
The year is almost over, and it’s time to reflect on what was good about 2024 and those we lost this year. This year, we lost some of Disney’s biggest celebrities and the voices of our collective childhoods. Here’s a look at those we lost in 2024.

Credit: 20th Century Fox
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones passed away on September 9 at 93. Jones was best known for his pipes. voice Darth Vader in the Star Wars series, Mufasa in The Lion King (1994), and CNN.
But Jones was also a prolific actor, appearing in films over seven decades. He had roles in Dr. Strangelove (1964), The Great White Hope (1970), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), and The Sandlot (1993).
Director Barry Jenkins included a tribute to Jones in Mufasa: The Lion King.

Credit: Disney
Richard M. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman and his brother, Robert Sherman, wrote the music of childhoods. The duo is created for the songs from Mary Poppins (1964) and dozens of other songs throughout the Disney Parks.
The Sherman Brothers wrote “it’s a small world” and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from the Carousel of Progress while working for Walt Disney.
Before his death, Richard Sherman wrote a new verse for “it’s a small world” that debuted in December.

Credit: Warner Bros.
Dame Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith started her career in 1955, and eight decades later, she was still acting up until her death on September 27. Smith is one of the few actors to achieve EGOT status.
She is best known for her roles in Downton Abbey and for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. The British actress also appeared in Sister Act (1992) and Hook (1991).

Credit: Lucasfilm
Carl Weathers
Former NFL player and Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers, died on February 1. Weathers was best known for his roles in action films like Predator (1987), but he also had great comedic timing in Happy Gilmore (1996) and Arrested Development.
Later in his career, Weathers came to the Star Wars universe, playing Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. He also took on the voice role of Combat Carls in Toy Story 4 (2019).

Credit: New Line Cinema
Bob Newhart
Comedic legend Bob Newhart passed away on July 18 at the age of 94. Newhart starred in the Bob Newhart Show for seven seasons, then went on to other starring roles in Elf (2003) and The Big Bang Theory.
Newhard also voiced Bernard in Disney’s Rescuers (1977) and The Rescuers Down Under (1990).

Credit: Lionsgate
Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland was in over 200 movies and television shows before his death this year at 88. He is best known for The Dirty Dozen (1967), M.A.S.H. (1970), Klute (1971), and Ordinary People (1980).
Later in life, Sutherland played President Snow in the Hunger Games films. He is also the father of actor Kieffer Sutherland.

Credit: Aaron Spelling Productions
These giants of cinema and television will always be remembered for their contributions to the silver screen. We lost dozens of other giants this year, like Chuck Woolery, Quincy Jones, Shannen Doherty, Richard Lewis, Rickey Henderson, Bill Walton, and Disney influencer Dominque Brown.
We will never forget them and what they contributed to our lives through their work.