The first 10 months of 2024 saw the death of many celebrities, both international and local, which led to the outpouring of grief among their fans and their communities.
These personalities left behind a stellar legacy admired by those who loved and respected them for their work.
This All Souls’ Day, let us cherish the memories gifted to us by these departed artists, musicians, voice actors, singers, entertainment executives, and more.
Liam Payne
Former One Direction member Liam Payne shocked the world when he was found dead in a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. He was 31 years old.
Following his passing, his One Direction bandmates released a joint statement saying they were “completely devastated” by Liam’s death. Members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan also released individual tributes.
Jaclyn Jose
In March, the Philippine entertainment industry mourned the loss of veteran actress Jaclyn Jose, who passed away due to a heart attack. She was 60 years old.
Born Mary Jane Guck in 1963, Jose was a versatile and hard-working actress whose work in film and television captivated Filipino audiences for four decades. She starred in dramas, comedies, horror stories, and romances as well as television soap operas, after breaking out in the 1980s in films such as Lino Brocka’s “White Slavery” and Chito S. Roño’s “Private Show.”
Among her most notable works was Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa,” which earned her the Best Actress award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival for her role as Rosa. She became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian actress to win the an award.
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith’s death sent “Harry Potter” fans all over the world grieving the loss of their beloved Professor Minerva McGonagall. The British actress was 89 years old.
With a career spanning over 70 years, Maggie has played several iconic roles such as Dowager Countess in the hit TV series and movie spin-offs of “Downtown Abbey” and Jean Brodie in the Oscar-winning film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.”
Carlo J. Caparas
Carlo J. Caparas took his final bow as a writer-director and comic strip creator in May. He was 80 years old.
Carlo was best known for creating Filipino superheroes and characters through his comic strips, such as Panday, Totoy Bato, Bakekang, Gagambino, and Elias Paniki.
He was also the director behind the movie “The Vizconde Massacre,” which was shown in 1993. It starred Kris Aquino.
Chino Trinidad
Veteran sports journalist Chino Trinidad succumbed to heart attack in July at 56 years old.
He previously worked with GMA Sports as a commentator and sports analyst. He was also host of the Time Out segment on “24 Oras,” and host of Saksi sa Dobol B on Super Radyo dzBB.
Trinidad also served as former commissioner of the defunct Philippine Basketball League.
Mike Lacanilao
Another veteran journalist who died this year is Mike Lacanilao, who passed away in February at the age of 88.
Mike served as a co-anchor of “GMA Balita,” one of GMA-7’s news and public affairs shows in the 1990s. He was also the president of Febias College of Bible from 1976 to 1982.
Alain Delon
French actor Alain Delon bid the world goodbye in August at the age of 88.
Delon shot to fame in two films by Italian director Luchino Visconti, “Rocco and His Brothers” in 1960 and “The Leopard” in 1963.
He was later on hailed as “a giant of French culture” by French President Emmanuel Macron.
French actor Alain Delon, seen here receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Locarno Film Festival in Italy in 2012, was hailed as a giant of French culture by French President Emmanuel Macron. Reuters/Fiorenzo Maffi
Gena Rowlands
Gena Rowlands, who played the older Allie in the movie “The Notebook,” passed away in August. She was 94.
The American actress won four Emmys and two Golden Globes during her career spanning nearly seven decades.
COURTESY: THE NOTEBOOK/FACEBOOK
Lily Monteverde
In August, the Philippine showbiz industry mourned the loss of one of its pillars after Lily Monteverde, the long-time matriarch of Regal Entertainment, passed away. She was 84 year old.
Known as “Mother Lily” in the showbiz industry, Monteverde helmed Regal for several decades and produced many blockbuster films, including the iconic “Mano Po” anthology.
Deo Endrinal
Another prominent figure in the Philippine showbiz industry that we lost this year is Deo Endrinal, head of ABS-CBN’s content production unit Dreamscape Entertainment. He was 60 years old.
Endrinal produced several ABS-CBN shows, including “May Bukas Pa” and “The Buzz,” among others.
Floy Quintos
Floy Quintos, the acclaimed playwright, stage director and winner of multiple Palanca awards, took his final curtain call in April at the age of 63.
Direk Floy, as he is called by industry colleagues, was the playwright of “The Kundiman Party,” “Angry Christ,” and “The Reconciliation Dinner.” He has worked in events that highlighted Filipino culture and memorably served as the creative director for the 2019 SEA Games Opening Ceremony.
Tikoy Aguiluz
Renowned filmmaker Tikoy Aguiluz died in April at 72 years old.
He won the Gawad Urian Best Director award in 1996 for “Segurista.” In 2011, he won the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Director award for “Manila Kingpin.”
Sayuri
Japanese singer-songwriter Sayuri was only 28 years old when she died in September after battling with chronic illness.
A popular figure among anime fans, Sayuri is behind the theme song “Koukai no Uta” from “My Hero Academia” Season 4 in 2019; “Sore wa Chiisa na Hikari no youna” from “Erased” in 2016; “Heikousen” from “Scum’s Wish” in 2017; and “Hana no Tou” from “Lycoris Recoil” in 2022.
Photo: Sayuri/X
Noriko Ohara
Another popular Japanese artist who departed this year is Noriko Ohara, who voiced the character of Nobita in “Doraemon.”
As a voice actress, her other roles include Conan in “Future Boy Conan,” Peter in “Heidi, Girl of the Alps,” and Mattia in “Nobody’s Boy: Remi.”
She was also the voice of Hiyoshi Go (known as Little John in the Philippines) and Katherine (Zandra) in “Voltes V.”
Photos: 81 Produce, Doraemon
Nobuyo Oyama
“Doraemon” fans were left grieving anew in October with the loss of Japanese actress Nobuya Oyama, the voice behind our beloved cartoon cat robot. She was 90.
Her other works included roles in “Andersen Stories” and “Danganronpa: The Animation.”
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Japanese voice actress Nobuyo Oyama and Doraemon. This picture of Nobuyo Oyama was taken on June 28, 2007 in Tokyo. Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP) / JAPAN OUT
CJ De Silva-Ong
Another young talent we lost this year is visual artist, creative director and podcaster, CJ De Silva-Ong. She was 36.
CJ was more prominently known as a Promil Gifted Child back in the ’90s.
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COURTESY: WINCY ONG/FACEBOOK
Gia Sison
Medical doctor and mental health advocate Gia Sison passed away due to heart failure in March.
A breast cancer survivor, Gia served as the Head of Makati Medical Center’s Women Wellness Center and advocated for breast cancer awareness. She also led the Livestrong Foundation and the National Adviser of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition.
CJ Rivera
Radio stalwart CJ Rivera went off-air in August at the age of 44 after losing the battle to cancer.
His death was announced by his radio station Magic 89.9 on social media, which remembered him for the “joy and memories he brought on and off air.”
Park Jia
Park Jia, best known for her role in “The Glory,” took her final exit from the South Korean entertainment scene in September after battling a cerebral infarction. She was 52.
Before her death, she starred in the 2022 Netflix series “The Glory,” where she played Jung Mi See, the mother of Song Hye Kyo’s Moon Dong Eun.
COURTESY: BILLIONS/INSTAGRAM
Park Bo Ram
In April, the K-pop industry mourned the loss of singer Park Bo Ram, who suddenly passed away at the age of 30.
Park Bo Ram was a contestant on the singing audition show “Superstar K2” in 2010, where she finished in the Top 8. She made her official debut with the hit song “Beautiful” in 2014.
Aside from “Beautiful,” the singer is best known for her songs “Hyehwadong” and “Please say something even though it is a lie.”
COURTESY: Park Bo Ram/INSTAGRAM
David Charlton
David Charlton, the founder of David’s Salon, passed away on October 29.
The entrepreneur came to the Philippines in 1978 and established David’s Salon in 1989. It now has over 200 branches all over the country.
Danny Ledesma Mandia
Danny Ledesma Mandia, the Father of Modern Filipino Dubbing, died in October 16. He was 70 years old.
Among his dubbing directorial works include “Meteor Garden,” “Magic Knight Rayearth,” “Zenki,” “Btx,” and “Saber Marionette J.” He also voiced Smee in “Peter Pan.”
—MGP, GMA Integrated News