The End - the Classic Film Obituary thread 2024

British actress Barbara Leigh-Hunt (1935-2024) passed away on September 16th. Best known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972). She also appeared in Oh Heavenly Dog (1980), Billy Elliot (2000) and Vanity Fair (2004).

British acting legend Dame Maggie Smith (1934-2024) sadly left us on September 27th. A six-time Oscar nominee, winning both the Best Actress award for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and the Best Supporting Actress award for California Suite (1978). She appeared in such films as The V.I.P.s (1963), Othello] (1965), Travels With My Aunt (1972), Murder By Death (1976), Death On the Nile (1978), Clash of the Titans (1981), Evil Under the Sun (1982), The Missionary (1982), A Private Function (1984), A Room With a View (1985), Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Richard III (1995), The First Wives Club (1996), Tea With Mussolini (1999), Gosford Park (2001), Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002), Becoming Jane (2007), Nanny McPhee Returns (2010), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), The Lady in the Van (2015) and The Miracle Club (2023), her final film. In recent years, she found newfound fame appearing in all the Harry Potter movies (except Deathly Hallows: Part 1) and on TV in Downton Abbey (2010-2015) and in the spinoff movies Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

American actor John Ashton (1948-2024) passed away on September 26th from cancer. Best known for his roles in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Trapped in Paradise (1994), Gone Baby Gone (2007) and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024).

American actor, singer and songwriter Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024) passed away on September 28th. Started out as a country music musician, helping to pioneer the new outlaw country sound of the early 70's. This led to his becoming a successful actor. His first movie was The Last Movie (1971), followed by such films as Pat Garrett and Biily the Kid (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), A Star is Born (1976), Semi-Tough (1977), Convoy (1978), Heaven's Gate (1980), Big Top Pee-Wee (1988), Welcome  Home (1989), Lone Star (1996), Fire Down Below (1996), Blade (1998), , Payback (1999),  Limbo (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001), Blade II (2002), Silver City (2004), Blade: Trinity (2004), The Jacket (2005), Dolphin Tale (2011), Deadfall (2012) and Dolphin Tale (2014).

American actor Ken Page (1954-2024) passed away on September 30th. Primarily a theatre actor, he will be remembered for providing the voice for Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). He also appeared in such films as Torch Song Trilogy (1988) and Dreamgirls (2006).

American actor and director Christopher Ciccone (1960-2024) passed away on October 4th from cancer. He was Madonna's younger brother, appearing in several of her videos and documentaries. He also directed several music videos for other artists.

American actor Nicholas Pryor (1935-2024) passed away on October 7th from cancer. A very familiar face from his many appearances in movies and on TV, including The Gumball Rally (1976), Damien: Omen II (1978), Airplane! (1980), Risky Business (1983), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Pacific Heights (1990), Hoffa (1992), Sliver (1993), The Chamber (1996), Murder at 1600 (1997), Collateral Damage (2002), Doctor Sleep (2019) and Halloween Kills (2021).

American actress Mitzi Gaynor (1931-2024) passed away on October 17th. Known for her roles in such films as We're Not Married (1952), Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Anything Goes (1956) and South Pacific (1958).