, activists and singers – just a few of the public figures who died this year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alan Walters, 82
Chief economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher
3 January
Patrick McGoohan, 80
Actor from 1960s show The Prisoner
13 January
John Mortimer, 85
Author, playwright, creator of Rumpole of the Bailey
16 January
Tony Hart, 83
Artist and presenter of Take Hart television series
18 January
Reg Gutteridge, 84
Boxing commentator and journalist
24 January
John Martyn, 60
Eclectic singer, songwriter and guitarist
29 January
Wendy Richard, 65
Played Pauline Fowler in EastEnders
26 February
Natasha Richardson, 45
Film and stage actress
18 March
Jade Goody, 27
Jade Goody gained her fame from her appearance on the third series of Big Brother where she was subject to ridicule by the tabloid press. Riding on the back of the publicity, she hosted reality shows and was a recurring appearance on the pages of gossip magazines. Her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 created controversy and led to accusations of racism after she made several comments to her housemate Shilpa Shetty.
22 March
Sir Clement Freud, 84
Just a Minute panellist
15 April
J G Ballard, 78
Acclaimed author of novels and short stories
19 April
Anne Scott-James, 96
Groundbreaking columnist
13 May
Danny La Rue, 81
Entertainer and impersonator
31 May
Michael Jackson, 50
Self-styled "King of Pop", Michael Jackson was one of the world's most successful and influential entertainers. Making his debut as the lead singer of The Jackson 5 in 1964, he went solo in 1971 and created the top-selling album of all time, Thriller. He won 15 Grammy awards, had dozens of No 1 singles and is estimated to have sold several hundred million albums
25 June
Farrah Fawcett, 62
Charlie's Angels actress and 1970s sex symbol
25 June
Karl Malden, 97
Oscar-winning actor for A Streetcar Named Desire
1 July
Mollie Sugden, 86
Comedy actress, co-star of Are You Being Served?
1 July
Henry Allingham, 113
Oldest British First World War veteran
18 July
Frank McCourt, 78
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela's Ashes
19 July
Harry Patch, 111
Last British soldier to fight in First World War trenches
25 July
Sir Bobby Robson, 76
Footballer and England manager
31 July
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 78
Founder of the Special Olympics
11 August
Les Paul, 94
Songwriter, inventor and rock music pioneer
12 August
Edward Goldsmith, 80
Environmentalist and campaigner
21 August
Edward Kennedy, 77
Seven-term United States senator
25 August
Ellie Greenwich, 68
Co-wrote 'Be My Baby' and many other hits
26 August
Iain Cuthbertson, 79
Scottish TV, film and stage actor
4 September
Keith Waterhouse, 80
Columnist, author and playwright
4 September
Patrick Swayze, 57
Star of Dirty Dancing, Ghost and many other films
14 September
Keith Floyd, 65
Chef and presenter of TV cookery programmes
14 September
Mary Travers, 72
American folk singer-songwriter, member of Peter, Paul & Mary
16 September
Sula Wolff, 85
One of the founders of modern child psychiatry
21 September
Stephen Gately, 33
Singer-songwriter in Irish boy band Boyzone
10 October
Sir Ludovic Kennedy, 89
Journalist, broadcaster and author
18 October
Norman Painting, 85
Played Phil Archer on Radio 4 from 1951
29 October
Edward Woodward, 79
Stage and screen actor and singer
16 November
Maggie Jones, 75
Played Blanche Hunt in Coronation Street since 1967
2 December
Richard Todd, 90
Stage and film actor, paratrooper and star of The Dam Busters
3 December
Jennifer Jones, 90
Oscar-winning actress and five-time Oscar nominee
17 December
Brittany Murphy, 32
American film actress and singer
20 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments